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Amacapart · Apr 1, 2005, 05:02 PM

Easy flash, full 128 Megs and Dual VGA monitor support:

http://www.targetpcinc.com/Details.asp?ItemID=3107

(you will need to adapt the DVI to a VGA port)

Stock ROM clocks it low, with an overclock you gain MORE than 20% in FPS.

Non-Ultras require modding RAM config tables in ROM.

A new version of ATIccelerator with Nvidia support will be released in next week to easily O/C these.

Once overclocked, is about 2/3 as fast as a 9700. But you will gain Pixel Shader suport (compared to 8500/9000), allowing Halo & Doom 3 to look right. Not bad for $60, huh?

So, even though a Ti4600 is faster, the 5200 will run all the new Tiger/Core/Motion effects, 4600 never will.

You will need a PC for flashing (until someone takes dev id matching out of NVFLash kext) and you will need to do the 3 & 11 pin taping.

Link · Apr 2, 2005, 04:12 AM

No soldering though? Nice!

yukon · Apr 2, 2005, 05:35 PM

dang, can't find it in Canada, only the non-ultra version....passive heatsink though...oh well. Thanks for the effort, I'll grab it if I see it

Amacapart · Apr 2, 2005, 08:14 PM

Any Ultra FX 5200 will work. There are usually some on Ebay, you will need to do various searches for to find them.

Key ingredient to Ultra / Mac compatability is BGA RAM.

(BGA is the little square RAM, TSOP is other kind, it is rectangular with pins visible)

Abit667 · Apr 6, 2005, 08:34 AM

Originally posted by Amacapart:
Once overclocked, is about 2/3 as fast as a 9700.

Haha, a 5200 being 2/3s off a 9700 is a bit wishful. A 9600 Pro/XT is about that though, and can be had used for around the same price. Plus if you want to compare pixel shader performance the 5200 to the 9700 it's around 1/3 as fast which really puts it down into the "this is running like crap" performance level. The money can better be spent on a 9600.

Amacapart · Apr 6, 2005, 02:13 PM

Interesting opinions.

I have tested a 9700 back to back with a overclocked & flashed 5200 and stand by what I said.

The OEM one is not going to do as well, but flashed ones aren't as bad as you might think.

If you have tested them both as well, I would be interested in hearing your results.

Since the overclock utility hasn't been publicly released yet, I doubt very much you could have. I would be happy to send you a beta, however, if you are serious about finding out.

yukon · Apr 8, 2005, 02:48 AM

Searched all the local and online stores I know of, no ultra 5200's available, nothing with those oddly square RAM chips. I do see them on google though, international orders suck. I'll keep looking, if anyone sees one in canada I'd appreciate it.

The cards work fully? DVD, OS9, etc?

Amacapart · Apr 10, 2005, 02:27 PM

Some of the boys at Strangedogs have further refined the process. By re-writing the RAM timings, it is now possible to flash even non-ultras. A guy has posted success at Cubeowner.com. He now has Tiger supported card and it only cost $35 !!!!!

Link · Apr 10, 2005, 03:34 PM

At this rate I'm rather sure I'll be getting a really good deal on a 9600XT right now

It's about what you'd pay for a 9600pro.. or maybe even a 5200 haha.

I'll let ya know in a few hours!

Link · Apr 10, 2005, 05:03 PM

While I'm at it, how does a 9600XT measure up against that 5200 ultra without any overclocking either way? (I know that the GF5200 doesn't have dual DVI, which thus almost immediately takes it out no matter what, but still just wondering)

yukon · 05:49 PM

Awesome Amacapart, thanks. A cheap, passively cooled, easily available 5200 would replace my Rage 128 quickly

. Keep us updated on how it's done, what known cards work, etc. For me, it's about QE and Tiger support, not speed.

I can definitly get that XFX card from tigerdirect as mentioned, that's an easy buy and a steal at 60$ CAN

. I could not find the tsop22.rom file available, registrations are closed unfortunatly at strangedogs.

Link · 07:36 PM

Woohoo! I won the 9600XT! $66.66 ($71 shipped) If you thought the 5200U was a sweet deal, I just got a killer of one!

Okay, so once I get this card, all I need to do is flip to the backside of it, look for pins 3 and 11 (is this the 3rd bottom pin, or 3rd pin down?) (starting from the backplate or the front?) and tape them?

Which works best? Electrical tape? Any specific sort of tape I should grab that'd work better?

ihatesuvs68 · Apr 10, 2005, 07:54 PM

Sweet deal. Keep us updated.

Amacapart · Apr 10, 2005, 11:03 PM

I have found scotch tape works well.

Put on a piece and cove all of pins in area on back, nearest the connectors. ""3" and "11" are on bottom row. Use an exacto knife to trace their outlines in the tape and remove the rest.

Good luck with 9600XT.

It can be overclocked QUITE a bit !!!

Link · Apr 10, 2005, 11:33 PM

Stupid but, transparent scotch tape or magic tape? And while I'm at it -- wouldn't this be more dangerous than using electrical tape since three's a slight chance of it conducting electricity? (or am I just worrying too much?)

I run this sucker 24/7 so keeping things safe is a must

Otherwise I woulda been grabbing a solder iron to do that ADC power mod! (honestly, risking a monitor I paid an awful lot for to save $95 doesn't make sense to me -- besides I can now hook this piece of machine up to any computer

) -- anyway suppose that's all, just to pop this thread almost back onto topic..

Amacapart, I can't find any half decent comparisons, what would you say a 4ti stacks up to against said 9600xt? Or the 5200? Or even better yet, the 4mx/64 currently in my machine heh!

Any such answer would be welcome

Amacapart · Apr 11, 2005, 01:04 AM

Magic tape.

I have used it on MANY cards.

9600XT o/c a bit ran a 17 fps in Halo on my QS. Ti4600 did 14. (1600x1200 maxd out)

I think Halo runs better on ATI though.

GF4 MX isn't comparable, it has no Pixel shaders, in fact it may not have any shaders at all. It is a gussied up GF2.

You do have a 4X AGP Mac, yes?

Link · Apr 11, 2005, 02:28 AM

Yeah QS dp800 -- 4x indeed

powertrippin · Apr 11, 2005, 11:43 AM

This might be the route I'm going to take also. Seems like a better idea than paying $150 for a geforce 4 titanium.

yukon · Apr 12, 2005, 12:41 PM

Any news on how mere mortals can flash the 5200?

The tsop22.rom isn't available. And buying the exact XFX card is fine.

Amacapart · Apr 12, 2005, 02:47 PM

Originally posted by yukon:
Any news on how mere mortals can flash the 5200?

The tsop22.rom isn't available. And buying the exact XFX card is fine.

We're gonna post the ROM for everyone.

Hopefully be up by tomorrow. I think there will be 64 bit and 128 bit versions.

yukon · Apr 12, 2005, 05:42 PM

Thanks a lot Amacapart, I'll buy the card. Didn't mean to sound impatient or anything, was just worried it might not have been intended for release.

I've multiple (even disposable) PCs that can do the flashing, tigerdirect is international, and from the thread just below this one my G4 will cool the passive card well

. With Mac cards running for the price of the top PC ones, a mod like this helps a lot of people out.

yukon · 01:28 AM

<edit: 40$ PNY 5200 out of stock now at TigerDirect. Also, the Asus is 64bit>

I'm looking at the V9520-XTD128, it's an Asus instead of XFX (XFX is Pine Technologies is PC Chips, my XFX 6600 GT works well though). but it also has a DVI output in case the smalldogs crew get that port working as well....only caveat is that it's DVI-D and requires a DVI-D/DVI-I monitor (use high quality short DVI cables with any 5200). The HS is slightly less than the XFX's, but anything you buy 3rd party will be overkill for the card, overclockers rejoice, the Zalman VF700 should fit perfectly. 19$ CAN more-
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...1&NoMapp=0

yukon · Apr 13, 2005, 09:01 PM

Well, I've waited a while and it wasn't posted, the roms are available on the strangedogs forums. That ASUS looks almost exactly like the XFX PVT34KNT, is that a reference design?

powertrippin · Apr 15, 2005, 11:59 PM

So I just nabbed a 5200 from lateralus. I'd like to do the ADC hack, and I don't see that being a problem... however... am I correct in assuming the power button and the brightness button will no longer work? What about the built in USB ports on the back of my ADC lcds?

- Rob

Amacapart · Apr 16, 2005, 03:44 AM

Originally Posted by powertrippin

So I just nabbed a 5200 from lateralus. I'd like to do the ADC hack, and I don't see that being a problem... however... am I correct in assuming the power button and the brightness button will no longer work? What about the built in USB ports on the back of my ADC lcds?

- Rob

If upi intend to put that in a G4, you are in trouble. Won't fit in AGP slot without going to work on AGP connector with a hacksaw. 9600 is only one that trick works on. (tape only)

As far as buying the Asus 5200, I don't think I would get a DVI-D card. Fixing the DVI is a tough one, and if it never happens, you will never get second monitor working

powertrippin · Apr 16, 2005, 10:17 AM

Meh. Hacksaw is fine. I just want a card with dual digital outs and tiger compatibility. Have any pictures on what i have to cut?

Amacapart · Apr 16, 2005, 12:19 PM

You will need to cut the actual AGP connector on the card. You will need to cut the additional pins that are there as a result of it being "AGP Pro". These are used to bring additional power to card. Your card will need to source this additional power through regular AGP pins. This will be placing your logicboard at risk

Good luck.

powertrippin · Apr 16, 2005, 12:47 PM

Well crap. Anyone want a 5200?

Argh. I thought all I had to do was scratch off some pins and solder a second thingie so the ACD was powered.

yukon · 02:00 AM

As far as buying the Asus 5200, I don't think I would get a DVI-D card. Fixing the DVI is a tough one, and if it never happens, you will never get second monitor working

DVI would be more futureproof, but I could always get a second monitor and use an analog capable LCD even, good point. Would there be any problems with choosing the EVGA 5200 64bit (cheap and available)?
http://www.evga.com/products/moreinf...128-A8-N304-LX

Found a PCI videocard locally for 10$, I'm set there.