Which Radeon 9800 Pro Mac BIOS?
  • Jim
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    Jim
    Posts: 4977 from 2009/1/28
    From: Delaware, USA
    Does anyone know of a better reduced Mac BIOS for a Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB PC video card then gotoh's ati_hack_red_9800pro_130_agp_64k 23K BIOS?
    I'm currently looking at the two on themacelite.wikidot.com, but I can't make up my mind which BIOS to use.
    The first BIOS I mentioned has failed to work on one card I have and I don't have any experience with sprinter's modified BIOS'.

    What files have worked for you?

    [ Edited by Jim 26.09.2011 - 22:27 ]
    "Never attribute to malice what can more readily explained by incompetence"
  • »26.09.11 - 19:24
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  • Jim
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    Jim
    Posts: 4977 from 2009/1/28
    From: Delaware, USA
    No answers on this one?
    Moving forward with sprinter's BIOS file.
    Hopefully that works.
    "Never attribute to malice what can more readily explained by incompetence"
  • »30.09.11 - 20:01
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
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    amigadave
    Posts: 2795 from 2006/3/21
    From: Northern Calif...
    I guess you are the "expert" Jim (or the guinea pig). Let us know how it turns out.
    MorphOS - The best Next Gen Amiga choice.
  • »30.09.11 - 20:36
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  • Jim
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    Jim
    Posts: 4977 from 2009/1/28
    From: Delaware, USA
    Thanks David, but I was hoping some people with Mac experience would post. Most of my experience has been with X86 PCs (unless you count old 68K machines).
    So far I've sucessfully re-flashed Radeon 9000s, 9200s, and FireGL X3s. However, I've had one failed flash with a 9800Pro.
    I'll try sprinter's reduced BIOS and let you guys know how well that works.
    And if Frank and Bigfoot ever create an R400 driver, I'll be glad to offer tips on re-flashing those for G4 (or G5) operation.
    "Never attribute to malice what can more readily explained by incompetence"
  • »30.09.11 - 20:50
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
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    amigadave
    Posts: 2795 from 2006/3/21
    From: Northern Calif...
    I wish I had some answers for you, but I don't. I am searching for edit: I downloaded the correct Mac video card bios for my own 128mb ATI All-in-Wonder 9700Pro, but the guide on how to flash it describes how to do it from an x86 PC, not from a G4, or G5 PowerMac. (I know that it is most likely a waste of time having the "All-in-Wonder" part of this card for MacOSX and MorphOS3.0, but maybe I can find some Linux PPC drivers that can take advantage of some, or most of it's features).

    I have never flashed a video card and don't have a PC with an AGP slot, so I will have to do it from my G4, or G5 PowerMac, as they are the only computers I own that have AGP slots.

    I am hoping that my 9700Pro should be able to use the driver that is being developed for the G4 PowerBook's ATI 9700 Mobility video card, but it won't matter if I can't find a Mac bios for it and get it reflashed to work in my G4 PowerMac.

    [ Edited by amigadave 30.09.2011 - 23:17 ]
    MorphOS - The best Next Gen Amiga choice.
  • »01.10.11 - 03:32
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  • Order of the Butterfly
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    Daff
    Posts: 247 from 2003/4/5
    My Radeon 9800 Pro works fine on MorphOS.

    More info :
    http://obligement.free.fr/articles/reflashage_mac_radeon9800.php
    Obligement - L'Amiga au maximum
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  • »01.10.11 - 03:40
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
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    amigadave
    Posts: 2795 from 2006/3/21
    From: Northern Calif...
    I guess your 9800 only works in 2D mode at the moment under MorphOS.
    MorphOS - The best Next Gen Amiga choice.
  • »01.10.11 - 04:56
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    Divinity
    Posts: 498 from 2009/9/8
    @Jim
    My 9800 XT 256Mb vram is OK in PowerMac G4 and MorphOS2.7 ( using this one http://themacelite.wdfiles.com/local--files/flasher-s-buying-guide-9800/9800xt.jpg ), waiting MorphOS3.x to be full supported in 2D/3D.

    http://www.logicabs.it/amiga/morphos_ati_01.jpg (in MorphOS2.7)

    ROM/infos here http://themacelite.wikidot.com/flasher-s-buying-guide-9800

    Can you tell me infos (ROM/flash) about FireGL X3s please ?

    thanks, regards
  • »01.10.11 - 07:36
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  • Jim
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    Jim
    Posts: 4977 from 2009/1/28
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    @ Divinity,
    I'd be glad to dig up the BIOS I used (on my X3) for you. It's a Mac Radeon X800XT BIOS. If I can't re-locate my original CD, I can always re-install the card (in a PC) and save it with Atiflash.

    @ David,
    If you'd like, I can re-flash the card for you. You'd just have to mail it to me, I'd convert it and mail it back to you. I've already done this for a few people.

    @ Everyone,
    The BIOS I've mention (posted by sprinter on http://themacelite.com) works perfectly. The BIOS I tried earlier (posted by gotoh) does not (it locks up after the Apple logo screen undder OSX).
    I can highly recommend this first file to people looking to convert Radeon 9800Pro 128 MB video cards to Mac use.
    The file posted by gotoh is to be avoided (I will re-flash my card to sprinter's BIOS as soon as I find my Voodoo 3 PCI card to boot with).

    Further, if any of you need to re-flash a PC card to a Mac BIOS and lack either an X86 PC or an AGP slot I'll be glad to do it for you.
    Just PM me and I'll send you my address.
    "Never attribute to malice what can more readily explained by incompetence"
  • »01.10.11 - 15:14
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  • Order of the Butterfly
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    Divinity
    Posts: 498 from 2009/9/8
    Jim,
    Quote:

    I'd be glad to dig up the BIOS I used (on my X3) for you. It's a Mac Radeon X800XT BIOS. If I can't re-locate my original CD, I can always re-install the card (in a PC) and save it with Atiflash.


    Hi Jim,
    this one (about FireGL X3s) ? :
    Retail Radeon X800XT 109 AGP 4x/8x 475/500 MHz 256MB BGA GDDR3 128KB
    http://themacelite.wikidot.com/wikidownloads2

    Can you tell me also the brand and model of your FireGL X3s AGP card flashed ? (es. a Sapphire ...etc...)

    thanks, regards
  • »01.10.11 - 17:41
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    amigadave
    Posts: 2795 from 2006/3/21
    From: Northern Calif...
    Thanks for the offer Jim, but I think my Son has a PC with an AGP slot, so I am going to try to borrow it next weekend and flash it myself.
    MorphOS - The best Next Gen Amiga choice.
  • »01.10.11 - 19:04
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  • Order of the Butterfly
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    Divinity
    Posts: 498 from 2009/9/8
    @amigadave
    You can use only the PowerMac G4 with a VNC server service and using Graphiccelerator I http://thomas.perrier.name/graphiccelerator.html
    :)
    Remote control of the PowerMac via VNC client (from other host, es. Win/Mac/Linux/MorphOS...) , and flash the AGP card in the PowerMac itself

    You can use the VNC server in OSX or an other, for exemple Vine vnc server http://www.testplant.com/support/downloads/vine/

    [ Edited by Divinity 01.10.2011 - 23:53 ]
  • »01.10.11 - 20:50
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
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    amigadave
    Posts: 2795 from 2006/3/21
    From: Northern Calif...
    Good idea to use a remote desktop to flash the video card from inside the PowerMac. Thanks
    MorphOS - The best Next Gen Amiga choice.
  • »02.10.11 - 09:20
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  • Order of the Butterfly
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    Divinity
    Posts: 498 from 2009/9/8
    amigadave,
    Quote:

    Good idea to use a remote desktop to flash the video card from inside the PowerMac. Thanks


    :-)
  • »02.10.11 - 21:34
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  • Jim
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    Jim
    Posts: 4977 from 2009/1/28
    From: Delaware, USA
    @ Divinity
    I'll have to check the X3's brand.
    As to using Atiflash to save ther BIOS, well I tried to use my Voodoo 3 PCI card to boot my PC and it won't post.
    So, till I can dig up another PCI video card, I'm going to have to wait to update my own Radeon 9800 Pro or save the X3 BIOS.
    However, I'd be willing to bet that the X800XT BIIOS you've mentioned will work.

    The X3 has some advantages over the X800XT. It's a single slot card and it has two DVI ports.
    BTW - Neat idea for flashing in a Mac. I might have to look at that.

    [ Edited by Jim 03.10.2011 - 15:30 ]
    "Never attribute to malice what can more readily explained by incompetence"
  • »03.10.11 - 11:59
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