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Level 1

8 points

ATI Radeon HD 4870 and 10-bit Color

I recently purchased a used ATI Radeon HD 4870 graphics card ( Apple model # - MB999ZM/A) to install in my early-2008 Mac Pro. This card was originally offered by Apple as an upgrade for earlier Mac Pros. The card has a mini display port (and a DVI-D port). I am running El Capitan on my Mac Pro. I have a 10-bit color capable NEC PA 302W monitor. Can anyone tell me if the ATI HD 4870 card will support 10-bit color to my monitor? I was encouraged to learn from the forum that the drivers (and hopefully their updates) for supported graphics cards are automatically included in the Mac operating systems. I'd appreciate any help anyone can give me. The card is scheduled to be delivered next week. Thanks a lot, Jack

Posted on Dec 4, 2015 12:53 PM

Best reply

Grant Bennet-Alder

Level 10

128,245 points

Posted on Dec 4, 2015 5:06 PM

Apple has changed this within El Capitan. According to Mac & I, Apple has confirmed that the new 5K and 4K iMac (along with the 2014 iMac 5K) support a 10-bit graphics driver which has been enabled with the release of El Capitan.

First, apparently it only works on the 4K & 5K iMac 2015 & 5K iMac 2014 right now.[UPDATE]: A cinema5D reader reported that he got 10 bit on a Mac Pro with D500 graphics and an Eizo CS230 monitor.

Also, currently it only works within the Preview and Photos applications. If you want to test it out, you could take a 12-bit RAW photo with soft color gradations and take a look. But it’s also important to note that, for now, no other apps, such as Adobe or other editing software, take advantage of this processing, yet. This is just a preview of what’s to come.

from:

https://www.cinema5d.com/5k-imac-10-bit-color/

So it looks like it is just being introduced now. When/whether 4870 supports it is anyone's guess.

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41 replies

Dec 10, 2015 1:26 PM in response to jh191

Yes a HD 7950 will work in your Mac Pro, no the Mac mini cannot do 10bit. The Intel Iris graphics is a comparatively feeble GPU, for example the HD 7950 can do 4K at 60fps the Mac mini can only do 4K at 30fps.

jh191 Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 10, 2015 1:35 PM in response to John Lockwood

Thanks again! Thanks to you John, I'm a lot more informed about, and clear on my options. You've been a really great help ,and I appreciate it very much. If there are any new developments, I'll post them here. All the Best, Jack

DPArt

Level 3

604 points

Dec 10, 2015 5:34 PM in response to jh191

Did you ever try "SwitchResX"?

I just did and was able to enable 10 bit on newer Nvidia cards.

I don't have a 4870 but will test with a 7950 shortly.

No cost and takes little time, why not download and try?

jh191 Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 10, 2015 8:02 PM in response to DPArt

Hi DPArt,

Thanks for the info. Which Nvidia card, or cards did you use? How do you know you were in 10bit color? What computer are you using?

You're right. I should try Switch ResX. From what an AMD tech rep told me yesterday (see earlier post) it won't, but you never know. I'm too busy tonight, but I'll probably try it tomorrow. I'll share the results here, if I do. From what that same AMD rep told me, the HD 7950 should support 10bit color, at least in Windows. John Lockwood has tested an HD 7950 as supporting 10 bit color in Windows thru bootcamp. It would be great to know if you can be in 10bit color mode with a 7950 in a Mac OS using SwitchResX!

Have a good night. Talk to you later, Jack

DPArt

Level 3

604 points

Dec 11, 2015 12:47 AM in response to jh191

Yes, it works fine with 7950 on MDP connection, but HDMI to an older Dell U-2410 stuck in 8 bit.

This on 7950 in 10.11.2 and using Switchres-x "Billions Served" setting.😉

jh191 Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 11, 2015 7:01 AM in response to DPArt

Holy Smokes DPArt! , That's great news! Thanks for sharing that. I'll be trying SwitchResX with my early-2008 Mac Pro, and HD 4870 later today. If it works, wonderful. If not, I might be looking for a 7950.

Can I ask you what Mac computer your 7950 is installed in, and what Mac OS you're running?

Thanks again, Jack

jh191 Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 11, 2015 7:33 AM in response to DPArt

Oops! sorry see you mentioned you are in 10.11.2.

Dec 11, 2015 7:36 AM in response to jh191

Support for 10bit aka. 30bit was only added in El Capitan 10.11.1 so you have to be running at least that version. As I previously mentioned this does not work on my HD 7950 via HDMI in El Capitan but does in Windows 10. I don't have a suitable DVI or Displayport monitor to try that. (Actually I don't think DVI can do it in any circumstances.)

My Mac Pro is a 5,1 2010 model.

jh191 Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 11, 2015 8:18 AM in response to John Lockwood

Hi John, Yes, I remembered you mentioning being connected via HDMI. I see DPArt's HDMI link to his older Dell monitor did not work in 10bit. I'm not sure if it was the HDMI connection or the monitor? Others (NEC phone tech rep, etc.) have also told me DVI cannot support 10bit. I am connected via my NEC supplied Mini-Display Port to Display Port cable.

I'll be trying SwitchResX with my HD 4870 later this morning. I'll post the results. I have my fingers crossed. If it doesn't work, I'll seriously consider an 7950, based on DPArt's results.

I have been in 10.11.1. I just updated to 10.11.2 this morning.

DPArt

Level 3

604 points

Dec 11, 2015 9:01 AM in response to jh191

If John Lockwood didnt use Swithresx to turn it on, results don't mean anything.

must be enabled to work.

will try with newer monitor if he doesn't.

jh191 Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 11, 2015 12:25 PM in response to DPArt

Just installed SwitchResX, and Voila! the "Billions of Colors" option was available to me! Selected it, and checked my system profile and got "30-Bit Color (ARGB2101010)"! Still not sure if I'm in 10bit color in CS5 though?

Thanks for encouraging me to try SwitchResX, DPArt. I'm thrilled to say it seems to have worked! I still can't quite believe it (I was doubtful about my 4870) !, and will be hoping to confirm it further. I also understand 10-bit function to be app dependent, and, as I said, I'm not sure if my CS5 is in 10bits now. I'm also wondering if I'm in 10bit now in Safari on Facebook, for example? I think my photos are looking a bit better there now, but maybe it's my imagination.

John, I hope you'll be able to try it out. The install was simple, and the developer seems very capable and sincere. He responded to my earlier questions promptly and frankly. I'll be sending him a follow-up message to let him know what happened in my case. An Apple support rep also suggested SwitchResX as a possible solution for me a few days ago. I'll be updating them as well.

Thanks again guys. Cheers!, Jack PS I've attached 2 shots of my screen after the install

DPArt

Level 3

604 points

Dec 11, 2015 7:09 PM in response to jh191

Hey, I just plugged a 7950 via the HDMI port into a DVI to MDP adapter from Altoona. Ran this into a newer display (Apple one actually) that has MDP in.

And guess what?

HDMi port is outputting 10bit, I think John just forgot to try SwitchRes-X

Dec 12, 2015 9:28 AM in response to DPArt

I had to wait till the weekend to have time to boot my Mac Pro from my El Capitan drive, install all the updates, test it again before installing SwitchResX and then test it again after installing SwitchResX. I have now done all that.

SwitchResX does indeed cause System Information to report the Mac is now running as 30-bit Color (ARGB2101010), this would suggest it has been successful. However I don't believe that is actually correct.

When I check the info shown by my Sony HDTV it still does not show it is running in 10-bit mode, which remember it does in Windows 10. I therefore feel the change made by SwitchResX only affects what OS X thinks it is running in but does not actually change what the video card is doing. I would therefore deem this to be unsuccessful.

Admittedly I have not at this point turned SIP off and tried the full-blown SwitchResX install. However even after a reboot El Capitan still shows as 30-bit Color (ARGB2101010) and the Sony still says no.

jh191 Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 12, 2015 1:19 PM in response to John Lockwood

John, Thanks for sharing your results. They may cast doubt on my being in 10bit mode in El Capitan thru SwitchResX, but I want to know the truth of things. I somehow wonder though if your use of an HDMI connection may have prevented your Sony HDTV showing being in 10bit mode thru SwitchResX..? I know you used the same HD 7950 graphics card, HDMI connection and TV in both the Windows thru bootcamp test ,and the El Capitan thru SwitchResX tests. Maybe SwitchResX together with EL Capitan can produce a signal supporting 10-bit color thru a mini display port , but not an HDMI connection, even when one is showing "30-Bit Color (ARGB2101010)? , or your Sony TV just had trouble recognizing the signal form El Capitan-SwitchResX, even though it could from Windows-bootcamp.

As I've said earlier, my NEC PA302W reported being in 30-bit (aka 10-bit) mode even before I installed SwitchResX. My Mac system report was at that time showing 32-Bit Color (ARGB8888). NEC reps told me the 30-bit signal was being communicated successfully to my monitor. Kind of the opposite situation you're now describing. At present, I'm getting 30-Bit Color (ARGB2101010), and the NEC status reports still show me being in 30-bit mode. Any further thoughts about how I could further test whether I'm really in 10bit mode would be welcomed. I'll just add, I have not turned SIP off in SwitchResX. Cheers, Jack

Dec 12, 2015 2:25 PM in response to jh191

I think at the moment the only definitive test for El Capitan would be to open the special 10 bit test ramp.psd file in latest PhotoShop CC (Creative Cloud) version.

See http://www.imagescience.com.au/kb/questions/152/10+Bit+Output+Support

I don't have PhotoShop, but I opened it in Preview and got banding showing it was not 10-bit.

ATI Radeon HD 4870 and 10-bit Color