Video card and Panther

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Level 7

25,416 points

Video card and Panther

This B&W is currently running 10.2.8. The owner tried to upgrade to Panther. When the computer boots from the Panther install disk, the display is a mess. (Looks like it is trying to work with 8 colours!) I assume there is something in the video card that needs to be upgraded?

This is the info about the card, which is in slot J11.
Card Type .............. display
Card Name ............. ATY,XCLAIMVRPro
Card Model ............ ATY,GT-C
Vendor ID .............. 1002
Device ID .............. 4749
ROM# .................... 113-43101-124
Revision ................. 5c
Card (Video) Memory .......... 8 Mb

Please help me figure this out. The owner just spent really money on OS 10.3. It would be nice to have it running. Thank you.

Posted on Apr 5, 2006 10:44 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Grant Bennet-Alder

Level 10

127,663 points

Apr 5, 2006 3:04 PM in response to Eustace Mendis

I think that card is unsupported, or badly supported. When I tried a card like that, Panther re-set it to 8-color mode and the picture was unbearably grainy and horrible. This may be because Mac OS X does not really understand 8-color mode. If you can reset it to a better mode or better resolution, it may be useable, but I was forced to replace some of those cards because I could not get them to go to a high enough resolution to do the stuff I wanted (Video Editing).

The card from a Blue & White (or its retail twin) seems to work just fine.

It is possible that the "Patched Rage Pro" feature of XPostFacto would do something better, but I have not tried that.

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Answer 2

Eustace Mendis Author

Level 7

25,416 points

Apr 5, 2006 3:14 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thanks for the note Grant.

This is a B&W with native support for 10.3 - no XPF. And as far as anyone knows it is the card that shipped with the computer. I guess my friend will have to stay with 10.2.8. And by the way, this has to be a Panther thing since Jaguar runs fine.

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Answer 3

Apr 5, 2006 3:21 PM in response to Eustace Mendis

I think that card has been replaced. I think that card has only 8 MB of VRAM, and the stock card has 16MB.

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Answer 4

Apr 5, 2006 5:17 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Some BTO B&W's came with the xclaim card ( I had one at my high school), it has a slot on it for adding additional VRAM - ala iMac, not that that will help any...;-(

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Answer 5

Jon Smith

Level 4

1,390 points

Apr 5, 2006 7:51 PM in response to Eustace Mendis

Hello Eustace,

I think Grant is on to something. Preliminary investigation suggests that the Xclaim VR card that was a BTO option on the beige G3 was 8MB, whereas the one touted as wonderful on the B&W G3s was shewn as 16MB. Just ran across a so-equipt beige on eBay and it stuck in my mind for some reason.

Regards ..... Jon

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Answer 6

Eustace Mendis Author

Level 7

25,416 points

Apr 6, 2006 4:27 AM in response to Hussein-New-York

"a slot on it for adding additional VRAM"

I noticed that. And the slot seems to be identical to the beige G3's VRAM slot, for which I think I have a 4 meg module. If I can find it, I'll try putting that in.

If that helps, the next question will be is there such a thing as a 8 meg VRAM module? But I have not got there yet. I'll let you know.

Thanks Hussein and Jon Smith for your help.

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Answer 7

Apr 6, 2006 12:54 PM in response to Eustace Mendis

Hi Eustace

Yes, there are 8MB VRAM modules, I used one from an iMac in my xclaim card

333-0263
MT4LG51264HG-83
9749 2013585

are the numbers on it, if that helps any.

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Answer 8

Eustace Mendis Author

Level 7

25,416 points

Apr 6, 2006 4:53 PM in response to Hussein-New-York

Hi,

Thanks for the info. The 4 meg VRAM from a beige made no difference at all. The B&W is still running Jaguar, and will stay there until either a better video card or a VRAM upgrade are found.

Thanks everyone.

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Answer 9

Eustace Mendis Author

Level 7

25,416 points

Apr 6, 2006 4:55 PM in response to Jon Smith

Hi Jon,

I have suggested the B&W's owner look for either a 16 meg card as you have identified, or a VRAM upgrade.

Thanks for your help.

Eustace.

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Answer 10

Jon Smith

Level 4

1,390 points

Apr 7, 2006 9:43 PM in response to Eustace Mendis

Hello Eustace,

After our discussion on video cards, you'll never guess what followed me home today. Yup, B&W 300mhz G3 with Xclaim VR Pro 43101 chip - and ATI 3D Rage Pro AGP 2X chip - and RCA vid in and 8 pin vid in - and 7 or 8 pin TV out - and Apple DB-15 monitor connexion - and socket for a 4MB VRAM chip ..... Sound familiar? Would seem they came that way on the early B&Ws. Guessing they were intended for some sort of video or TV hookup. When was that TV tuner available? I'm also guessing they aren't good for much - I have a spare Radeon Mac that ought to work better- or even see if the DVD decoder set-up can be made to work satisfactorily.

Would help if I were more familiar with the Apple knowledge base.

Hadn't intended to venture into B&Ws, but this came cheap, and with OS 9.2 and 10.2 CDs. Turns out, of course, that the CDs are grey labels, but there are also included a !0.0.3 (white label) and a 10.1.4 (grey) ..... and while none of this is what I wanted, perhaps I'll find a use for it yet.

Too many projects !!

This all started because I'm getting ready to try to install Panther on my favourite beige doorstop. Wonder if I can find your tutorial .... I have a terrible time following directions, and your notes seemed to make sense to me.

Wish me luck !! ..... jws

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