PowerMac G5 and ATI Radeon 9600XT - Graphical glitches

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PowerMac G5 and ATI Radeon 9600XT - Graphical glitches

Hello everyone!

I finished repairing my PowerMac G5 a few days ago (it was a CPU related problem).

It has a Dual 2GHz processor, 1GB of RAM and the ATI Radeon 9600XT with 128MB of VRAM. It has 10.5.8 Leopard on it.

I have got another problem now: when I play an HD video in the Finder or in QuickTime or export any kind of video (Screenflow recordings, Final Cut movies etc) I have some purple glithces on the screen that won't go away until I drag any kind of window over them (for example a Finder window).

I think that's related to my graphics card, which is (according to System Profiler):

ATI Radeon 9600 XT:

Chipset Model: ATY,RV360

Type: Display

Bus: AGP

Slot: SLOT-1

VRAM (Total): 128 MB

Vendor: ATI (0x1002)

Device ID: 0x4152

Revision ID: 0x0000

ROM Revision: 113-A13602-121

This card originally came with this PowerMac (I believe, I bought this G5 used from a guy, but the label inside the Mac says 9600XT so I think that's right).

I ran ASD 2.5.8 and it found a checksum error on the ATI PCI video controller, but I read on the ASD user manual that this test could fail on some PowerMac G5 models, so I thought it was normal.

My question is: is there any known way to fix this annoying thing? And, most important: do you think that really is a graphic card problem? It does the same thing with Tiger 10.4.11.

Thank you!

PowerMac

Posted on Aug 4, 2013 2:46 AM

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Answer 1

BDAqua

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240,227 points

Aug 4, 2013 11:49 AM in response to mikiotty

Sounds like the Video card, what temp is the GPU when this happens?

Get Temperature Monitor to see if it's heat related...

http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/12381/temperature-monitor

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Answer 2

mikiotty Author

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Aug 4, 2013 12:48 PM in response to BDAqua

I can't see any graphics card related sensor in Temperature Monitor or either iStat Menus/iStat Pro...

Here's a screenshot of the sensors on my G5:

(yeah, I know that the sensor on CPU A doesn't work... I already solved that by pointing a table fan onto the CPU 😝 it works in summer, I don't think it will be necessary in winter)

Let me know

UPDATE: I just tried playing a very light game (DooM Legacy) and it works just fine without glitches... I know that the game is very, very old and uses like 5% of the power of the G5, but there were not glitches of any type 🙂

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Answer 3

BDAqua

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Aug 4, 2013 7:04 PM in response to mikiotty

Hmmm, seems something is shot on the Video card...

Do you have ASD for that G5, (not normally available to users)?

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Answer 4

mikiotty Author

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Aug 5, 2013 12:02 AM in response to BDAqua

Yes, I have ASD 2.5.8 from 2005 (my G5 is from June 2004 so I assume that's the right version). I already ran all the tests and the only issue was (apart from the thermal sensor) found on the PCI ATI video controller, and the error was some kind of checksum error (I believe number 4, but I can't remember). I found a note on the ASD "user" guide on the CD that says that this test can fail on some G5 models due to incompatibility with that model, so I thought it was normal and I simply skipped that test.

I'm now leaving for vacation and the G5 will be at home for at least 3 weeks so I can't do any test during this period. Anyway, if you write me what to do I'll do it as soon as I can. Thank you

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Answer 5

BDAqua

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240,227 points

Aug 5, 2013 10:26 AM in response to mikiotty

Yep, that's the version...

2.5.8 version is compatible with the following Mac models ONLY:

PowerBook G4 (17-inch 1.5GHz), PowerBook G4 (17-inch 1.67GHz),

PowerBook G4 (15-inch 1.5/1.33GHz), PowerBook G4 (15-inch 1.67/1.5GHz), PowerBook G4 (12-inch 1.33GHz), PowerBook G4 (12-inch 1.5GHz),

iBook G4 (Early 2004), iBook G4 (14-inch Early 2004), eMac (USB2.0),

Power Mac G5, Power Mac G5 (June 2004 Series), Power Mac G5 (Late 2004),

Power Mac G5 (Early 2005), iMac G5, iBook G4 (12-inch Late 2004),

iBook G4 (14-inch Late 2004), Mac mini PPC (First Version), and

iMac G5 w/ALS (Ambient Light Sensor).

I don't see much you can do, other than try another Video card.

See japamacs page here on the best AGP cards for G4s & G5s...

http://www.jcsenterprises.com/Japamacs_Page/Blog/4B4B7BA2-7ABB-47F1-87AC-B03D379 42BEE.html

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Answer 6

mikiotty Author

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Aug 31, 2013 7:51 AM in response to BDAqua

Ok, I'm now pretty sure that it's a video card problem.

I found this webpage showing some corrupted screen images, and my case is very similar to the first screenshot, so I guess it's the video RAM. http://www.playtool.com/pages/artifacts/artifacts.html

I have to replace it, so in your opinion, which is the best card to buy?

Thanks

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Answer 7

MichelPM

Level 10

81,010 points

Aug 31, 2013 9:55 AM in response to mikiotty

You can either search for another of the exact sme card you have now or try and search for more powerful Mac graphics cards for your G5 model.

If you want to graduate up a video processing you can try and search for flashed for Mac ATI Radeon 256 VRAM X800XT or X850XT video cards. Both these models is a step up in graphics performance. I use the X800XT in my PowerMac G4. Not sure of installation in a G5, but I had to hooked this card up directly to my G4 MDD's power supply as well as install a PCI slot fan to keep the interior cooler as these cards get pretty warm.

Not sure if this will be an issue in a G5 or not.

Also, another 256 VRAM video card is NVidia GeForce 7800 GS. These will be a flashed for Mac card, also.

Here are a few off of eBay

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ATI-Radeon-9800XT-256MB-Video-Card-W-DVI-S-Video-109-A18 800-10-Mac-Compatible-/181137168564?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item2a2c9dd8b4

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ATI-Radeon-9800-XT-256MB-AGP-Video-Card-for-G5-Mac-/3708 44522529?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item56580e5821

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-Mac-G5-Edition-ATI-Radeon-X800-XT-256MB-8x-AGP-2x- DVI-Video-Graphics-Card-/271040568152?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item3f1b46db58

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Apple-Mac-G5-Edition-ATI-Radeon-X800-XT-256MB-8x-AGP -DVI-Video-Graphics-Card-/280847735357?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item4163d45a3d

Best and fastest card for early PowerMac G5s.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-Mac-G5-Edition-nVidia-GeForce-7800GS-256MB-AGP-DVI -VGA-Video-Graphics-Card-/271257273048?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item3f283182d8

Good Luck!

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Answer 8

mikiotty Author

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Sep 3, 2013 6:34 AM in response to MichelPM

Ok, I managed to get a screenshot of the artefacts on my G5:

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/716/px2z.png/

I think it's definitely the VRAM. I'm looking for another graphics card, thanks for all the links and advices 🙂

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Answer 9

mikiotty Author

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Nov 24, 2013 4:03 AM in response to mikiotty

I finally solved this problem. I "stole" an Nvidia GeForce FX5200 Ultra (the stock card for the baseline models) from another G5 and this beast finally works perfectly. Yes, it's a "downgrade" from the 128MB card I had before, but it works as it should.

And boys... it's a powerful machine! 🙂

Thank you for all the support! 😉

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Answer 10

BDAqua

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Nov 24, 2013 10:26 AM in response to mikiotty

Thanks for the report, & good luck! 🙂

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Answer 11

Jan 6, 2015 9:54 AM in response to BDAqua

Sorry to revive an old thread, but having recently picked up a Power Mac G5 Dual 2.0 Ghz for $0, I have a related question on it.

My machine has a Radeon 9800 pro installed and aside from the terrible stock cooler(which I have already replaced with a Zalman VF700-CU) I am not having any graphics glitches.

BUT, I am also NOT seeing a GPU temp sensor showing up using the Temp Monitor software. Does this sensor exist for this Power Mac model? BDAqua, you showed a screenshot from a 2002 Quicksilver G4, right?

I would like to know the GPU temp in my machine, but I have no concern now that it isn't being adequately cooled. I even connected the Zalman fan speed control thingy because I knew the fan speed could even be reduced.

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Answer 12

BDAqua

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Jan 6, 2015 10:06 AM in response to Jeff Robertson

Hi Jeff,

Sorry for the misleading pic, the sensor reading are from a Late 2005 Quad G5, but said QS2002 G4 because my QS2002 died & I cloned the drive to the G5, & Sys Prefs>Sharing>Computer Name still said "QS2002 G4".

As I recall the 9600s/9800s did not have GPU temp sensors.

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Answer 13

Jan 6, 2015 11:58 AM in response to BDAqua

That explains it then! Thanks for the info!

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Answer 14

BDAqua

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Jan 6, 2015 1:26 PM in response to Jeff Robertson

🙂

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