ATI Radeon 7000 PCI Video Card driver for OS X
 

I got an ATI Radeon 7000 PCI video card from a PC. I know there is a Mac edition of this card, but this came from a PC that is no longer in use. Is it possible to get the OS X driver for this card and flash it? If so, how do I go about getting software? Has any one done something like this before on this or other video cards? Any input is appreciated.

Have you tried just pluging it in and seeing if it works?

Yes. No video out on a VGA monitor.
The computer starts up fine as I am able to ssh from another.

Unless you can find a kind Tech Support person at ATI that will flash it for you, You're likely out of luck.

You need to flash the bios in a PC to a mac rom to get it to work. It works too, I have done this before. I posted a thread earlier on how to do it and submitted it as a hint (but don't know if it ever made it on the hints section).

You can get the flash utility here:

http://people.freenet.de/amichalak/flashrm2new.sit


Then you can get a os update/enabler from here once you flash it in a PC.

I have done this before on a few macs in recent months. You can guy a PC version of the 7000 for like $30.00 USD or even less.

Here is a link with more info:

http://cubeowner.com/kbase/index.php...x_v2&id=62&c=2


Just make sure you got the right flash for the right chipset. There are a couple of 7000s out there (different rev) for the most part the flash I linked you has worked for me no problem. The only known issue I have run accross is the card runs slightly warmer than normal, but does not over heat. Its just a slight increase. All macs run hot anyways (except for those G5s with 5 fans hehe)

You have to put the card in a PC. Make sure you have two video cards installed on the PC, if you want to flash the PCI version make sure you are bootingup with the AGP slot. Make a bootable floppy disk in windows. Boot off that disk. THen copy the ati flash utility to that disk (or another disk if there is not enough room, I think I created a boot disk and then put the flash utility on another disk and did it that way). Once booted to a prompt insert your ati flash utility floppy disk and type this code:
This will display all the info you need like the ID of the card, the bios version, blah blah blah all that jazz. Copy that info down on some scratch paper so you have it for quick reference. Now you can back up your current version just incase things go wrong and you need to reflash it to start over (however I have never ran into a problem where i had to reflash it) by doing this code.

the device number you got from the previous command (-i). So if you are device id 0 then put zero after the s. Then name the file and hit enter.

For me it looked like this


Now that you have it backed up you are ready to rock with the flash utility. Run this command:

the -pm = for power mac

the 0 = ID of the video card ( you will get that from running the -i command, for me it was 0 and I usually find almost everytime I have done it, its been 0)

The m208full.bin = the flash file you wish to overwrite your current bios with. Remember to double check to make sure this will work for you. Everytime I have done it (which has been about 6 clients in the last 7 months, including one in a g4 cube), this flash utility has worked. You may need to search for a different file if you get some funky, uncommon, or older revision of the chipset.

This does work and its a great way to upgrade your older mac with little cost. I can tell you I have several happy clients from this. They only paid 25 to 30 dollars for a video card (that normally runs over 100) and it works. Make your G3 or older G4 run quartz etreme. Run this utility at your own risk however, you do run the risk of frying the card if something happens while its flashing. Like if the power goes out, or its not all the way in the PCI slot, or whatever. I have gotten it to work many times so I know it works, but I do want everyone know to they are running some risks when doing this. Make sure you are properly grounded and be aware of ESD (electro static discharge).

Good luck

Oh I forgot one more thing...

Once you flash it and toss it in your mac, download that file from ATI and run that in the MAC OS. Then you are ready to rock with your newly flashed ATI card.

This is great. Clear and detailed explanation. I will give this a try and let you know how it turned out. Thanks again.

Do not install ATI's drivers into OS 10.3.4 or above. Apple updated the built-in ATI drivers and they work better than ATI's do.

Really?

Apple's driver works better than the company who designs the card driver? I find that kind of hard to believe, but I suppose anything is possible. Usually the company who designs the chipset writes the best drivers. Everytime I get an EVGA, Mad Dog, Diamond, whatever card I never use their drivers (or the built in drivers in the OS), I always go download the newest drivers. Personally I own 2 ati cards. One 9000 mobile in my apple laptop and one 9800 pro in my gaming rig. I have always used ATI's drivers and find them to be a lot better than everything else.

Can you explain why the apple driver is better, I am curious?

copy of pc rom for radeon 7000?
 

Hello!

I have an old radeon 7000 that I flashed a couple of years ago.
I recently bought an old pc, and want to flash the card back to with a pc rom. Unfortunately, when I did the original flashing, I didn't make a copy of the rom....

Could someone please tell me where I could get a copy of it? Thanks!

www.strangedogs.com used to be THE flashing site for getting PC cards to work on a Mac but now that site is in limbo or hold and all the info links to www.themacelite.com instead. Read all the FAQ's and then browse around for their guides on how to flash as well as a list of known easy cards to flash and which to avoid.
NFred , they have links there too for some PC Roms I think.
Stewie