MacPro NVIDIA Quadro FX 5600 Not Supported - Arrrrgggghhhhhhhh!

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Level 1

4 points

MacPro NVIDIA Quadro FX 5600 Not Supported - Arrrrgggghhhhhhhh!

When I start iMovie on my new MacPro with NVIDIA Quadro FX 5600 video card, I receive:

Quartz Extreme required.
iMovie requires a graphics card that is compatible with Quartz Extreme. One or more of your graphics cards does not support Quartz Extreme.

Simply amazing...the high end graphics card with two monitors does not work.

From About this Mac:

NVIDIA Quadro FX 5600:

Chipset Model: NVIDIA Quadro FX 5600
Type: Display
Bus: PCIe
Slot: Slot-1
PCIe Lane Width: x16
VRAM (Total): 1536 MB
Vendor: NVIDIA (0x10de)
Device ID: 0x019d
Revision ID: 0x00a2
ROM Revision: 3221
Displays:
Cinema HD Display:
Resolution: 1920 x 1200
Depth: 32-bit Color
Core Image: Hardware Accelerated
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Supported
Rotation: Supported
Cinema HD Display:
Resolution: 1920 x 1200
Depth: 32-bit Color
Core Image: Hardware Accelerated
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Not Supported
Rotation: Supported

2 x 3.2GHz Quad Core 8GB Memory, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Jan 28, 2009 6:03 PM

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Answer 1

Jan 28, 2009 8:09 PM in response to WildClyde

Try this:

Shut down iMovie
In System Preferences/Displays change colors from millions to thousand, Change Resolution to a different resolution.
Go back into System Preferences/Displays and change everything back to the way you want it, and open iMovie again.

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Answer 2

WildClyde Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 29, 2009 5:10 AM in response to AppleMan1958

I did as you suggested and received the same message. The issue seems to be that the second Apple Cinema HD Display on my NVDIA Quadro FX 5600 does not qualify for Quartz Extreme. And iMovie '09 will not start on the Main Display (which does qualify for Quartz Extreme) as long as there is at least one display that does not qualify. I tried using the Mirror Display setting and the result is that both displays no longer qualify for Quartz Extreme. It is a major disappointment to me that the $2850 high end graphics card is not supported well.

Displays:
Cinema HD Display:
Resolution: 1920 x 1200
Depth: 32-bit Color
Core Image: Hardware Accelerated
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Supported
Rotation: Supported
Cinema HD Display:
Resolution: 1920 x 1200
Depth: 32-bit Color
Core Image: Hardware Accelerated
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Not Supported
Rotation: Supported

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Answer 3

Jan 29, 2009 5:20 AM in response to WildClyde

I think you have correctly stated the problem. I would recommend you do a search over the past year's posts in the iMovie 08 discussion, the "Getting Started with Video on a Mac discussion" (this discussion targeted to Final Cut users), and the Mac Pro discussion.

If you don't find an answer there, I would ask the question again in the Mac Pro discussion and the "Getting Started with Video on a Mac" discussion".

I am sure this has happened before, but I don't know the resolution.

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Answer 4

WildClyde Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 29, 2009 5:26 AM in response to AppleMan1958

iMovie '08 and iMovie '06 both work fine on this machine.

Final Cut Pro Studio works fine on this machine.

iMovie '09 implemented the restriction that prohibits it from starting.

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Answer 5

Harry

Level 4

1,026 points

Jan 29, 2009 9:32 AM in response to WildClyde

The Quadro FX 5600 most definitely supports Quartz Extreme. It looks like the problem is with your video card. If you notice display #1 supports QE while display #2 does not. Something odd is going on. Have you tried playing with the display settings or disconnecting/reconnecting the 2nd monitor? Could just be a glich. Otherwise you have to start doing tests w/ the hardware to isolate the issue.

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Answer 6

WildClyde Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 29, 2009 9:44 AM in response to Harry

Harry, I have re-configured the card several times as suggested earler in this thread changing the resuoltion and the number of colors. Note that I have two identical Apple 20" Cinema Dispays connected to the card. Results:

In side-by-side mode (Monitor 1 is the primary monitor on the left):
Monitor 1: Quartz Extreme Supported
Monitor 2: Quartz Extreme Not Supported

In mirror mode:
Monitor 1: Quartz Extreme Not Supported
Monitor 2: Quartz Extreme Not Supported

I think that there is a restriction on Quadro FX 5600 support for Quartz Extreme on the second monitor. This is news to me because until I tried to run iMovie '09 no other program ever complained.

I have searched all MacPro and Leopard threads and can find no information about Quadro FX 5600 Quartz Extreme support for dual monitors.

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Answer 7

Harry

Level 4

1,026 points

Jan 29, 2009 1:17 PM in response to WildClyde

I'd be surprised if the 5600 did not support QE on both monitors. I have a lowly 7300GT w/ dual monitors (one older ACD 22" and a newer Cinema HD 23") and they both report QE active. Honestly it sounds like you have a bum card as there is no logical reason why the Quadro wouldn't support QE for dual monitors since it's a high end 3D card. It would make sense that it reports QE not supported when you go into mirror mode if something is wrong with the #2 side of the card. The two sides only share memory. Might want to ask in the Mac Pro section or ask a "Genius" at the Apple Store. Hopefully you are still on warranty.

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Answer 8

Jan 29, 2009 2:29 PM in response to WildClyde

Do you have a AJA Kona card installed by chance?

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Answer 9

WildClyde Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 29, 2009 3:02 PM in response to imoviebill

Two things:
1. I have opened a case with AppleCare regarding the behavior of my FX 5600. I can start iMovie '09 if I disconnect the second monitor which is reporting 'QuartzExtreme Not Supported'. We went through the reseat the card dance, and the swap the monitor dance.
2. Yes, I have a Kona card installed.

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Answer 10

Jan 29, 2009 4:07 PM in response to WildClyde

Try to update those drivers. http://www.aja.com/html/supportkona2swd.html

"KONA 2 Drivers Version 6.0.2 NDD, Control Panel, and Notes
(Release Date 12/11/2008, TAR archive)
This 6.0.2 NDD version is recommended for OS X 10.5.2 or later users. Note: The AJA KONA driver version 6.0.2 NDD is the same as driver version 6.0.2, but removes the Macintosh Desktop Display feature.

With the regular version of the 6.0.2 driver, some users may experience issues with Quartz Extreme, the behavior of their computer displays, and in some cases, boot up issues may occur with certain graphics cards installed. If any of the issues mentioned occur, the driver version 6.0.2 NDD should be used instead of version 6.0.2 "

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Answer 11

WildClyde Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 29, 2009 4:31 PM in response to imoviebill

Loading the latest AJA Kona LHe 6.0.2 NDD drivers solved the Quartz Extreme problem. Thanks imoviebill!

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