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Ultimate Thread: 4890 in Mac Pro
- Thread starter Cindori
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So all you have to do after buying the HD4890 is to buy this molex splitter if you want to leave superdrive
Found great how-to: http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/MacPro_OpticalDrive_DIY.pdf
This is how it looks like, i know it looks like its going into the 6pin connector of the motherboard but its not, its actually going up through the teeny-tiny superdrive cable diverting hole thingamagic there and connects with BOTH of the superdrives power molex outputs.
These two red sausages here are the courtesy of sapphire. They are made so PC molex to 6pin power connection is possible.
2 reasons why i'm not scared:
1. I researched (DUH!)
2. Sapphire wouldn't put just any molex-6pin power cable there if it couldn't handle the power needs of the 4890 (ASSUMING YOU DIDN'T OVERCLOCK)
i made a small write-up of my own too on my blog thanking everybody in accordance
I just ordered the Sapphire HD 4890 Vapor-X version. The slightly overclocked model, but mainly for its very silent cooler.
Getting it tomorrow delivered at my work, so building it in tomorrow evening.
Can't wait
Ok folks I need a little... well a lot o help here. I ordered the Vapor X Sapphire board ( overclocked version 1 st , then the normal vapor x board)
I installed all the software from the OP, and when I start the Mac Pro (Early 2009) I hear the apple sound and the fan on the Vapor X just runs full 100% and I never get any monitor activity at all.
I thought I had a bad card becasue I tried this in my PC and it did the same thing about 70% of the time. I ended up RMA ing that card and buying the vanilla Vapor X board. This one does the SAME THING, however this board works fine in my PC with no issue.
Can someone please tell me what im doing wrong and how I fix it??
Ive install all the OP software and I have 10.5.7. I cant possibly be screwing this up. Could someone detail what should happen when I boot up? I know they said no grey screen but do I get monitor activity? Just a black screen then bang desktop?
Im pulling what little hair I have left OUT please assist.
there was a reason i did not go with any superduper versions
I think you are right... Im ready to declare this card incompatible.. To the above poster that has a Vapor-x coming today please let me know your results Im guessing they will be like mine...
The sapphire models with the heat-pipe design seem to be problematic. Over in the 4870 flashing thread, nobody's managed to get both DVI ports working simultaneously out of them. Real bummer.
My card is coming in tomorrow.
I was only expecting it to have a higher clock speed set in the ROM, and a different cooler.
I guess I will find out tomorrow if it's a real problem for me working wise.
Otherwise I will just RMA it in for a normal model, which would be a bummer.
Plus, I only use one DVI since I only got one monitor hooked up anyway.
I was only expecting it to have a higher clock speed set in the ROM, and a different cooler.
I guess I will find out tomorrow if it's a real problem for me working wise.
Otherwise I will just RMA it in for a normal model, which would be a bummer.
Plus, I only use one DVI since I only got one monitor hooked up anyway.
once we find 4890 working with dual-dvi on hackintosh, we can use bios of this card in injector to allow other 4890 to have dual-dvi (for example - http://netkas.org/?p=116 )
basicaly, if I could have an access to hardware, it would already work fine
not exactly, current 4890 pkg kexts cant extract bios from card(the one which can doesnt work with 4890 for unknown reason), but on hackintosh injector extracts bios dump with easy way, getting it from legacy address (0xc0000) where bios copied the rom durring post, so more chance to find good one.
once we find 4890 working with dual-dvi on hackintosh, we can use bios of this card in injector to allow other 4890 to have dual-dvi (for example - http://netkas.org/?p=116 )
basicaly, if I could have an access to hardware, it would already work fine
Yea I have a hackintosh Core i7, and a 2008 MacPro. My MSI ATI 4890 works great in both, but only one dvi port. I can help you if you need any. Let me know.
Hey guys,
I've been lurking in this thread for a while and I had one question.
I ordered an XFX 4890, standard, no OC. It's on the way here.
I understand everything but the power connection:
At first I've seen people saying it's ok to buy two of the Apple ATI cables to connect directly to the Logic board, but now I'm seeing that's a bad thing, and I want to connect to the superdrive power cables?
I ordered the ATI cables (2x) which are expensive. I would like to know what the absolute safest alternative cable wise is.
I've been lurking in this thread for a while and I had one question.
I ordered an XFX 4890, standard, no OC. It's on the way here.
I understand everything but the power connection:
At first I've seen people saying it's ok to buy two of the Apple ATI cables to connect directly to the Logic board, but now I'm seeing that's a bad thing, and I want to connect to the superdrive power cables?
I ordered the ATI cables (2x) which are expensive. I would like to know what the absolute safest alternative cable wise is.
From what I've heard by the folks on here, both are equally safe. The route you took is more expensive, but cleaner and simpler. The other route is cheaper but requires just a bit of brain power and the ability to connect the male end into the female end. Either way is fine. the cables that you got are what apple sends with their 4870, so you're good.
Actually, it's not a bad thing at all.
You keep the Molex 4 pin available (if this matters to you for future expansion), and the cabling is a bit cleaner. Personally, as we don't know how the PSU rails are divided (load), it's better to draw off the logic board connectors, as that's what they're installed for. The downside is the cable cost. That's it, but it's much cheaper than a replacement PSU, as drawing too much power off a rail can kill it. Not so much with a single 4870/4890, but it's technically possible, depending on specifics. (i.e. Using the Molex connector for HDDs running in the empty optical bay + using it for graphics).
Where oh where did you read that?
I would say that it is a FAR better idea to use the ATI cables.
Do you know what happens when there is a power deficit? Power is like water, when the pressure is low at one end and higher at another, it changes course. I think it FAR more likely that drawing a couple hundred watts through the cables meant for 2 @ DVD drives will result in trouble eventually, and I would only use that method while I waited for proper cables to arrive.
Has anyone looked up the potential draw of a DVD drive?
I just had a look at a DVR-104 I had lying around.
It wants .7A on the 12V rail, and 1.4 A on the 5V rail. I don't have my slide rule handy but I'm gonna guess that a 4870 or 4890 draws quite a bit more than that.
So, take'yer'chances with burning a trace on your logicboard ($1000.00 or so), or drop $25 for the cables meant for the job.
Why is there any discussion?
Interesting about the power cables/ requirements.
I got a XFX 4890 last week, initially drawing power from the 2nd superdrive power split 2 ways to both 6pins.
The card worked intermittently for few mins until it eventually died with fan on full blast with the red led on ( this is on 1st gen 2.66G w 6G mem ).
Thinking it may be DOA , I sent the card back but they tested it and found no problems with it.
I got 2 * ATI cables to connect it to the logic board .. got the card back last night and so far, running without any issues.
One thing I am noticing, under the PCI cards I get an error 'There was an error gathering PCI card information'
Only pcie cards are 4890 & 7300
I got a XFX 4890 last week, initially drawing power from the 2nd superdrive power split 2 ways to both 6pins.
The card worked intermittently for few mins until it eventually died with fan on full blast with the red led on ( this is on 1st gen 2.66G w 6G mem ).
Thinking it may be DOA , I sent the card back but they tested it and found no problems with it.
I got 2 * ATI cables to connect it to the logic board .. got the card back last night and so far, running without any issues.
One thing I am noticing, under the PCI cards I get an error 'There was an error gathering PCI card information'
Only pcie cards are 4890 & 7300
You're got lucky, as the PSU appears to be OK.
You might want to keep an eye on the system anyway, and check if the Molex connector can still provide power (some other device with a lower load requirement) if possible.
XFX 4890: changed to 8pin?
Hi guys, I brought this up earlier, but maybe it got overlooked. On the newegg reviews page, there are a number to people that say the XFX 4890 now needs a 6pin and 8 pin connector. Is this TRUE? What are the experiences with people who have bought the XFX 4890 recently? Apparently its an update to the card.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16814150359
Hi guys, I brought this up earlier, but maybe it got overlooked. On the newegg reviews page, there are a number to people that say the XFX 4890 now needs a 6pin and 8 pin connector. Is this TRUE? What are the experiences with people who have bought the XFX 4890 recently? Apparently its an update to the card.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16814150359