Installed new graphics card Mac Pro 5,1 and now it only boots into Safe Mode

[sgentile92]

I installed a flashed version of this graphics card in my mac pro:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127832
I installed the appropriate drivers for my OS version (10.11.2) and the card is definitely recognized by my computer.

The problem is that the Mac only boots into safe mode now. The card has a slot for a 6 pin cable and an 8 pin cable. I read online that it can be powered by 2 6 pin cables and since thats what I had, thats what I used. Before I go out and buy an 8 pin cable, could this be the reason for the computer only booting into safe mode? If not, what are some other reasons why its only booting into safe mode?

I apologize if this is a stupid or obvious question.

 

[h9826790]

Did you try to put your old card back in?

 

[sgentile92]

Did you try to put your old card back in?

No I didn't. If I put the old one back in and everything works fine then that would indicate that the issue is with the card and not the actual computer, right?

 

[h9826790]

Yes, even though not necessary means the card is faulty, but at least it's the new card related.

 

[sgentile92]

Yes, even though not necessary means the card is faulty, but at least it's the new card related.

Ok, I reinstalled the old card and everything works fine with the old one installed. Could it be a driver issue? I installed both drivers listed under 10.11.2 from MacVidCards http://www.macvidcards.com/drivers.html

Other that, could it be that I'm using 2 6 pin connectors instead of a 6 and an 8? Maybe the computer detects that that isn't enough to power the card and puts it into safe mode?

 

[h9826790]

2x6pin is more than enough for the 970. Of course nothing stop you to try the 6->8pin adaptor, but I doubt will it help.

By the way, did you disable the OSX driver?

 

[sgentile92]

I also noticed this dropdown menu in my toolbar. Right now its got the Default OS X drivers checked off because I have the old card in, but would it automatically have changed to the nvidia drivers when that card was installed? I would pop that card back in and see but I'm trying to avoid installing and uninstalling too many times.

 

[sgentile92]

2x6pin is more than enough for the 970. Of course nothing stop you to try the 6->8pin adaptor, but I doubt will it help.

By the way, did you disable the OSX driver?

How do I do that? By selecting the NVIDIA drivers in that menu I just referred to in my last comment?

 

[h9826790]

You have to activate / select the Nvidia web driver by yourself, the system won't do it for you automatically regardless which card is installed.

 

[sgentile92]

You have to activate / select the Nvidia web driver by yourself, the system won't do it for you automatically regardless which card is installed.

Ok, so once I put the new card back in and the computer boots into safe mode, I select the NVIDIA Web Drivers and then I restart. Once restarted, will the system remember that it I selected the NVIDIA drivers?

 

[h9826790]

Select the web driver NOW, and then shutdown, swap to the new card.

 

[sgentile92]

Trying that now

 

[sgentile92]

Select the web driver NOW, and then shutdown, swap to the new card.

Ok I selected the NVIDIA drivers, shut down, and swapped the cards. Upon booting, the boot screen only loads halfway. I experienced this when I I initially installed the card a few hours ago. To fix it I reset the PRAM. After resetting the PRAM, the computer booted into safe mode with the default OS X drivers selected. I reselected the NVIDIA drivers and restarted. I got the boot screen that only loads half way again.

Any thoughts on why this is happening?

 

[h9826790]

Every time you reset PRAM, you will clear the boot argument, which means the OS will fall back to the Apple driver. A properly flashed card should able to boot to the normal desktop (without GPU acceleration), and then you can install / update / select the Nvidia web driver. Once the Web driver is selected. Regardless if the card has Mac EFI or not, it should work.

TBH, I doubt if your card is properly flashed. Where you get it? Can you ask for a full refund?

P.S. It's nothing hurt to try
sudo nvram boot-args="nvda_drv=1"
command in the terminal. But I guess it will bring you back to the half boot situation.

 

[sgentile92]

Every time you reset PRAM, you will clear the boot argument, which means the OS will fall back to the Apple driver. A properly flashed card should able to boot to the normal desktop (without GPU acceleration), and then you can install / update / select the Nvidia web driver. Once the Web driver is selected. Regardless if the card has Mac EFI or not, it should work.

TBH, I doubt if your card is properly flashed. Where you get it? Can you ask for a full refund?

P.S. It's nothing hurt to try
sudo nvram boot-args="nvda_drv=1"
command in the terminal. But I guess it will bring you back to the half boot situation.

I bought the card from Newegg and had it flashed by MacVidCards, whom I've heard nothing but good things about and I thought were pretty reputable. So it could be that it wasn't flashed properly? Also, should I run that command from terminal while in safe mode?

 

[h9826790]

If you were not buying that directly from MVC, the card may not be properly flashed. Quite a lot of guys steal the ROM image from a MVC flashed card, and then flash that ROM image on other incompatible cards for selling.

If you bought that from MVC (I don't know if he sell cards on Newegg), you can contact him directly. He should able to help. His card should be very good and he should provide you 60 days warranty.

And AFAIK, that command should work in safe mode or recovery partition.

 

[sgentile92]

If you were not buying that directly from MVC, the card may not be properly flashed. Quite a lot of guys steal the ROM image from a MVC flashed card, and then flash that ROM image on other incompatible cards for selling.

If you bought that from MVC (I don't know if he sell cards on Newegg), you can contact him directly. He should able to help.

And AFAIK, that command should work in safe mode or recovery partition.

Yeah I sent the card to MVC directly to flash it and I have contacted him. Waiting on his response now. I did some more research and some people are saying that maybe this particular brand (MSI) of NVIDIA 970 may be incompatible with Macs, but if i can get into safe more and the system detects the card, then thats not the case right? I'm going to try the command line now.

Also, could this be the issue? In the system profiler, under "Display Controller" it says "driver installed:Yes" Under "NVDA, Parent" it says "Driver installed:no"

 

[h9826790]

That should be the audio part, no driver is normal in OSX. You can search HDMIAudio in this forum for more info about this part.

 

[nigelbb]

If you had the card flashed by MacVidCards you would think that he tested that it was working properly before sending it back.

 

[StoneJack]

The best thing is to buy Asus GTX750Ti (PC) and use it without flashing but with web drivers

 

[nigelbb]

The best thing is to buy Asus GTX750Ti (PC) and use it without flashing but with web drivers

The OP has already paid MacVidCards double what a 750 costs to have his 970 flashed!!!

 

[flowrider]

The best thing is to buy Asus GTX750Ti (PC) and use it without flashing but with web drivers

What are you smokin?


I'm using a Gigabyte GTX 785 that MVC flashed for me some time ago. Works perfectly. MVC shorts 2 of the pins in the 8 pin plug to make it work with a 6 pin cable. Is the OP sure he is plugging his 6 pin cable into the correct pins?
Lou

 

[sgentile92]

If you had the card flashed by MacVidCards you would think that he tested that it was working properly before sending it back.

What are you smokin?


I'm using a Gigabyte GTX 785 that MVC flashed for me some time ago. Works perfectly. MVC shorts 2 of the pins in the 8 pin plug to make it work with a 6 pin cable. Is the OP sure he is plugging his 6 pin cable into the correct pins?
Lou

MVC said that it was tested and it works. He said that I need to use an a 6 pin and an 8 pin instead of 2 6's. He didn't mention anything about shorting 2 of the pins. Is there a way I can tell if 2 of the pins were shorted and which ones they are?

 

[sgentile92]

The OP has already paid MacVidCards double what a 750 costs to have his 970 flashed!!!

Yeah I've invested too much money into this card to give up and try something else. Just trying desperately to get this one to work. I ordered an 8 pin cable because I was using 2 6 pins, and MVC said that I need to use a 6 and an 8. I'm really hoping that works.

 

[StoneJack]

What are you smokin?


I'm using a Gigabyte GTX 785 that MVC flashed for me some time ago. Works perfectly. MVC shorts 2 of the pins in the 8 pin plug to make it work with a 6 pin cable. Is the OP sure he is plugging his 6 pin cable into the correct pins?
Lou

There is no need to flash cards. PC card works without flashing and with web drivers. I have one working right now in my Hackintosh i3.