PPC G4 replacement video card

[gspiros]

Hi all, I have an old PPC G4 MDD single 1.25 GHz currently with the RV250 ATI card and I am looking for a replacement. I happen to have a RADEON 9550 256mb, an HD 3450 512 mb, an HD 2600 PRO 512 mb and a GeForce FX 5900 128mb laying around from old PCs. Does any of them work on a PPC G4? Do they need to be flashed or have pins taped?
Thanks...

 

[velocityg4]

You might get the 9550 to work. If it is one of the models capable of being flashed into a 9600. But you'd have to investigate your specific make and model of 9550. I think that is the only one which is potentially usable. Also tape the pins.

If you never want to build a retro gaming PC. I'd sell off that GeForce FX 5900. Use it to get a high end (for the era) flashable GPU. Such as a Radeon 9800 Pro. Although you may have to do some research on the best make and model to use. As some may not take flashing that well or only output VGA.

 

[Amethyst1]

The HD 2x00 and HD 3xx0 are out for OS X anyway as there are no drivers on PPC.

 

[gspiros]

You might get the 9550 to work. If it is one of the models capable of being flashed into a 9600. But you'd have to investigate your specific make and model of 9550. I think that is the only one which is potentially usable. Also tape the pins.

If you never want to build a retro gaming PC. I'd sell off that GeForce FX 5900. Use it to get a high end (for the era) flashable GPU. Such as a Radeon 9800 Pro. Although you may have to do some research on the best make and model to use. As some may not take flashing that well or only output VGA.

Thank you for your response. This is what I have:

 

[gspiros]

The HD 2x00 and HD 3xx0 are out for OS X anyway as there are no drivers on PPC.

Thanks... That's what I thought too since they are newer models comparing to the G4, but it's nice to definitely scratch them off.

 

[DearthnVader]

It is posible to get the GF5900 to work in a PPC Mac, but it's rather involved and takes a lot of FCode skills.

It seemed to be an under performer back in the day and a 6600GT AGP or 6800 AGP would be a far better fit. Tho some of these cards may have issues in a MDD for reasons we've never been sure that stem from the FCode used and the implementation of Open Firmware for the MDD.

I think the 6800's should work fine for the MDD, also maybe flashable without replacing the EEROM with a larger one.

Just about all cards from the PC side that can be flashed are going to require disabling pins 3 and 11 if you are looking at 8x AGP compatible cards.

I'd sell the 5900 and buy a card that is a good fit for your Mac. The Radeon 9600 Mac/PC can still be had reasonable if you look around. I have one I got NiB for not too much more than a used GF5900 sells for.

If you don't want to deal with pin taping and flashing it's not a bad card. There was also a Radeon 9800 256MB Mac card retail from ATI that is ready out of the box for the MDD, but they are rare in any shape.