Hi,

Bought a Apple PowerMac 7,3 yesterday. Unfortunately with a Nvidia card. I've seen a Sapphire ATI RADEON 9250 128MB DDR 64Bit Lowprofile AGP for sale. My question is will this card work with MorphOS.

Furthermore I've seen some messages about flashing the ATI cards? So they do not work out of the box most of the times? Would be nice if anyone could help me.

Thanks!

TeKK (Netherlands)

If the card has a Mac-Bios - why not? (Btw: Does a low profile card fit to the case..?)
If it's a flashed PC-card - may be.....

If it's a real Mac card it should. Also, since it's a 9250 it have Warp3D support.

[ Edited by Yasu 15.07.2015 - 15:20 ]

Hence the question about the flashing.
How can I detect if its a mac comp. card? I presumed that if a card eas mentioned in the /hardware list it was compatible. So there is an other angle to take into account.

> I presumed that if a card eas mentioned in the /hardware list it was
> compatible. So there is an other angle to take into account.

Yes, there is. MorphOS supports hardware platforms with different firmwares. On platforms with firmware containing an x86 emulator (Pegasos, Efika 5200B, Sam460), a graphics card with x86 ROM must be used. On PPC Macs, where the firmware doesn't contain an x86 emulator, a graphics card with PPC ROM must be used.
However, there are exceptions to this rule since MorphOS 3.8:

https://morph.zone/modules/newbb_plus/viewtopic.php?forum=11&topic_id=9888&start=38
https://morph.zone/modules/newbb_plus/viewtopic.php?forum=3&topic_id=11130&start=48

Ty, a step closer. But is it trial and error in buying a second hand card? The card I've seen is not that expensive but it would be if I'd be buying a card that has no support, every time. Is there any way in seeing before hand if the cards supports PPC Macs.

I used to have Amiga's and still have an A4000. Sorry about the n00b questions this is all new to me :)

[ Edited by Tekk 15.07.2015 - 18:22 ]

Well, google what an AGP card look like and compare them. I did it with my card and so far they all worked

Quote:

His question is not how to figure out if it is an AGP card, but how to figure out if it has a Mac ROM so it will work in his G5 PowerMac.

The simplest way to find out is to ask the seller if it is a Mac compatible video card. If the seller does not know the answer, chances are it is a PC video card and will not work in your G5 PowerMac, unless you are able to reflash it with a Mac ROM.

Personally, I no longer have a PC that has an AGP video slot, so I can't reflash any video cards to work in Mac computers. There is a member here who was doing a lot of reflashing and testing of video cards, his name is Jim, but I don't know if he is still able to do that, and since he lives in the USA, it may not be practical for him to help you.

I would suggest that you wait until you know for sure if the Radeon video card you are buying is a real Mac compatible card, or get one from a reseller who is experienced at reflashing PC cards to work in Mac computers.

Nailed it AmigaDave! Thanks for clearing that up :)

I did a bid on this card It's only €5,- so I could take the risk. So to understand it correctly: it is either a pc card or a mac card. It can't be both?

Is there anyway to see if it's a Mac compatible card. Like you said, I do not have a AGP system either... so that would be difficult.

@Tekk

Thats a PC card.

"Combo" cards for both PC and Mac do exist, but they are rare and about as expensive as pure Mac versions (and AFAIK they start at Radeon9600 and up).
Flashing a card might work, but some flashed cards that work o.k under OSX show problems with MorphOS.

@amigadave
AGP cards can be flashed inside the Powermac, you just need to make sure you have some display available. VNC is know to work, a 2nd GFX card (with Mac-OF and in PCI) should also work.

@ Tekk

You should look if the graficcard that has an ADC-port in aditional to DVI then you can be sure
that its a "Mac-Edition" <- thats how they are called. The "MAC-Edition" cards most likely
are more expensive then the pc cards.
Find a card and post the link before you buy it!

Thanks a lot guys for the help.

Not the best card but for starters maybe this will do?

> Not the best card but for starters maybe this will do?

It will most likely work, but no 3D support and only 16 MiB VRAM render this card borderline useless. Better search for Radeon 8500 or higher number.

I have a spare genuine Apple Radeon 9600 with 128MB.

30€ + postage.

Quote:

That is a really good deal, I would take it.

Or I have a 64MB Apple Radon 9000Pro you can have for free, but shipping would be more and it would take longer.

For most users, that are not into hacking a solution, I would strongly recommend a card with an Apple rom.

[ Edited by Jim 18.07.2015 - 10:54 ]

@Kronos
Ill contact you tonight. Thanks :D. Where are you from btw?

@Jim
Thanks... :D Ill wait and see what I can sort out with Kronos




[ Bewerkt door Tekk 16.07.2015 - 12:36 ]

My experience is that if they say that it has been inside a Powermac G5, then it's legit. But I would take the 30€ card myself. It's a good deal for a good enough card

it dont really matter if its not a mac version bios i have used a flashed bios 9250 and a pc flashed bios in mu ppc g4 mac and both worked perfectly well with morphos, only problem cam when i wanted to duel boot as os x dont have native drivers so i just flashed it to mac bios and was great.

Quote:

That is good to know!

Is there a webpage with detailed step-by-step directions on how to do the flashing in the Mac computer? I assume that it must be done using the firmware prompt, as the card won't work in MorphOS, or MacOSX until it is flashed, is that correct?

> os x dont have native drivers

Huh?

>> VNC is know to work, a 2nd GFX card (with Mac-OF and in PCI) should also work.

> That is good to know! [...] I assume that it must be done using the firmware prompt,
> as the card won't work in MorphOS, or MacOSX until it is flashed, is that correct?

The card won't work in firmware until it is flashed, hence Kronos' mention of "VNC" and "2nd GFX card".

Someone offered me a ATI Radeon X1300 Pro. It's PCI express. Would that me a problem? Those G5 had PCI-X right?

> Would that me a problem? Those G5 had PCI-X right?

Yes, MorphOS-compatible G5 Macs have AGP and either PCI-X or PCI. Models with PCIe are currently no supported.

@ Tekk,

So far, the best solution you have been offered is the one Kronos mentioned.
The 9000 I mentioned is not really suited to your G5, although I do have an Apple 9800XT I am about to post on eBay.
The X1300 you have been offered will, currently, only work in a SAM460.

Good luck with your system.

@ Tekk

Ich habe noch eine Radeon 9000pro mit 64Mb.
Wie weit wohnst du von Nijmegen entfernt ?

Gruß defender