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

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navaira said:
@dmylrea Did you try Safe Mode boot?

Edit: ah, someone beat me to it.
Click to expand...
If that's the "-x" boot arg referenced above, then no. I thought there was an easier way. I've got a remote family member I put together a cMP for and isn't a techie type.

It's not going to be good if I have to handhold him every time there is a minor or major OS update.
 
dmylrea said:
If that's the "-x" boot arg referenced above, then no. I thought there was an easier way. I've got a remote family member I put together a cMP for and isn't a techie type.

It's not going to be good if I have to handhold him every time there is a minor or major OS update.
Click to expand...

Without an EFI, I don't know of any simpler method when updating the OS.

If your family member's GPU is Kepler and your not getting video with the stock drivers, then Safe mode is something to try.

If the GPU is Maxwell, you'll need nv_disable=1 in the boot arguments and Screen Sharing from another Mac to apply the web drivers (see part 24 on page 1 of thread).
 
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pastrychef said:
Interesting. Thanks for sharing the info.
Click to expand...

Your welcome. I hope this method helps someone.

The graphics are crap in safe boot, but all one needs is video to finish the job.

One thing I noticed is that the Nvidia pref pane is not accessible in Safe Mode. In order to apply the web driver, it's necessry to download the .pkg file and run that.
 
flowrider said:
WARNING - El Cap DP5 and Nvidia Web Driver 346.03.01b06 are incompatible. When updating to DP5 if the Web Driver is left turned on, upon restart after update, you will go into a recurring bootloop. Before DP5 install, turn off the Web Driver and install DP5 and use Apple's Default Driver, if your card works with the Default Driver. My GTX 780 does. Otherwise stay with DP4.

Lou
Click to expand...

Looks like a b07 driver is now available, which probably fixes the issue you're seeing.

http://us.download.nvidia.com/tYGrxreBnE8b89jZ0VysebeSwZJehZTa/WebDriver-346.03.01b07.pkg
 
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Sorry, a question: in Hardware/PCI I have this error message, is it normal? (I have a GTX960 4 GB) on Yosemite 10.10.5
errore.jpg
 
^^^^I don't understand Spanish, but I'm assuming your running a PC GPU without and Apple EFI. If that's the case, then yes the message is normal.

Lou
 
Hi - hoping you can help - I have installed a GTX (edit) 670 into my Mac Pro 4.1 - in both Yosemite and Mavericks the card is not properly detected and is listed as 'Nvidia Chip Model'. I have tried various driver versions (checking the exact OS build no.) uninstalled/re-booted/re-installed but no joy. I have also tried both pci-e slot 1 + 2.

If I boot with only the 970 installed i only get a black screen.

Any help gratefully received!

Thanks.
 
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theGp said:
Hi - hoping you can help - I have installed a GTX 970 into my Mac Pro 4.1 - in both Yosemite and Mavericks the card is not properly detected and is listed as 'Nvidia Chip Model'. I have tried various driver versions (checking the exact OS build no.) uninstalled/re-booted/re-installed but no joy. I have also tried both pci-e slot 1 + 2.

If I boot with only the 970 installed i only get a black screen.

Any help gratefully received!

Thanks.
Click to expand...

What OS and NVIDIA driver version are you using? Are you sure you have the web driver enabled?
 
Hi Asgorath, thanks for replying.. I have:

OS X 10.10.5 (14F27)
346.02.03f01

Which should be right? Yes the web driver is definitely enabled. I see this in the system profiler:

NVIDIA Chip Model:

Chipset Model: NVIDIA Chip Model
Type: GPU
Bus: PCIe
Slot: Slot-2
PCIe Lane Width: x16
VRAM (Total): 128 MB
Vendor: NVIDIA (0x10de)
Device ID: 0x1189
Revision ID: 0x00a2
ROM Revision: preset 1.0.0


I see the same in Mavericks in another instal.

Thanks.
 
Hi MacVidCards. Card is definitely plugged in (can see lights above both 6 pin connectors). Just tried re-installing the driver and switching from Web driver > OSX driver and back. So seems to be 'loaded'? Perhaps the card is broken :(

Would the system profiler list a 'NVIDIA Chip Model' if it was broken?
 
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I think you are confused about a few things.

Device id of 1189 is not a 970, from memory it is a 670, or something else from Keppler family

So doesn't need the web drivers.

If showing Nvidia Chip Model it is either not getting power or broken.
 
Hi - sorry that was a typo, it is a 670! So should I uninstall the nvidia drivers and try again? (i will re-check power cables too). Thanks.
 
Listers,

I have a MacPro 2,1 running 10.10.4 and an EVGA GTX560. I recently caught a EVGA GTX750Ti FTW ACX model with 2 GB GDDR5. I have the appropriate nVidia Web Drivers and Cuda for 10.10.4 (and know the Maxwell architecture requires the nvidia drivers to boot). I powered down, changed cards and upon restart I get the chimes, black screen and then nothing else...the something else being where it lets me login.

Powering down and popping the 570 back in and powering up...everything works as normal chimes, black screen and finally login screen. The only difference between the setups is the 560 has two 6-pin ports that I power off my motherboard's mini 6-pin ports. The 750Ti has only one 6-pin on the card itself. To me, that means it draws less power and doesn't require any additional than that provided via a single 6-pin. I have tried both motherboard ports to 6-pin with no change.

The fans spin up and after 3 swap-outs I'm confident everything is seated properly...what am I overlooking?

Thanks,

-Saint
 
The only thing that I can think of is that you have the Nvidia web drivers installed but not enabled. Try entering the following in to Terminal and try again with your GTX750Ti.

BTW, yes, one of the motherboard mini PCI-e power cables should be enough to power your card.

Code: 
sudo nvram boot-args="nvda_drv=1"
 
pastrychef said:
The only thing that I can think of is that you have the Nvidia web drivers installed but not enabled. Try entering the following in to Terminal and try again with your GTX750Ti.

BTW, yes, one of the motherboard mini PCI-e power cables should be enough to power your card.

Code: 
sudo nvram boot-args="nvda_drv=1"
Click to expand...


In absence of trying that earlier (I will likely resort to it after I go for a run). I went into System Preferences / NVIDIA Driver Manager to verify they were enabled and locked the settings. So, in my mind, it shouldn't be allowed to change and each time I pop in the 560 and start-up the web-drivers are enabled.

mr_ndm.jpg
 
Yup. Looks like they are enabled... Don't know why your screen remains black... Have you tried enabling screen sharing to see if you an connect from another computer to see if OS X has indeed completed loading?
 
I think that there are a fair number of reports of 750 cards having issues with display output, even when Web drivers are loaded. One guy fixed it by flashing a different brand rom on it, but he was pretty lucky.

Your best bet is to do as Chef suggested and use screen sharing to establish that the card booted. Then try hot plugging the display. And after that try different ways to connect. For instance I have a Dell U2410, it has every sort of connection I need so I can test cards. I can use DVI (x2) or VGA or DP or HDMI, just by switching which input it uses.

Most displays (except Apple's) have more then 1 means of getting signal in. Try the other choices, other ports on card.
 
MacVidCards said:
I think that there are a fair number of reports of 750 cards having issues with display output, even when Web drivers are loaded. One guy fixed it by flashing a different brand rom on it, but he was pretty lucky.

Your best bet is to do as Chef suggested and use screen sharing to establish that the card booted. Then try hot plugging the display. And after that try different ways to connect. For instance I have a Dell U2410, it has every sort of connection I need so I can test cards. I can use DVI (x2) or VGA or DP or HDMI, just by switching which input it uses.

Most displays (except Apple's) have more then 1 means of getting signal in. Try the other choices, other ports on card.
Click to expand...
Just the 750 cards? What about the 740 cards?
 
740 is Kepler, a rebranded 640. Should be fine and won't require web driver

UPDATE: Coincidentally, I had an Asus 750Ti come in for a flash job. With EFI on it it crashes, boot screen on DVI gets all corrupted, then locks. Without EFI the only port that works is the VGA.

It is this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121855&cm_re=gtx750-_-14-121-855-_-Product

If you do a search of this thread with "asus 750" you will see 10 posts, many of them mention trouble with Asus 750 cards in OS X, one of them even mentions a card where only the VGA port works. (2 now I guess)

On the other hand, I did a very similar looking Asus 750 that worked great, it had DP, HDMI, and DVI.

I postulated before that it was something to do with display port routing, I may find a way to at least mae the PC cards give some of the DVI/HDMI ports output. Will update.

I have done a couple different EVGA cards with no trouble. Haven't tried other brands, but it certainly seems that these are hit-or-miss. People with PC versions that work well would do everyone a favor by including specific info. I like Newegg links because they keep them active for a long time.
 
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