GFX Strings - How To

[aquamac]

Macwynn,

If you use Netkas's 10.4.1 boot file it includes info for your card. To make that work you only need to enter the info I mentioned above in your com.apple.boot.plist and the boot file should do the rest.

Stilligen,

All kexts installed with kexthelper b7 are put into System/Library/Extensions folder and backups of any existing kexts are put in your root directory.

[jaev]

Hey aqua threw in my gtx 285 today and updated strings from here, all is working excellent. Was wondering if it's needed to go ahead to the evga site and install the latest drivers now? I'm running retail snow 10.6.1

[macwynn]

Just an update Aqua...

Updated boot to 10.4.1. Redid my strings just to be absolutely sure. No go. Also tried it with the ATY_Init.kext from Netkas (and no string) still reports 4294965248 MB VRAM. Under ATY_Init with the new boot tho, it DID report the VRAM as 1024 but Final Cut still saw it as -2048!

UPDATE 2 - Used GraphicsEnabler instead of gfx string (correct?) and with and without ATY_Init.

Still with the 4+GB VRAM.

I am on an EX58-UD5 and read somewhere that the BIOS might be giving system RAM to the vidcard but I can't find it anywhere in the BIOS that it would even remotely be doing this.

Ack, Argh, and fooferall.

Help..... I'm melting.... not my Hac, my brain.



Mac Wynn

[mav64]

HI Aquamac,

Has anyone tried to modify GTX285 to Quadro - it seems it would correspond in hardware specs to Quadro FX4800. Would you have to do rom flashing first followed by efi string for Leo or Snow Leo?

I would appreciate your answer (or anyone's for that matter).

Mav64

[stillingen]

Thanks aquamac!

Which kext´s would i need for my Nvidia 9800 GT on Snow Leopard?

I tried using your string again, and now I had some changes.
I used the default DevicePath = PciRoot(0x1)/Pci(0xe,0x0)/Pci(0x0,0x0)
by mistake. After adding the new hex value, and rebooting, this gave me output on the DVI port, but no QE/CI. System info is showing Graphics card as 'General'

After running ./gfxutil -f display I end up with;
DevicePath = PciRoot(0x0)/Pci(0x3,0x0)/Pci(0x0,0x0)

This gives me QE/CI, but no output on the DVI port. System info is showing the correct Graphics card.

Does this make sense, and in which case am I missing kext for my card, or is a matter of my DevicePath not being correct, or my long hex string for that matter?

[aquamac]

Mav 64,

In theory it may be possible, but it would be a hardware (probably) and software mod. Softstrapping only works for the last digit of the device id, so there may also be one of a series of resistors that need to be changed on the card to change the second to last digit which is also different. This would require careful examination of both cards, unfortunately the Quadro is out of my price range.

Stillingen,

Do you have a picture you can post of your cards ports? If you have all the std Apple Nvidia kexts, you will not need any more, but your NVCAP value may be incorrect.

[stillingen]

This is my port layout Aquamac

Attachments:

[mav64]

Aquamac,

Thanks for detailed info. This quadro would empty out my back account as well. Messing with the PCB is not exactly my MO, especially, if I have to get out my grandfathers +22 glasses to see and have a shot of whiskey before soldering to keep my hands steady

Unless there is another way to improve my openGL, maya work, I think I may try your gtx 8800 softmod to quadro instead since it's already proven to work.

Appreciate,

Mav64

[macwynn]

The title of this post is mostly for Google and people searching for OSX86 grafx related info.

I am seriously pretty good at this stuff, been hacking OS X onto anything that will hold still for more than 5 minutes for 2 years now and building computers for 33.

I am sure it CAN work right but i have tried just about darned near everything and the EVGA 2GB GTX 285 will NOT post the proper VRAM size no matter what combination of things I tried and even prayer wouldn't help.

So THANK YOU Aquamac for all your bug hunting help, sorry I couldn't solve the problem. As a "pro user" though I had to decide at some point if my time was worth it, so I just did the next best thing.

Stepped up with the EVGA Step Up program to a GTX 295.

Should have it mid next week and am using a GTX 275 from another system I am still building out until it comes. Cost me about $30 more thn if I just bought the dang thing in the first place like i wanted to.

Hate to get beat by a card but there ya go.

275 reports 896 and all is well with Final Cut. Motion and After Effects scream too.

Looking forward to seeing what the 295 with some FC3 and OpenCL goodness can do.

Mac Wynn

[stillingen]

Aquamac.
With reference to port layout, did you mean the back of the card as in my previous post?
Cheers!

[aquamac]

stilligen, sorry for the long time replying, I was away for the week! I will take a look now.

What NVCAP are you using. You will find this by opening up the in.plist you used to make your GFX strings. Your problem is the unusual layout of the ports on your card. Most cards have the VGA port next to the motherboard whereas yours is in the middle. Can you save the rom from your card so that I can find the NVCAP?

[jazz]

First off thanks for all the help. I am finally able to get my box to start with a nvidia card. I am presently using a NVIDIA 9800 GT 1gb, and despite using the correct vram,totalsize (00000040 ), system profiler is only showing 512 mb. Any ideas?

[aquamac]

Jazz,

I take it you are using strings here. Are you also using an injector such as NVDarwin.kext, NVInject.kext or NVKush.kext as they will over ride the strings info.

[stillingen]

No worries Aquamac.

>What NVCAP are you using.
I´ve use this NVCAP:

<key>NVCAP</key>
<data>04000000 00000300 1c000000 00000000 00000000</data>

>Can you save the rom from your card so that I can find the NVCAP?
Where can I find information on how to do this?

[jazz]

I'm not using an injector, I did a fresh install when I started trying the GFX strings. I'm also using the stock rom.