Jump to content

ATI6870 - Any chance of dual display w/correct card recognized in SysProfile?


17 posts in this topic

Recommended Posts

Alright guys - as the handle states.. I was a noob to Macs when I started, but now I am semi-pro

 

I was able to get my install completed using this guide (with Andy's Boot5) (no [url="http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/279450-why-insanelymac-does-not-support-tonymacx86/"]#####[/url]):

http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=258818

i2600K

Asus P8P67PROr3.1

MSI R6870

Mushkin SSD

 

After the installation, I was able to function w/dual monitors (both DVI) BUT my gfx card was being displayed as NI40. For awhile, this didn't bother me until I tried to use AbletonLive8

 

The application would crash upon start-up and after much research I pinned the issue down to the gfx card.

 

After a lot of trial/error I was able to get the card to display as HD6870 by using the latest version of ATI kexts in [url="http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/279450-why-insanelymac-does-not-support-tonymacx86/"]#####[/url]. Alas, I was able to run AbletonLive8!!

 

BUT!!! I can't get dual display to work. I've done some reading and it seems that if I set GE=NO I will be able to get my dual displays to function as I was accustomed, but then I lose "HD6870" from the SysProfile which will cause AbletonLive8 to stop functioning

 

I've seen mixed outcomes when using DisplayPort>DVI

 

Can anyone set the record straight?

 

As always - thank you to this community!

Strange. I'm using the XFX HD6870 Black with iATKOS 10.7.2 and it identifies as an HD6870. It only IDs as the NI40 when I was using Snow Leopard. Not sure what would cause that since the 6870 is natively supported in Lion, unless you're still on Snow Leopard.

Strange. I'm using the XFX HD6870 Black with iATKOS 10.7.2 and it identifies as an HD6870. It only IDs as the NI40 when I was using Snow Leopard. Not sure what would cause that since the 6870 is natively supported in Lion, unless you're still on Snow Leopard.

 

still on SL =/ sounds like I should just go ahead and upgrade to lion and get native support for the 6870

 

thx for the reply.. will upgrade this weekend and report back

still on SL =/ sounds like I should just go ahead and upgrade to lion and get native support for the 6870

 

thx for the reply.. will upgrade this weekend and report back

 

You wont get both DVI ports working, Try one dvi and one hdmi (use an hdmi to dvi adapter if you have one).

@^Andy^ is that directly related to the 6870 or Snow Leo? Just outta curiosity.

 

I'm only going on what I recall reading - I don't use dual displays so can't verify any of it however as I understand it (and I may be wrong) dual dvi output with the 6870 will not work with the current drivers using GraphicsEnabler - if you disable GraphicsEnabler they do work (I think) however you will get the usual dvd player and geekbench crashes etc.

 

Anybody feel free to step in if I am wrong.

Dual Display or Triple display works with for me on my xfx 6870 in lion (graphicenabler on) with 2 mini-displayport and one DVI, dual dvi does not work, neither does DVI + HDMI (not an expert, but I think its b/c DVI and HDMI are the same electrically, just not the same physical connection)

 

I got my mini displayport cables from monoprice, one thing to note is that since the mini-displayport port are so close to each other, you need to make sure that your mini-dp to DVI/VGA/HDMI/whatever header is slim enough to fit two side by side, the monoprice Mini-DP to DVI header is bigger/fatter than the mini-DP to VGA one I have right next to it, they BARELY fit, but they work.

 

Dual Display or Triple display works with for me on my xfx 6870 in lion (graphicenabler on) with 2 mini-displayport and one DVI, dual dvi does not work, neither does DVI + HDMI (not an expert, but I think its b/c DVI and HDMI are the same electrically, just not the same physical connection)

 

I got my mini displayport cables from monoprice, one thing to note is that since the mini-displayport port are so close to each other, you need to make sure that your mini-dp to DVI/VGA/HDMI/whatever header is slim enough to fit two side by side, the monoprice Mini-DP to DVI header is bigger/fatter than the mini-DP to VGA one I have right next to it, they BARELY fit, but they work.

  • 2 weeks later...

Has anyone gotten the XFX HD6870 working with mini display ports and no distortion at login? I have mine setup with 1 HDMI, 1 DVI & 2 MiniDP to DVI adapters. All 4 monitors power on no issue, but until I unplug & replug one of the MiniDP adatpers, the MiniDP monitors are distorted. No idea what causes it. In snow leopard if I installed the DX58SO driver pack it stopped, that didn't solve the issue in Lion. Any help would be appreciated.

I've got an ASUS 6870 and it worked perfectly from install (dual monitors showing up with correct res and QE/CI) - however, it does have one issue - DVD player and steam games dont work...

 

Im using Chameleon 2.1 rev 1701. Should I try with Chimera?

@ casperionx

That is because you don't have graphicsenabler set on when you're booting as said in ^Andy^'s post, it's either you get DVDplayer, steam, etc working with GE on or you get dual monitors without GE (which you're doing now) and having those programs crash.

Actually, I have GE enabled...Im at work at the moment, but I can post the com.chameleon.boot.plist when I get home.

 

Thats the strange thing. I am running Chameleon, however a few people seem to be running Chimera and that seems to be doing the job...

You could try Chimera I personally had GE set while using chameleon (first version that booted both snow leo and lion) that rendered my install of Lion useless it was either that or me playing around with atiframebuffer to get the output issue fixed on my 6870 and 4850 (was saved by Time Machine though).

  • 1 month later...

Hey guys - I failed to write back w/my results..but LION WORKS!!

 

Followed the [url="http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/279450-why-insanelymac-does-not-support-tonymacx86/"]#####[/url] method (snow leopard > LionAppStore): http://tonymacx86.blogspot.com/2011/10/[url="http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/279450-why-insanelymac-does-not-support-tonymacx86/"]#####[/url]-install-mac-os-x-lion-using.html

 

I am now able to run dual displays (will try 3 displays this week natively).. com.boot.plist has GE=Y w/ the ATI6000.kext in the proper location.. works flawlessly and is identified correctly in sys profiler

 

Thx for

 

Forgot to mention - Andy was correct.. 1xDVI, 2xMDP - this rocks

Welcome to multimonitor heaven =)

 

Now if only monitors started shipping with DP ports on them the whole adapter necessity wouldn't be such an issue anymore...

I still can't run the 3 monitor setup that was recommended in various threads.. 1DVI, 1MDP, 1HDMI - a lot of folks are recommending 2MDP, 1HDMI w/the use of ACTIVE MDP>DVI converters (I currently have the Apple branded PASSIVE convertor), but for now.. everything is working great w/the two monitors. Ableton even works!! (doesn't work w/the NI## displayed as the graphics in sys profiler). Thx for all of the info everyone

 

I'll report back when I have the convertors and can test (going to be awhile)

  • 3 weeks later...

If anyone has the scrambled displays problem I mentioned above, it would appear I've solved it. All I had to do was go into System Preferences > Boot Loader and set the Graphics Mode to the resolution of my primary monitor. Simple reboot, no more unplugging and replugging adapters at boot.

×
×
  • Create New...