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Ultimate Thread: 4890 in Mac Pro

sorry macchrissly, but to the question

"how do I do that, on what speed is it running then? is it safe for gaming, or will it overheat? how is the sound of the card on constant speed?"

what speed? well depends on what volt regulator you use (12v or 7v)
safe for gaming? no clue at all. again depends on yourself
sound of the card? your card can sound like a pigeon or a jet plane for all I can know, no two models sound alike
"find out for yourself" was a good answer imo, as rommy says

"Will this work?

There is only one way to find out.

Please post your results. "
 
new rom file for XFX 4890 HD-489X-ZSFC Rev 1.6

Hi everybody,

i now fixed the fan problem by changing the fan settings in cindoris rom file
with the radeon bios editior.

here is the new rom file that keeps the fan down at around 30% (not really audible) as long as the temprature is not rising over 58°C. After that it gradually increases, without making anoying jumps in speed as before.

My graphics card is XFX HD4890 XFX 4890 HD-489X-ZSFC Rev 1.6 that looks like this: Click for Picture

I attached the new rom file I used. I flashed it using the boot cd.
 

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4870 1gb

Hello!

I'm new in this forum and I have got a question about the 4870 1Gb Version (100% the same fan as the apple one). Is it possible to flash the card with the original Apple rom or do I need a special rom?

And is it true that this card (if it would work with the apple rom) would be plug and play (no osx patching necessary?)?

I haven't found anything about this card in this thread!
Picture of the card below.

Thanks
 

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    1.JPG
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Just having the same fan doesn't mean anything. My 4890 has the same fan as the Apple 4870. ;)

Provide a bit more information (manufacturer, revision, etc) and dump the ROM via GPU-Z in Windows, if you'd be so kind.
 
i think what he's trying to say is that the card is OEM as in 100% like the original reference ati card that the apple one is based from.


no, you can't flash with the apple rom because it is for 512mb card.

upload ur rom and i'll fix it for u
 
Hello Cindori!

Thank you for your offer!
I will post the rom in the next days (can take 1 week because I need a pc).

Last question: If you have changed the rom (to work in a mac), will it be plug and play in any mac (with 10.5.8/10.6 or 10.6.1)? without patching the osx?

Thanks for your answer, this forum is awesome!!!! :)
 
Ok, so I've been skimming the thread, and here's what I'm getting out of it:

4980 can be made to work, sorta.

In the 2009 Mac Pro models, you have to plug a 6 pin cable into the 8pin port.

You will get a "power cable disconnected" message on boot

QE/CI support are, at best, questionable, with some graphics tearing issues, and you have to run a patched OS
Fans occasionally go berserk.


Is any of this incorrect?
 
Hi grue,

I would say, with a bit of work you can get a 4890 to fully work under osx, the cables can be found for around 15-20$ on ebay, you should not get a power cable message (at least I don't get one) and the QE/CI patch makes it work without any problems. The fan control is part of the rom, and has to be configured, then they work perfect and silent.

the only important thing is, get one of the exact right graphics card mentioned in this thread, because if it is a different version or revision, you might run into problems.

greets,
chriss
 
grue said:
Ok, so I've been skimming the thread, and here's what I'm getting out of it:

4980 can be made to work, sorta.
Click to expand...
made to work perfectly.

grue said:
In the 2009 Mac Pro models, you have to plug a 6 pin cable into the 8pin port.
Click to expand...
2009 mac pro has same power plugs on mobo as other mac pros. (2 6pin)

grue said:
You will get a "power cable disconnected" message on boot
Click to expand...
Only on some newer cards.


grue said:
QE/CI support are, at best, questionable, with some graphics tearing issues, and you have to run a patched OS
Click to expand...

I have no graphics tearing. I've had my 4890 since June 2009. That usually comes from using bad rom.
You can call it Patched OS if you want to. In reality it's as hard as adding a couple of numbers to a text file...


grue said:
Fans occasionally go berserk.
Click to expand...
again, true on newer cards. you can fix it by editing rom with RBE (easy)
 
Cindori said:
made to work perfectly.


2009 mac pro has same power plugs on mobo as other mac pros. (2 6pin)


Only on some newer cards.




I have no graphics tearing. I've had my 4890 since June 2009. That usually comes from using bad rom.
You can call it Patched OS if you want to. In reality it's as hard as adding a couple of numbers to a text file...



again, true on newer cards. you can fix it by editing rom with RBE (easy)
Click to expand...


Very good. I shall acquire one.
 
By the way, how are we defining "newer" for the cards?

I can get an XFX originally purchased in 8/09, or a Sapphire Vapor-X also purchased originally in 8/09, both for the same price. Should I choose one over the other?
 
I need to ask a favor,
someone with 10.6.2, please upload your "mach_kernel" for me

it's a hidden 5mb file on the root of the hard drive.

I accidently deleted it and Now I can't boot osx :)






to show hidden files, use this in terminal
defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles YES

many thanks:)
 
grue said:
I'll get the product code and see if it's one of the overclocked or standard.

We can still overclock in Windows using the CCC, yeah?
Click to expand...

overclock does not matter, it's just a few bytes on the rom
it's the physical differences that makes card incompatible.

you can overclock in windows with CCC but you can keep clock in OSX if you write it to the cards rom.
 
Cindori said:
overclock does not matter, it's just a few bytes on the rom
it's the physical differences that makes card incompatible.

you can overclock in windows with CCC but you can keep clock in OSX if you write it to the cards rom.
Click to expand...


Ah, interesting. Insofar as you're aware, has anyone gotten the Vapor-X to work fully?
 
that looks pretty reference, I think it will flash straight away with the xfx rom in the ROMS.ZIP in the ATI Flashing Tool thread. But make sure to save rom first with gpu-z.


kernel_mach worked great, saved me a complete reinstall, thx;)
 
Cindori said:
that looks pretty reference, I think it will flash straight away with the xfx rom in the ROMS.ZIP in the ATI Flashing Tool thread. But make sure to save rom first with gpu-z.


kernel_mach worked great, saved me a complete reinstall, thx;)
Click to expand...

:D

Thanks for that. Just because I'm a masochist I might pick up both that and the Vapor-X and see if I can get 'em both going, see which one I like more, and sell the other!
 
Hi fellow mac pro modders,

I recently noticed some things, while using my 4890 under mac os x, I think the issues are to some degree QE/CI Patch related:

- When I want to use the OpenGL Render in After Effects, I get a message that "OpenGL not supported" in the upper right corner

- When I try to play bought HD TV shows in iTunes over my 30inch cinema display I get a message that I am connected to a non HDCP compliant display and therefore can't playback HD material on that screen - and I see and hear nothing

- Gaming on the other hand works flawlessly (Sims3 without any problems under OSX)

Anybody with an idea how to fix those things? Maybe its only a matter of kext changes?
 
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