no video with quadro fx 4500

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Level 1

74 points

no video with quadro fx 4500

i recently installed a nvidia quadro fx 4500 graphics card and my computer screen doesn't come up. do i need drivers? i reset the pram and reset the power on the board. don't know what else to do. can anybody help me? thanx in advance.

dual 2.5, Mac OS X (10.3.7)

Posted on Jan 4, 2007 11:26 PM

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Answer 1

Shane Ross

Level 8

43,110 points

Jan 4, 2007 11:31 PM in response to Myzta 33

Yes, you need to install drivers. BEFORE you install the card so you can see what you are doing.

Shane

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Answer 2

Myzta 33 Author

Level 1

74 points

Jan 5, 2007 7:12 AM in response to Shane Ross

thanx, where can i get the drivers? aple is saying the drvers are pre-installed.

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Answer 3

David S.

Level 7

20,636 points

Jan 5, 2007 8:42 AM in response to Myzta 33

I can't find that graphics card for sale at Apple.

Did you get it from a 3rd party and can you contact that company for the drivers?

Also, remember the firmly seat the card.

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Answer 4

Jan 5, 2007 9:34 AM in response to Myzta 33

If it's not an Mac-specific version of the QuadroFX 4500, it won't work, no matter if the drivers are there or not.

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Answer 5

Myzta 33 Author

Level 1

74 points

Jan 5, 2007 10:18 AM in response to Myzta 33

apple does not sell the fx 4500. i had to purchase it from mac mall. maybe they sent the pc version of the card. i tried everything.

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Answer 6

David S.

Level 7

20,636 points

Jan 5, 2007 10:25 AM in response to Myzta 33

I don't see any Macintosh compatible fx 4500s for sale at MacMall.

At the high end is the X1900

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Answer 7

Shane Ross

Level 8

43,110 points

Jan 5, 2007 10:40 AM in response to Myzta 33

If you bought the card from a retailer, then the drivers would be on a CD in the box.

But from what others are saying, this card might not work in a Mac. MacMall is also PCMall...

Shane

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Answer 8

Jan 5, 2007 1:20 PM in response to Myzta 33

Show us the link to the card you purchased. I only see on QuadroFX 4500 listed as "PC & Mac", but that's an error - it's made by HP, and would definitely not have the necessary Mac ROM on it.

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Answer 9

Myzta 33 Author

Level 1

74 points

Jan 5, 2007 4:58 PM in response to Steve Boultbee

yep, that's what i saw also when i purchased the 4500 but the sales rep said it would work. i did research and nvidia did announce support for macintosh (can't find the link). if this card proves to be incompatable, is there one comparable to the 4500 that will work?

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Answer 10

David S.

Level 7

20,636 points

Jan 5, 2007 5:00 PM in response to Myzta 33

The only one I can find that is available for sale is the ATI X1900.

It is, in my view, a much better value that the 4500 at about $900.00 less

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Answer 11

Myzta 33 Author

Level 1

74 points

Jan 5, 2007 5:14 PM in response to David S.

check out this link:
http://www.nforcershq.com/article4311.html

i'm going to look into the x1900 if my problems persist with the fx4500.

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Answer 12

Jan 5, 2007 5:16 PM in response to Myzta 33

nVidia chipsets do support the Mac, and have been used in them for some time, as you're aware. However, nVidia does not actually make the video card that you can buy. That's done by HP or eVGA and others. So, no one other than Apple will include the Mac ROM on the card that's needed to use it - they'll just have the ROM that can interact with a PC BIOS. This is why (unfortunately) you can't just pick up any video card off the shelf.

Unless you need the 3D stereoscopic capabilities or something else that only the QuadroFX 4500 offers, you're much better off with the ATi X1900 G5 edition, as David mentioned. Although I can't say with certainty, I don't believe the X1900 blocks the adjacent PCIe slot, like the Quadro does.

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Answer 13

Myzta 33 Author

Level 1

74 points

Jan 5, 2007 5:27 PM in response to Steve Boultbee

ok, i understand. i am surely not doing any scientific work. just editing with final cut and creating with photoshop and motion and things of that nature. with many more years of experience, i may look into doing 3D stuff. but for now, i just want to lower my render times and view more real-time effects. i guess its the ati x1900! thank you all for your responses. i was getting very frustrated.

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Answer 14

Jan 5, 2007 5:37 PM in response to Myzta 33

BTW, the 3D stereoscopic capability that the FX 4500 can do needs a special monitor and/or glasses. It's used so you can actually visualize something in "3D" with the right software. Very, very specific uses we're talking about.

These capabilities are not needed to use a 3D application like Cinema4D, Maya, Lightwave, etc.

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