Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

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

For Popiko 8800GT

I know this is off topic, but in the interest of simply trying to help some one here is the rom for your 8800gt card popiko.
Now you really can have kick ass gfx cards in your mac.

You'll need to download nvflash or modify the GeForce 7300 GT Firmware Update.
I'm sure Cindori could make a utility for nVidia using this the same way he has for ATI using the iMac updater.
GeForce 7300 GT Firmware Update program does have a mac native version of nvflasher inside it.
 

Attachments

  • GF8800GT-EFI32-rev3233.ROM.zip
    91.9 KB · Views: 116
  • GeForce 7300 GT Firmware Update.zip
    594.3 KB · Views: 105
He already has the 2006 version of the card, that already carries 32 bit EFI rom. It sounds to me like he has used it for quite a while too, but then something hardware broke down, which is normal with the 8800GT.

And no, I can't get Nvflash to work. I load the flash driver, but yet the program does not find any Nvidia adapters ( I have a 7300 ) :(
 
Chaos Deadlock said:
I know this is off topic, but in the interest of simply trying to help some one here is the rom for your 8800gt card popiko.
Now you really can have kick ass gfx cards in your mac.

You'll need to download nvflash or modify the GeForce 7300 GT Firmware Update.
I'm sure Cindori could make a utility for nVidia using this the same way he has for ATI using the iMac updater.
GeForce 7300 GT Firmware Update program does have a mac native version of nvflasher inside it.
Click to expand...

Hey big thanks! I try change rom in the 8800. (I try past times but maybe I use utilities for ATI.... I have dudes now..) :)
Dont worry I use Nero to make boot cd with ms-dos and the files bios and utilities. I will comment after trying.

Thanks!
 
Cindori said:
Why are you posting a 32 bit EFI rom? He already has the 2006 version of the card, that already carries 32 bit EFI rom. It sounds to me like he has used it for quite a while too, but then something hardware broke down, which is normal with the 8800GT.:(
Click to expand...

Yes, I think the problem is hardware but I try again :rolleyes:
 
Hey everyone, So i've managed to flash my sapphire HD 4870 using the included rom in Cndori's ATI Flasher app.

I've noticed that in OS X and windows I am getting graphical errors.

I've read in this thread that in os x it's a bug with all of them,

but in windows, when I run any 3D apps (games etc) i get garbage all over my screen.

I've attached some screenshots of what is happening.

When I'm just running the ATi cataclyst software, adjusting the 3D options, thats that starts to happen, and the fan speed increases untill i close the window.

Could this all be because of the rom I flashed? I could try re-flashing, but I'm not too sure which rom to use, there's just so many floating around...

oh and the card is

Sapphire HD 4870 1GB
SKU# 11133-19-20R
 

Attachments

  • IMGP0729.JPG
    IMGP0729.JPG
    300 KB · Views: 107
  • IMGP0730.JPG
    IMGP0730.JPG
    228.2 KB · Views: 136
  • IMGP0731.JPG
    IMGP0731.JPG
    300.7 KB · Views: 114
popiko said:
Its talking about 4870 2Gb:
Just I install Snow Leopard of 0, I dont make upgrade on Leopard.I format the HDD and install Snow Leopard with the HDD clean.

Its talking about 8800GT:
I have a card for MacPro 1.1 upgrade, just in the box I can read:
NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT for first generation Mac Pro.
Requieres Mac Pro (bus speed 1.33 Ghz) and Mac OS X v10.5.2 with graphic upgrade or later. Its in the original box of graphic card.

Just much people in forums wow have it problem... with 1 path (upgrade) .. muchs graphic cards 8800 of macpro fail.. I read muchs threads with this problem. I try flashed the bios but the machine cant look the card 8800GT, the fan work good.. for this question I think change the chip bios.
Click to expand...

More info: I have the ATI 4870 2Gb in the Slot 2 and keep the 7300 in Slot 1, I have only 1 monitor connected in the connector DVI of ATI 4870.
Tomorrow I try quit the card 7300 and use the 4870 2Gb alone.
 
Finaly a Happy Ending for me and my Mac.

After I gave up on the 4870 I decided to install it into my Linux Computer which is hooked up to the TV in the sitting room. It had a Palit nVidia 9800GT in it....so I though, what the hell, and stuck it into my Mac where the ATI card had been.
IT WORKS!!!

So good bye to living with a 7300 card and hello 9800GT nVidia.
I know this is not a story of getting a 4870 working, but if anyone else is having problems and looking for a card upgrade on a Mac Pro 2006, then (although not as powerfull as the 4870) there is the nVidia 9800GT from Palit.
I have just tested it with NeverWinter Nights 2 on max everything and it rocks.
So the 9800, not as powerfull as the 4870, but a damn good runner up.
Oh, I've nto touched it's firmware, I do already have nvkush.kext installed though.
Now I'm off to get some long over due sleep.
 
poopdedoop said:
Hey everyone, So i've managed to flash my sapphire HD 4870 using the included rom in Cndori's ATI Flasher app.

I've noticed that in OS X and windows I am getting graphical errors.

I've read in this thread that in os x it's a bug with all of them,

but in windows, when I run any 3D apps (games etc) i get garbage all over my screen.

I've attached some screenshots of what is happening.

When I'm just running the ATi cataclyst software, adjusting the 3D options, thats that starts to happen, and the fan speed increases untill i close the window.

Could this all be because of the rom I flashed? I could try re-flashing, but I'm not too sure which rom to use, there's just so many floating around...

oh and the card is

Sapphire HD 4870 1GB
SKU# 11133-19-20R
Click to expand...

Reflash with the original ROM and see how it behaves in WIndows.

If the artifacts are still there, you have a hardware issue.

If it runs without artifacts once it has it's original BIOS, it is time for you to write a custom one with your BIOS as center.
 
The Rominator said:
Reflash with the original ROM and see how it behaves in WIndows.

If the artifacts are still there, you have a hardware issue.

If it runs without artifacts once it has it's original BIOS, it is time for you to write a custom one with your BIOS as center.
Click to expand...


okay i got that working. I have done the same thing as before (running ccc) and i get graphical problems, just not as many.

I've tried running S.T.A.L.K.E.R and the game gets to the menu, then i lose display and the fan goes full speed. I'm starting to think it's a hardware issue, has anyone else had problems like this?
 
Chaos Deadlock said:
After I gave up on the 4870 I decided to install it into my Linux Computer which is hooked up to the TV in the sitting room. It had a Palit nVidia 9800GT in it....so I though, what the hell, and stuck it into my Mac where the ATI card had been.
IT WORKS!!!

So good bye to living with a 7300 card and hello 9800GT nVidia.
I know this is not a story of getting a 4870 working, but if anyone else is having problems and looking for a card upgrade on a Mac Pro 2006, then (although not as powerfull as the 4870) there is the nVidia 9800GT from Palit.
I have just tested it with NeverWinter Nights 2 on max everything and it rocks.
So the 9800, not as powerfull as the 4870, but a damn good runner up.
Oh, I've nto touched it's firmware, I do already have nvkush.kext installed though.
Now I'm off to get some long over due sleep.
Click to expand...

hahaha, Im so happy for you.:)
Yesterday I play during 5 hours and zero problems.
Later of play I look tv and I make little words in Allias Maya 3D.. Zero problems.... I quit the card 7300 and now work only with 4870 2G in slot 2.. al really good and I can install the drivers and Catalyst for windows on XP with bootcamp. The next Step pending is replace the heatsink for other more fine and move the 4870 2Gb to slot 1 and try work with x16 ;)
 
Chaos Deadlock said:
Oh, and Mark, don't use the rom I made for you as it will be corrupt....If you want me to I can make you another.
Any tips on how to fix the Quartz Extreme issue please let me know.
Click to expand...

Chaos,

Thanks for the heads-up on the corrupted ROM. I have been perfectly happy with how my 4870 has been working just simply using the virgin 4870.ROM file (Apple's pure 4870 ROM). So, I've not been inclined to flash using the ROM file you created. I just deleted it from my HD so I wouldn't accidentally end up using it in the future.

As for Quartz Extreme... I'm running Snow Leopard and, frankly, when I open System Profiler, the info for my card and monitors doesn't say anything about Quartz Extreme at all:

ATI Radeon HD 4870:

Chipset Model: ATI Radeon HD 4870
Type: GPU
Bus: PCIe
Slot: Slot-1
PCIe Lane Width: x16
VRAM (Total): 512 MB
Vendor: ATI (0x1002)
Device ID: 0x9440
Revision ID: 0x0000
ROM Revision: 113-B7710C-176
EFI Driver Version: 01.00.318
Displays:
Cinema HD:
Resolution: 1920 x 1200
Pixel Depth: 32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Rotation: Supported
SyncMaster:
Resolution: 768 x 1024 @ 75 Hz
Pixel Depth: 32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Rotation: 90

However, I did download a Utility Program that checks to see if Quartz Extreme is working and it shows Quartz Extreme acceleration for both of my displays.

I guess I just got lucky in buying the right 512MB card. Actually, only a little bit lucky. I read these topics over and over again and it seemed the XFX cards ending in HFC were the most compatible. So, when I found a 512MB XFX card (YHFC) for $134.99 shipped, I jumped on it. Unfortunately, TigerDirect has since sold out (within a day or so of me placing my order).

Mark
 
The Rominator said:
sounds shot
Click to expand...


yupp it was a bad card. I returned it to the store. It was the only one they had so it would be another 2 weeks or so before they got anymore.

I did order one off Newegg for $184 total, so it'll be sometime next week that it'll come and I'll try over again.,
 
jfm010 said:
I've tried to flash this card:

Sapphire 4870 1GB GDDR5
SKU# 11133-19-20R

This is the same card several people reported success with in this thread. The Problem is I can't even boot when this card is installed. If I try with both cards installed (X1900) I get 2 red lights on the motherboard (CPU A+B Fail). I'm running power from the optical bay. Can the power be insufficient? I have ordered a proper power cable which should be arriving soon. Getting a bit nervous about this!

I'm on a Mac Pro 1,1
Click to expand...


Finally I got it to work! :)
As mentioned earlier I couldn't boot into OS X. Always got the CPU A+B fail lights. I installed Windows XP Bootcamp and managed to boot the machine with the 4870 installed. From there I followed the instructions on this page:
http://web.me.com/jacobcroft/4870Flash/4870Flash.html
I used Rominators rom written for the 11133-19-20R (earlier in this thread) and it worked! Only drawback so far is the power cable warning but I can live with that. Next step will be to replace the somewhat loud 4870-fan with an Accelero Twin Turbo.
Special thanks to Rominator and Cindori! :D
 
poopdedoop said:
Hey everyone, So i've managed to flash my sapphire HD 4870 using the included rom in Cndori's ATI Flasher app.

I've noticed that in OS X and windows I am getting graphical errors.

I've read in this thread that in os x it's a bug with all of them,

but in windows, when I run any 3D apps (games etc) i get garbage all over my screen.

I've attached some screenshots of what is happening.

When I'm just running the ATi cataclyst software, adjusting the 3D options, thats that starts to happen, and the fan speed increases untill i close the window.

Could this all be because of the rom I flashed? I could try re-flashing, but I'm not too sure which rom to use, there's just so many floating around...

oh and the card is

Sapphire HD 4870 1GB
SKU# 11133-19-20R
Click to expand...

I was originally running the Sapphire Rom from Cindoris ROM folder on my XFX 4870 ZWFK card and it worked great. But then I had the same pixel spots coming up on my screen after a few days of use. So I flashed the card with the ZWFL ROM also in Cindoris applications folder and I have not had the same spotty pixel problem. :)

Although this morning a new problem has arisen, My card would just freak out, I would hear the fan speed up for a second like it was hit with a bolt of electricity and then the screen would go black and my OS would freeze. After 2 reboots and it happening again, I decided tot take of the side panel of the mac pro to let some air in and it has remained stable enough for me to be able to write this post. Anyone else having a unusual card crash like I have had with the 4870?
 
Altimeter88 said:
Looking to get one of these for my 2006 Mac Pro but Newegg is out of stock on the actual SAPPHIRE 100259-1GL.
They do however have what looks like the same card although the numbers are a bit different:
SAPPHIRE 100279-1GL
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102849&cm_re=4870-_-14-102-849-_-Product

Does anyone know if this card will work with the ROM posted or does it have to be the actual 100259 card?
Click to expand...

I actually ordered that card the other day. it came to $184 total from the .ca site because they were having 10% off everything for Canada. I did notice the card is slightly different but i don't see why it shouldn't work..

UPDATE: I just got the card today. it is the same SKU as the other one. The only difference on this is the heatsink and fan.

Flaz said:
I was originally running the Sapphire Rom from Cindoris ROM folder on my XFX 4870 ZWFK card and it worked great. But then I had the same pixel spots coming up on my screen after a few days of use. So I flashed the card with the ZWFL ROM also in Cindoris applications folder and I have not had the same spotty pixel problem. :)

Although this morning a new problem has arisen, My card would just freak out, I would hear the fan speed up for a second like it was hit with a bolt of electricity and then the screen would go black and my OS would freeze. After 2 reboots and it happening again, I decided tot take of the side panel of the mac pro to let some air in and it has remained stable enough for me to be able to write this post. Anyone else having a unusual card crash like I have had with the 4870?
Click to expand...

I re-flashed the original bios back to it and was still having problems with video. They did a test and it turned out the card it self was faulty....
 
hey everyone. I got my new HD 4870 and i can't get any video in windows. I have an x1900 and i have to have them both connected so i can get video in windows. I'm using GPU-Z and it's not detecting the card.

I need to backup my rom, but i don't know how I can get the card detected. Any suggestions?
 
Kernel panic with unflashed XFX HD 4870 (HD487AZWFC)

After reading all these posts I decided to try the XFX HD487AZWFC. I also ordered 2 of the power cables for the motherboard.

Mine is a MacPro 2006 (1,1) with 5 G RAM, Snow Leopard (10.6.2 - latest version) installed on an SSD. No other expansion cards.

I moved the original Nvidia 7300GT card to the topmost slot and installed the XFX in the lowest slot (where the GT was originally).

Unfortunately, anytime the XFX card is in the macPro, my system will hang on bootup: I get the grey Apple with the spinning wheel, but then a Kernel Panic (curtain of dark telling you to press the Power button). Removing the XFX card allows booting.

I tried preinstalling the nvinject via the ATI flash tool but this didn't help, nor did booting with ONLY the XFX card: there was no video despite installing Nvinject. In fact, shortly after the fan on the XFX card spins really loudly.

Any ideas? I don't have easy access to a PC to try and backup the ROM and since I can't even get the MacPro to boot with Leopard, I can't use the great ATI flashing tool. I'm scard to flash w/o backup since I may return this card if I can't get it working.
 
I also can´t boot with my Sapphire 512 Mb installed

Hey SteveW25561, same here. I just got my Sapphire 512 MB Card with the big black fan in the middle. I installed the two powercables and tested the card in all slots but the computer always fails to boot (the dark grey screen appears saying me I have to restart. I have my 7300 installed with the screens attached to it. I also installed Natit and booted just with the 4870 but also no luck... :-(

who has an idea?

kind regards from germany,

David
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back