ATI X800 Issues and Temperature Monitoring

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Level 1

4 points

ATI X800 Issues and Temperature Monitoring

Hey all. So, I've got a Dual 2.0 G5 running a Radeon X800 XT Mac Edition. Super sweet card etc. however, I recently wiped that entire machine, and clean installed 10.4. In the initial process, I forgot to reinstall the "ATI Drivers" and the "ATI Display's" software.

So, after a few days, I'm using the machine when I suddenly get pixel artifacts, etc. etc. just in the finder. I restart, and don't think much of it. Then, less than 48hrs later, the same thing happens, and so I pop open my case, and to my surprise, see that the X800's fan had stopped. So, I shutdown, let everything cool off, and suddenly realize that I had never reinstalled the ATI drivers (ROMXtender etc.) and so I did thinking it may just be a software issue.

So, now I have the drivers installed, and haven't had any issues SO FAR, however I am considering upgrading the X800's cooling as the fan is starting to get "noisy" and I have done a TON of reading about the OEM cooling not lasting. I have been looking into the Artic Cooling ATI Silencer series, but that is a whole other can of worms (and post).

Anyway, does anyone know if there is a way to monitor the GPU temps on the X800? I've searched around (here and google) and of course there is a TON of stuff about the X800 (including temperature monitoring), however it’s all Windows utilities and apps. I have tired (and use daily) Temperature Monitor and Hardware Monitor, but it does not seem to read the X800's temp information (I have actually contacted the makers of Temp./Hardware Monitor but haven't heard back yet). So, is there any way to monitor the X800 temps on a Mac?

Sorry for the lengthy post, but I have been searching for a while and I beginning to fear the fan is going on my card and wish I could monitor the temps. Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks!

MacBook Black, PowerMac G5 Dual 2.0, MDD Dual 867, and a Fleet of others... Mac OS X (10.4.8)

MacBook Black, PowerMac G5 Dual 2.0, MDD Dual 867, and a Fleet of others... Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Feb 10, 2007 9:28 PM

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Answer 1

japamac

Level 7

24,400 points

Feb 11, 2007 6:05 AM in response to scrogers

Hi-

I'm not sure of your cards sensor availability,but, have you tried iStat Pro Widget?

http://www.apple.com/downloads/dashboard/status/istatpro.html

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Answer 2

japamac

Level 7

24,400 points

Feb 11, 2007 6:56 AM in response to scrogers

So it seems that everyone else is using Temperature Monitor- you should be able to monitor your temperature.
Is there any Apple care on your machine? The reason I ask is, the x800 has a temp sensor LM 63 chip:

http://www.techpowerup.com/articles/overclocking/vidcard/94

and I wonder if yours fried while the fan was disabled? or, is your card without the chip?

G4 AGP(450)Sawtooth Mac OS X (10.4.8) 2ghzPPC,1.62gbSDRAM, ATI9800, DVR-109,(IntHD)120&160,LaCie160,23"Cinema Display

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Answer 3

scrogers Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 11, 2007 12:24 PM in response to japamac

Thanks for the reply. I had iStat running on my MacBook, but hadn't tried it on my G5, however, it too doesn’t see any temp. info for the X800.

I have read that page about the ATI's cards having temperature chips, and I am sure the X800's can have their temperature read, but I'm still trying to see if anyone has gotten it to work/be accessed on a Mac.

On the same note though, I heard back from Bresink, the makers of Temp./Hardware Monitor this morning. They have said that since user applications cannot gain access to "direct hardware, including it's sensors" (in other words the kernel and the kernel extensions) the apps rely on the information given to the OS. So, if a sensor does not show up in Temp./Hardware monitor, it is because the OS has not been granted permission to give that information (or it doesn’t have it). They would have to write a custom kernel driver for the device (in this case "ATI's X800") to access the information from it. So unless "ATI or Apple provide a driver for a specific graphics processor which allows application programs to access the card's sensors..." Temp./Hardware Monitor won't see it. That’s the low down from them.

So, I guess it may not be possible on the X800. The machine is out of Apple Care, but the card was added later anyway, so Apple is out of the loop. Basically I was just wondering if there was ANYONE running a Mac that has managed to monitor temps on the X800. Seems interesting since it is a rather popular card, and there are TONS of instances of people running the cards under Windows that can monitor the card's temp. but I have yet to see it on a Mac. If anyone has any other suggestions, I am all ears. Thanks!

MacBook Black, PowerMac G5 Dual 2.0, MDD Dual 867, and a Fleet of others... Mac OS X (10.4.8)

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