I took the card out and I'm back to using my nVidia 8800GT. The deal is... this card still plays CODMW2 perfectly and I get a consistent 60fps all the time, but the 4890 gives me glitches when I have "shadows" turned on. I don't know if it's because of the card or the windows drivers, but I like the 8800GT better for CODMW2. It also plays COD4 perfectly too with all the settings turned on.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Ultimate Thread: 4890 in Mac Pro
- Thread starter Cindori
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I took the card out and I'm back to using my nVidia 8800GT. The deal is... this card still plays CODMW2 perfectly and I get a consistent 60fps all the time, but the 4890 gives me glitches when I have "shadows" turned on. I don't know if it's because of the card or the windows drivers, but I like the 8800GT better for CODMW2. It also plays COD4 perfectly too with all the settings turned on.
it was whatever the lastest minor os update was.
Already had 10.6.2 installed previously.
Still using 10.6.2 fix
Just wanted to leave a quick note to let people know I have just managed to get the Diamond 4890 Video card (model A4890PE51G) working on my Mac Pro (1,1). The link to the exact card I ordered is:http://www.compusa.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4794532&CatId=3669
Card looks exactly like the one in the picture.
Setup was incredibly simple. I just unpacked the card, replaced my old 8800GT in slot 1, plugged in a second power cable directly to the second pci-e connection on the motherboard (no need to split DVD power), and booted into my windows xp partition -- which I had set as the default startup os before installing the new card. Once windows came up, I installed the latest ATI drivers and reboot. Tested a few games and everything checked out. Next I used WinFlash to flash the mac modified HIS rom from Cindori's rom package (the Sapphire rom also worked, although the GPU and memory clocks were different so I reverted back to the HIS image).
Once the card was flashed, I rebooted, held down option key so I could select the mac partition, and booted into 10.6.2. Once the os loaded, I launched Cindori's ATI Flashing Tool and installed the package to enable qe/ci. Done!
I've only had it running for a few hours, but so far I've encountered no problems at all in either Windows or OS X.
Thank you netkas for all your hard work on the kext updates and thank you Cindori for making the ROM package and ATI Flashing Tool available!
Card looks exactly like the one in the picture.
Setup was incredibly simple. I just unpacked the card, replaced my old 8800GT in slot 1, plugged in a second power cable directly to the second pci-e connection on the motherboard (no need to split DVD power), and booted into my windows xp partition -- which I had set as the default startup os before installing the new card. Once windows came up, I installed the latest ATI drivers and reboot. Tested a few games and everything checked out. Next I used WinFlash to flash the mac modified HIS rom from Cindori's rom package (the Sapphire rom also worked, although the GPU and memory clocks were different so I reverted back to the HIS image).
Once the card was flashed, I rebooted, held down option key so I could select the mac partition, and booted into 10.6.2. Once the os loaded, I launched Cindori's ATI Flashing Tool and installed the package to enable qe/ci. Done!
I've only had it running for a few hours, but so far I've encountered no problems at all in either Windows or OS X.
Thank you netkas for all your hard work on the kext updates and thank you Cindori for making the ROM package and ATI Flashing Tool available!
What is the best 4870 card to buy with 1GB of VRAM?
I want something that isn't going to overheat and will flash to work in Mac OS X.
If I buy the HIS version, what ROM do I use to flash it?
Another user posted that his HIS card is working great, but what ROM do I flash it with? http://cgi.ebay.com/HIS-ATI-Radeon-...Components?hash=item53de72bf1d#ht_3652wt_1167
I want something that isn't going to overheat and will flash to work in Mac OS X.
If I buy the HIS version, what ROM do I use to flash it?
Another user posted that his HIS card is working great, but what ROM do I flash it with? http://cgi.ebay.com/HIS-ATI-Radeon-...Components?hash=item53de72bf1d#ht_3652wt_1167
I would go for a 4890 for the reasons posted elsewhere in this forum. The popular brands seem to be XFX, Sapphire, PowerColor and HIS. The thing is that the models change so rapidly that you're sort of flying by the seat of your pants. But the guys in here are some of the most helpful I've ever seen; peloche for example wrote a ROM for me for the HIS H489FT1GP. But now looking at NewEgg I don't even see that model anymore. All of them look like they're model 5000-something now...
Search the forum for "groths.se" and you should find the ATI flashing tool (ROMs included) as well as a good starting collection of ROM files. But if your card is any departure from those models like the H489FT1G was -- and it is very likely your card will be -- then all the ROMs you find will be close and probably functional, but just a bit "off" in some way.
I bought a XFX HD 4890 ZSFR v1.6 today from bestbuy, but seem to be having some problems getting a good rom on it.
I saw that earlier in this thread there were two people who got the same model/version working, but I have had no success with the ROMs they used. I backed up my original ROM first, via GPU-Z, and then tried flashing by screen sharing in OSX using Cindori's tool.
Could someone point me towards instructions for stitching the EFI to the ROM I backed up.. or do the stitch themselves? I've attached my original ROM.
EDIT: I got it working. I had to flash it in windows for some reason. I also needed to reapply the 10.6.2 combo update. It now doubles the performance of my EVGA GTX 285 for Mac, and at half the cost. Thanks for all the work that everyone has put into this. Attached now are my original rom and the EFI rom I used to flash.
I saw that earlier in this thread there were two people who got the same model/version working, but I have had no success with the ROMs they used. I backed up my original ROM first, via GPU-Z, and then tried flashing by screen sharing in OSX using Cindori's tool.
Could someone point me towards instructions for stitching the EFI to the ROM I backed up.. or do the stitch themselves? I've attached my original ROM.
EDIT: I got it working. I had to flash it in windows for some reason. I also needed to reapply the 10.6.2 combo update. It now doubles the performance of my EVGA GTX 285 for Mac, and at half the cost. Thanks for all the work that everyone has put into this. Attached now are my original rom and the EFI rom I used to flash.
Original Sapphire New Edition Roms (for Hynix memory)?
I've got my Sapphire (new edition) installed and working properly in Bootcamp. I go to install the card for the Mac using all the nice new tools in the first post (thanks, once I get this actually working you WILL get a donation!). Then I discover that there is no original.rom file for the Hynix memory version of the Sapphire new edition in the "ROMS" distribution. I download AITFlash for Windows, but it doesn't appear to function for me at all... Even starting it with the most basic -i switch results in a crash. It also looks to be about a bizillion years old (no gui at all? What decade are the programmers living in?) Anyway, the upshot is that I can't find a way to save my original ROM myself.
I'm definitely not going to try flashing this card for the Mac until I have an original ROM file to revert to in case of disaster.
Does anyone have the original Sapphire New Edition (Hynix) ROM? If so, can we get it added to the distribution or post it elsewhere? Or, is there an alternative to ATIFlash which will allow me to save the original ROM file before I proceed?
Thanks!
I've got my Sapphire (new edition) installed and working properly in Bootcamp. I go to install the card for the Mac using all the nice new tools in the first post (thanks, once I get this actually working you WILL get a donation!). Then I discover that there is no original.rom file for the Hynix memory version of the Sapphire new edition in the "ROMS" distribution. I download AITFlash for Windows, but it doesn't appear to function for me at all... Even starting it with the most basic -i switch results in a crash. It also looks to be about a bizillion years old (no gui at all? What decade are the programmers living in?) Anyway, the upshot is that I can't find a way to save my original ROM myself.
I'm definitely not going to try flashing this card for the Mac until I have an original ROM file to revert to in case of disaster.
Does anyone have the original Sapphire New Edition (Hynix) ROM? If so, can we get it added to the distribution or post it elsewhere? Or, is there an alternative to ATIFlash which will allow me to save the original ROM file before I proceed?
Thanks!
Unfortunately the link to the stock Hynix rom in that post is broken... Grrrrrr....
I'll try using gpu-z mentioned above and see if I can get that to work.
I don't understand very well your problem, you have the original ROM.
Atiflash doesn't work with Windows it should be used with DOS only, WinFlash is working under Windows.
gpu-z works well as mentionned by Cindori.
A 4890 card that has twice the performance of a gtx285??? You are kidding, are you?
The 4890 is usually compared to a gtx260/275, but not to a 285.
New Sapphire VaporX coming
Hi there !
This is my first contribution. It won't be perfect, so I apologize in advance for any eventual misbehavior.
First things first : many thanks to all of you, especially to Cindori, Pelouche and The Rominator, for your excellent work that gave me (among others) the courage to buy a not officially supported graphic card !
I read the entire thread, in order to prevent missing too much information. My actual equipment is shown in my signature. These days a new Sapphire VaporX card should increase it. So I'd like to try and repeat the success AnimeFunTv had, making is Sapphire VaporX work in his MacPro. I'm aware that there're several steps that can go wrong, and I don't have access to a PC to reflash a previously misflashed card. So my idea would be to save the original ROM of the new card under Windows, try and build a modified version of it, hope that sombody here might control if I did ok, and then flash it (correct me if there's something wrong). But first I've got a question.
My actual X1900XT is dying with increasing speed because I use it to play Windows games. Right now it begins to produce interferences within the minute I launch a game. On the other hand, it works still well under MacOS. Is it possible to install the new 4890 as a second card, to use only with Windows ? Would I have to undergo the complete procedure you described in this thread in this case, too ?
Thanks and bye !
Hi there !
This is my first contribution. It won't be perfect, so I apologize in advance for any eventual misbehavior.
First things first : many thanks to all of you, especially to Cindori, Pelouche and The Rominator, for your excellent work that gave me (among others) the courage to buy a not officially supported graphic card !
I read the entire thread, in order to prevent missing too much information. My actual equipment is shown in my signature. These days a new Sapphire VaporX card should increase it. So I'd like to try and repeat the success AnimeFunTv had, making is Sapphire VaporX work in his MacPro. I'm aware that there're several steps that can go wrong, and I don't have access to a PC to reflash a previously misflashed card. So my idea would be to save the original ROM of the new card under Windows, try and build a modified version of it, hope that sombody here might control if I did ok, and then flash it (correct me if there's something wrong). But first I've got a question.
My actual X1900XT is dying with increasing speed because I use it to play Windows games. Right now it begins to produce interferences within the minute I launch a game. On the other hand, it works still well under MacOS. Is it possible to install the new 4890 as a second card, to use only with Windows ? Would I have to undergo the complete procedure you described in this thread in this case, too ?
Thanks and bye !
XFX 4890-ZSFR v1.6
I've been reading through the forums to find information to keep my mac pro alive a while longer. Saw the ATI cards as an upgrade path and headed down to my local Best Buy and got one. I initially followed the steps from the initial post. Didn't work. Unusable in OSX without natit. Keeping natit installed gives me kind of flakey performace. Saw the post a little earlier about the exact model/rev card I have and tried that. Still no joy.
Is there any additional information I can provide or need? I've got the gpu-z SS from within windows so I'm adding that. Maybe it's something stupid.
I've been reading through the forums to find information to keep my mac pro alive a while longer. Saw the ATI cards as an upgrade path and headed down to my local Best Buy and got one. I initially followed the steps from the initial post. Didn't work. Unusable in OSX without natit. Keeping natit installed gives me kind of flakey performace. Saw the post a little earlier about the exact model/rev card I have and tried that. Still no joy.
Is there any additional information I can provide or need? I've got the gpu-z SS from within windows so I'm adding that. Maybe it's something stupid.
bradipo,
Since you already run in Windows, you are better off than many. (did I just type that?)
Meaning, you can quickly download GPU-Z and dump your original ROM. Folks who flash first and then realize they should have kept their their original ROM end up spending hours or days trying to find something they had sitting in their hands at one point.
Get that ROM, zip it up, and post it here.
Ideally, you could then use Hexedit in OSX. Has a great "compare" function.....if you find that your ROM has already been posted and an EFI version created....YOU ARE ALOMST DONE !!!
Cindori's app is awesome, but since you have an X1900 it gets complicated. Better to remove X1900 and boot 4890 into Windows...flash with Winflash.
Hopefully Pelouche will come by and write you a ROM if there isn't one for your card. I might do it if he isnt around.
Since you already run in Windows, you are better off than many. (did I just type that?)
Meaning, you can quickly download GPU-Z and dump your original ROM. Folks who flash first and then realize they should have kept their their original ROM end up spending hours or days trying to find something they had sitting in their hands at one point.
Get that ROM, zip it up, and post it here.
Ideally, you could then use Hexedit in OSX. Has a great "compare" function.....if you find that your ROM has already been posted and an EFI version created....YOU ARE ALOMST DONE !!!
Cindori's app is awesome, but since you have an X1900 it gets complicated. Better to remove X1900 and boot 4890 into Windows...flash with Winflash.
Hopefully Pelouche will come by and write you a ROM if there isn't one for your card. I might do it if he isnt around.
Hi,
Click where the green circle is on your GPU-Z window, it'll save your original ROM and upload it here.
Attachments
Edited for success! I did indeed do something wrong. I had flashed with the original ROM instead of the EFI one posted earlier by Robmac. Now I'm back in OSX and so far so good.
Now that's a service (or an attitude) most professional computer services don't even dream of ! A competent answer to a maybe not completely obvious question, combined with an immediate offer for help ... Thank you again ! I'll let you know about progress inside my MacPro ASAP
Sorry if this is a repeat question...
My 8800GT just died, I bought a Sapphire 4890 New Edition to flash off Amazon... is it my understanding that Snow Leopard already has natit installed so I can simply plug... boot... flash... and get it up and running (assuming the card and flash work). Just wondering if I can get by without a currently functioning card to get to the flashing stage, thanks.
My 8800GT just died, I bought a Sapphire 4890 New Edition to flash off Amazon... is it my understanding that Snow Leopard already has natit installed so I can simply plug... boot... flash... and get it up and running (assuming the card and flash work). Just wondering if I can get by without a currently functioning card to get to the flashing stage, thanks.
No. You have to install Natit yourself, it does not come with SL. You should be able to flash the card under Windows if you have it installed - I don't know how to do that though.
I have Win7 bootcamp running so I can always do that.
I'm not sure I understand the Mac flashing process if you need to pull an old card to flash in SL... people load natit... pull the card... then reboot into SL to flash? The instructions said to remove natit before flashing so... not sure I get it.
I successfully, and easily, flashed a Sapphire 4890 Vapor-X (NOT Toxic) for my Octo 3.1 a couple of weeks ago thanks to the time, talents and tools provided by those individuals present in this thread. It took all of twenty minutes including card swapping, troubleshooting, etc.
Tip of the hat!
The only trouble I had was a blank screen at first boot which was simply circumvented with screen sharing vis-à-vis my now nearly four year old MacBook Pro.
Kudos!
BB
Tip of the hat!
The only trouble I had was a blank screen at first boot which was simply circumvented with screen sharing vis-à-vis my now nearly four year old MacBook Pro.
Kudos!
BB
from FAQ on page 1:
Why do I need to remove my ATI cards?
Because the app will try to flash all ATI cards it finds.
Why do I need Natit when I'm currently using ATI cards?
Since you need to remove other ATI cards, you need something to run the display when you boot and flash.
Natit enables you to boot and use 4890 for display without flashing it.
Why can't I just use Natit then?
You can, but you won't get Apple's grey bootloader screen. You also can't boot OSX dvd's, or use the card in another computer / OS disk without first installing Natit on it. With flashing, your card can do all these things. So now we only use Natit to be able to remove ATI cards and still boot, or to run cards that not yet have a modified ROM that is working.
so this is only for people that are using ATI cards atm. no need for nvidia users.
I am sorry to say that many Natit versions arent working in my app, i will look into that.