Frequently Asked Questions About NVIDIA PC (non-EFI) Graphics Cards

[snipper]

Can anyone tell me why I'm not getting any resolutions above 1080p? trying to get to 4k.

[…]
My rMBP with the same cable to the same port on the TV gives me 3840x2160 but its very slow, but the Mac Pro doesn't show any available resolutions beyond 1080p, I assumed the 970 was 4k capable.

About the rMBP: I have the retina MacBook Pro late 2013. It works fine with the Ultra HD resolution on the UHD Philips 40" monitor, but only on 60 Hz via either of the mini Display Port connectors. Which are the same as the Thunderbolt connectors. The rMBP also does UHD over HDMI but only up to 24 Hz, because it only supports up to HDMI 1.4, not HDMI 2.0. Wikipedia has a table that compares specifications of HDMI standards.

Not sure what model rMBP you have but this also counts for the 2014 and (so far) 2015 rMBP models.

For future models reference: The current rMBP specs on maximum resolution via HDMI can be found on Apple's site, page about the retina MacBook Pro:

HDMI video output
Support for 1080p resolution at up to 60Hz
Support for 3840-by-2160 resolution at 30Hz
Support for 4096-by-2160 resolution at 24Hz

 

[Mattia Sullini]

Hi all. This thread helped me a lot in deciding how to handle my old McPro 3.1 videocard upgrade. But not enough to avoid my total failure!

I got a gainward version of gtx570 but my systemo do not even sees there is a videocard inserted in the pci slots. Tried to swap, checked cables. Nothing happens: black screen.

With the old videocard inserted and monitor plugged to it, i checked either via System resources and via Nvidia Web drivers (updated)

Is it possible that my edition does not work? Sorry to popup here just with questions, hoping someone might help and tell me i don't have to resell it.

 

[MacVidCards]

Hi all. This thread helped me a lot in deciding how to handle my old McPro 3.1 videocard upgrade. But not enough to avoid my total failure!

I got a gainward version of gtx570 but my systemo do not even sees there is a videocard inserted in the pci slots. Tried to swap, checked cables. Nothing happens: black screen.

With the old videocard inserted and monitor plugged to it, i checked either via System resources and via Nvidia Web drivers (updated)

Is it possible that my edition does not work? Sorry to popup here just with questions, hoping someone might help and tell me i don't have to resell it.

Please take a moment and include some details.

Which OS, which 570, what power connections it has and how you have connected them.

 

[joesev]

Sorry for the repeat post but I could really use some guidance so I don't mess things up.

So I have a Mac Pro 3.1 and I got my GTX 750 TI working. I am running OS X 10.10, NVIDIA Web driver: 343.01.01f03. I would like to upgrade to OS X 10.10.2 (with the dreaded security update) how should I go about this? Do I download the NVIDIA Driver for OS X 10.10.2 and then upgrade my OS then upgrade the NVIDIA Driver from the downloaded file? Will I have to find the old graphics card that originally came with my mac to get an image up on the screen to be able to update the NVIDIA driver after I update my OS? any help would be awesome, thank you!

 

[MacVidCards]

Sorry for the repeat post but I could really use some guidance so I don't mess things up.

So I have a Mac Pro 3.1 and I got my GTX 750 TI working. I am running OS X 10.10, NVIDIA Web driver: 343.01.01f03. I would like to upgrade to OS X 10.10.2 (with the dreaded security update) how should I go about this? Do I download the NVIDIA Driver for OS X 10.10.2 and then upgrade my OS then upgrade the NVIDIA Driver from the downloaded file? Will I have to find the old graphics card that originally came with my mac to get an image up on the screen to be able to update the NVIDIA driver after I update my OS? any help would be awesome, thank you!

If you dig through the various reports you may figure out a way to work your way through this minefield. It would be FAR easier to stick in an EFI card and run the updates, then put 750Ti back in.

Send a nasty note to Apple, they have created this situation.

You should keep an EFI card handy anyhow. As much as it is possible to live without one for stretches of time, as you are illustrating by asking this question, there are times when they are needed.

If you dig through the threads, there are ways to change the reported OS build number. This allows different drivers to install and/or load. You can also change the driver version in the Nvidia startup kext. The disadvantage to that method is that you also need to turn on "kext dev mode".

 

[joesev]

If you dig through the various reports you may figure out a way to work your way through this minefield. It would be FAR easier to stick in an EFI card and run the updates, then put 750Ti back in.

Send a nasty note to Apple, they have created this situation.

You should keep an EFI card handy anyhow. As much as it is possible to live without one for stretches of time, as you are illustrating by asking this question, there are times when they are needed.

If you dig through the threads, there are ways to change the reported OS build number. This allows different drivers to install and/or load. You can also change the driver version in the Nvidia startup kext. The disadvantage to that method is that you also need to turn on "kext dev mode".

Thank you so much for the tip. I do have my original NVIDIA 8800 GT that came with my MacPro, Though I did recently have to bake it to get it to work again. I got my 750ti to work with some trial and error by following your instructions (on page 80) I just wasn't sure on which order to update the OS or the NVIDIA web driver or the CUDA driver without breaking everything.

So do I upgrade the OS, install the EFI graphics card, then update the NVIDIA web driver, then put the 750ti back in, then update the CUDA driver?

 

[chaosbunny]

gtx 670 no longer supported in OS X default driver?

Thanks to the experts in this forum I have been running a stock point of view gtx 670 in my Mac Pro for the past 2 years. Never had a problem with OS updates since I could also use this card with the default OS X driver. Since that "awesome" security update this is gone, if I boot with the OS X default driver the screen stays black and I have to put my old ati 5870 in to select the nvidia driver again. Reading here and the thread about that security update this shouldn't be the case with the 670 or am I missing something?

I am actually waiting to get a 970 until it is supported by the default OS X driver to avoid the above issue. If I'm having it anyway even with my 670 I might as well go for the 970.

 

[uwemutz]

Zotax GTX 980 in Mac Pro 3,1

Up and running with the new drivers. Ignoring a possible bottleneck (PCIE 2.0) and just being happy with the situation. Quadro 5000 drivers working perfectly.
I use a second graphics card just for the boot screen (4 monitors or split screen).
Next step: find some decent monitors (LG 29 Curved?). ;-)
PS: no MacVidCards 980 (because they dont support the 980 on a Mac Pro 3,1) - just the standard Windows one (Zotax GTX 980 AMP! Ed. with 4GB RAM).

 

[snipper]

Thanks to the experts in this forum I have been running a stock point of view gtx 670 in my Mac Pro for the past 2 years. […] Since that "awesome" security update this is gone, […] Reading here and the thread about that security update this shouldn't be the case with the 670 or am I missing something?

I'm using a GTX660 and don't dare to update, because people warn against it here, but I'm really clueless about how one can tell if / when there is an update, except to wait for someone in the forum to write about it from experience?

 

[Mattia Sullini]

Please take a moment and include some details.

Which OS, which 570, what power connections it has and how you have connected them.

You are right, sorry.
I am trying to run a Gainward gtx 570 Goldensample GLH on a MacPro 3.1 with the latest update for 10.10.2 and corresponding original Nvidia drivers.

The videocard has a 6-pin and an 8-pin connectors: first one going straight to the mobo and the other one is plugged in the additional 8/6+6 power cable that came with the videocard.

Plugged either to slot 1 and slot 2 (both x16) but no results. The 2 fans are spinning but the system won't detect the videocard, as i have verified by replugging the original card and connecting the monitor to it. The Nvidia webdriver shows the slot occupied by the gtx as if it was empty.

 

[Duane Dibbley]

If you dig through the various reports you may figure out a way to work your way through this minefield. It would be FAR easier to stick in an EFI card and run the updates, then put 750Ti back in.

I've gotten around this by having screen sharing enabled on my Mac Pro. When Security Update 2015-002 nuked my graphics card drivers, I was able to update to the beta NVIDIA drivers via screen sharing on my wife's MacBook. If you have another computer or device you can use for screen sharing, that would be easier than swapping video cards.

 

[nigelbb]

You are right, sorry.
I am trying to run a Gainward gtx 570 Goldensample GLH on a MacPro 3.1 with the latest update for 10.10.2 and corresponding original Nvidia drivers.

The videocard has a 6-pin and an 8-pin connectors: first one going straight to the mobo and the other one is plugged in the additional 8/6+6 power cable that came with the videocard.

I suspect therein lies your problem. Where is the additional 8/6+6 power cable plugged in? The Gainward web site doesn't have the specifications detailing how much power this part uses but I suspect that it's too high. It merely states:-

Minimum 550W system power supply with one 6-pin and one 8-pin PCI Express supplementary power connectors

 

[Mattia Sullini]

Uhm... the whole syste has a 980W PSU, 300W reserved for PCIe slots.
The videocard absorbs 220W in total and i've read either somewhere within this thread and on videotutorials that it should work also with a 6 to 8 adapter.
In any case i would get performance choking when i'd stress the card, but when idle it should be at least seen...

 

[MacVidCards]

I've gotten around this by having screen sharing enabled on my Mac Pro. When Security Update 2015-002 nuked my graphics card drivers, I was able to update to the beta NVIDIA drivers via screen sharing on my wife's MacBook. If you have another computer or device you can use for screen sharing, that would be easier than swapping video cards.

I wholeheartedly agree. But sadly most people haven't ever done this and it is one of those things that once you need it it is too late to enable it.

Also, I don't want to wander into the quagmire of describing how to enable and access. But I have used this many times myself when working on roms. If I get a dark screen but can hear clicks when hitting volume buttons I know it reached desktop, then I can screen share in and diagnose.

So, for those with a 2nd Mac, this is great option. But it is vital that you enable "screen sharing" beforehand and work out how to do it.

----------

The videocard has a 6-pin and an 8-pin connectors: first one going straight to the mobo and the other one is plugged in the additional 8/6+6 power cable that came with the videocard.

Here's my guess. You are using wrong side of the Dual 6 to 8 adapter.

One side triggers sense pin, one doesn't.

And the non-intuitive part is that the side with FEWER wires is the one that works.

 

[joesev]

So NVIDIA just had me update my web driver to version 343.02.02f02 does anyone know if that update is compatible with apple's latest security update (security update 2015-003 1.0)?

 

[MacVidCards]

So NVIDIA just had me update my web driver to version 343.02.02f02 does anyone know if that update is compatible with apple's latest security update (security update 2015-003 1.0)?

you've got it backwards

 

[flowrider]

So NVIDIA just had me update my web driver to version 343.02.02f02 does anyone know if that update is compatible with apple's latest security update (security update 2015-003 1.0)?

The latest Nvidia driver update is 343.02.02f04. Available here:

http://www.nvidia.com/download/driverResults.aspx/83493/en-us

Comparable with the latest Apple Security Update (14C1514)

You should periodically check here for Nvidia Driver and Cuda Updates:

http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us

Lou

 

[Mattia Sullini]

Here's my guess. You are using wrong side of the Dual 6 to 8 adapter.

One side triggers sense pin, one doesn't.

And the non-intuitive part is that the side with FEWER wires is the one that works.

Marry me! Thanks a lot, indeed. That has been a step forward since now the videocard is seen correctly. But haven't solved the puzzle yet.

Booting with that card results in grey screen of death. If i keep the old videocard plugged and i boot with it, the 570 is seen but won't send any signal to a second monitor. I have noticed that only the first DVI port is powered, while second one has no signal and the monitor shuts down.
Don't have an HDMI monitor to check if the additional port is functioning or not.

In the meantime, i have chatted with an Nvidia guy in their forum and he states that on such an old machine, my PSU might have lost its efficiency and hence the card is underpowered. Not a misaimed guess since this computer munched heavy tasks such CPU rendering for years.

Today i am checking on a friend's computer if at least the card is ok. In that case i'd try to look for a single rail 300W 12V external PSU (as suggested by the same guy) and see if it works.

Keeping you updated, hoping this might help other owners of such an heavy-stressed machine

 

[nigelbb]

Booting with that card results in grey screen of death. If i keep the old videocard plugged and i boot with it, the 570 is seen but won't send any signal to a second monitor. I have noticed that only the first DVI port is powered, while second one has no signal and the monitor shuts down.

Are you using the native OS X drivers or the Nvidia web drivers? With the latter only one output at a time works on a GTX570. The native drivers work fine though so there is no need for the Nvidia drivers.

 

[Mattia Sullini]

Are you using the native OS X drivers or the Nvidia web drivers? With the latter only one output at a time works on a GTX570. The native drivers work fine though so there is no need for the Nvidia drivers.

Nvidia. While checking if the card was detected anyway, i was using my old card. Then i have tried to unplug and boot with gtx570 as the only card plugged and i got no video.

[EDIT]: Holy cow! Switching to OSX drivers seems to have solved, couldn't imagine that. Thanks a lot!

[EDIT 2]: I think i am running at my PSU limits. After 2 hours of 3D modeling my tablet led begun to change color and my 3D app begun behave in a weird way. I guess i'll go for an external PSU anyway

 

[MacVidCards]

You're welcome

 

[XD Andy]

Hi all,

wonder if you can help with some advice and general info.

I've got a mid 2010 Mac Pro (model 5.1) with the stock ATI HD5770 GFx card in situ.

Standard 6Gb Ram and dual XEON quad core CPU's.

Running OS X 10.10.2

NVIDIA Web Driver 343.02.02f04 installed.

Anyway, in an effort to up my GFx performance a bit, went for a gigabyte GTX 750 Ti; 2GB of DDR5 gfx memory iirc, and got it as it powers off of a single 6 pin supply.

I'm trying to drive three displays, one 1080p via HDMI and two 1280x1024 via DVI.

Now, in an attempt to be clever, I figured how about driving the 1080p display from the GTX 750 Ti, as this is my main gaming display, and drive the two supporting monitors from the ATI HD 5770.

This would also give me access to the boot loader during system startup, and the such.

It sort of works, in that I'm seeing max frame rate on the 1080p display now (capped @ 50 fps) where I was only getting about 40 before, but I'm seeing visual artefacts on the displays attached to the ATI cards.

What I mean by this is web pages, for example, will have rectangular sections of the web page oddly zoomed in so that the page is not properly formatted, which corrects when dragged to the 1080p display.

Does anyone have experience of this, or give me some advice on how to improve this?

I'm postulating that the NVIDIA drivers result in loss of the ATI drivers so the card is using a default driver, but purely guess work.

And, I ideally need to access 10.8 and 10.9 for regression testing. I've tried 10.9 but the OS won't even load with the GTX 750 Ti installed, and that's with the NVIDIA web drivers for that os installed. From everything I've read, Maxwell cards are only supported in 10.10, but does anyone have a work around? Worst case I can live with only the ATI card being functional as long as I can get the OS to run with both cards physically installed.

many thanks

Andy

 

[MacVidCards]

You should remove nvidia driver from 10.9 and 10.8, all kexts

 

[XD Andy]

You should remove nvidia driver from 10.9 and 10.8, all kexts

Thanks !

But apologies for my ignorance. Will this allow me to boot into OS X with the GTX750Ti installed, and could you expand a bit on the details of how to ?

Thanks

Andy

 

[stix666]

I just bought a Palit Jetstream GTX 980. This has a 6 pin and 8 pin port and came bundled with 6+6-to-8 pin lead. How do I connect it to the 2 6 pin ports of my 4.1 Mac Pro (running 10.10.2)?