Intel D975XBX2 - 2.4Ghz Q6600 Quad Core - 8GB RAM
Vanilla load from Retail Disc - Updated to 10.5.5 - booting with NVKush from EFI partition.


Apple/Nvidia 8800GT/512MB PCIE2 Video Card.

Had problems getting Aperature to run (claims installed graphics card does not meet the minumum requirements for Aperature), and getting Logic Studio to even install (sees 0MB VRAM).

So I returned the ($140) PNY 8800GT, and picked up the ($269) Apple 8800GT from the apple store today, figuring when I dropped it in - everything would be OK. WRONG!

When I removed NVKush from the /volumes/efi/extensions folder, the system would freeze on boot. Using NVKush - the above applications still behaved as if there was a generic card (obviously) in the system.

Is there a way to make the system run this card on the retail/vanilla kexts as a genuine apple card.

Yes I've searched - to no avail...

Regards,

Rick

edited to include what system profiler reports with NVKush loading

Chipset Model: I Can Has Model?
Type: Display
Bus: PCIe
PCIe Lane Width: x16
VRAM (Total): 512 MB
Vendor: NVIDIA (0x10de)
Device ID: 0x0602
Revision ID: 0x00a2
Displays:
VGA Display:
Resolution: 1280 x 1024 @ 96 Hz
Depth: 32-bit Color
Core Image: Software
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Not Supported
QuartzGL: Supported
Display Connector:
Status: No display connected

Edit 2:

Tried adding EFI strings - system boots to black screen with mouse arrow. Rebooting in safe mode yields this info in system profile:
Chipset Model: nVidia GeForce 8800 GT
Type: Display
Bus: PCIe
PCIe Lane Width: x16
VRAM (Total): 512 MB
Vendor: NVIDIA (0x10de)
Device ID: 0x0602
Revision ID: 0x00a2
ROM Revision: nVidia GeForce 8800 GT OpenGL Engine [EFI]
Displays:
VGA Display:
Resolution: 800 x 600 @ 60 Hz
Depth: 32-bit Color
Core Image: Software
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Not Supported
QuartzGL: Supported
Display Connector:
Status: No display connected

This is the correct card...

Try installing graphics drivers again.

Here are a few things to try:

Put your card in the second PCIe slot and re-instal GFX strings using this tutorial, don't use OSX tools:

http://aquamac.proboards106.com/index.cgi?...&thread=509

The Apple card will have zero advantage over a std PC 8800 GT as it's bios is made up of a std "PC" part and an EFI part. A PC will read the "PC" part but will totally ignore the EFI part, which means your PC will see the card exactly the same as a std PC card. The full EFI bios will only be read by a EFI logicboard in a genuine Apple computer. However, the card should still work fine in a hack.

Don't forget to delete nvkush from your extensions folder when using GFX strings otherwise it will override GFX strings and make the whole exersize pointless. If your second PCIe card is not a x16 slot try the above method in the first PCIe slot.

AquaMac

HOLY CRAP! IT WORKED...

NVidia GeForce 8800 GT OpenGL Engine:

Chipset Model: NVidia GeForce 8800 GT OpenGL Engine
Type: Display
Bus: PCIe
PCIe Lane Width: x8
VRAM (Total): 512 MB
Vendor: NVIDIA (0x10de)
Device ID: 0x0602
Revision ID: 0x00a2
ROM Revision: 3172a
Displays:
VGA Display:
Resolution: 1280 x 768 @ 96 Hz
Depth: 32-bit Color
Core Image: Hardware Accelerated
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Supported
Rotation: Supported
Display Connector:
Status: No display connected

I notice that PCIe Lane Width is 8 (versus 16). Is this because it's in slot 2 - or do to something in the "in" template? Going to try re-running procedure in slot 1. If that doesn't work, I'll settle for a width of 8 for full support. BTW - aperature works now...

THANKS A MILLION!

Rick



And we have a WINNER!!!!

NVidia GeForce 8800 GT OpenGL Engine:

Chipset Model: NVidia GeForce 8800 GT OpenGL Engine
Type: Display
Bus: PCIe
PCIe Lane Width: x16
VRAM (Total): 512 MB
Vendor: NVIDIA (0x10de)
Device ID: 0x0602
Revision ID: 0x00a2
ROM Revision: 3172a
Displays:
VGA Display:
Resolution: 1280 x 1024 @ 96 Hz
Depth: 32-bit Color
Core Image: Hardware Accelerated
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Supported
Rotation: Supported
Display Connector:
Status: No display connected


You ARE THE MAN! Couple of folks on irc said it couldn't be done...

My eternal gratitude. You've saved me from buying a REAL PRO (at least for one more day)

Rick

Great Stuff,

Yeah, the second slot on some boards X38 and down is x8 only. X48 has 2 x16 slots.