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G3 Clamshell iBook video issues

Hi,

I recently installed 9.2.2 on my G3 iBook clamshell blueberry 300Mhz, 4MB ATI video.

OpenGl version 1.2.4

Finder 9.2

Active enabler - Mac OS ROM 9.0.1

Quicktime 6.0.3

CarbonLib 1.6

It's running pretty good, but I was thinking about making this an 'oldies' game machine. Here are the problems I am having:

1. The machine won't switch to 640X480 and display correctly. Even if I switch it in the monitor panel, the screen gets all freaky under ALL color settings.

Only 800X600 will display correctly.

2. Does openGL work on this video card? I have installed Shadow Warrior (which runs great), so I installed the 3Dfx version, and if I run it the screen goes black, and a black pointer appears. The only way out of this is to hard shut down. Until I installed MacGlide, I got the error that it couldn't find 3dfxGlideLib2.x

I couldn't find an original 3dfxGlideLib2.x (if there is one), so I figured MacGlide may work. I have tried all versions to no avail. Possibly this is because this is in some sort of wrapper for osX?

3. How do you open these game config files? For Shadow Warrior, for instance, if you try to open the config files, it just boots the game. Is there something like an 'open with' option? I'm REALLY new to apple software, so I'm trying to learn as fast as possible.

I found an older post - https://discussions.apple.com/thread/551454

And I have followed all of the instruction there - so far I have everything listed there as correct.

I can't find a openGL install package for 1.2.4, but these files should be good since they were installed from the 9.2 CD, right?

If anyone can answer ANY of these questions, please let me know!

Thank you!

iBook, Mac OS 9.1.x

Posted on Jun 22, 2012 10:52 AM

37 replies

Jul 1, 2012 2:09 PM in response to Knucklesmac

Well, I did run techtool and it said the video memory checks out, but that only means so much...

Anyway, I have the base memory, plus a 128MB stick in. I'm getting more soon, but I have to have the time to dig for it...

I really wish there was a tester or benchmark program that could run on this and do a thorough display test.

Jul 12, 2012 8:10 AM in response to TheRealAnubis

I found a reasonably priced iBook (M6411) and it had OS X installed on it. I installed 9.2.2 from my CD, and none of the video issues are present. Everything works fine. I'll have to agree that something is wrong with the video somewhere, but all the tests come back clean.

I can't understand why they didn't make an AHT for the non-firewire iBooks - it was the FIRST one on the market, so they should have had something.

Isn't there some way to trick the AHT to disregard the missing firewire?

Anyway, I just wanted to let everyone know. The old Blueberry works great with 800 X 600 resolution, but if it goes to 640 X 480, it's broken.

Jul 13, 2012 1:44 AM in response to TheRealAnubis

Great shame that the blueberry iBook failed on it's video issue, but it's still a working computer even if you can only run it at 800 X 600. They wouldn't be any way to trick the AHT (Apple hardware Test) disk into disregarding the FireWire, however I have seen modifications done to the iBook firmware to lead Mac OS X 10.4 into believing an iBook without FireWire has FireWire. (Not recommendable)

I'm pleased to see you have come back with a resolution even if it's a replacement unit.

Best of Luck

Jul 13, 2012 8:56 AM in response to Knucklesmac

Knucklesmac,

Agreed, I can still get use out of the iBook, just not my first choice of use - "Classic Gaming Machine!", but it's still fun to work with.

I've never been big on messing with firmware. I suppose it's a possiblity, but I agree that it's not the way to go unless you are fine with bricking your machine.

It's a strange problem, but in the end it did come down to a hardware issue, which is sort of a relief, really. I was thinking that not only was the Apple stuff super-version-specific for the OS, but that the video drivers were also that way. It stinks that the hardware is faulty, but I'd rather have the 640 X 480 be the bad one as opposed to the 800 X 600!

This little blueberry has started my interest in Apple products!

May 20, 2013 7:26 AM in response to TheRealAnubis

As a final note, I have just aquired a hot air solder station, and with that you can desolder all kinds of IC's, including the onboard video RAM on the iBook. When I get time, I plan to rip it apart and see what RAM chips are used, and then go on the hunt for a stick of RAM or something to swap out the chips. Once it's done, I'll post a like to the Instructable - but it will be quite a while before I will have time for this..

May 20, 2013 12:37 PM in response to TheRealAnubis

Hello again,

That sounds like a fidderly job to archive. It's first identifying what chip on the logic board is that of the video memory. Finding it may not be so easy. There doesn't appear to be any diagrams of the logic board available to easily seek this information. What I would suggest is using the code on a chip to identify it's purpose.

Finding a replacement one that will work or even fit could be difficult.

Wish you a lot of luck.... 🙂

May 20, 2013 4:32 PM in response to Knucklesmac

Luckily, the RAM chips all pretty much look the same, so they should be easy to locate, but I will definately use the codes to identify the specs of the chips.. Who knows, maybe I could add more RAM and see what happens!

G3 Clamshell iBook video issues