Problem w/ ATI Radeon 9800 Pro Mac Edition (256MB) 4xAGP on G4 MDD DP1.0GHz

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1984-I_Was_1 Author

Level 1

35 points

Problem w/ ATI Radeon 9800 Pro Mac Edition (256MB) 4xAGP on G4 MDD DP1.0GHz

As mentioned in this topic:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1443169&tstart=0

I am having problems, seemingly with rendering in OpenGL, Quake4 is just one example, and a bunch of other games, as well as Toast Titanium 8.0-8.0.3, MOST OF THE TIME (not always, and can't find a pattern to the exceptions), I am having a grid of Black-Pixel Clusters on my screen in the games, or white pixel clusters in the Toast burn-progress window (just the area where the writing scrolls across and says "filling buffer" etc). I have downloaded and run all things available from the ATI website, even one thing that isn't available anymore for download. Does anyone else know anything about this? Also, this is the 4x/8x card, and if anyone has any info about this card in a G5 I would love to hear it, b/c I am thinking of moving this card to a G5 DP1.8GHz (June 2004) b/c that terminal has more demanding usage (and just switch back to my stock ATI card in my G4). I am extremely grateful to anyone who even ventures a reply.

once again, I am running:
ATI Radeon 9800 Pro Mac Edition (256MB) 4xAGP on G4 MDD DP1.0GHz with 10.4.11 768mb ram.

G5 DP1.8, G4MDD DP1.0, 12"PBG4 1.5, 17"PBG4 1.67, 17"MBPCD 2.16, G4AGP X00, Mac OS X (10.5.2), The G5 and 12" PowerBook are running 10.5.2, the others run 10.4.11, the 12" PB

Posted on Mar 18, 2008 11:23 PM

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Answer 1

Allan Jones

Level 9

78,266 points

Mar 19, 2008 7:33 AM in response to 1984-I_Was_1

Can you tell if the cooling fan on the ATI card is working? Failed fans on 9800 cards seem to be a too-common story around here.

If the fan is working, shut down and check it for crud build-up that could slow its rotation. Clean if needed. Sticky dust accumulated on the blades can slow the spin and overheat the GPU.

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Answer 2

1984-I_Was_1 Author

Level 1

35 points

Mar 19, 2008 12:11 PM in response to Allan Jones

1.Thank you so much for the suggestoin!
2. I will try/investigate this as soon as I am able to shut-down, etc. on this workspace (currently I am running an app that I cannot stop until a certain time, hopefully this evening!).

3. THANK YOU, again!

(I will get back with the results when possible, for reals)

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Answer 3

1984-I_Was_1 Author

Level 1

35 points

Mar 28, 2008 10:57 PM in response to Allan Jones

HOLY••••, the fan isn't even MOVING it's like it's stuck in place! Should I still attempt to "clean" it? I mean, it's not looking TOO cruddy... does that mean it was NEVER working? or only sometimes? or maybe it was only okay when I just fired up the computer... hmmm...
please advise...
THANK YOU!

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Answer 4

Apr 29, 2008 8:47 PM in response to 1984-I_Was_1

I've had a nightmare of a week. My G5 suddenly started freezing up, then sometimes the screen turned black and I'd have to hold the power button to restart. The freezes happened within the first minute after booting up. This machine has been working fine Since 2005. I read all the horror stories of G5 freezing and so forth.

I finally had time today to do a trial and error by removing all my ram, removing all the dirt. Booted up and still froze, then I put my original video card back in and it's been going for over 30 mins, I put the 9800 back in just to see, and it froze in 5 mins. so I'm thinkin it's the 9800, and my fan too wasn't workin, I hardly could spin it with my fingers. Is there any recalls on this product? ***** I gotta go back to a 64MB card for now. I'm happy I didn't take my G5 to get fixed somewhere and lose money on bs.

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Answer 5

japamac

Level 7

24,400 points

Apr 30, 2008 4:14 AM in response to 1984-I_Was_1

Hi-

Check that the small two wire connector from the fan is connected to the board on the graphics card, and double check the four wire molex connector to the auxillary power on the card.
Give the fan a couple spins with your finger, and power up the computer while the tower is open. Visually confirm that the fan is running. If not, shut down, as heat will soon kill the GPU chip.
A third party replacement would be in order if the fan is dead, or even "just because". If there is a weak link in the 9800, it is the fan.
The Zalman 700 ** is a very good fan, better cooling than the OEM fan, and should fit properly over your RAM modules.

As I mentioned, the GPU is sensitive to excessive heat. There may be a chance that you have already damaged the GPU chip. Only running the card with a properly funtioning fan will tell.
If, with a properly functioning fan on the card, you still have artifact issues, I would consider the 9800 to be damaged.

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Answer 6

Allan Jones

Level 9

78,266 points

Apr 30, 2008 5:43 PM in response to 1984-I_Was_1

Sorry I missed your more recent post. I had shoulder surgery in March and there were some days when I didn't allow myself near a computer!

On older ATI cards, a failed fan did not necessarily kill the card. I had the fan start squealing and drop to about half-speed on an original Radeon Mac Edition 32MB card, and the card still works. However, it seems the 9800's are killed rather quickly when the fan dies.

ATI warrants their cards for three years. If you bought the card new, talk to them. Their fan killed it--they should make it right. The unfortunate thing is that they gave up on the 256MB version of the 9800 and now have only a 128MB version. I would think they should "sweeten the pot" a bit if they can only replace your card with the current one.

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Answer 7

May 18, 2008 9:53 PM in response to Allan Jones

Hi, my Radeon fan just gave up the ghost in my quicksilver. It is the 128MB version. I too am looking for a replacement. I am worried though because many of the aftermarket fans might not easily work due to size or different power connectors.

Would this be a good choice? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835114024

Since it has a standard 4 pin connector there should be no problems installing it at least.

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Answer 8

May 19, 2008 9:44 AM in response to Alan Wood

The Zalman above looks like a nice fan but what about the power connectors? My card has a very small 2 pin for the old fan and I have an available 4 pin molex, but that's it. I cannot solder or modify the connector, so looking for something that I can easily install. If I can use the Zalman with a 4 pin and also the screw alignment is the same, I will just get this fan. I just worry that Mac video cards might be different enough that it will make it hard to install one of these fans.

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Answer 9

May 19, 2008 10:42 PM in response to Alan Wood

Hi There,
Just thought I'd put my two cents in. Last week I installed the Zalman VF700-** on an Ati 9800 Pro Mac edition 256MB card due to the original fan seizing up. Long story short it does't fit in a MDD, first I had to remove the fourth RAM DIMM to insert it into the AGP slot. When it comes to closing the case, the corner of the SuperDrive cage drives squarely into the middle of the fan thus the door can't be closed. Guess I could run it with the door open but I don't have desk room.

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Answer 10

1984-I_Was_1 Author

Level 1

35 points

May 28, 2008 2:15 PM in response to Allan Jones

Okay, yeah, so the fan is PERMAFRIED... did several tests, and some of the damage is permanent and I get more blocked out areas when it gets hotter... so... IF i can find the proof of purchase and stuff, maybe I can get them to replace it, it must be about 3 years old now, so maybe I am SOL anyway... What do you guys think about this card:
[here|http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=250239956106&ssPag eName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=015]?
I know it's a modded PC card, but I WILL NOT buy another 9800 256mb, though they are available. (also, i know that auction has ended but there are some more of those out there)

also, I hope the surgery went well.
thanks again,
o

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Answer 11

Antony

Level 1

0 points

May 28, 2008 2:22 PM in response to 1984-I_Was_1

Go for it, i got a radeon X800 XT from another seller called applemacanix on ebay and the card works perfectly despite being a modded PC one

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Answer 12

1984-I_Was_1 Author

Level 1

35 points

May 28, 2008 2:32 PM in response to Antony

thanks for the tip, yes, I was trying to choose WHICH one of these "apple modder" vendors to go with, and the other guys I was looking at were them (applemacanix), they also have a 7800 gs, so I could just get it from them, since the other guy isn't selling anything at the moment... it's been fun keeping this machine alive, but I have spent a LOT of money in the last 2months to do it (some mods didn't work, haha).
good to hear a positive response from one of those cards, THANK YOU!

I just have to make sure the 7800 GS is the right choice... is the X800 loud at all? b/c I can't stand a noisy card after spending so much time and money and dremel saw-blades on making my MDD cooler and quieter. Thanks (they advertise the 7800 gs as really quiet, and I have read SOME reports of a sometimes loud X800 (mac version of course)) i would really appreciate your feedback on the noise, thanks again,
and lastly,
thank you one more time.
(and thanks to all others who responded, I'm almost there!)

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Answer 13

May 28, 2008 2:38 PM in response to 1984-I_Was_1

I feel your pain. I ordered what was supposed to be a stock 9800 fan replacement. Long story short, it wasn't. Luckily I didn't spend too much on that only $14. So I ended up ordering a Zalman from newegg for $32 including shipping. It arrives tomorrow so we will see. I have a Quicksilver and not a MDD so hopefully it will fit fine.

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Answer 14

Antony

Level 1

0 points

May 28, 2008 3:02 PM in response to 1984-I_Was_1

The only time i hear the X800 is when i turn on the computer at it goes at full speed but then slows down, after that i don't notice its there, but bear in mind my computer doesn't have any mods and so runs at normal "noise" which may muffle out the X800, whereas your machine you may be able to hear it, but if yours runs cooler i guess the X800 fan might not be that loud, if your in doubt and the 7800 states its quiet then i'd go with that.
Antony.

P.S. i just opened the case and it's pretty quiet far below the noise of the power supply + CPU fan

Forgot to ask do you have any pictures of your mods, would be interesting to have a look at

Message was edited by: Antony

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Answer 15

1984-I_Was_1 Author

Level 1

35 points

May 28, 2008 4:14 PM in response to Antony

I could def take a picture or two, i regret not taking more pictures while I was modding b/c then I could post something really nice on xlr8yourmac! Main mods:
1 drilling holes in the front through the plate just behind the 4 holes in the front of the plastic case, so that instead of these holes being almost useless, they are now fully functional.
2 removing pci slot covers
3 switching power supply
4 (what I'm about to do) replace the stock Dual 1ghz aluminum heatsink with the stock copper version from the higher end MDD models. ( do you have copper or aluminum?) ordered from smalldog.
5 (unsuccessful) replace the stock main fan with a Silenx 120/38 92cfm 18dbA fan, with silocone gasket (i can go into this problem more later)
6. (not done yet) attach copper heat spreaders to all 4 ram chips (in hand, waiting to install copper heat sink).
7. remove rear plastic covers (both) from case to improve ventilation for psu, & main case exhaust.

results so far (after frying my GPU):
load temp is at 132F (around 10 degrees cooler)!

Sounds really quiet in there with the X800... I might want to go with that for safety (your tested results), so... 1 question is your model one of the troubled LOUD ones? or did you replace the fan/psu? or was it always fairly quiet?

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