I'm about ready to buy the Radeon 9800 Pro/256 for my MDD G4, to hold me off until I get a Mac Pro or a newer iMac in the fall. I've heard that they have some problems in my machine. Does anyone know anything about it? And if it does have problems, does the 9600/256 have the same problems?
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Radeon 9800 Pro/256 for MDD G4.
- Thread starter macgeek2005
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I recommend you go to the Strangedogs video card flashing forum and search there.
From what I've heard, the Quicksilver and MDD Macs have sporadic issues with the 9800 and the 256MB 9600. Sometimes the card is not recognized at boot and the screen stays black. A lot of people have no issues, but some do.
I think the problem stems from the fact that Apple's ADC connector was implemented differently between the Digital Audio, Quicksilver and MDD Macs.
My advice: the most compatible card for your MDD would be a Radeon 9700 Pro Mac Edition. These cards can be tough to find because they were only sold OEM, not retail. However, the card was designed specifically for the MDD and is only very slightly slower than a 9800. However, lots of people with MDDs have bought the 9800 and had no problems.
From what I've heard, the Quicksilver and MDD Macs have sporadic issues with the 9800 and the 256MB 9600. Sometimes the card is not recognized at boot and the screen stays black. A lot of people have no issues, but some do.
I think the problem stems from the fact that Apple's ADC connector was implemented differently between the Digital Audio, Quicksilver and MDD Macs.
My advice: the most compatible card for your MDD would be a Radeon 9700 Pro Mac Edition. These cards can be tough to find because they were only sold OEM, not retail. However, the card was designed specifically for the MDD and is only very slightly slower than a 9800. However, lots of people with MDDs have bought the 9800 and had no problems.
Thanks for the help! I'll look for a 9700 on ebay.
I found this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ATi-Radeon-9700...ryZ25449QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
But it doesn't have a ADC port. Shouldn't it have one if it was designed for the G4?
I found this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ATi-Radeon-9700...ryZ25449QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
But it doesn't have a ADC port. Shouldn't it have one if it was designed for the G4?
That's a flashed PC card, which won't be any more compatible than the 9800s. Less so actually. I'd stay away from it. It's actually not that hard to flash your own Radeon 9700/9800, and the Strangedogs forum has a nice tutorial.
Here's a link to a reseller offering a "real" 9700 Pro Mac Edition (out of stock, but they can probably get you one). Notice that it is a green board with a DVI and ADC port. Many of the sellers on ebay sell flashed PC cards. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but they often neglect to admit they aren't selling a "real" Mac card, and some flashed cards do have issues in certain Macs. A flashed PC card would be less compatible than the 9800 Pro Mac Edition you were originally considering.
Barefeats did a review comparing the 9700 Pro to a number of other contemporary cards here and here. Notice that performance in a G4 is nearly identical between the 9700 and 9800.
In short, I would avoid flashed cards unless you DIY (there are members of the Strangedogs forum who will flash a card for you generally they offer good prices and are up front about which cards work in which Macs. If you are concerned primarily with compatibility, get a 9700 Pro Mac Edition. It won't be cheap, but it is the "correct" card for your computer, and has very good performance. Alternately, get a 9800 Pro. It will run a little hotter and there is a small risk of incompatibility, but many MDD owners are using them with success.
Here's a link to a reseller offering a "real" 9700 Pro Mac Edition (out of stock, but they can probably get you one). Notice that it is a green board with a DVI and ADC port. Many of the sellers on ebay sell flashed PC cards. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but they often neglect to admit they aren't selling a "real" Mac card, and some flashed cards do have issues in certain Macs. A flashed PC card would be less compatible than the 9800 Pro Mac Edition you were originally considering.
Barefeats did a review comparing the 9700 Pro to a number of other contemporary cards here and here. Notice that performance in a G4 is nearly identical between the 9700 and 9800.
In short, I would avoid flashed cards unless you DIY (there are members of the Strangedogs forum who will flash a card for you generally they offer good prices and are up front about which cards work in which Macs. If you are concerned primarily with compatibility, get a 9700 Pro Mac Edition. It won't be cheap, but it is the "correct" card for your computer, and has very good performance. Alternately, get a 9800 Pro. It will run a little hotter and there is a small risk of incompatibility, but many MDD owners are using them with success.