GFX Strings - DUAL CARDS - How To

[kamisama]

Hi,

I've spent all my day trying to get dual card working, but still without success.
I'm sure i've followed the step correctly :
- I've fetch your dual GTX9800 plist
- I've modifed the second half to match my PCI root and to modify the card model name (since pciroot and memory size are the same)
- I've converted the plist to hex
- Insert the hex string in the apple.boot.plist

My main card is a GTX9800 too, so i haven't modified a single line in the first half of the plist.
My second card is a GeForce 7300GT, 512Mb.

If I understand, we should just have to modify the name, pic root and the Memory size to match our card ? If yes, i've also tried take your dual 9800GTX plist and use it directly without modifying it's contents, since we have the same PCI root for our card, and same memory size. I assume the name doesn't matter ....

So, i've tried different plist :
- Your raw dual 9800GTX plist (without any modification)
- Your dual9800GTX plist, modified the second half to match my card
- A 9800GTX plist + 7300GT plist (from EFIStudio)

Result was always the same : I'm stuck a blue screen. I see the cursor for 1 second, then nothing but a blue screen on all of the 4 monitors.

System Profiler when booting with -x says that all cards are detected correctly (depending of what I put in the efi string), and all 4 monitors are running.

But booting normally simply doesn't work. I've tried setting the BIOS to boot with the second graphic card, but it kernel panics.

My plist contents :

<?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 GTX DDL</string>
<key>name</key>
<string>NVDA,Parent</string>
<key>rom-revision</key>
<string>3172a</string>
</dict>
<key>PciRoot(0x0)/Pci(0x6,0x0)/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 7300 GT</string>
<key>name</key>
<string>NVDA,Parent</string>
<key>rom-revision</key>
<string>3172a</string>
</dict>
</dict>
</plist>

Does it seems correct ?
Can someone with leopard convert it to hex please ?
I've read that Snow Leo doesn't make the right GFX String .... and I don't have Leopard.
But can a wrong GFX string still boot in safe mode with all the cards and monitors detected correctly ? (since it's my case)

Someone above have also said that DST.aml can cause problem. Does simply deleting that file from the root or /extra will remove that patch ? (to test if it's the cause)

Thanks

[aquamac]

I have found that you cannot get a correct string in Snow but try the above first. I also don't have Leo at home anymore so you will need someone else to help on that front. I would think this is your problem

[kamisama]

Just tried the GFX String from Leopard. still no luck.
Result was the same as the Snow Gfx String : blue screen with PEG, kernel panic with PCI.
I've even tried on a fresh install, without DSDT ....
String works (detects the 2 cards correctly) in safe mode, but works in normal mode only when I plug only one card at the same time.

I'm lost.

[gerbitos]

Hi...

I'm Back..

always in nuts...

I have my PCI address but It does't work..

when I have the 2 pci-e card installed, I have this address under win 7 :

PCI 1 : PCIROOT(0)#PCI(0700)#PCI(0000)
PCI 3 : PCIROOT(0)#PCI(0300)#PCI(0000)#PCI(0000)#PCI(0000)

when I try 2 time (one per card)

PCI 1 : PCIROOT(0)#PCI(0700)#PCI(0000)
PCI 3 : PCIROOT(0)#PCI(0300)#PCI(0000)#PCI(0200)#PCI(0000)

and it don't work with this addresses .. I try all..

just want to know why my first PCI address have only 3 number and my 3rd pci address have 5 number

?

I try also to add 2 number (0000) for the first address but doesn't work..

aquamac :

can you show me your pci-e adresses when you tried to do that with your p6t6

now I don't know what to do..

thanks a lot..

[slyr]

i!

I will be use 2 videocard, but secound is not work.
I have QE/CE/CL with primeri card. (GF 8800 GTS 320)
I can see them in Graphics/Displays.

fecso.dyndns.org/1.jpg
fecso.dyndns.org/2.jpg


Nvidia Quadro 4 200/400NVS 64MB
Field Value
Graphics Processor Properties
Video Adapter nVIDIA Quadro NVS
GPU Code Name NV17GL
PCI Device 10DE / 017A
Transistors 29 million
Process Technology 0.15u
Bus Type PCI
Memory Size 64 MB
GPU Clock 250 MHz
RAMDAC Clock 350 MHz
Pixel Pipelines 2
TMU Per Pipeline 2
Pixel Fillrate 500 MPixel/s
Texel Fillrate 1000 MTexel/s
Memory Bus Properties
Bus Type DDR
Bus Width 64-bit
Real Clock 166 MHz (DDR)
Effective Clock 333 MHz
Bandwidth 2664 MB/s


Witch kext will be use?


--------------------
Asus P5Q bios 2102 modded Juzzi / Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 / Geil 8500 4GB 1066Mhz / BFG 8800 GTS 320Mb /
sata 1 MAC iDeneb 1.3_10.5.8 with_Chameleon-2.0-RC3 boot loader / sata 2 LG DVD Super Multi / sata 3 XP SP3 / sata 4 Windows 7 64bit / USB LG BLU 06 Blue Ray RW

sata 5 SNOW Leopard Universal 3.5 on SSD OCZ Vertex 120GB
Realtek 1200 Audio - worked with SPDIF, Dolby Pro Logich II, DTS digital 96k 24bit - Logitech Z5500
Attansic L1 Lan - worked / Dual Screen - worked / Slepp - worked / Paragon NTFS - don't work / smbios - don't work

[slyr]

Hi Acuamac!

I need your help for my 2nd video card.

I will be use 2 videocard, but secound is not work.
I have QE/CE/CL with primeri card. (GF 8800 GTS 320)
I can see them in Graphics/Displays.

fecso.dyndns.org/1.jpg
fecso.dyndns.org/2.jpg


Nvidia Quadro 4 200/400NVS 64MB
Field Value
Graphics Processor Properties
Video Adapter nVIDIA Quadro NVS
GPU Code Name NV17GL
PCI Device 10DE / 017A
Transistors 29 million
Process Technology 0.15u
Bus Type PCI
Memory Size 64 MB
GPU Clock 250 MHz
RAMDAC Clock 350 MHz
Pixel Pipelines 2
TMU Per Pipeline 2
Pixel Fillrate 500 MPixel/s
Texel Fillrate 1000 MTexel/s
Memory Bus Properties
Bus Type DDR
Bus Width 64-bit
Real Clock 166 MHz (DDR)
Effective Clock 333 MHz
Bandwidth 2664 MB/s


<?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>Kernel</key>
<string>mach_kernel</string>
<key>Kernel Flags</key>
<string>arch=x86_64</string>
<key>Timeout</key>
<string>2</string>
<key>device-properties</key>
<string>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</string>
</dict>
</plist>

I don't have in.plist file.
If I started osx86studio, and will be add efi string, than can't make "0" into type boolean. (1700)

Have you any idea for me?

Thx.

[focher]

I now have dual cards (2 x GTX 280) working in my ASUS P5N-T Deluxe motherboard. Using the attached plist (but delete the middle section for dual cards) I am able to generate an EFI string with gfxutil in Snow Leopard that gives me a working, accelerated graphical desktop.

When attempting to add a third card, it does not work. I generated an EFI string with the attached plist (with all 3 cards included) in both Leopard and Snow Leopard. Neither allow me to finish booting to a graphical user interface.

The Leopard generated EFI string gets me further, taking me into graphics mode but then switching the monitor into power saving mode. The Snow Leopard generated EFI string never switches from the text boot mode (-v) and just seems to hang.

I am using Chameleon RC3 with the PC_EFI 10.3 replacement boot file.

One addition in the first <key> in the first <dict> section, specifying @0, Apple for the default display. This was recommended by Kabyl in the forums.voodooprojects.org area of Chameleon Bug Reports.

Attachments:

[aquamac]

Hi focher,

That sounds quite interesting, I have not seen that before, are you saying to specify "@0 Apple". Can you type exactly what you are suggesting and also what kabyl meant when he suggested this might help.

[focher]

You can see it in the plist that I attached to the previous post. Essentially, in the card that you want as the default display you should add a key:

<key>@0,AAPL,boot-display</key>
<data></data>

That's what he specifically wrote to add. In his post, he left the <data></data> empty.

[kamisama]

Hi.

I'm back.
My problem was the blue screen when trying to make a 9800GTX+ work together with a 7300 or 7100 (and 7100 with 7300).
Problem is finally solved with two identic 9800GTX ...
Don't know why it didn't work with 2 different card, but it works flawlessly with 2 BFG 9800GTX+, if you follow the tutorial.

Thanks again.

[focher]

Any ideas from anyone on why an EFI string for a dual card config works, but the EFI string when trying to add a third doesn't work?

Funny thing is, I get a different EFI string generated from gfxutil with the same plist but running the utility on Leopard vs Snow Leopard. I have tried both EFI strings, and neither work.

I am now stuck because I don't know what else to try. The plist is attached to me post just above for reference.

[gerbitos]

I'm back always doesn't work but :

I do many test (in the order I wrote into my plist file) :


1 .
- A) pciroot(0)#PCI(0300)#PCI(0000)#pci(0200)#pci(0000)
- B) pciroot(0)#PCI(0700)#PCI(0000)#pci(0000)#pci(0000)

leo doesn't want to start..

2 .
- A) pciroot(0)#PCI(0300)#PCI(0000)#pci(0000)#pci(0000)
- B) pciroot(0)#PCI(0700)#PCI(0000)#pci(0000)#pci(0000)

leo start but with no drivers

3 .
- A) pciroot(0)#PCI(0300)#PCI(0000)#pci(0000)#pci(0000)
- B) pciroot(0)#PCI(0700)#PCI(0000)

leo start just the card B (0700)

4 .
- A) pciroot(0)#PCI(0300)#PCI(0000)#pci(0200)#pci(0000)
- B) pciroot(0)#PCI(0700)#PCI(0000)

leo doesn't want to start

so..

first I need to write the adress for the first card like this :

pciroot(0)#PCI(0700)#PCI(0000)

(I don't know why...)

and the second card like this :

pciroot(0)#PCI(0300)#PCI(0000)#PCI(0000)#PCI(0000)

but leo doesn't see the second card..

I don't know what to do..

thanks..

[freezerburn26]

No matter what I do, I cannot get my snow leopard install to boot up without -x, I get a kernel panic from nvdaresman with dual EVGA gtx 285s. I followed the instructions here exactly in leopard, but it won't work.

[aquamac]

Are you set to boot from PEG 2 in your bios?

[dimaas]

Hi Aquamac.

I need help with QE/CI... I have 2xGTX260 on nForce 780i.
My plist contents :
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple Computer//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
<key>Kernel</key>
<string>custom</string>
<key>Kernel Flags</key>
<string></string>
<key>Boot Graphics</key>
<string>Yes</string>
<key>GraphicsEnabler</key>
<string>y</string>
<key>Quiet Boot</key>
<string>No</string>
<key>Timeout</key>
<string>5</string>
<key>device-properties</key>
<string>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</string>
<key>Graphics Mode</key>
<string>1680x1050x32</string>

</dict>
</plist>

Thanks!