GFX-EFI string for Nvidia Geforce 8800GT 512MB (G92)

[agrafuese]

Users of the 8800GT 512MB who wish to use the GFX-EFI method:

 

UPDATE (3/4/08): If you want a complete How-to guide for installing GFX strings for this card, please visit my full tutorial over at the Genius Bar: http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?showtopic=91755

 

It seems like it's taken a while for someone to release strings for this card, so I finally gave it a try and would like to share my results with the rest of the community. I've attached the plist and hex string files for you all to try out. This is my first time with GFX-EFI strings, so I have no clue if it will work for you, nor will I be able to help you out if it doesn't. However, please report back here with your results so others may help you out.

 

Everything seems to function properly for me, including:

 

- Resolution Changes (my biggest monitor only goes up to 1800x1440, but I'm sure it will go as high as the card allows)

- QE/CI Support

- Correct VRAM reporting

- Dual Displays (independent mode)

 

The only thing that didn't work for me was Mirroring on dual display mode. The main monitor works, but the other just shows a dark blue background with the mouse cursor moving. It doesn't seem to render the graphics for some reason, but it doesn't kill your system either. I never tested this mode out when I was using NVinject, so for all I know it may have never worked for me. If anyone cares enough to troubleshoot this, be my guest

 

Link to files: http://www.mediafire.com/?7sxt11rmqjz

 

And here is a screenshot of my System Profiler:

 

If you are unsure how to install GFX-EFI strings please look around these forums or visit the Netkas PC EFI forums:

http://forum.netkas.org/index.php/board,2.0.html

 

Or for a more simple how-to guide, visit Zephyroth's wiki:

http://osx86.wikidot.com/how-to-s#toc6

 

And if that fails, you can always try this little website:

http://www.google.com

 

Good luck!

 

-agrafuese

[spanakorizo]

wtf ,i was just about to create a thread about this!

and i saw "my gfx string" in your signature

i'm gonna try this as soon i return home

[spanakorizo]

it doesn't work for me..

i just add the hex string to apple.boot.list?

i modified /saved it but it doesn't get qe/ci

now it looks like this:

 

<key>device-properties</key>

<string>de0300000100000001000000d20300001500000002010c00d041030a0100000001010600000e0

01060000007fff040014000000400032002c006e0061006d00650000001100000073656e736f722d

06172656e74220000005600520041004d002c0074006f00740061006c00730069007a00650000000

0000000000002036000000400032002c00680077006300740072006c002d0070006100720061006d

073002d00760065007200730069006f006e00000008000000000000021c000000640065007600690

630065005f0074007900700065000000100000004e5644412c4765466f7263650e0000006e006100

d00650000000f0000004e5644412c506172656e7422000000400030002c006400650076006900630

65005f00740079007000650000000b000000646973706c6179100000006d006f00640065006c0000

01f0000004e5649444941204765466f72636520383830304754203531324d4222000000400031002

006400650076006900630065005f00740079007000650000000b000000646973706c617912000000

00032002c007200650067000000080000000000000222000000400032002c0064006500760069006

0065005f0074007900700065000000120000004e5644412c6770752d64696f646520000000400032

02c0063006f006d00700061007400690062006c0065000000160000004e5644412c73656e736f722

706172656e7422000000400032002c002300730069007a0065002d00630065006c006c0073000000

80000000000000020000000400031002c0063006f006d00700061007400690062006c00650000000

0000004e5644412c4e564d616314000000400030002c006e0061006d0065000000120000004e5644

12c446973706c61792d413a000000400032002c0068007700730065006e0073006f0072002d00700

6100720061006d0073002d00760065007200730069006f006e000000080000000000000226000000

00032002c0023006100640072006500730073002d00630065006c006c00730000000800000000000

0114000000400031002c006e0061006d0065000000120000004e5644412c446973706c61792d4220

00000400030002c0063006f006d00700061007400690062006c00650000000e0000004e5644412c4

564d61631e00000072006f006d002d007200650076006900730069006f006e000000150000007631

e3020627920616772616675657365100000004e00560043004100500000001800000004000000000

03000c00000000000007000000000e0000004e00560050004d000000200000000100000000000000

000000000000000000000000000000000000000</string>

 

do i need to paste somewhere the 8800GT_512MB.plist that you have in the rar?

i guess it's only if i need to create my own hex again (for example:model name etc)

anyone else tried it?

[blackhole005]

Might be a stupid question, but what exactly do these "strings" do? I'm running 10.5.2 with this graphics card, and system profiler already reports the card as working fine, QE/CI enabled and multiple resolutions available for the desktop... Should I bother trying to install whatever this is, or am I fine? Thanks

[agrafuese]

@spanakorizo (nice name btw, haha) - were you using NVinject before? if so, have you deleted it? also, you may have a different device path than me. oh and, have you done the Leopard Graphics Update prior to this? assuming you have, but just checking...

 

anyway, check out zephyroth's wiki to find out how to do the same steps i took to get it working for me:

 

http://osx86.wikidot.com/how-to-s#toc6

 

@blackhole005: if you already have things running fine, there is really no reason to go the string route. i did it just to toy around with things. i too had it working fine without these strings (NVinject instead), and there is no difference with them. some people report a quicker boot up, but i don't really see a difference.

[Tryffin]

thanks agrafuese! with what you posted (and the second link) I was finally able to get this working.

 

I have a GA-P35-DS3R and my video card is apparently at a different slot than yours, which I guess is the only reason your string didn't work for me.

 

If it's useful to anyone the device-id string I generated for my XFX 8800GT 512MB is:

 

dc0300000100000001000000d00300001500000002010c00d041030a010000000101060000010101

60000007fff040014000000400032002c006e0061006d00650000001100000073656e736f722d706

72656e74220000005600520041004d002c0074006f00740061006c00730069007a00650000000800

0000000002036000000400032002c00680077006300740072006c002d0070006100720061006d007

002d00760065007200730069006f006e00000008000000000000021c000000640065007600690063

065005f0074007900700065000000100000004e5644412c4765466f7263650e0000006e0061006d0

650000000f0000004e5644412c506172656e7422000000400030002c006400650076006900630065

05f00740079007000650000000b000000646973706c6179100000006d006f00640065006c0000001

0000004e5649444941204765466f72636520383830304754203531324d4222000000400031002c00

400650076006900630065005f00740079007000650000000b000000646973706c617912000000400

32002c007200650067000000080000000000000222000000400032002c0064006500760069006300

5005f0074007900700065000000120000004e5644412c6770752d64696f646520000000400032002

0063006f006d00700061007400690062006c0065000000160000004e5644412c73656e736f722d70

172656e7422000000400032002c002300730069007a0065002d00630065006c006c0073000000080

00000000000020000000400031002c0063006f006d00700061007400690062006c00650000000e00

0004e5644412c4e564d616314000000400030002c006e0061006d0065000000120000004e5644412

446973706c61792d413a000000400032002c0068007700730065006e0073006f0072002d00700061

0720061006d0073002d00760065007200730069006f006e000000080000000000000226000000400

32002c0023006100640072006500730073002d00630065006c006c00730000000800000000000001

4000000400031002c006e0061006d0065000000120000004e5644412c446973706c61792d4220000

00400030002c0063006f006d00700061007400690062006c00650000000e0000004e5644412c4e56

d61631e00000072006f006d002d007200650076006900730069006f006e0000001300000076312e3

206279207472796666696e100000004e00560043004100500000001800000004000000000003000c

0000000000007000000000e0000004e00560050004d0000002000000001000000000000000000000

00000000000000000000000000000000

[agrafuese]

no problem tryffin. yeah after starting this thread, i realized a lot of people will have problems with the device path part of the string. but it's not too hard to get the right path and put it into my plist file, as long as everyone follows the same link you did. have fun!

[PPZ]

I made it by your instructions.It works like a charm!!!

 

Thanks!

 

I had exactly the same problem with device path, but found it with help of gfxutil, made my own gfx string and now it's working! Quite better than with NVinject.

 

My card is Gigabyte GV-NX88T512HP (G92, with Zalman cooler)

 

Here is snapshot (sorry for changing information in ROM Revision.All credists go to you!)

 

And for those who want to try out ready string, here it is:

 

d80300000100000001000000cc0300001500000002010c00d041030a010000000101060000010101

60000007fff040014000000400032002c006e0061006d00650000001100000073656e736f722d706

72656e74220000005600520041004d002c0074006f00740061006c00730069007a00650000000800

0000000002036000000400032002c00680077006300740072006c002d0070006100720061006d007

002d00760065007200730069006f006e00000008000000000000021c000000640065007600690063

065005f0074007900700065000000100000004e5644412c4765466f7263650e0000006e0061006d0

650000000f0000004e5644412c506172656e7422000000400030002c006400650076006900630065

05f00740079007000650000000b000000646973706c6179100000006d006f00640065006c0000001

0000004e5649444941204765466f72636520383830304754203531324d4222000000400031002c00

400650076006900630065005f00740079007000650000000b000000646973706c617912000000400

32002c007200650067000000080000000000000222000000400032002c0064006500760069006300

5005f0074007900700065000000120000004e5644412c6770752d64696f646520000000400032002

0063006f006d00700061007400690062006c0065000000160000004e5644412c73656e736f722d70

172656e7422000000400032002c002300730069007a0065002d00630065006c006c0073000000080

00000000000020000000400031002c0063006f006d00700061007400690062006c00650000000e00

0004e5644412c4e564d616314000000400030002c006e0061006d0065000000120000004e5644412

446973706c61792d413a000000400032002c0068007700730065006e0073006f0072002d00700061

0720061006d0073002d00760065007200730069006f006e000000080000000000000226000000400

32002c0023006100640072006500730073002d00630065006c006c00730000000800000000000001

4000000400031002c006e0061006d0065000000120000004e5644412c446973706c61792d4220000

00400030002c0063006f006d00700061007400690062006c00650000000e0000004e5644412c4e56

d61631e00000072006f006d002d007200650076006900730069006f006e0000000f00000076302e3

2062792050505a100000004e00560043004100500000001800000004000000000003000c00000000

00007000000000e0000004e00560050004d000000200000000100000000000000000000000000000

000000000000000000000000

[spanakorizo]

so ok i was in a hurry ,i guess i must make my own hex ,i'll try this afternoon

btw yes i did all the updates+graphics update ,i have qe/ci with nvinject

[agrafuese]

@PPZ - I notice that you have QuartzGL enabled. Does that work well for you? I was actually experimenting with it today and I found out that it killed my performance and gave me terrible slow downs...

[cyclonefr]

Just FYI, I posted the Mac Pro 8800GT dumped string a week ago on another thread, just check my posts

[PPZ]

Hmmmm, I didn't test WITHOUT QuartzGL, but I didn't notice any slowdown.Before I had ATI X1800GTO which I must tell you was better performing in my system, but I was into experimenting so I took 8800GT.With nvinject, card had choppy graphics, not exactly good.Now everything is good.I will try it without QuartzGL and let you know...

 

 

[edit]Actually, you are right.I tried now with and without QuartzGL, and system is better performing WITHOUT.Here are results[/edit]

 

@cyclonefr , I tried your string but no luck on my card.I changed device path, but again nothing.If I will have time I will test it at my friend's system, which differs only by motherboard (945 chipset) and let know about results.

[agrafuese]

holy PPZ! what is your system? can you post your specs? your xBench score is beautiful! i want whatever you have!! haha. my score is only like 116 at BEST.

Just FYI, I posted the Mac Pro 8800GT dumped string a week ago on another thread, just check my posts

Sorry cyclonefr, I didn't mean to steal your thunder Hope you don't mind sharing some of the fame with me when we get rich. Hahaha. j/k ... I honestly didn't know, but thanks for pointing it out.

[Headrush69]

holy PPZ! what is your system? can you post your specs? your xBench score is beautiful! i want whatever you have!! haha. my score is only like 116 at BEST.

Turning off the Disk test will probably raise most people's score substantially.

[PPZ]

I don't think that when you are benchmarking one system's CPU and Graphics power is important to have and disk test.I know for this, but disk speed is more/less same to everybody.However, I made on screenshot WITH disk test, just for reference.I could probably get better with 800MHz DDR2, and some tweaking, but I am satisfied with the system as it is.Only thing I plan in future is to upgrade memory to 4GB....

 

As for the system, specs are:

Motherboard : Gigabyte G33M-DS2R

Memory : 2 x 1GB 667MHz Supertalent (dual channel)

CPU : Core2Duo E6600 @ 2.4GHz (stock speed, no overclocking)

GPU : Gigabyte GV-NX88T512HP (Turboforce edition)

DVDRW : NEC AD-7170S (SATA)

HDD's : Seagate 500GB,320GB,250GB (SATA)

PSU : Chieftec 550W....

 

 

 

And here are some screenshots from overclocked system.Motherboard I have is great overclocker! I clocked my 2.4GHz CPU easily on 3GHz with default voltage! First screenshot is with disk test, second overclocked WITHOUT disk test, third overclocked WITH disk test....

[muitommy]

agrafuese, thanks for the string..

even though i don't need in the mean time,

i'm quite satisfied with nvinject, dual screen everything works,,,

[cyclonefr]

holy :censored2: PPZ! what is your system? can you post your specs? your xBench score is beautiful! i want whatever you have!! haha. my score is only like 116 at BEST. :(Sorry cyclonefr, I didn't mean to steal your thunder Hope you don't mind sharing some of the fame with me when we get rich. Hahaha. j/k ... I honestly didn't know, but thanks for pointing it out.

 

I know you didn't know, i'm just saying this if people want the "real" thing, I don't wanna fight

 

Anyway if you want it, here it is http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?s=&...st&p=623046

 

I modified this string for P35 mobo since I use ASUS P5K, feel free to change the PCI address if you have any problem. It was different on Mac Pro.

[Headrush69]

I don't think that when you are benchmarking one system's CPU and Graphics power is important to have and disk test.I know for this, but disk speed is more/less same to everybody.

Wasn't the point. It was just that for comparisons to everyone else that posts complete scores it makes your system seem higher than it really is.

(Proven by agrafuese's response)

 

Makes no difference, just clarifying. (BTW, xbench sucks anyways, we need to find a better all inclusive standard benchmark for us to compare.)

[agrafuese]

@PPZ: Thank you for all the info. Your scores are still really great even WITH disk test, and I am still jealous

 

(BTW, xbench sucks anyways, we need to find a better all inclusive standard benchmark for us to compare.)

Yeah I agree, xBench is like 1.5 years old ... and geekbench is a little strange for me sometimes...gives random scores.

[PPZ]

Never mind the Xbench, my problem was that 8800GT was performing worst that X1800GTO I had before.That is fixed now with the GFX string.With nvinject was problematic.

[TBXin]

Hi, I have Zephyroth Leopard 10.5.2 last release with graphics update, but my XFX 8800GT dont use QE/CI. I can only change resolution.

I read manual http://osx86.wikidot.com/how-to-s#toc6 and do all things. Create my template.plist, rename to in.plist and make hex file, then replace original com.apple.boot.plist with my. Reboot and no changes. Then i made backup of kexts and delete nvinject and others. After reboot resolution is 1024x768, 32 MB VRAM and ROM's name that i placed in in.plist.

 

Can u help me?

 

p.s. sorry, my english is not good.

[agrafuese]

Then i made backup of kexts and delete nvinject and others.

Don't delete the other kexts, only nvinject.kext. It sounds like you may have another problem too, but this is certainly going to be a problem even if everything else is right.

[Cinner]

Thanks for posting this method! I applied it succesfully. However, my 512MB 8800 GT shows up with only 256MB. Any way I can fix that? I looked around for a solution, but they apply to nvinject so I guess that won't work for this method?

[verendus]

PPZ, are you using 8800GT? Your Xbench score doesn't look right.

I am using 7600GT with GFX string, and my Quartz Graphics test usually is between 270-280 and OpenGL test is around 260. User interface is around 460. I am running Quad Core, but am not sure if that would make that much difference. I know that 8800GT is much more capable card than my meager 7600GT. You might want to see if you can squeeze out more.

 

Maybe other 8800GT users can chime in.

[agrafuese]

Thanks for posting this method! I applied it succesfully. However, my 512MB 8800 GT shows up with only 256MB. Any way I can fix that? I looked around for a solution, but they apply to nvinject so I guess that won't work for this method?

I'm assuming you didn't use my hex file, right? If you open up my plist file, you will see a line for the VRAM size. Take that value and apply it to your plist, then re-make your hex file and re-add it to your com.apple.Boot.plist. That will do it.

PPZ, are you using 8800GT? Your Xbench score doesn't look right.

I am using 7600GT with GFX string, and my Quartz Graphics test usually is between 270-280 and OpenGL test is around 260. User interface is around 460. I am running Quad Core, but am not sure if that would make that much difference. I know that 8800GT is much more capable card than my meager 7600GT. You might want to see if you can squeeze out more.

 

Maybe other 8800GT users can chime in.

In my experience, 8800GT is still not optimized for Leopard. Apple has their own version of the 8800GT apparently, and I am curious about the performance of that one because our third-party cards just aren't supported as well. Either that or there is some extra step that we all need to take to make it run better. In your case verendus, your 7800 has been natively supported by OS X for a long time, and is therefore the optimal card for it (afaik). Trust me, PPZ's performance is probably the best I've seen from this card, and it could be due to the fact that he's running an Intel system and I am on AMD.