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Race to dump the 4870 ROM, Who's first?

netkas said:
jeanlin, I think maybe 4890 failed with new aty_init because of problems with reading bios from card, I saw such problems with 2 4870 cards on pc.
So i updates aty_init and added fallback to using bin_image from plist to initialize a card, if reading biso from card failed, kext there - http://netkas.org/?p=104

===========

Btw, I added nvidia support to aty_init, with all latest gt200/gt200b chips. New game when we can get quadro 4800 drivers :D
Click to expand...

Damn, you should get paid by ATI and nVidia for all this work!
 
netkas said:
jeanlin, I think maybe 4890 failed with new aty_init because of problems with reading bios from card, I saw such problems with 2 4870 cards on pc.
So i updates aty_init and added fallback to using bin_image from plist to initialize a card, if reading biso from card failed, kext there - http://netkas.org/?p=104

===========

Btw, I added nvidia support to aty_init, with all latest gt200/gt200b chips. New game when we can get quadro 4800 drivers :D
Click to expand...


Wow, this basically means that you can buy PC 285 cards and use when the drivers are out?
 
netkas said:
jeanlin, I think maybe 4890 failed with new aty_init because of problems with reading bios from card, I saw such problems with 2 4870 cards on pc.
So i updates aty_init and added fallback to using bin_image from plist to initialize a card, if reading biso from card failed, kext there - http://netkas.org/?p=104

===========

Btw, I added nvidia support to aty_init, with all latest gt200/gt200b chips. New game when we can get quadro 4800 drivers :D
Click to expand...

Sorry, I tried it with my sapphire 4870 1Go, which I had flashed back with its original BIOS, and it didn't work. Screen remained blank with the card's fans at full blast. I was not sure that OS X was actually booting, but I know it boots normally with a PC card and without ATY_init (screen just remains blank, of course).
So I flashed my card again with the EFI-BIOS. Upon start-up, OS X gave me this error message :
Code: 
Interval Since Last Panic Report:  111070 sec
Panics Since Last Report:          1
Anonymous UUID:                    B94BBEA9-ECA2-4E10-857B-D7A35D4143B3

Tue May 26 22:15:43 2009
panic(cpu 1 caller 0x0011F230): "ipc_object_copyin_from_kernel: strange rights"@/SourceCache/xnu/xnu-1228.12.14/osfmk/ipc/ipc_object.c:642
Backtrace (CPU 1), Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)
0x54fafb18 : 0x12b4c6 (0x45ec20 0x54fafb4c 0x13355c 0x0) 
0x54fafb68 : 0x11f230 (0x45e69c 0x80 0x94 0x11e1aa) 
0x54fafbb8 : 0x12d6cd (0x7575100 0x58 0x54fafbdc 0x4439a1) 
0x54fafbe8 : 0x443aa1 (0x6b6d200 0x58 0x54fafc18 0x3f08d1) 
0x54fafc28 : 0x412736 (0x6750020 0x0 0xe0000280 0x6795200) 
0x54fafc78 : 0x41b79b (0x6795200 0xe0000280 0x6729940 0x10001) 
0x54fafcd8 : 0x412851 (0x6729940 0x54fafd40 0x1 0x6eca640) 
0x54fafd18 : 0x41f61a (0x54fafd40 0x6716340 0x41b644 0x54fafd40) 
0x54fafd78 : 0x448c51 (0x6795200 0xe0000280 0x54fafdb8 0x2) 
0x54fafd98 : 0x41e5d1 (0x6795200 0x2 0x67c6c00 0x1) 
0x54fafdd8 : 0x41e711 (0x6795200 0x54fafdf0 0x1 0x3f26dd) 
0x54fafe18 : 0x41ea54 (0x6795200 0x11 0x2 0x20) 
0x54fafe68 : 0x4209bc (0x6795200 0x6cfa1c0 0x0 0x1a436f) 
0x54fafeb8 : 0x41b133 (0x6795200 0x6cfa1c0 0x678b200 0x0) 
0x54fafee8 : 0x420e1d (0x678b200 0x64 0x6ee24ec 0x7) 
0x54faff28 : 0x41c944 (0x6795200 0x6cfa1c0 0x672e280 0x1a436f) 
	Backtrace continues...

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: kernel_task

Mac OS version:
9J61

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 9.7.0: Tue Mar 31 22:52:17 PDT 2009; root:xnu-1228.12.14~1/RELEASE_I386
System model name: MacPro1,1 (Mac-F4208DC8)

System uptime in nanoseconds: 85624702132
unloaded kexts:
(none)
loaded kexts:
com.parallels.kext.Pvsvnic	2.2 - last loaded 32234326245
com.parallels.kext.vmmain	2.2
com.parallels.kext.hypervisor	2.2
com.bresink.driver.BRESINKx86Monitoring	2.0
com.parallels.kext.Pvsnet	2.2
com.dong.driver.ATY_Init	1.0.0d1
com.parallels.kext.ConnectUSB	2.5.0
com.ATITechnologiesInc.TVOut	2.7.2d1
com.apple.filesystems.ntfs	2.1
com.apple.filesystems.msdosfs	1.5.4
com.apple.driver.InternalModemSupport	2.4.0
com.apple.filesystems.autofs	2.0.2
com.apple.driver.AppleHDAPlatformDriver	1.6.8a3
com.apple.driver.AppleHWSensor	1.9d0
com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient	2.7.5
com.apple.kext.ATY_Motmot	5.4.4
com.apple.driver.AppleHDA	1.6.8a3
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager	2.1.6f8
com.apple.Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X	6.0.3
com.apple.ATIRadeonX2000	5.4.4
com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController	1.6.8a3
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireIP	1.7.7
com.apple.driver.AudioIPCDriver	1.0.6
com.apple.driver.AppleMCEDriver	1.1.7
com.apple.driver.ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin	3.4.0d10
com.apple.driver.AppleLPC	1.2.12
com.apple.driver.AppleTyMCEDriver	1.0.0d28
com.apple.driver.CSRUSBBluetoothHCIController	2.1.6f8
com.apple.driver.AppleHIDKeyboard	1.0.8b1
com.apple.driver.CSRHIDTransitionDriver	2.1.6f8
com.apple.driver.XsanFilter	2.7.91
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage	1.2.1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub	3.4.3
com.apple.driver.PioneerSuperDrive	2.0.7
com.apple.iokit.SCSITaskUserClient	2.0.9
com.apple.iokit.IOATAPIProtocolTransport	1.5.2
com.apple.driver.AppleFileSystemDriver	1.1.0
com.apple.driver.AppleFWOHCI	3.8.2
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub	3.4.0
com.apple.driver.AirPortBrcm43xx	363.35.0
com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort	1.6.0
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelPIIXATA	2.0.0
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient	3.3.1
com.apple.driver.AppleIntel8254XEthernet	2.1.2b1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI	3.4.3
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBUHCI	3.3.5
com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM	1.2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons	1.2.4
com.apple.driver.AppleRTC	1.2.3
com.apple.driver.AppleHPET	1.4
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPCI	1.2.4
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS	1.4
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC	1.2.4
com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC	1.4
com.apple.security.seatbelt	107.12
com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall	1.6.77
com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet	3
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement	76.0.0
com.apple.driver.DiskImages	199
com.apple.BootCache	30.4
com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib	1.6.8a3
com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily	9.4
com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily	1.6.8a3
com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily	1.6.9fc3
com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib	1.1
com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport	1.7.3
com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily	1.7.3
com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily	3.4.0d10
com.apple.driver.AppleSMC	2.2.1d2
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBBluetoothHCIController	2.1.6f8
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily	2.1.6f8
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver	3.2.2
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite	3.2.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIMultimediaCommandsDevice	2.0.9
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice	2.0.9
com.apple.iokit.IOBDStorageFamily	1.5
com.apple.iokit.IODVDStorageFamily	1.5
com.apple.iokit.IOCDStorageFamily	1.5
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily	2.0.9
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily	3.4.7
com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family	216.1
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily	1.5.0
com.apple.iokit.IOATAFamily	2.0.1
com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily	1.6.1
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily	3.4.3
com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime	1.2.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily	1.1
com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily	1.5.6
com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily	1.5.5
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform	1.2.4
com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily	1.2.0
com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily	2.6
 
jeanlain said:
Sorry, I tried it with my sapphire 4870 1Go, which I had flashed back with its original BIOS, and it didn't work. Screen remained blank with the card's fans at full blast. I was not sure that OS X was actually booting, but I know it boots normally with a PC card and without ATY_init (screen just remains blank, of course).
So I flashed my card again with the EFI-BIOS. Upon start-up, OS X gave me this error message :
Click to expand...

try to remove aty_init from single user mode.
 
There is a thing I don't get: does the intallation of natit/aty_init bring any advantages for a 4870 in a Mac Pro compared to flashing it with a "hybrid" ROM?
Or is this extension only meant for non conventionally flashable cards such as the 4890?... Thanks.
 
What about dual port support? Doesn't this enable those of us with that 1 GB sapphire card to use both DVI ports without crashing? That's a plus, and one worth considering until we figure out a ROM solution that fixes that problem. Though nobody's definitively answered whether it comes with performance penalties.
 
I have a problem with my flashed 1GB Gainward 4870 GS. First, I must say that I am using a VGA monitor.
When I plug the monitor to the VGA connector of the card together with the stacked HDMI/DVI-DVI/VGA adapter I get always a picture (including the "boot volume choosing" screen)

BUT... the display is not properly recognized. Only after plugging the display to the DVI port using another DVI/VGA adapter when OS X has booted, the EDID data is read correctly. After that, even when I plug it back to the VGA port its still recognized.

However if I boot with the display connected to the DVI port, there is no picture. Waking up from sleep also works with the diplay plugged into the VGA port... :(

It's a bit complicated... but has anyone of you similar problems?
I can set all resolutions even if the monitor is not recognized but the picture simply looks better with the properly recognized monitor, its sharper.

Is there any way to manipulate the ROM or some kext-tricks in order to improve things? (perhaps it's simply time to get a flat panel...)
 
TheStrudel,
I recall that a recent Natit posted by Netkas enabled dual screen on a non-standard 4870, albeit with problems in sleep mode. Have you tried it? I cannot test it since I only have one LCD.
One possibility suggested by Netkas is to edit Natit with the XFX BIOS, as XFX cards have dual screen working. Natit currently uses the Apple BIOS. I my view, natit could be a viable solution. I don't know squat about BIOS editing, but I believe that one has to locate the bits related to port mapping (or something), and change them in the PC card so they match the Apple card. It's always better to keep most of the orignal PC BIOS intact.

I don't think that dual screen affects performance, except that each screen has half the VRAM. Another advantage of 1GB cards.

macz1,
I don't think anyone had VGA working with flashed 4870s.
 
jeanlain said:
TheStrudel,

I don't think that dual screen affects performance, except that each screen has half the VRAM. Another advantage of 1GB cards.
Click to expand...

It doesn't work like that.

The resolution and colour depth dictates how much of the framebuffer is used.

1920 x 1200 x 32-bit = 73,728,000 / 8 (bits to bytes) / 1,000 (bytes to kilo bytes) = 9216 KB or 9 MB of framebuffer used for a resolution of 1920 x 1200 with 32-bit colour depth.
 
That's what I was referring to. Since my second monitor is in storage right now, I'm waiting to hear from Jeanlain and others about testing, because somebody said their card did not perform as well (according to benchmark) with the use of natit. When I refer to performance, I'm talking about changes made by natit, etc., not a dual monitor thing - I've been using dual monitors for years.
 
does anyone know of a 4870 cooler with next to no height for the back screws like the retail Apple 4870? The Sapphire doesn't fit in the 2009 mac Pro unless you take the screws off and I need to sell this thing.
 
It does fit, actually, just barely. If you press it down. You can even put a single width card right above it, though it may be shoved up against the top of the PCIe bracket. But more to the point, if anybody knows what size screws with which to replace it, that's good too.
 
TheStrudel said:
It does fit, actually, just barely. If you press it down. You can even put a single width card right above it, though it may be shoved up against the top of the PCIe bracket. But more to the point, if anybody knows what size screws with which to replace it, that's good too.
Click to expand...

Same here. No real problems putting the card in. Snug fit, but doesn't appear to have any physical stress on it.

Also wanted to report that netkas' Natit worked beautifully. I have dual-displays working fabulously, no loss in performance, and I don't have any apparent sleep issues with the displays right now. Thanks for that work you put into getting that tweaked!
 
Ooh, that sounds good. As soon as my second monitor gets out of storage, I guess I'll be using it. Now I have one more question, which may have been answered previously, but Netkas: will it be possible to get analog output from the card using natit out of the S-video port? And if not, could that possibly be added in the future?
 
I've skipped through a few pages on this but could someone answer these questions:

1. To flash a 1Gb 4870 its a case of downloading the cards BIOS, running that batch file on it and then reflashing as long as it has a >128kb chip yes?

2. Is the above possible on a 4890?


I assume this will then allow it to work flawlessly in both Windows and OS X as the default 512Mb 4870 does?

I do NOT want to mess around changing the OS X system files, unless its 100% stable as the default apple 4870!
 
Concorde Rules said:
I've skipped through a few pages on this but could someone answer these questions:

1. To flash a 1Gb 4870 its a case of downloading the cards BIOS, running that batch file on it and then reflashing as long as it has a >128kb chip yes?

2. Is the above possible on a 4890?


I assume this will then allow it to work flawlessly in both Windows and OS X as the default 512Mb 4870 does?

I do NOT want to mess around changing the OS X system files, unless its 100% stable as the default apple 4870!
Click to expand...
Just do this:
http://web.me.com/jacobcroft/4870Flash/4870Flash.html

Seriously. Buy that specific card, follow the guide, you'll have it up and running in 10 minutes. No system file hacking required, just runs natively in OS X.
 
So what is the deal with the crossfire being disabled on the 4870? Is anyone close to a hybrid rom for the it yet? I guess I'm just looking for an update. You can consider me impatient. LOL.
 
Ferrari904 said:
So what is the deal with the crossfire being disabled on the 4870? Is anyone close to a hybrid rom for the it yet? I guess I'm just looking for an update. You can consider me impatient. LOL.
Click to expand...
Crossfire works on the Windows side using flashed cards, but not on the Mac side.

In addition, crossfire DOES NOT WORK on the Windows side when using an official Apple 4870. Only the flashed PC ones will do crossfire in Windows. Current speculation is that it's something in hardware that was changed to disable it on the official Apple 4870s.
 
lannister80 said:
Just do this:
http://web.me.com/jacobcroft/4870Flash/4870Flash.html

Seriously. Buy that specific card, follow the guide, you'll have it up and running in 10 minutes. No system file hacking required, just runs natively in OS X.
Click to expand...

Edit: NM, I must have screwed something up while cleaning the dust off in there...PSU roars up with any card now =/ I guess it's going to Apple.

I just followed this procedure to the letter. It works fine except my power supply fan is over 2700 RPMs and the 4870 card is pretty hot without running anything. I tried resetting the SMC, but about 10 seconds after it finishes booting into Leopard the PSU fan cranks up and stays there.

Any ideas?
 
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