GFX Strings - How To

[aquamac]

Did you run the permissions repair command I linked to in my last post? You have to leave it till it gets to 100%. Takes a good 5 mins to finish and looks stuck on 20% but it will finish if you leave it.

[cipz]

hi aqua-mac..

sorry for my stupid question here..

i like to buy a new nvidia card,, a 9800GTX+ precisely..

if i want to buy with 3 ports : hdmi, dvi, vga ,not dual dvi,, can i get it working?

right now i'm using 9600GT and i succesfully get it working using osx86tools created by pcwiz

that tool consists only for dvi-dvi,, not hdmi-dvi-vga

and if i choose "custom" for port it will say "input your nvcap string here" something like that

so how do i edit the nvcap string for hdmi-dvi-vga? how to get the nvcap?

coz the nvcap is needed for input of osx86tools..

maybe you can help me by explaining where do i have to start to learn the nvcap edit thing..

sorry for my english

from Indonesia

[aquamac]

Download this program and find the rom from your chosen card. You can download many roms from MVKTech, download the one for your proposed card to your desktop, then open it up with NVCAP maker to find your nvcap.

[cipz]

hi aqua-mac..

thanks for your fast reply..

well,, i did some effort to understand to edit nvcap..

after search and learning,, finally i could dump my own BIOS card file, then use nvcapmaker to generate the nvcap value and use efi string to inject it into com.apple.Boot.plist and it works!!

but the card for practising is 9600GT..

just want to know is there any chance that 9800gtx+ with hdmi-dvi-vga port will success too with this method?
coz as far as i read,, other people could make it works is the one with dual dvi port only.
is hdmi supported in osx?
i could not risk the chance with hdmi one,, coz the card is quite expensive for me.
i know that the one with dual dvi is supported,, i guess i could go for that one easily without any worries.

here,, i just want some suggestion and opinion bout hdmi.

thanks again for your help..

[aquamac]

Hi,

Well, I have not tried a DVI/VGA card, so I cannot tell you if that will work on a particular card. However I got the HDMI working on my 9800 GX2's. There is a good resource about editing NVCAP here

[cipz]

thanks aqua mac..

[srini]

Thank you very much for answering aquamac..

Feb 22, 2009 7:32:32 GMT aquamac said:

Under no circumstances should you remove any of the Nvidia drivers! Can you answer the following questions for me.

1. What version of OSX do you currently have?

2. Is your disk formatted with MBR or GUID.

3.Are you using Chameleon or Netkas's EFI for a boot loader and which version of EFI. EFI will not support strings before V8.

1. I am running iDeneb 1.3 updated successfully to 10.5.6
2. My disk is formatted with MBR
3. I am using Chameleon boot loader v1.12 with dsdt override patch

not at all removed any graphics kexts,except nvkush .

also after i have experimented with gfx strings the system profiler not showing the CPU info ---any clues?

Thanks again

[alex0700]

Hi,

I try to make my GeForce 8600M GT 256Mb from my Dell Vostro 1500 works. The card works with NVDarwin or NVInjector (qe/ci included).
I have iPC 10.5.6 with Chameleon, I dump the bios for NVCAP (0400000000000100020000000000000700000000 - may help someone). It's a fresh install.
The problem is that card works but no way to make qe/ci works.
I tried to make hex with gfxutils and OSx86 Tools with no luck.
I tried stock 10.5.6 drivers or your 9xxx v2 pack whith no luck.
I tried to remove Extensions.mkext and boot -f -v with no luck.
I tried to "copy" info.plist from NVInject...

Well, I don't know what can i try next ;p !
Here's my in.plist :


<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
<key>PciRoot(0x0)/Pci(0x1,0x0)/Pci(0x0,0x0)</key>
<dict>
<key>@0,compatible</key>
<string>NVDA,NVMac</string>
<key>@0,device_type</key>
<string>display</string>
<key>@0,display-type</key>
<string>LCD</string>
<key>@0,name</key>
<string>NVDA,Display-A</string>
<key>@1,compatible</key>
<string>NVDA,NVMac</string>
<key>@1,device_type</key>
<string>display</string>
<key>@1,name</key>
<string>NVDA,Display-B</string>
<key>IOProbeScore</key>
<integer>0</integer>
<key>NVCAP</key>
<data>
BAAAAAAAAQACAAAAAAAABwAAAAA=
</data>
<key>NVPM</key>
<data>
AQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA==
</data>
<key>VRAM,totalsize</key>
<string>0x10000000</string>
<key>device_type</key>
<string>NVDA,GeForce</string>
<key>model</key>
<string>nVidia GeForce 8600M GT</string>
<key>name</key>
<string>display</string>
<key>rom-revision</key>
<string>nVidia GeForce 8600M GT OpenGL Engine [EFI]</string>
<key>IOProbeScore</key>
<integer>0</integer>
</dict>
</dict>
</plist>


NB : I tried with and without IOProbeScore, it changes nothing hehe.
Hope you'll find the wrong thing !
Thank you

[ten2pwr6]

...OK... I'm breaking down and asking for help. I've got two other (working) OSX86 boxes, one with an 8600 card, and one with an 8800 card. I got those to work just fine. However, this 9800 card is another story. Any assistance would be appreciated.

iPC OSX86 10.5.6, H/W: XFX GeForce 9800 GT from TigerDirect (Jan 09). Mobo is P5E3 w/ E8400, 8GB DDR3 1333MHz from TigerDirect (Jan 09).

I have tried various ways to get this card to work without success. EFIStudio (9800, 8800, Custom), KVInject, etc. I have also used the 9000 Series Package V2, the 9f23installer package (at various attempts).

I'm stumped. Everything shows up except for Quartz Extreme. Which is what I need to run some apps...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
From the output to LIPCI.TXT:

01:00.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: nVidia Corporation Unknown device [10de:0605] (rev a2)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Here's the About Mac information (from my custom EFI string).

NVIDA GeForce 9800 GT 512MB DDR3:

Chipset Model: NVIDA GeForce 9800 GT 512MB DDR3
Type: Display
Bus: PCIe
PCIe Lane Width: x16
VRAM (Total): 512 MB
Vendor: NVIDIA (0x10de)
Device ID: 0x0605
Revision ID: 0x00a2
ROM Revision: NVIDA GeForce 9800 GT 512MB DDR3 OpenGL Engine [EFI]
Displays:
VX2262wm:
Resolution: 1680 x 1050 @ 60 Hz
Depth: 32-bit Color
Core Image: Software
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Not Supported
QuartzGL: Supported
Display Connector:
Status: No display connected

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I tried Aqua-Mac's directions. The following used for an EFI (obviously hex in com.apple.boot.plist) does not work...

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
<key>PciRoot(0x0)/Pci(0x1,0x0)/Pci(0x0,0x0)</key>
<dict>
<key>@0,compatible</key>
<string>NVDA,NVMac</string>
<key>@0,device_type</key>
<string>display</string>
<key>@0,name</key>
<string>NVDA,Display-A</string>
<key>@1,compatible</key>
<string>NVDA,NVMac</string>
<key>@1,device_type</key>
<string>display</string>
<key>@1,name</key>
<string>NVDA,Display-B</string>
<key>@2,#adress-cells</key>
<string>0x01000000</string>
<key>@2,#size-cells</key>
<string>0x00000000</string>
<key>@2,compatible</key>
<string>NVDA,sensor-parent</string>
<key>@2,device_type</key>
<string>NVDA,gpu-diode</string>
<key>@2,hwctrl-params-version</key>
<string>0x02000000</string>
<key>@2,hwsensor-params-version</key>
<string>0x02000000</string>
<key>@2,name</key>
<string>sensor-parent</string>
<key>@2,reg</key>
<string>0x02000000</string>
<key>NVCAP</key>
<data>
BAAAAAAAAwAMAAAAAAAABwAAAAA=
</data>
<key>NVPM</key>
<data>
AQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA==
</data>
<key>VRAM,totalsize</key>
<data>
AAAAIA==
</data>
<key>device_type</key>
<string>NVDA,GeForce</string>
<key>model</key>
<string>NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT DDL</string>
<key>name</key>
<string>NVDA,Parent</string>
<key>rom-revision</key>
<string>3172a</string>
</dict>
</dict>
</plist>

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It's 2am and if I forgot something... I'll edit this tomorrow...

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Ten2Pwr6
NC -USA

[aquamac]

Hi ten2pwr6,

Just a quick question, did you use the same install disk on your other boxes. Did you try cloning a disk from one of them and using it on the new box without changing anything at all. I would try it. You are not the only one having problems with IPC 10.5.6.

[ten2pwr6]

Aqua-Mac

Yes, used iPC 10.5.6 on all. Have had good success.

The DG35EC box was done generic while its HD was attached to the P5E3 Mobo (eSATA) then HD put into its own box and it booted fine. Finished it with additional mod'd kexts (ICH7, Netgear WN311, Sound, 8600GT). Never could get the DG35EC to boot on its own with any other build (Native DVD, iPC, iDeneb, Boot132 (many flavors)... even though it has its own step-by-step over at inSane.

The Shuttle SG31G2 was booted with iPC 10.5.6 PPF2... it has the 8500 GT since I could never get the internal Intel GMA3100 (not X3100) to work. Mod's usual suspects (IHC8, sound, 8500GT).

The P5E3 was originally done with iDeneb 10.5.5... after a lot of playing... re-did it with iPC 10.5.6 PPF2. Worked nicely... mod'd usual suspects (IH9, Sound, 9800GT)... just can't get 9800 working with QE. Again the card is XFX9800GT.

Which approach works best, in your opinion? I'll stay focused on one approach.

Thanks in advance.
Ten2Pwr6

[aquamac]

Are you using a Boot 132 Extra file or just replacing the kexts directly (which is what I tend to do). If you are just replacing the kexts, then did you delete Extensions.mkext then reboot with -f -v?

This should work fine, I have had a 9800 GTX going in a P5E3 before. I always use GFX Strings - boots quicker as there is less searching/identifying going on at boot.

I take it your PCI root is OK and that you definitely have triple checked that nvinject/nvkush/nvdarwin have not crept in with your install.

Without having the machine in front of me it's pretty tricky to trouble shoot.

[bannerlog]

Hello aquamac.
I have Asus EN9800GT 512Mb. I've install yours Nvidia 9 series driver, with gfx string from this thread. QE/CI and other stuff detected. But when on screen (for example) gray gradient it's blinking like when your warching on CRT monitor with low hertz. Also I have problems with movies - periodical freezs (like buffering). I havent those problems with my old 7600gt card. Could you give me advise how to fix it?

[aquamac]

Hi,

Are you on 10.5.5 or 10.5.6? You should only use my drivers on 10.5.5. 10.5.6 has support for 9800 anyway. Also which install are you using?

[bannerlog]

I'am using 10.5.6. I replace yours files from NVIDIA 9000 Series Driver v2 with original 10.5.6. Problems are the same: blinking gradient background and movie periodical stucks.