Help with 3,1 MP

[tatt2ed]

I got a MP 3,1 with a Nvidia 8800gt (Mac not PC) but the previous owner wiped the drive so it is back to OSX 10.5 (I believe so anyway).

I am not getting a signal to the monitor and have tried a few monitors.
The fan runs full speed on the video card.

I might be mistaken but if it was set back to 10.5 the video card wouldn't be supported?
I do hear the chime and then the VoiceOver, which I believe is part of the install?

BTW, I am a Mac novice, if you didn't already guess.

Thanks

 

[bax2003]

Graphics drivers for 8800GT are included in Leopard 10.5.2 or greater.

- Did you try both DVI outputs ?
- Is card connected with Mac Pro logicboard with black 6-pin power cable ?

 

[tatt2ed]

Graphics drivers for 8800GT are included in Leopard 10.5.2 or greater.

- Did you try both DVI outputs ?
- Is card connected with Mac Pro logicboard with black 6-pin power cable ?

Yes to both questions. I am a novice at Mac, but over 20 years in IT, and started in hardware with PC's.
Did hours of research, but still not sure, but it may be a bad card.
I swapped cables, tried straight DVI and Analog to DVI (it had the Apple adapter when I got it) monitors, the second PCIe 16x slot.

From my research it seems these 8800gt cards aren't very reliable.
I don't really want to replace it since the technology is so old and even on eBay the prices seem way inflated. If the card isn't the problem, out about $100 or more. A PC version is only about 1/3 that, so I might try it.
I did find a sight with the PC versions that work and can be flashed. They have the links for the EFI flash and instructions.

Any other suggestions or do you think I have narrowed it down to a failed card?
I don't have the original OSX. I believe the last iMac I had, had a small installer, then downloaded the os. No cd or dvd. Would that be the same for the Mp?

 

[IowaLynn]

I got a MP 3,1 with a Nvidia 8800gt (Mac not PC) but the previous owner wiped the drive so it is back to OSX 10.5 (I believe so anyway).

I am not getting a signal to the monitor and have tried a few monitors.
The fan runs full speed on the video card.

I might be mistaken but if it was set back to 10.5 the video card wouldn't be supported?
I do hear the chime and then the VoiceOver, which I believe is part of the install?

BTW, I am a Mac novice, if you didn't already guess.

Thanks

You can buy 10.6.3 DVD from Apple for $20
8800GT - lots of failures, one 'fix' and really true - is to bake the card in an oven but a 3,1 can take a lot better newer cards, but only once you have 10.6.8 AND updated to 10.8.3 or above. Apple is only supporting Mavericks and above now.

 

[tatt2ed]

You can buy 10.6.3 DVD from Apple for $20
8800GT - lots of failures, one 'fix' and really true - is to bake the card in an oven but a 3,1 can take a lot better newer cards, but only once you have 10.6.8 AND updated to 10.8.3 or above. Apple is only supporting Mavericks and above now.

I cleaned it and baked it, still the same results.

Which card would you suggest for $125-150. I am only going to use it as a VM box for app testing