Nvidia FX5200 on G4

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Henri - 23 Sep 2007 17:05 GMT

Hi,

I own a second-hand G4 (the 2001 so-called digital-audio model); the
graphics card is an ati rage 128. I recently bought a new graphics card
for my pc and I've tried to replace the mac's ati card by my pc's (a
nvidia geforce fx 5200). The card fits but the mac won't power on. Can
such a card (ie the geforce) even function on the g4 model? And I assume,
since the geforce is a more recent card, that it will favorably replace
the ati; am I correct?

Henri

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Jolly Roger - 23 Sep 2007 18:41 GMT

> I own a second-hand G4 (the 2001 so-called digital-audio model); the
> graphics card is an ati rage 128. I recently bought a new graphics card
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> since the geforce is a more recent card, that it will favorably replace
> the ati; am I correct?

I'm pretty sure you'd have to physically modify that card to get it to
work in a G4:

<http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=170830>

If you ask me, you'd be better off with one of these:

<http://preview.tinyurl.com/2xobj6>

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Ben - 23 Sep 2007 19:33 GMT

> Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Henri

Apple used a slightly non standard pinout on the AGP slot on all G4's
other than the sawtooth (this was so the Apple monitors could switch the
Mac's on and off) you will need to perform both a hardware mod to the
card (otherwise it shorts the power-on line) and re-flash the firmware
on the card (you may need to replace the flash chip on the card as Apple
firmware tends to be larger than PC firmware). I have had good success
with the Radeon 9800 and hope to do a web site detailing the mod soon.
(however it does involve some surface mount soldering).
Ben.

NB apart from one card (a Radeon I think) that was sold as both Mac and
PC compatible there are NO PC graphics cards that will work in a G4
without modifying.

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Henri - 23 Sep 2007 22:58 GMT

>> Hi,
>>
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> PC compatible there are NO PC graphics cards that will work in a G4
> without modifying.

ok, thanks. I'm not sure I'md be ready to physically mess the card even
though it now uselessly sits in some box amongst some other junk. I know
how to deal with pci and agp cards and merory units, but that's about it
when it comes to fiddle with hardware. I'll keep the ati for the mac; I
guess it ain't that bad after all. I would, however, and just in case, be
looking forward to reading any stuff on going about performing such mods.

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Jolly Roger - 24 Sep 2007 02:00 GMT

> I guess it ain't that bad after all.

An ATI Rage is pretty sucky for *any* computer.

With Mac OS X, in particular, the Rage is unable to handle true #d
acceleration, which means things like Quartz Extreme are disabled,
which, in turn, means drawing is dog slow.

The ATI Radeon I mentioned, on the other hand, allows Mac OS X to use
Quartz Extreme, which means there will be a huge improvement in drawing
speed across the board.

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Henri - 24 Sep 2007 11:47 GMT

>> I guess it ain't that bad after all.
>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> Quartz Extreme, which means there will be a huge improvement in drawing
> speed across the board.

I hear you. Kind of pricey though (about 135 euros). Oh, well.

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Mac Forum / General / Hardware / September 2007

Nvidia FX5200 on G4