G4 Gigabit Ethernet video card/display compatibility

Question

G4 Gigabit Ethernet video card/display compatibility

I have a G4 dual 500--I'm pretty sure it is a Gigabit Ethernet version--and it has VGA and DVI connectors, and AGP graphics card slot (3 PCI slots). I just purchased a Apple 20" LCD ADC Cinema Display for it.

A.) Is it possible to have a Gigabit Ethernet G4 with those connectors?
B.) I'm paranoid the display won't work with my G4 once it arrives and...
C.) what video card should I upgrade to??

I'm desperate for help on this!

Posted on Sep 16, 2005 2:20 PM

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Answer 1

Benny Li

Level 4

3,570 points

Sep 18, 2005 12:13 PM in response to Amanda Pfeiffer

Hi Amanda,

Apple's page on Display Compatibility says that your graphics card does not support the 20" Apple Cinema Display. You need a graphics card upgrade.

The retail ATI Radeon 9000 Mac Edition is your best bet. It has DVI and ADC.

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Answer 2

Sep 19, 2005 4:03 PM in response to Amanda Pfeiffer

Hi Amanda,

I just had a look at the specifications for what I think is your computer model:

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/powermacg4/stats/powermac_g4_500dp.html

The standard card that it shipped with is the Rage 128 Pro Card (VGA and ADC port). This card will not support the 20" display. If this is the card you have, then you will need to upgrade the card.

You mentioned that you have VGA and DVI ports. If that is the case, then the card you have is not the standard card for this computer. It would be good to know exactly what card you have (via System Profiler), so that we can see whether it is a model that supports the 20" monitor.

Also, I noticed that you posted this topic in another area of the discussions as well - it's better if you don't do this, otherwise it gets harder for people to follow the issue and things tend to get doubled up.

This area of the discussions (that we are in right now) is entirely appropriate for your issue.

Cheers!

Karl

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Answer 3

Sep 22, 2005 8:54 PM in response to Benny Li

THanks Benny Li! I knew I had to upgrade my card, but the 9000 is hard to find and I just missed getting one on eBay. I ended up getting a nVidia Geforce 3 card. But, I think I got scammed on the DVI to ADC connector I bought. The DVI connection is unlike any connection I've ever seen. Have you heard of any scams like this??

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Answer 4

Benny Li

Level 4

3,570 points

Sep 22, 2005 9:49 PM in response to Amanda Pfeiffer

Hi Amanda,

I'm not sure why you bought a DVI to ADC adaptor. Your display as far as I can tell from what you have told us uses ADC. The Apple GeForce3 Ti should have ADC hence there is no need to convert.

As far as I can tell from the Display Compatibility link and the description in your other thread, you found an ADC connector...

Connect the ADC Cinema Display to the ADC port of the Apple GeForce3 Ti. I hope you didn't buy a non-Apple but flashed with Mac ROM GeForce3 Ti.

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Answer 5

Sep 26, 2005 4:13 PM in response to Benny Li

Hi Benny,

Thanks for your help. I had to update my card, because the old one didn't supply power to the monitor. My card just arrived today and so far, so good. All is working. THe only thing that makes me nervous is that I have a 4x card in a 2x slot. I read a lot of tests conducted online with that card (nVidia GeForce 3) on the Gigabit G4 with no reported problems. So, I rolled the dice.

Thanks for your help!

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Answer 6

Benny Li

Level 4

3,570 points

Sep 26, 2005 5:07 PM in response to Amanda Pfeiffer

Amanda, those cards should be backwards compatible with AGP 2x slots.

Enjoy your larger display!

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Answer 7

Nov 15, 2005 10:23 PM in response to Amanda Pfeiffer

Amanda,

I have the same computer you have—a Gigabit Ethernet PowerMac G4 running OS9.2.2 with an original Rage 128 Pro Card (VGA and ADC port) which I’m trying to use with a 23” Apple display. Two sources recommended I upgrade to a Radeon 9200 Mac Edition card, but doing so has frozen my G4 every time I use it. The only fix recommended by Radeon is to try the card in different PCI slots and/or rearrange the existing PCI cards in my system. None of that has helped. Have you found a card (the nVidia GeForce 3?) that might work better? I need a card that will fulfill the 1920x1200 resolution offered by the Apple 23” display. Any recommendations would be much appreciated. (I’ll also try to send this query by e-mail in case you don’t monitor this group regularly—hope you don’t mind).
Many thanks,
RichardFaylor@aol.com

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Answer 8

Nov 17, 2005 3:44 PM in response to richard11

Hi Richard,

If you have an AGP Mac and you want to run 2 displays or less, then it would have been a better option for you to have replaced the primary AGP video card. PCI cards are much slower due to the PCI bandwidth limitation, and (as you have discovered) there can be conflicts as well.

A PCI graphics card is not intended to be the primary graphics card in an AGP equipped computer. It has applications for non-AGP computers (such as the Powermac G3's) and also if you want to run more that two displays.

I would recommend that you ditch the 9200 card and get an ATI Radeon 9000 Pro Mac Edition AGP card. It has the same chipset as the 9200, will give you DVI-I and ADC video output and will be a much faster and more reliable card than the 9200 for your computer.

Cheers!

Karl

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