the bios is while very old and outdated, is very useful (but does need to go). Being locked into hardware is not though. While I like osx apple hasn't done anything in the hardware department to help amy of us get good graphics cards (the 4870 being a decent card IMO, love Nvidias 250 series and 280 series, much more reliable and lol, typos cause of the iPhones stupid auto correct =/) but hey, if the BIOS and EFI was gone... Then things would be much nicer, because the bios does need to get out,
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Race to dump the 4870 ROM, Who's first?
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the bios is while very old and outdated, is very useful (but does need to go). Being locked into hardware is not though. While I like osx apple hasn't done anything in the hardware department to help amy of us get good graphics cards (the 4870 being a decent card IMO, love Nvidias 250 series and 280 series, much more reliable and lol, typos cause of the iPhones stupid auto correct =/) but hey, if the BIOS and EFI was gone... Then things would be much nicer, because the bios does need to get out,
Then you go back to OpenFirmware or have a non-functional computer. EFI is a BIOS replacement; it does not work in conjunction with the BIOS.
Nitpicking here but I meant, "OpenFirmware", not "an openfirmware"; this was the Forth-based standard that Apple used to implement their BIOS for the PowerPC line of systems before moving to EFI with the x86 transition (http://www.openfirmware.org). This is a bit offtopic, but there is nothing preventing this now! The main issue is EFI has not gained enough of a foothold for people to actually produce this sort of software for it yet (to my knowledge). Once EFI starts to get a larger install base you'll see manufacturers/hobbyists start to build the tools.
Edit: There is an open source OpenFirmware BIOS implementation called OpenBIOS
Yes, it is supposed to be.
As I have been mumbling to myself and now as we have proven with this thread....APple's implementation of EFI on these cards is half-hearted. The EFI functions as a "Hi, How are ya?" but the card is actually running from the good old PC BIOS.
Take the BIOS out of these EFI ROMs and the cards don't work.
A Few Questions
Okay took me a few hours to read through this whole thing, but I finally did it. I have a recently purchased (week old) 2009 Mac Pro that I ordered with the ATi Radeon 4870. I am currently using the 24" LED ACD with the miniDisplay Port. I was very interested in getting a dual setup going but was disappointed it was not a CTO from Apple. Then I finally found this thread. After doing all the reading I have a few questions to ask. Is it possible to use the 4870 X2? I wouldn't be using it in Leopard and I understand that it won't work at all. I would want to use it in Windows (Windows 7 to be precise) in a crossfire setup. Would there be a problem though out putting to the miniDisplay Port? If the X2 is not possible then what would it take to just get the 1 GB 4870 to go? Finally what is needed to make this happen? I have netkas tutorial on how to (located on page 9 of this thread) flash a 4870 card. Thanks in advance!
Okay took me a few hours to read through this whole thing, but I finally did it. I have a recently purchased (week old) 2009 Mac Pro that I ordered with the ATi Radeon 4870. I am currently using the 24" LED ACD with the miniDisplay Port. I was very interested in getting a dual setup going but was disappointed it was not a CTO from Apple. Then I finally found this thread. After doing all the reading I have a few questions to ask. Is it possible to use the 4870 X2? I wouldn't be using it in Leopard and I understand that it won't work at all. I would want to use it in Windows (Windows 7 to be precise) in a crossfire setup. Would there be a problem though out putting to the miniDisplay Port? If the X2 is not possible then what would it take to just get the 1 GB 4870 to go? Finally what is needed to make this happen? I have netkas tutorial on how to (located on page 9 of this thread) flash a 4870 card. Thanks in advance!
Several folks have flashed a 1Gb card.
For the most part they have the SIngle DVI only issue....when a second display is plugged onto other DVI....KAPUTTT!!! the computer crashes and reboots.
Aside from which....NONE of these come with MDP....only the Apple card. So if you want two of those....there are existing threads on that.....either add a 120GT or fire up a small reactor in your basement and run 2 @ 4870s.
On another note...I had some thoughts on 4870 current issues.
When Radeon 9700s are flashed with Mac 9700 ROM...due to the ADC being on lower port...the DVI port has NO VGA in the DVI, in most cases. Odder still is that changing clocks and Dev id in 9800 ROM allowed PC 9700 cards to be 100% fully functional, complete with VGA in the DVI port.
So at first it seemed like a software issue. Then Ebay flasher YoYoMarv figured out that SOME 9700 cards had resistors in a different place and THEY had VGA with standard Mac 9700 ROM.
I believe they even figured out a mod to 9700 ROM to obviate need to move resistors.
So in that case, the missing VGA was fixable either through a ROM tweak, or a hardware mod. Hopefully this VGA on 4870 issue clears up in one or both of these ways.
As far as the DUal Display problem....still a work in progress..I guess we are hopeful that 10.5.7 may have a fix.
For the most part they have the SIngle DVI only issue....when a second display is plugged onto other DVI....KAPUTTT!!! the computer crashes and reboots.
Aside from which....NONE of these come with MDP....only the Apple card. So if you want two of those....there are existing threads on that.....either add a 120GT or fire up a small reactor in your basement and run 2 @ 4870s.
On another note...I had some thoughts on 4870 current issues.
When Radeon 9700s are flashed with Mac 9700 ROM...due to the ADC being on lower port...the DVI port has NO VGA in the DVI, in most cases. Odder still is that changing clocks and Dev id in 9800 ROM allowed PC 9700 cards to be 100% fully functional, complete with VGA in the DVI port.
So at first it seemed like a software issue. Then Ebay flasher YoYoMarv figured out that SOME 9700 cards had resistors in a different place and THEY had VGA with standard Mac 9700 ROM.
I believe they even figured out a mod to 9700 ROM to obviate need to move resistors.
So in that case, the missing VGA was fixable either through a ROM tweak, or a hardware mod. Hopefully this VGA on 4870 issue clears up in one or both of these ways.
As far as the DUal Display problem....still a work in progress..I guess we are hopeful that 10.5.7 may have a fix.
Still puzzled
I understand that apple is the only one to sell the card with MDP. That is the one and only card I have in my Mac Pro right now. It is also not clear to me if the 4870 X2 will work only in Windows. It doesn't have to work in Leopard, I'll just leave my regular 4870 to that. I just want to be able to Crossfire between the two. Finally I just want to know what mechanical parts or wires I might need to make this happen or is it just plug and play? Thanks, sorry if there is any confusion.
I understand that apple is the only one to sell the card with MDP. That is the one and only card I have in my Mac Pro right now. It is also not clear to me if the 4870 X2 will work only in Windows. It doesn't have to work in Leopard, I'll just leave my regular 4870 to that. I just want to be able to Crossfire between the two. Finally I just want to know what mechanical parts or wires I might need to make this happen or is it just plug and play? Thanks, sorry if there is any confusion.
There is a brand new 2GB Radeon HD 4870 model out now!!!!!
I wonder if this card will work with the ROM dump/hack/flash:
SAPPHIRE Vapor-X Radeon HD 4870 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 Video Card
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102826
All I know is that card is making me drool. The reviews are showing that it is quieter than a standard 4870 video card.
I wonder if this card will work with the ROM dump/hack/flash:
SAPPHIRE Vapor-X Radeon HD 4870 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 Video Card
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102826
All I know is that card is making me drool. The reviews are showing that it is quieter than a standard 4870 video card.
I'm pretty sure that card would not fit in the first slot. That heat sink on the back will surely hit the memory cage, just as the screws on other cards hit the cage.
I imagine it would require that the rear heatsink assembly get removed altogether.
I DOUBT that anything can get much use from 2GB of VRAM....but would be worth trying out.
We also still need some brave soul to try a 4870 X2.
I can help with the ROM (using "The Method" as described by pipolomo42) if someone gets any of these oddball cards that we need info on.
I DOUBT that anything can get much use from 2GB of VRAM....but would be worth trying out.
We also still need some brave soul to try a 4870 X2.
I can help with the ROM (using "The Method" as described by pipolomo42) if someone gets any of these oddball cards that we need info on.
The review I found online says that this does not look like a reference design card, so it does not sound good in regards to flashing. Newegg has it for $259, and it has three outputs, VGA, HDMI, and Dual-link DVI. No dongles needed.
Right now you're probably right. 2GB of VRAM not much good in Leopard. But I think it'll be useful when Snow Leopard hits the streets.
Right now you're probably right. 2GB of VRAM not much good in Leopard. But I think it'll be useful when Snow Leopard hits the streets.
Why, so the rest of the industry can only offer one or two video cards for their computers ?
In the original context I was referring more to the main BIOS instead of the option ROM implementation but, regardless, it IS a step in the right direction. As for the actual Radeon ROM, I wouldn't of expected a full EFI ROM as AMD's entire line is based around the PC BIOS implementation. It's foolhardy, nevermind expensive, to duplicate all the work AMD already did and end up with a video card that wouldn't support Windows/Linux. As I said previously, once the installed base grows a bit larger I would expect it but at the moment what we have is pretty good.
Did anybody tried one of these ?
Gainward HD 4870 1024MB Golden Sample - 1 Go DVI/HDMI/DisplayPort - PCI Express (ATI Radeon HD 4870
Gigabyte R487D5-1GD - 1 Go DVI/HDMI/DisplayPort - PCI Express (ATI Radeon HD 4870)
i think this issues with ports is coming from driver, Motmot hass fixed ConnectorsTable which is made for 4870 with MDP from apple, and it lags on our cards, hoping on more universal framebuffer driver from apple.
There is now 4 frambuffers for 4 series cards - Motmot, Quail ( from 10.5.7 beta), Kakapo and Raven (both from 10.5.6 MacPro 09 dvd) - hehe, developers like birds.
Only motmot works for 48x0 for now
There is now 4 frambuffers for 4 series cards - Motmot, Quail ( from 10.5.7 beta), Kakapo and Raven (both from 10.5.6 MacPro 09 dvd) - hehe, developers like birds.
Only motmot works for 48x0 for now
No, BIOS is holding back the modern PC.
EFI is its replacement. Technology is moving forward afterall.
I'm willling to be the expieramental guinea pig for the 4870 X2 card. I just want be assured that it will work in Windows 7 and that it is easily workable with the 2009 Mac Pro's power supply.
Well, all the new announced IBM x-Series systems (Intel/AMD x86*) drops BIOS and switch to UEFI 2.x. (ok, wait a few days for official announcement
) I believe it will also come down to normal PC's.But please come back to topic, because this thread is getting spamed with this BIOS/EFI discusion.
Bye, jaberwocky
Radeon 4890
The Radeon HD 4890 seems to be an overcloaked version of the 4870 and will be on the market the 6 of april.
Any chance to flash it for the mac pro ? As the gpu is a rv770 as the 4870, is it possible to change the id in the bios card to fake a 4870 and force mac os to recognize it ?
The Radeon HD 4890 seems to be an overcloaked version of the 4870 and will be on the market the 6 of april.
Any chance to flash it for the mac pro ? As the gpu is a rv770 as the 4870, is it possible to change the id in the bios card to fake a 4870 and force mac os to recognize it ?
Well, if it's CLOAKED, I doubt we'll even see it.
Seriously, unless there is a night and day difference, it will likely not be a popular flash.
FI, the 9800GT is a die-shrunk version of 8800GT. So, with a little brain power and some research you can make a Mac 9800GT that is faster than a retail 8800GT......but nobody bothers as it is at best 10-15% faster.
Good thing about 4890 coming out is 4870 will no longer be "the top" and perhaps prices on them will drop as the PC Poser crowd drops them as last year's style.