Flashing PC ATI Video card to MAC Firmware?

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Flashing PC ATI Video card to MAC Firmware?

I'm considering Flash updating PC ATI Video AGP cards to MAC versions for use on a G4 533 DA. I currently have an old Rage 128 card from a G3 B&W in the PCI slot but want to upgrade to something better.

I have a couple of PC ATI Radeon cards one's a 9000 and the othe isn't clearly marked except for Radeon and the year 2000.

I also have some older PC Rage II + DVD and 128 cards, I think one is a PCI and the other AGP.

I've never flashed a PC card before and am concerned about damaging the card(s) and/or the G4.

I also have an available PC w/AGP slot that I could use. Which platform is easier to Flash off of? Can I Flash the PC card to the Mac firmware on the PC? What are the risks involved and which approach is the best? I know there are some sites on Flashing out there but I find them a little confusing since I've never done this before.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

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Well, I can tell you that ive

Well, I can tell you that ive flashed a radeon 7000 pci card, and it can be a pain in the arse. But you don't really have to worry about damaging the card, as long as you first backup the old rom. One more suggestion, put a fan on the cards, i noticed that mine got considerably hotter after i flashed it for mac. so much to the point that it would lock up.

Hawaii Cruiser's picture
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Strangedogs

Check out this site for video card flashing:

strangedogs.com Mac video flashing

Hawaii Cruiser's picture
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Strangedogs

Check out this site for video card flashing:

strangedogs.com Mac video flashing

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Why is it a pain in the arse?

Why is it a pain in the arse?

Can you explain the steps that you went through? I'm Still not sure if I want to do this.

Thanks!

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There's a good FAQ at the sit

There's a good FAQ at the site Hawaii Cruiser linked to:
link

There's also very good step-by-step instructions included with the ATIFlash utility.

It is possible, though unlikely, to destroy your card. If you haven't backed up your original rom properly, and the flash process is interrupted, you've lost it unless you can find the exact same rom elsewhere.

I've successfully flashed two Radeon 7000 cards, and had a third that would not flash. Some manufacturers use different configurations, different size roms, etc. so you really need to know not just that your card is, say, a Radeon 7000 but that it's 32 MB Powercolor Radeon 7000, with Samsung roms and 133/133 core/memory timing.

The difference in cost for Mac vs. PC cards had diminished somewhat, so if you're not confident you might want to sell your PC card(s) and buy a Mac card.

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When I reflashed my card, I h

When I reflashed my card, I had only one pc to do it with. When I first tried to do it, it wouldn't flash it, no matter what. But when I flashed it in another computer, it went off flawlessly. The best thing that I can suggest to you would be to MAKE SURE THAT YOU BACK UP YOUR OLD ROM FIRST!!!!!!

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ATIFlash utility?

Thanks for your help!

Does someone have a link to a Mac OS ATIFlash utility? I'm only seeing the PC versions out there on The Internet.

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There isn't one

Not that I've seen, at least. All the documentation I've seen has the flashing being done on a PC, with the Mac only being used for ATI's ROM update utility, which has the updated ROM built-in.

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Oh well,I guess I'll have to

Oh well,I guess I'll have to find a PC to do the Flashing.

I have 2 PC Radeon Cards:
1) PC Radeon 9000 4x AGP
2) PC Radeon AGP (no model number, but dated 2000). Couuld this be the orginal one?

Thanks for you help!

I'll post the results if I end-up doing it.

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Oh well,I guess I'll have to find a PC to do the Flashing.

Oh well,I guess I'll have to find a PC to do the Flashing.

I have 2 PC Radeon Cards:
1) PC Radeon 9000 4x AGP
2) PC Radeon AGP (no model number, but dated 2000). Couuld this be the orginal one?

Thanks for you help!

I'll post the results if I end-up doing it.

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