12 replies to this topic

[serj]

UPDATE (05/13/2011) : Check post #7 by cephalopod, which refers new drivers by Kabyl, which obsolete my complex method, with a very simple one. Thanks goes out to Kabyl, and cephalopod for the help and support.

After few days of figuring it out, I finally got the ATI FirePro V4800 fully working with Vanilla Mac OS X 10.6.5 (iBoot+MultiBeast method).
As much as I searched the forums for months before buying it, there were nothing about any workstation card working on osx86, still I decided to give it a try because I just HAD to use the card for Solidworks back on Windows(I just wish they ported it to OSX.. someday someday.. :') )

So here goes the method to get ATI V4800 (and possibly other video cards that have very similar mainstream card clones).

First, before even considering to buy one I would recommend to go on wikipedia and match a workstation card's Code Name to one that of mainstream. (Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia....rePro_3D_series )
In my case it was Redwood XT(RV830) which matched directly to Radeon HD 5670(that newer macs already use +1 point ) code name.

After buying it, and checking that it works appropriately in windows (good idea so you waste less time if it's RMA), go install OSX.
I had a GA-P55-USB3 mobo, and these are some of the specific options I had to do to make it all work.

1. Install OSX
2. Boot using iBoot
3. Install EasyBeast(I had no success with GLDriver working with DSDT for my mobo installed) + Chameleon RC5 Prerelease (others might work as well).
4. Install Kext Helper (for future kext installs in next steps).
5. Install ATY_Init Uakari (I have used my own, the one in multibeast might work as well)! (If you don't install ATY_Init computer will boot w/ black screen and fan spinning on max, and will have to do it all OVER! since no recovery mode or bootcd will help).
6. DO NOT FORGET! To set GraphicsEnabler to No in /Extra/com.apple.Boot.plist
7. Now you should install the modded ATI5000Controller.kext (or one of your own modification).
7a. All that I had to mod was add the dev-id to the list of devices in IOPCIMatch section.
8. This should get you to a fully working drivers, and make you enjoy your mac finally .

(Инструкция по-русски / Installation in Russian )
1. Установить OSX
2. Загрузитесь с iBoot
3. Установите EasyBeast (GLDriver у меня лично не загружался если стоял DSDT патч) + Chameleon RC5 Prerelease (другие могут работать тоже).
4. Установите Kext Helper (для установки Kextов в следующих шагах).
5. Установите ATY_Init Uakari (я использовал свой собственный, тот что идет с MultiBeast возможно будет работать так же)! (Если вы не установите ATY_Init на ваш компьютер то он загрузиться с черным экраном и вентилятор будет крутиться на пределе, и все надо будет делать заново и сначала! Поскольку recovery mode или BootCD не поможет).
6. НЕ ЗАБУДЬТЕ! Установить значение No для GraphicsEnabler в /Extra/com.apple.boot.plist
7. Теперь вы должны установить мой модифицированный ATI5000Controller.kext (или один из ваших собственных модификаций).
7а. Все, что я должен был модифицировать это добавление Dev-ID в список устройств в разделе IOPCIMatch.
8. Это должно дать вам полностью рабочие драйвера

If you run into problems, comment on the thread and I will try my best to help out.
This *magical* combination of EasyBeast and appropriate order of steps (which I hope I wrote down correctly) will get you to a working card.
I'm writing this because I there are others looking for this type of guide and I hope I will save someone few sleepless nights
Note: Using the drivers from netkas's driver.tar.gz in 10.6.5 at least did not work for me, because GLDriver wouldn't load. So if you mod something keep your original drivers.

Thank You to Netkas (for ATY_Init) without it, I doubt too many things would work.

Attached Files

•  new_mod.zip   839.04K   154 downloads

[cruzer555]

serj, on Dec 18 2010, 07:26 PM, said:

I'm writing this because I there are others looking for this type of guide and I hope I will save someone few sleepless nights

Thank you SO MUCH! My FirePro v4800 is on the way along with an Intel executive series mobo, a xeon, and some more parts. I just started checking OSX compatability today and lo and behold here is the best news I have had all week, you posted this just in time for it to help me! I just can't believe what luck it is that you just posted today the info I need to get this monster of a machine running OSX! I can't wait to get the system built and running now that I know what to do!

THANK YOU!!!

[serj]

Welcome
Tell us how it goes for you using my method

I will also post a fix for static problems on ATI (change resolution fix).
I think the problem might pertain not only in this video card.
If I forget it, bug me about it so I post it it's just some automator and cscreen magic so that you don't have to do it manually.

Been with this community for awhile, I hope my contributions help out others =]

[cruzer555]

serj, on Dec 20 2010, 02:29 AM, said:

Welcome
Tell us how it goes for you using my method

I will also post a fix for static problems on ATI (change resolution fix).
I think the problem might pertain not only in this video card.
If I forget it, bug me about it so I post it it's just some automator and cscreen magic so that you don't have to do it manually.

Been with this community for awhile, I hope my contributions help out others =]

Ok, I will tell you how it goes, probably in a week or so. I have high hopes but I don't know how the Intel dq57tm motherboard will work with osx, not many results come up in searches and one sounds bad so we shall see...

[cruzer555]

serj, on Dec 18 2010, 07:26 PM, said:

4. Install Kext Helper (for future kext installs in next steps).
5. Install ATY_Init Uakari (I have used my own, the one in multibeast might work as well)! (If you don't install ATY_Init computer will boot w/ black screen and fan spinning on max, and will have to do it all OVER! since no recovery mode or bootcd will help).
6. DO NOT FORGET! To set GraphicsEnabler to No in /Extra/com.apple.Boot.plist
7. Now you should install the modded ATI5000Controller.kext (or one of your own modification).
7a. All that I had to mod was add the dev-id to the list of devices in IOPCIMatch section.

Since I am somewhat new to all of this (not computers in general but in the two years I have had a mac I haven't really modded it) how specifically does one go about installing the kext helper, ATY_init uakari, and ATI5000controller.kext? Also how do I set the GraphicsEnabler in that .plist file? Do you simply edit the plist? Finally, the least obvious (to me), how do I add the dev-id to the list of devices in the IOPCIMatch section, I don't know what either of those things are! Thanks so much! Oh and some of these questions might be really obvious but I have no idea since I don't have the hardware in hand and therefore cant go through multibeast and see what options are in it and such. Thanks again!

[serj]

Well, you do really need hardware for this all to work
Once you install Vanilla OSX you will understand most of those things.

Generally kexts are installed with "kexthelper".
You do not need to modify any file, if you have the same exact video card as I mentioned.

Sorry that it took so long to reply.. website didn't seem to notify me about your reply :/

[cephalopod]

serj, on Dec 19 2010, 01:26 AM, said:

After few days of figuring it out, I finally got the ATI FirePro V4800 fully working with Vanilla Mac OS X 10.6.5 (iBoot+MultiBeast method).
As much as I searched the forums for months before buying it, there were nothing about any workstation card working on osx86, still I decided to give it a try because I just HAD to use the card for Solidworks back on Windows(I just wish they ported it to OSX.. someday someday.. :') )

So here goes the method to get ATI V4800 (and possibly other video cards that have very similar mainstream card clones).

First, before even considering to buy one I would recommend to go on wikipedia and match a workstation card's Code Name to one that of mainstream. (Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia....rePro_3D_series )
In my case it was Redwood XT(RV830) which matched directly to Radeon HD 5670(that newer macs already use +1 point :) ) code name.

After buying it, and checking that it works appropriately in windows (good idea so you waste less time if it's RMA), go install OSX.
I had a GA-P55-USB3 mobo, and these are some of the specific options I had to do to make it all work.

1. Install OSX
2. Boot using iBoot
3. Install EasyBeast(I had no success with GLDriver working with DSDT for my mobo installed) + Chameleon RC5 Prerelease (others might work as well).
4. Install Kext Helper (for future kext installs in next steps).
5. Install ATY_Init Uakari (I have used my own, the one in multibeast might work as well)! (If you don't install ATY_Init computer will boot w/ black screen and fan spinning on max, and will have to do it all OVER! since no recovery mode or bootcd will help).
6. DO NOT FORGET! To set GraphicsEnabler to No in /Extra/com.apple.Boot.plist
7. Now you should install the modded ATI5000Controller.kext (or one of your own modification).
7a. All that I had to mod was add the dev-id to the list of devices in IOPCIMatch section.
8. This should get you to a fully working drivers, and make you enjoy your mac finally :) .

(Инструкция по-русски / Installation in Russian )
1. Установить OSX
2. Загрузитесь с iBoot
3. Установите EasyBeast (GLDriver у меня лично не загружался если стоял DSDT патч) + Chameleon RC5 Prerelease (другие могут работать тоже).
4. Установите Kext Helper (для установки Kextов в следующих шагах).
5. Установите ATY_Init Uakari (я использовал свой собственный, тот что идет с MultiBeast возможно будет работать так же)! (Если вы не установите ATY_Init на ваш компьютер то он загрузиться с черным экраном и вентилятор будет крутиться на пределе, и все надо будет делать заново и сначала! Поскольку recovery mode или BootCD не поможет).
6. НЕ ЗАБУДЬТЕ! Установить значение No для GraphicsEnabler в /Extra/com.apple.boot.plist
7. Теперь вы должны установить мой модифицированный ATI5000Controller.kext (или один из ваших собственных модификаций).
7а. Все, что я должен был модифицировать это добавление Dev-ID в список устройств в разделе IOPCIMatch.
8. Это должно дать вам полностью рабочие драйвера :)

If you run into problems, comment on the thread and I will try my best to help out.
This *magical* combination of EasyBeast and appropriate order of steps (which I hope I wrote down correctly) will get you to a working card.
I'm writing this because I there are others looking for this type of guide and I hope I will save someone few sleepless nights :)
Note: Using the drivers from netkas's driver.tar.gz in 10.6.5 at least did not work for me, because GLDriver wouldn't load. So if you mod something keep your original drivers.

Thank You to Netkas (for ATY_Init) without it, I doubt too many things would work.

Just thought I'd post an update to this since the latest changes to Chameleon/Chimera now includes Kabyl ATI support, meaning the ATI injection/kext and ATY_Init is no longer necessary. Hence for new installations, steps 5 onwards are no longer accurate.

You might need to the specify card framebuffer in some circumstances though - identify the codename as above, then you just pass AtiConfig=<codename> at boot time (or in boot plist).

[serj]

cephalopod, on May 13 2011, 03:43 AM, said:

Just thought I'd post an update to this since the latest changes to Chameleon/Chimera now includes Kabyl ATI support, meaning the ATI injection/kext and ATY_Init is no longer necessary. Hence for new installations, steps 5 onwards are no longer accurate.

You might need to the specify card framebuffer in some circumstances though - identify the codename as above, then you just pass AtiConfig=<codename> at boot time (or in boot plist).

For example, my Firepro V4800 (HD5670) uses a boot argument of AtiConfig=Baboon

Wow, great news!
Finally, now there should be no reason to hold back on buying the video card you want,
since there will be no need to hack around and mess anymore.

I will reference your post as an update in the first post.

Thank You!

[Úll Mac]

serj, on May 13 2011, 11:55 AM, said:

Wow, great news!
Finally, now there should be no reason to hold back on buying the video card you want,
since there will be no need to hack around and mess anymore.

I will reference your post as an update in the first post.

Thank You!

Hi, just came across your thread .

I'm currently dual booting SL and win7 using a quadro fx 570 card. (basic I know , but stable and reliable)
The card works well in both but I'd like to upgrade to ati firepro v4800 and SL to Lion.
My thoughts are to get the v4800 working in SL first and then to move to Lion ?
I need the Win7 for Solidworks and Inventor / Autocad so the v4800 should be well suited.(way better priced than the quadro's and also some great windows features)
I'm currently on 10.6.8 snow leo. thru chimera /  multibeast.
I see that the install should be a bit easier since the chimera changes as per 'cephalopod' but I'm still unsure of
exactly what way to go?
Could you post a quick revised step by step ?I dont want to wreck my current snow leopard install!
Any help you can give would be great.
Thanks!

[serj]

Úll Mac, on Aug 4 2011, 08:41 AM, said:

Hi, just came across your thread .

I'm currently dual booting SL and win7 using a quadro fx 570 card. (basic I know , but stable and reliable)
The card works well in both but I'd like to upgrade to ati firepro v4800 and SL to Lion.
My thoughts are to get the v4800 working in SL first and then to move to Lion ?
I need the Win7 for Solidworks and Inventor / Autocad so the v4800 should be well suited.(way better priced than the quadro's and also some great windows features)
I'm currently on 10.6.8 snow leo. thru chimera /  multibeast.
I see that the install should be a bit easier since the chimera changes as per 'cephalopod' but I'm still unsure of
exactly what way to go?
Could you post a quick revised step by step ?I dont want to wreck my current snow leopard install!
Any help you can give would be great.
Thanks!

Luckily I was experimenting with Chimera and 10.6.8 very recently, since computer was updated 10.6.5->8 by someone on accident which "wrecked" the system.
In 3 days that I have tried I did not succed to get it working
Since I realized that I didn't have the energy to reinvent the wheel once again after 3 days I just slapped an old 10.6.5 and all my drivers and it all worked like a charm.

Here are some notes for you however that could be of use:

• You can never really "wreck" the system. Files and settings always remain just the system files can be damaged sort of speak.
  
• The above means you can keep reinstalling OS X with iBoot as many times as you want, especially if you have OSX image on flash drive it takes about 10 minutes.
  
• Flags to boot with Chimera that got me off the ground were : pmVersion=0 (turns off power management) AtiConfig=(0x68D8 or <framebuffer name> never worked for me.. probably the main issue), tried PCIRootFixes too). I put them all in boot by hand in Chimera.

Theses are all I could remember.
I got it to boot with the card with those flags, but Hardware profiler would identify it as 0x68C8 and generic.
No high-res or acceleration that I could get

If you get it to switch to 0x68C8 (etc.. basically working). Please tell us.
I hope the above helps, but worst comes to worst get 10.6.5 and use all the old enablers that I have attached etc.

[Úll Mac]

serj, on Aug 4 2011, 09:15 PM, said:

Luckily I was experimenting with Chimera and 10.6.8 very recently, since computer was updated 10.6.5->8 by someone on accident which "wrecked" the system.
In 3 days that I have tried I did not succed to get it working
Since I realized that I didn't have the energy to reinvent the wheel once again after 3 days I just slapped an old 10.6.5 and all my drivers and it all worked like a charm.

Here are some notes for you however that could be of use:

• You can never really "wreck" the system. Files and settings always remain just the system files can be damaged sort of speak.
  
• The above means you can keep reinstalling OS X with iBoot as many times as you want, especially if you have OSX image on flash drive it takes about 10 minutes.
  
• Flags to boot with Chimera that got me off the ground were : pmVersion=0 (turns off power management) AtiConfig=(0x68D8 or <framebuffer name> never worked for me.. probably the main issue), tried PCIRootFixes too). I put them all in boot by hand in Chimera.

Theses are all I could remember.
I got it to boot with the card with those flags, but Hardware profiler would identify it as 0x68C8 and generic.
No high-res or acceleration that I could get

If you get it to switch to 0x68C8 (etc.. basically working). Please tell us.
I hope the above helps, but worst comes to worst get 10.6.5 and use all the old enablers that I have attached etc.

Going by what your saying there , I might op for the v5800 _ Juniper xt (rv840) since its basically a HD5770 .

I have a retail disc 10.6.3 so reinstalling from scratch isn't the worst thing to have to do but at the moment it's working well with the quadro.

If more people were interested in the firepro cards this would probably have a fix already.As a matter of interest is your v4800 retail or oem? I had intended buying a retail v4800 but i'll check prices on the v5800 now.Might have to go oem.

Thanks too for coming back so quickly.If I get anywhere I'll post my findings , hopefully someone somewhere gets lucky.

[serj]

Úll Mac, on Aug 4 2011, 04:14 PM, said:

Going by what your saying there , I might op for the v5800 _ Juniper xt (rv840) since its basically a HD5770 .

I have a retail disc 10.6.3 so reinstalling from scratch isn't the worst thing to have to do but at the moment it's working well with the quadro.

If more people were interested in the firepro cards this would probably have a fix already.As a matter of interest is your v4800 retail or oem? I had intended buying a retail v4800 but i'll check prices on the v5800 now.Might have to go oem.

Thanks too for coming back so quickly.If I get anywhere I'll post my findings , hopefully someone somewhere gets lucky.

I don't think it matters, but mine was retail (from Newegg).
Theoretically it should be all working with essentially the same instructions v4800 or v5800.

I haven't tried anything with Lion (just not very interested in it atm and waiting for it to mature).

Please, tell us if you have any success with newer versions of OS X.

[Úll Mac]

serj, on Aug 5 2011, 12:35 AM, said:

I don't think it matters, but mine was retail (from Newegg).
Theoretically it should be all working with essentially the same instructions v4800 or v5800.

I haven't tried anything with Lion (just not very interested in it atm and waiting for it to mature).

Please, tell us if you have any success with newer versions of OS X.

Update:

I have ATI Firepro V5800 working in snow leopard 10.6.8

Check out my post here - http://tonymacx86.co...hp?f=15&t=30039

Úll Mac