The Golden Guide to Flashing Graphic Cards

[lurkingbf]

So here is the update of my XFX HD-489X-ZSFC Ver 1.6 flashing

It was a success...

I have the exact same card. What is apparent is that this particular card is very agreeable and easy to work with. I tried five different ROM's in an attempt to alleviate the dual monitor 30" screen tear issue. None of them resolved the tear issue (leads me to think it might be software), but all of them worked perfectly otherwise.

For what it's worth, I did notice a slight, but measurable, improvement in frame rates from the ROM that Netkas posted way back in July, called simply pc4890_2.rom. I prefer having my fan work a little harder than with the ROM you mentioned where I could never even tell if they were working.

 

[s.m.t.]

I used the overclocked xfx rom in Cindori's roms.zip. I want to work on tweaking the fan speed now...

 

[Fiete5401]

So, all this work done but there is one thing we could really use. Hopefully there is a super compulsive person out there who would like to compile the list of ROMs. Have a look at the ones CIndori has in his ROMs folder, that is what we need. A picture, a model number, the original ROM and the Mac modified ROM. Would be nice if you also included the Post # so details could be followed and compared.

Yepp, that would be the next necessary step to make an excellent app even more useful. Atm Cindoris app is just a wonderful app but with all the ROMs available at one place with pictures of the cards it would kick ass!

 

[renoguy20]

Help

I purchased an xfx 487a zdfc 1gb card. I flashed a rom for that card model that I found in a thread and the card works in OSX but not in windows. I can't put the computer to sleep on the mac side either. I am also getting the power warning. I extracted the original rom before any flashing was done. I tried the XYZ method, but the fixrom python script wouldnt run

raise TypeError("OpRom at %d is not valid" % offset)

My card is rev E.0

The original rom is linked.

Can anyone help me?

Thanks.

 

[lurkingbf]

I used the overclocked xfx rom in Cindori's roms.zip. I want to work on tweaking the fan speed now...

I hadn't tried that one yet. Just flashed it on. It works. Can't see any difference between it and the others I've tried. Screen tearing issue on 30" monitor in dual monitor setup persists.

 

[teohyc]

I'm confused about one part.

So the steps I gather are:
1. Put in the new 4890 (to replace my x1900xt)
2. Boot to Bootcamp and backup 4890's original rom with GPU-Z
3. Boot back to OS X and flash with Zeus (using the roms you've provided in your guide)
4. Install the driver patch (using Zeus)
5. Restart

My confusion is with part 3. If the PC card 4890 isn't flash yet, how can OS X be boot in step 3 -- since it can't use the PC card?

 

[Cindori]

run the display by the x1900?

 

[matteusclement]

4870 vs 4890

the only reason I would want to switch is because the 4870 on dual monitors (both DVI) causes mouse tearing and it's terrible. But the 4890 seems to do the same thing....
I tried the DVI>VGA solution with the second monitor but that's where things get weird...
I get a black screen with no input, but system profiler recognizes the display....

any suggestions?

macpro 2.1
ati radeon 4870
os x 10.5.8

 

[matteusclement]

Maybe a bad flash

OKay, so I was a NooB when I bought the card off ebay and got a PC 4870 that had been flashed. So with my above stated problem, could it just be a bad flash job?

DOES ANYONE HAVE A 4870 WORKING WITH DUAL MONITORS ON DVI?

 

[Cindori]

dual screens does not work in Leopard and vga does not work in any OS.
If you actually read the guide, you would know this.

 

[matteusclement]

For a smiling profile pic, you sure yell a lot... J/K

but seriously, I missed the thing on the Leopard vs SL, my bad.

So you're saying it's confirmed in SL then? I have been waiting for 10.6.3 to come out before I make the jump and so all the bugs are gone.

Cindori, would you happen to know which of these flashable cards works best for GPU intensive stuff like COLOR and MOTION?
I had a evga 8800xt and while the benchmarks looked better compared to the 4870, the COLOR render times were cut in half.

 

[teohyc]

run the display by the x1900?

You mean to boot to OS X, I've to take out the 4890 (after backing up the rom) and put back the x1900xt again?

 

[Cindori]

no I mean run both cards at once.

 

[nigameash]

Great thread!

 

[newd00d]

Visiontek / HIS Radeon 4870 1GB Flash

Hi all,

I recently picked up a VisionTek B2 4870 1GB card for $130, so I have been reading through the forums preparing my custom rom. I have a 2009 mac pro that is currently being serviced for a broken logic board, so I am playing with flashing my card in DOS on a Dell PC with a PCI-e slot (I wanted to get a jump start before my computer gets back).

I havent been able to find anyone using the exact card that I have, but it is a Visiontek 4870 1GB (looks like a repackaged HIS) the model number is: 900286.

It is hard to find a picture of the card that looks like mine, but this is the one that looks most like it (except mine has a visiontek sticker and is 1GB not 512mb): http://www.pcgameshardware.com/aid,677409/HIS-HD-4870-Fan-graphics-cards-with-512/1-024-MiByte/News/

I backed up my original rom using atiflash in DOS, and then I created a custom rom using the method described in Cindori's tutorial here (I had to edit and do the MCUC fix). I flashed this rom to the card and it booted back up in the pc, working great in windows. I also tried flashing a Sapphire 1GB rom from the 4870/4890 ROM package included here, and that also booted into windows working fine.

I am wondering, to Cindori or anyone who can provide a little insight...
If I flashed the card with a custom EFI modded PC rom and the provided Sapphire 1GB rom and it works fine in windows, is this a good gauge that this will work in my mac pro when I get it back?

If someone wouldn't mind taking a look, I have attached the two roms that I used which successfully booted back into windows, as well as the original PC rom for my card. I figure there is no way to know for sure until I get my mac back, but I am anxious to know if I am doing this right.

By the way this thread rules! Cindori you are the Man! Thanks to everyone who has helped n00bs like me get this stuff working (or at least try).

 

[Cindori]

if it works in windows it's ok

 

[newd00d]

if it works in windows it's ok

Awesome thanks for your help!

One more quick question: Ive got both DVI adapters and DVI/VGA working great with windows 7 on the Dell PC with mac modded 4870...does think mean I should have the same functionality in my mac pro? (sorry if this question was already answered).

I should have my pro back on tuesday, so I will post here with my success and final roms with pictures and the detailed card information.

Cindori, I am interested in donating to you for the great resources in this thread. I saved at least $200 doing this mod, and I want to give something back. Can you PM me a link with where to send?

Thanks again!

 

[Cindori]

the vga (un)functionality is from osx drivers, so probably, vga will still be problem. you can try tho, if black, try reconnect cable, has worked for some.


you can use the zeus donate page. thanks!

 

[xlef]

hi,

i have read all the important threads to flashing a PC graficcard, but nowhere i can find a solution.

My big problem is:

in slot 1 is my x1900 graficcard and in slot 3 i put my new sapphire HD4870 Vapor card. Now, when i start my mac pro v 1.1 it shows a grey screen where i can read "you need to restart your computer. Hold....."

All power cables are connected, two cables from Motherboard in the 4870-vapor and one from my DVD drive in my x1900 card.

It is no problem to start windows, but when i want to save the original ROM with GPU-Z it dont show me the HD4870 only the x1900
(but i can see a non-installed graficcard)
However
When i disconnected the power cables from the HD4870 card it will start os x normally.

I´m so despaired, short history:
I bought my mac pro in december of 2006.
It works fine until 2008, then the x1900 was damaged (it works but i see artifacts)
I bought a 8800gt for the first MacPro generation, it works also fine until december 2009.
Now i use my x1900 and see all the nice artifacts

I studi media-informatic since 8 month but this doesn´t help me.
@Cindori I have not much money, but when it works i will donate a bit of my money, because that what i saved is much more as when i would buy it from Apple.
And when it not works, i have loose 160 EURO.

I hope someone can help me

Please, excuse my bad english, i´m german.

 

[Mackilroy]

xlef, you should be able to boot into Windows with only the 4870. Should be able to get the ROM then.

 

[kenwafu]

Flashing a Radeon HD4870 1Go

Hi
I'm sorry to say nothing written in the golden guide worked out in my case
(Mac Pro 3.1, S Leopard 10Go Ram), probably my fault I'm quiet novice.
So I resigned to try to flash the HD4870 1Go in Dos mode, but still, the atiflash -i command, returns : Exiting due to signal SIGSEGV

Is there any way to get this situation clear?

Thanks for reading

 

[xlef]

Thanks Mackilroy,

now I have the original ROM from my 4870 Vapor but...

the problem is still present:
in slot 1 is my x1900 graficcard and in slot 3 i put my new sapphire HD4870 Vapor card. Now, when i start my mac pro v 1.1 it shows a grey screen where i can read "you need to restart your computer. Hold....."
All power cables are connected, two cables from Motherboard in the 4870-vapor and one from my DVD drive in my x1900 card.


In the attachment you can find the original ROM of the 4870-Vapor

 

[Cindori]

try natit

 

[xlef]

ok. the problem does not longner exist.

I flashed my 4870 with a PC and it works!

you can find the mac modified ROM (HD4870 Vapor) in the attachment.

 

[P-Worm]

Thank you to everyone that has worked on this project. Special thanks to Cindori for being the information organizer.

I have one suggestion for the guide. There is a link to a tutorial to make a power cable from the DVD drive molex connector. Going to that link reveals broken images and broken links. Are the original images still available? I'm going to try and get a ZSFC to work myself and I think I can figure it out fine, but if you wanted new images taken while I'm working, I would be happy to help.

P-Worm