Ati X1900 XT installed - Some issues!

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Level 3

581 points

Ati X1900 XT installed - Some issues!

Hi,

I just installed my new Ati X1900 XT into my Mac Pro 2ghz but i'm having some issues.

Firstly the card does not seem to be seated properly, it moves if i push the left hand side down slightly but i simply cannot push it any harder, i don't get a solid click sound. There is no movement once the right hand side brackets are replaced but it doesn't seem right.

Secondly since installing the card the power light on my new Formac Gallery display now shines at half the brightness it did before with the stock card?

I have the card installed in PCI slot one and the monitor plugged into the DVI port 1.

This all seems a bit strange and performance does not seem much better than the stock card, particularly gaming.

Any help would be great.

Mac Pro 2ghz/iPod Photo 40gb/20gb/Shuffle 512mb, Mac OS X (10.4.7), Mac Pro 2ghz/250gb/160gb/160gb/80gb/2gb of Ram

Posted on Sep 21, 2006 10:42 PM

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Answer 1

Sep 22, 2006 12:06 AM in response to Mark Thornton

Did you connect the auxiliary power cable from the card to the connector on the mother board?

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Answer 2

Sep 22, 2006 12:28 AM in response to Mark Thornton

Did you remember to remove the metal bracket installed above the bottom slot?
I'm asking because i did that mistake in my excitement to install my new x1900xt card, and it took me a minute to figure out why the card wouldn't fit properly. 🙂

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Answer 3

Mark Thornton Author

Level 3

581 points

Sep 22, 2006 12:34 AM in response to Malcolm Rayfield

Yes, the aux power is connected as per the instructions.

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Answer 4

Mark Thornton Author

Level 3

581 points

Sep 22, 2006 12:38 AM in response to Sverre Svenningsen

I removed the bottom two slots byt yes it was still hard to install.

Did yours click into place with no movement on the left side?

I really can't understand why the power light on my display has dimmed since installing the card, it's as if there is n ot enough power but the display itself seems fine?

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Answer 5

Sep 22, 2006 5:28 AM in response to Mark Thornton

If you have a drive to do this you might just want to do a clean install and see if things are any different. That will at least tell you whether it's hardware of software that's the issue.

Additionally, besure to reset PRAM and NVRAM…

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=2238

… and the System Management Controller…

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304123

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Answer 6

Sep 22, 2006 5:30 AM in response to Mark Thornton

Mark the back or other end of the card should be fitting into a plastic slot, also mine felt a little lose but when I put the screw down plate back on it seemed fine and i stupidly broke the retaining clip when i removed the 7300 card, so mine is shaky to start with but with the screw downs is seems just fine

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Answer 7

Sep 22, 2006 9:40 AM in response to Guy Mancuso

I had a hard time getting the 7300 out because I couldn't reach the retention clip (I have NO idea how I'll get to it on the X1900 now). But I did manage to get it out without breaking it.

The X1900 was difficult to seat... I just couldn't tell where I was on the motherboard. What I did was just use the guide at the back and the port panel at the front to line up the card and I pushed it in. There was a little resistance so I knew I had it.

Then I tightened the pci plate back down and it was rock steady. No issues with the card.

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Answer 8

Sep 22, 2006 10:08 AM in response to controller2k

I did not see that clip to begin with and scared the daylights out of me . I thought i really blew it. so it's not attached but the screw down and slot are holding it just fine without it

Warning there is a clip down there

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Answer 9

Mark Thornton Author

Level 3

581 points

Sep 22, 2006 12:11 PM in response to controller2k

Thanks for the responses, my card is obviously installed ok but i still can't work out why the power light on my display has dimmed to the point where it is almost not visable since installing this card, if i put the 7300 back in the light powwers up nice and bright?

Only a small gripe but kind of annoying as it pulses etc like the mac when it's sleeping etc but now i can't see it!

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