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Post by zim2dive on Mar 22, 2009 23:02:24 GMT
with my 8400gs I have been having mixed luck (mostly bad). Sometimes I can get nvinject to work... and usually I can survive a few restarts. So I think I finally have it working...and shut down.
But when I start back up later.. I always(?) lose the success and boot to a blue or black screen?
What's the difference in the restarts working and shutdown/boot failing?
I've been flushing the kext caches and restarting with -f.
EDIT: I just did discover on one bad restart that I could disconnect my DVI-> HDMI cable, then reconnect and I had video (dunno if that is a useful clue)
EDIT 2: ok that trick only worked once.. now when I do that I can BARELY see the "real" screen (mouse/menus/etc) behind the blue screen.. and I do mean BARELY).
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Post by aquamac on Mar 23, 2009 5:44:18 GMT
Can you let us know what version of OSX you are using and what your system comprises of - mainboard etc.
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Post by zim2dive on Mar 23, 2009 10:27:23 GMT
Heh, yes I guess that could help... mobo: ga-g31m-es2l proc: E8400 3.0GHz C2D gfx: PNY nvidia 8400GS 256M, low profile, using DVI->HDMI audio: ALC883 The unplug/replug trick seems to work at random. I've tried various EFI strings and never had any luck with them (altho I had not tried the unplug/replug trick with those) I suppose there is a very small chance I am at the limits of my PSU, but if I can make it thru the verbose mode section, it seems like the max current demands (inrush at powerup) are probably already long past? EDIT: link to card: www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133264&nm_mc=AFC-DealNews&cm_mmc=AFC-DealNews-_-NA-_-NA-_-NA |
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Post by aquamac on Mar 23, 2009 13:15:15 GMT
Hi,
You still didn't say which version of OSX you have installed.
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Post by zim2dive on Mar 23, 2009 14:09:38 GMT
Sorry... I used iPC 10.5.6.
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Post by aquamac on Mar 23, 2009 18:46:48 GMT
Did you try NVDarwin? Your card is quite different from the cards that Apple use (Single DVI + piggyback VGA) from a hardware point of view. I usually stick to cards that are the most similar, eg dual DVI etc. Your mainboard is known to work fine. Do you have the most recent bios update? Probably worth a try. |
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Post by zim2dive on Mar 23, 2009 18:56:22 GMT
I tried NVDarwin from the iPC install and didn't have any luck.
Yeah, I did not realize the port arrangement made such a difference. Plenty of reports of "success" with 8400gs, but rarely do they specify the manuf/model, or the port configuration.
What I find so odd is that I can get it to work for a while, and only later does it fail (seems like restarts are ok, but shutdowns are bad).
I didn't know if that was a well-known (to folks who know more than me) issue that someone would have been able to tell me what I was doing wrong.
I'm going to try to install Windows so I can run nvflash and get the ROM and see what kind of NVCAP string pops out (that is the only way to get it? I already have linux installed if there is a way to get it from that side instead)
thanks,
Mike
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Post by aquamac on Mar 23, 2009 20:16:54 GMT
If you can find your rom here you will save yourself a load of hassle. You only need a windows start up floppy to use NVFlash, you don't need to boot into windows. You can go here and use this program to find your NVCAP. Run it on your Hack when in Mac OSX. |
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Post by zim2dive on Mar 23, 2009 23:11:05 GMT
this sound like the kind of thing that is begging to be put on a small ISO CD for easy distribution (or maybe a USB key). Alas, no floppy drive here. Any chance anyone knows of such a thing? And of course I can't find any PNY 8400 gs ROMs at that site  |
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Post by nano2nd on Mar 25, 2009 16:25:23 GMT
I'm running a Gainward 8400gs in a little hackie I put together as a boxee client see www.disruptiveelement.com/Disruptive_Element/Boxee_Box.html The board is basically the same as the one described above GA31M-S2L (note no "E"). I installed using a retail disk connected via USB from an Intel Mac and then applied EFI strings for the 8400gs (I'm keeping it old school and using EFIv8). My opinion is you're much better off doing your own retail install than using one of these pre-patched installers. I can let you have a copy of my com.apple.Boot.plist with the EFI strings if you want but it may not work as my card is 1GB (bought because, strangely, it was cheaper and had passive cooler). BTW, hi Aquamac and rest of the crowd. Sorry I've drifted away of late - work and home taking all my time up. |
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Post by aquamac on Mar 25, 2009 19:08:26 GMT
Hi nano,
Good to see you around again, hope you are well! I think everyone seems busy at the moment. I feel like I barely have enough time to breath!
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Post by zim2dive on Mar 25, 2009 20:32:14 GMT
I can let you have a copy of my com.apple.Boot.plist with the EFI strings if you want but it may not work as my card is 1GB (bought because, strangely, it was cheaper and had passive cooler). Through random luck with playing with the NVCAP string, I found one that seems to work with nvinject (I see a little wierdness, like a 1920x1080@0Hz resolution being offered). So I think my string is now _close_. I can switch resolutions and survive a reboot. Was going to test for a bit longer, but you can see my string in this thread: nvinject.free.fr/forums/viewtopic.php?t=214Not sure if it needs more tweaking (I don't understand all the bits well enough yet). But yes, would be great to see your string. I was thinking I should be able to convert my NVCAP string into an EFI string for boot.plist? |
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