Service to flash your video card to allow a boot screen for your Apple Mac Pro. This will allow your video card to see the boot screen in the initial boot-up process. Simply mail in your video card, I will flash it, and mail it back promptly.
- I recently got an Intel-based Mac Pro (MacPro2,1). This is one of the systems that Apple abandoned way too soon. It came with an ATI Radeon X1900 card, and I was able to flash one of my old AMD Radeon HD5870 cards for use in it.
- 2011 saw a well-documented and widely criticized graphics card failure on the MacBook Pro. It affected almost all computers sold between Feb 2011 and Dec 2013. This issue made the malfunctioning computers show the same symptoms; namely, distorted videos or no video showing at all, or an unexpected system restart or reboot.
- Jul 03, 2020 Mac Pro supports the same GPUs that are supported by external graphics processors (eGPUs). If you use Boot Camp and want to install a NVIDIA card to use in Windows on your Mac, don't install the card in slot 2. Learn about using AMD graphics cards with Microsoft Windows on Mac Pro (2019). Some older PCI cards might use 32-bit Option ROMs that.
- Specifically, the card I'm talking about is from an early 2008 Mac Pro, a Radeon X2600. A friend of mine who owns the Mac (dual quad-core cpu's, the smarmy git) is looking to upgrade, and I thought that the card might be a good temporary solution until I can get a better card (it's going to my brother's pc). And while we're on the subject, said.
Updates!
I recently got an Intel-based Mac Pro (MacPro2,1). This is one of the systems that Apple abandoned way too soon. It came with an ATI Radeon X1900 card, and I was able to flash one of my old AMD Radeon HD5870 cards for use in it.
My model of Radeon HD5870 is the 'Built by AMD' reference design.
Stay tuned for firmware updates.
Note that much of this page is for older video cards: AGP-based for PowerPC systems.
There have been several things that have bothered me when trying to upgrade Mac systems:
- Apple seems to hate supporting old hardware.
- Devices made for Apple computers seem to cost up to ten times what they do for PC, even if they use identical hardware or even slower components.
- Third party support usually comes from un-reliable sources. People that can't keep a website up, people that lose interest in helping the community, and those who are greedy that try to keep the money-saving (or potentially money-making) information to themselves.
- Devices made for Apple computers seem to cost up to ten times what they do for PC, even if they use identical hardware or even slower components.
- Third party support usually comes from un-reliable sources. People that can't keep a website up, people that lose interest in helping the community, and those who are greedy that try to keep the money-saving (or potentially money-making) information to themselves.
I will be putting some ROMs/firmware on my site to help others with flashing video cards for Macs.
I have flashed a few PC video cards for use in Apple Macintosh systems.
Success:
XFX 'WANG' GeForce 6200, 256 Megs RAM, $49 from Newegg.
- Requires 10.4.3 or higher. You will get a Kernel Panic if used in an older version.
- Uses a Temp Sensor that can cause long boot times under Mac OS X 10.5.x if you use it on a G4.
- There is a special firmware that disables the temp sensor.
- Supports Quartz Extreme and Core Image
- Requires 10.4.3 or higher. You will get a Kernel Panic if used in an older version.
- Uses a Temp Sensor that can cause long boot times under Mac OS X 10.5.x if you use it on a G4.
- There is a special firmware that disables the temp sensor.
- Supports Quartz Extreme and Core Image
VisionTek 5564 GeForce 2 MX 400 64MB SDRAM AGP DualHead/TwinView, $5-$20 from eBay.
- Works great in Mac OS 9 and all Mac OS X versions.
- Supports Quartz Extreme
- Works great in Mac OS 9 and all Mac OS X versions.
- Supports Quartz Extreme
This worked in my G4 Mac with the original PC/Windows firmware, however:
- The mouse cursor was a solid 'box' when using Thousands/Millions of colors (it looked fine in 256-color mode).
- The system couldn't detect my monitor or its timings, so resolutions and refresh rates were a bit off.
- Things worked perfectly after flashing with the '1075 TwinView' ROM.
- The mouse cursor was a solid 'box' when using Thousands/Millions of colors (it looked fine in 256-color mode).
- The system couldn't detect my monitor or its timings, so resolutions and refresh rates were a bit off.
- Things worked perfectly after flashing with the '1075 TwinView' ROM.
* Double update. It turns out the wrong timings were in the firmware. Default MX400 timings are 200/183, default MX200 timings are 175/166. The VisionTek card uses 200/166 timings. I modified the firmware and re-flashed, and everything is good now. :)
Elsa GeForce 2 MX 400, 32 Megs, $5-$20 from eBay
- So far has worked great.
- No issues in any games.
- No artifact/memory issues.
- Flashed the NV1100 firmware, 200/183mhz timings.
- So far has worked great.
- No issues in any games.
- No artifact/memory issues.
- Flashed the NV1100 firmware, 200/183mhz timings.
ATI Radeon 9700 Pro, OEM, 128 Megs DDR. $30 from eBay.
- Quarts Extreme and Core Image support.
- Quarts Extreme and Core Image support.
Fail:
Inno3D GeForce 2 MX 200, 32 Megs, 64-bit SDR, AGP - 'Tornado GeForce 2 MX-200', purchased for $45 brand new back in 2001.
* NVFlash said the EEPROM wasn't flashable.
* NVFlash said the EEPROM wasn't flashable.
* Some random GeForce 2 MX 400, 64 Megs, PCI - Unknown brand, NVFlash can't identify the EEPROM.
The EEPROM wasn't the 'non flashable' kind on the Inno3D GF2MX200, it just wasn't listed as a supported EEPROM by the version of NVFlash I was using.
Recently, I haven't been able to get the card at work at all (PC or Mac). I think I killed it with static or something. :(
The EEPROM wasn't the 'non flashable' kind on the Inno3D GF2MX200, it just wasn't listed as a supported EEPROM by the version of NVFlash I was using.
Recently, I haven't been able to get the card at work at all (PC or Mac). I think I killed it with static or something. :(
GeForce 2 MX firmware:
nv1027f.rom
nv1028f.rom
nv1055.rom
nv1057.rom
nv1075(twin).rom (what I originally flashed on my VisionTek 5564 TwinView, but has the wrong timings for that card)
nv1100.rom
VisionTek 5564 ROM (200/166 timings, TwinView support, based on NV1100 ROM)
nv1028f.rom
nv1055.rom
nv1057.rom
nv1075(twin).rom (what I originally flashed on my VisionTek 5564 TwinView, but has the wrong timings for that card)
nv1100.rom
VisionTek 5564 ROM (200/166 timings, TwinView support, based on NV1100 ROM)
GeForce 6 firmware:
![Mac Mac](/uploads/1/1/0/4/110440583/857915780.jpg)
xfx_6200.rom - Original 350/266 MHz. (what I flashed on my 6200)
xfx_cube.rom - Cooler running 300/250 MHz.
MLP256XFX2_NoSensor.rom - 350/266 speeds, but with temp sensor disabled (for Mac OS X 10.5 compatibility).
xfx_cube.rom - Cooler running 300/250 MHz.
MLP256XFX2_NoSensor.rom - 350/266 speeds, but with temp sensor disabled (for Mac OS X 10.5 compatibility).
Radeon 9700 Pro:
ati_oem_9700pro_124_agp_full.zip
ati_oem_9700pro_124_agp_full.zip
Misc:
visiontek_5564_original.rom - My original VisionTek 5564 TwinView firmware for PC.
xfx_6200_original.zip - My original XFX 'WANG' GeForce 6200 firmware for PC.
PC Tools:
nv312.zip - NVFlash 3.12
nv513.zip - NVFlash 5.13
nv563.zip - NVFlash 5.63
cwsdpmi.zip - DOS Extender (if needed)
nv513.zip - NVFlash 5.13
nv563.zip - NVFlash 5.63
cwsdpmi.zip - DOS Extender (if needed)
For my TwinView:
nv312.exe -f 1075.rom -m
nv312.exe -f 1075.rom -m
For my Elsa:
nv312.exe -f 1100.rom -m
nv312.exe -f 1100.rom -m
For my 6200:
nv513 -4 -5 -6 -j 6200.rom
nv513 -4 -5 -6 -j 6200.rom
Links:
http://www.cybercoment.com/macgeforce.htm
http://themacelite.wikidot.com/
http://www.eden.net.nz/7/20011005geforce2mx.html
http://themacelite.wikidot.com/
http://www.eden.net.nz/7/20011005geforce2mx.html
Guide to Flash XFX Double D HD 7950 Black Edition Card for Mac Pro
XFX Part #: FX-795A-TDBC
XFX Part #: FX-795A-TDBC
Things you need:
- Windows Partition on your Mac Pro or a Windows PC.
- An OEM EFI card for Boot Screens and Choices (like Ati 5770 in case you’re on a Mac Pro)
- Bootable DOS USB Dongle
- EFI Rom from netkas
- Original Rom from your card
- AtiFlash to flash the EFI Rom to your card
- Knowledge and patience.
- Hook up your card on your Mac Pro or your PC on a secondary PCI slot.
- Start Windows, go here and get TechPowerUp GPU-Z. Install it and run the program. Select the 7950 card from the list on the bottom. Next to Bios Version there is a button that lets you save the current Rom to file. Save it and keep it in place.
- If you don’t have access to DOS, go here and download the files, create a bootable USB dongle using the step by step guide in this page.
- Go here and download AtiFlash. (I prefer this instead of AtiWinFlash)
- Go to netkas forum and download the bundle to convert your original rom to an EFI one so you can get Boot Screens. This is the goal of this guide after all.
NOTE: netkas has made a misspelling on the card id number, instead of 697a as he has wrote, YOU SHOULD write 679a. I wonder why this isn’t mentioned there already… - Follow the netkas directions to the letter EXCEPT the above noted one. After this process you will have a file that probably will be named as “Tahiti.rom.efi.rom”. (Mine was named like this on this card model).Rename it to “7950.rom” to be readable with full name in DOS.
- Plug the Bootable DOS USB Dongle on your Mac Pro running Windows or your PC. Inside the mounted USB Dongle create a folder and name it “AtiFlash”. On this folder put the files from AtiFlash download and the Rom file from the previous step (6).
- Reboot and select as Boot device the USB Dongle.
- While on DOS, give the following commands:
cd AtiFlash (this takes you to the folder we will use the program to flash the card)
atiflash -ai 1 (remember that “1” means the second PCI card, not the main, it’s wise to have only the two graphic cards hooked on your computer. The info you will get MUST write Tahiti as the chip name)
atiflash -unlockrom 1 , (I suggest you do this because some Bios files are in fact locked and can’t be flashed until unlocked, the XFX ones are indeed locked)
atiflash -f -p 1 7950.rom (this is the flashing process, when it’s done flashing simply CTRL+ALT+DEL to reboot to Windows on your PC or your Mac) - Run TechPowerUp GPU-Z and select the second graphics card, if you see it OK with all the card’s info and clock speeds, you’re done it right ☺
- Shut down your Mac Pro, unplug the card from PCI slot 3 (probably) and put it in slot 1 after you remove the old OEM you have. In case of Windows PC, shut down, remove the card and put it into your Mac Pro’s PCI Slot 1. In both cases, hook up your monitor to the newly flashed card and enjoy Boot Screens and Correct System Profiler info!
INFO: The card I flashed is this one, you can flash with the same guide all 7950 or 7970 cards I think. I bought the XFX instead of any other brand because of the looks, the reviews I’ve read and the experience I’ve got from this brand. Here is a list of the factory ROMs for this type of cards from XFX at the TechPowerUp website. Make sure to view your card’s model number and the clock speeds before you download any ROM to overclock (if you want) and create a EFI Overclocked ROM to use in your Mac and/or PC. I am attaching the ROM I used to flash my card, the factory clock speeds of my card are: GPU Clock 900 / Memory Clock 1375 so this is the final EFI ROM I’ve flashed on my card. (you can use it if you have the same model and save some time)
PROS: You save money, you get a card fully recognized and functional for your Mac Pro with superior Hardware made by XFX, with great cooling, and low consumption (needs 2x6pin Mini PCIe to PCIe power cables without any internal or external PSU)
CONS: You lose 1 DVI, in my case the card has 2 DVIs and I lost the second one (red color). I don’t mind at all. Total ports in my card are: 2 DVIs, 2 mini DPs and one HDMI. If your card has only 1 DVI, you have to know that this won’t work from now on after the EFI rom is installed on the card.
CREDITS: Thanks and salutes goes to netkas, Rominator and all the websites linked in this guide. Without them, we couldn’t have these amazing cards installed in our Mac Pros.
DISCLAIMER: I am not responsible to any damage you may cause to your computer(s) using this guide, nor any other person or website I’ve provided/linked. You will loose your warranty if you flash your card with any no factory ROM, so BE WARNED! Also make sure to use the DOS commands by letter so you won’t brick your OEM/Factory cards with wrong ROM.
I hope this guide will help many of you who want to upgrade your Graphics Card to something very powerful for our old/classic Mac Pros. If I had it, I could have saved much time last night when I flashed my new XFX 7950 DD Black Edition.
You can see the Mac Pro I own here:
Mac Pro 2,1 2 x X5355, 16GB RAM, XFX 7950 (Flashed for Mac) running 10.9.5 /10.10.3 / Win8.1 Pro SSD 256GB and USB 3.0with PCI Card installed.
You can see the Mac Pro I own here:
Mac Pro 2,1 2 x X5355, 16GB RAM, XFX 7950 (Flashed for Mac) running 10.9.5 /10.10.3 / Win8.1 Pro SSD 256GB and USB 3.0with PCI Card installed.
How To Flash A Video Card For Mac Pro 5 1
Greetings from Greece and good luck flashing, remember I said that Knowledge and patience is one of the things required but never mentioned on this guide so far, now you need’em ?
–VAG.
How To Flash A Video Card For Mac Pro With Metal Support
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