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PC version of XFX 5770 running natively, but is OpenCL working?

P

pipkato

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 11, 2007
19
0
Ireland
I would like to know if my new PC version of the ATI 5770 is working properly in my Mac Pro.

Just installed my new (unflashed) PC single-slot version of the XFX ATI Radeon 5770 - ZMF3 Revision A.5 in my 2008 Mac Pro 3,1. It eventually booted, although without the normal Apple grey screen. It's driving an extended desktop on two Dell DVI monitors from its DVI ports and after a reboot everything seemed normal. I don't know if the mini-DisplayPort is working, or how to test it. I was able to install and run Final Cut Pro X, which I couldn't do with my Mac Pro's original ATI 2660 non-OpenCL card.

But I don't know if it's working as well as the official Mac version of the card. I'd read that under 10.6.7 the 5770 ran natively without the need for flashing, but that 10.6.8 (my current version) broke some of that compatibility (maybe the DisplayPort). My principal interest is in getting OpenCL working properly.

Can anyone suggest a good way to check if OpenCL is working, or a general benchmark program that might include OpenCL info? I'm not sure if I need to install extra drivers, or do some other stuff to get the card's full functionality.

Thanks.
 
I don't have an immediate answer as to a definitive OpenCL test, but your post brings up a question of my own -


Is Apple really allowing REGULAR CARDS to be used on their machines now?? That would be pretty stupendous of Apple to finally do that, could this be the end of over-priced, Apple-only cards? :eek:
 
10.6.8 has Kexts for the 5 series ATI Graphics Cards...don't see why it wouldn't be working at full speed.

Try and open a new widget in Dashboard, if you have the ripple effect QE/CI is functioning properly. Same goes for DVD Player and Geekbench. I'm not sure about any other specific test for OpenCL though.
 
OK, I've done some tests.

I do have the ripple effect on widgets in Dashboard so I'm presuming that QE/CI are both working.

I ran an OpenCL program called Luxmark and got a GPU score of 2025. Don't really know what that means, but it seems to be in line with another result I found on the Luxmark site for the ATI 5770 card.

BTW my Mac Pro takes about 90 seconds to get to the login screen. Before that the screens are blank.
 
Ati card

Hi pipkato and others,

Do i understand correctly you have installed a pc 5770 ati card and is working natively in you Mac pro? So no need for flashing roms etc?

I am going to upgrade my ati 2600 card of my macpro 3.1(early 2008)

Which ati pc cards will be natively compatible with macpro?

5770?
5870?
6970?

Hope you can advise me!
Thanks
 
pipkato said:
OK, I've done some tests.

I do have the ripple effect on widgets in Dashboard so I'm presuming that QE/CI are both working.

I ran an OpenCL program called Luxmark and got a GPU score of 2025. Don't really know what that means, but it seems to be in line with another result I found on the Luxmark site for the ATI 5770 card.

BTW my Mac Pro takes about 90 seconds to get to the login screen. Before that the screens are blank.
Click to expand...

If you can run OpenCL at all on your card, OpenCL is working.

OpenCL works per device, you have to manually switch most benchmarks to even get it to work on CPU, or get it working dual GPU.
 
I have a 5570 1GB. Wonder if it would work cause it is a 5 series as well!
 
Thanks goMac.

So it appears I do have OpenCL working, but maybe there are degrees of OpenCL efficiency?

I'm afraid I don't understand the second part of your answer, not being particularly familiar with benchmark programs.

So my XFX ATI 5770 1GB seems to be working fine, once it hits the login screen. The only thing I'm not clear about is whether it affects other issues like forcing my Mac Pro to boot from a CD/DVD. I tried repeatedly to get my machine to boot from a 'DiskWarrior' CD and from my 'Snow Leopard' install DVD, using the 'keep the 'C' key pressed on startup', but couldn't get it to work.

I still haven't been able to understand why. Does it need the Apple EFI code to be present in the graphics card BIOS? Does it not work with an Apple Wireless Keyboard? If it's an issue to do with the missing EFI, I'm not sure if I can safely force my Mac to choose my CD/DVD drive as the startup disk for emergency or housekeeping work which necessitate booting from an external boot CD or DVD.


goMac said:
If you can run OpenCL at all on your card, OpenCL is working.

OpenCL works per device, you have to manually switch most benchmarks to even get it to work on CPU, or get it working dual GPU.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Hi Soulman1976,

I'm not a techie, so I can't do more than refer you to the arstechnica link above on the list of cards likely to be compatible.

Also here's a link since the launch of OS X Lion suggesting that compatibility in some cases is retained.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1192528/

You might also like to check out forum.netkas.org .


Soulman1976 said:
Hi pipkato and others,

Do i understand correctly you have installed a pc 5770 ati card and is working natively in you Mac pro? So no need for flashing roms etc?

I am going to upgrade my ati 2600 card of my macpro 3.1(early 2008)

Which ati pc cards will be natively compatible with macpro?

5770?
5870?
6970?

Hope you can advise me!
Thanks
Click to expand...
 
So I popped in my 5570 not the 5770 mentioned in this thread and it worked. No grey boot screen via vga or dvi but 10.6.8 picks it up as a 5000 series card no problem.
 
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