New graphic card for a G4 Cube

Question

New graphic card for a G4 Cube

Hello,

I have a Power Mac G4 Cube with a ATI Rage 128 Pro 16 Mb graphic card, but I now have display problems. I tried to use another monitor : my TV set. I got the same problems, so I think the gaphic card is dead. I looked at the technical specifications for this Mac and I saw 3 graphic cards :
- ATI RAGE 128 Pro with 16MB of SDRAM
- NVIDIA GeForce2 MX with 32MB of SDRAM
- ATI RADEON with 32MB of DDR RAM

I thought I could use one of these, so I bougth a GeForce2 MX (AGP) graphic card, which didn't work…

I was wondering if I could only use the same graphic card as the one gived with the computer, or if it's the graphic card I bougth which is dead too.

Besides, I would like to know if HIS Excalibur Rage 128 Pro (AGP) with 32MB of SDRAM could work. I don't know if HIS Excalibur can make some trouble.
I found this graphic card there : http://www.ldlc.com/fiche/PB00045183.html

Thanks

Lucas

iMac G5 Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Posted on Jun 15, 2007 6:38 AM

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Answer 1

Jun 15, 2007 6:59 AM in response to Spootnik of Lucas

Have you bought a Mac or a PC GeForce2 MX? I believe the Mac one has an ADC connector while the PC one doesn't. I thought the PC one had a fan too but I can't really remember.

If you've bought a PC card, you could try 'flashing' the BIOS using the advice in the FAQs at:
http://www.cubeowner.com

This site is a good place to start for other ideas with replacing the graphics card.

The main problem with replacement graphics cards for the Cube is that many of the usual Mac ones don't physically fit the small space in the Cube.

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Answer 2

Jun 15, 2007 9:03 AM in response to Spootnik of Lucas

What do you mean when you say "which didn't work"? You mean when you installed it you got no picture, or you couldn't install it, or what happened? Did you get the same results as your old card? More info would be nice.

Was it a brand new GeForce card you bought? Where did you buy it from? If you have the box or if you bought it off ebay or something check and see whether it was a pc or a mac card. It has to specifically say it was for a mac and that it was compatible with your system. You can't really just guess and hope that these cards work...you have to do some digging and make sure it's compatible before you buy it. And as long as it's time for a new one I would think about buying one a little better than a RAGE card...it's money well spent.

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Answer 3

Jun 15, 2007 1:33 PM in response to MyrkridianRhapsody

The OP has G4 Cube. Because of internal space limitations in the Cube, it is difficult to find a suitable replacement graphics card for one - not all Mac-compatible cards will fit, including newer, better ones.

The cards originally provided for the Cube had a modifed bracket to allow the cards to fit. Some users have posted success with swapping the bracket from their old card to a new one - which new cards this may work with, I don't know.

A resource site such as http://www.cubeowner.com/forums/ may help a lot in addressing the peculiarities of upgrading a Cube.

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Answer 4

Jun 16, 2007 10:31 AM in response to Spootnik of Lucas

David Winnett :
Have you bought a Mac or a PC GeForce2 MX? I believe the Mac one has an ADC connector while the PC one doesn't. I thought the PC one had a fan too but I can't really remember.

There is only a VGA connector, but it is not a problem (or at least I think so) : I had to buy a new monitor (with VGA connection) when the G4 Cube's one didn't switch on anymore.

David Winnett :
If you've bought a PC card, you could try 'flashing' the BIOS using the advice in the FAQs at:
http://www.cubeowner.com

http://cubeowner.com/kbase_2/index.php?article=3 :
If you are using Mac OS 9.2.2, or earlier versions of Mac OS X (version 10.1.x), you can use the Apple Display Software on the CD provided with the Cinema HD Display.

I don't have any CD of this kind, but I'm looking at this website, there may be some useful information.

David Winnett :
The main problem with replacement graphics cards for the Cube is that many of the usual Mac ones don't physically fit the small space in the Cube.

ATI Rage 128 Pro and GeForce2 MX are enough small (I succeded in putting them).

MyrkridianRhapsody :
What do you mean when you say "which didn't work"? You mean when you installed it you got no picture, or you couldn't install it, or what happened? Did you get the same results as your old card? More info would be nice.

I could install it but I got no boot screen, only blue vertical lines, then a grey screen, then grey vertical lines on a black background and nothing else.

MyrkridianRhapsody :
Was it a brand new GeForce card you bought? Where did you buy it from? If you have the box or if you bought it off ebay or something check and see whether it was a pc or a mac card. It has to specifically say it was for a mac and that it was compatible with your system. You can't really just guess and hope that these cards work...you have to do some digging and make sure it's compatible before you buy it. And as long as it's time for a new one I would think about buying one a little better than a RAGE card...it's money well spent.

This has already been used. I got it from www.ldlc.com and it was not written whether it was a Mac card or not. I didn't think PC cards couldn't work on a Mac… so that's a part of the answer…
I don't need a better card than a RAGE one, it's only for text editing.

Don Archibald :
The OP has G4 Cube.

What's OP ?

iMac G5 Mac OS X (10.3.9)

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Answer 5

Jun 16, 2007 12:52 PM in response to Spootnik of Lucas

Hi, Soltic -

In the unofficial shorthand commonly used in Apple Discussions, "OP" = Original Poster, meaning the person who started the Topic.

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Answer 6

FangSuede

Level 4

2,195 points

Jun 16, 2007 3:02 PM in response to Spootnik of Lucas

Hi,
The original Cube video card was the Rage Pro 128 16MB, it is old and not suited for today's larger monitors. To replace this Cube video card you MUST get a Mac Edition video card. Even if the replacement video card is called a similar name like Geforce2 MX it MUST BE A MAC EDITION video card or it will not work.

Your card sounds dead and needs to be replaced. The popular auction websites have these type cards available, you must shop in the Apple Computer area and get a Cube-sized or Cube-able video card, not all Apple/MAC video cards fit in a Cube.

Take the advice you were given and go to Cubeowner.com FAQ section and look at the Video card chart there. It will show you most of the video cards that fit a Cube. Then you can shop wisely. Or, join up and ask some questions, the site is for Cubes only so there is a lot of wisdom available.

Regards,
Dave

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Answer 7

Jun 18, 2007 7:10 AM in response to Spootnik of Lucas

Yes, chances are you bought a PC card. If it didn't specify then it's probably a PC card, in which case it needs to be flashed. Someone already provided you with that info, so your options are to either try flashing it or buying a new one that was made for it.

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Answer 8

Jun 21, 2007 11:28 AM in response to MyrkridianRhapsody

I don't understand how I could flash the card if I don't have the required CD…

I think I just have to find a Mac graphic card and everything will be fine.

Thanks for your help everyone.

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Answer 9

FangSuede

Level 4

2,195 points

Jun 21, 2007 12:46 PM in response to Spootnik of Lucas

Hi,
'Flashing' a PC card to Mac ROM is not done by most folks, it is not that easy. I can do it but it took me some time to learn all the procedures.
You are correct, just find a suitable Mac Edition video card, either ATI or Nvidia and install it.

Check in at CubeOwner.com and see the FAQ's for video card types or help for Cubes.

Regards,
Dave

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