[Crazy ebot]

... for those in the know about Apple's software plans for the next 3-4 months ...

A couple of weeks ago I discovered that an ASUS GF2mx AGP graphics card works in my G4/400 PowerMac. 'tis cool. :-)

Just recently I was lucky enough to receive a ASUS GF4mx AGP card (around $269).

I accepted the card thinking, 'Hey, if the ASUS GF2mx works, so might this!'

I was wrong of course - my assumption that the ASUS brand was responsible for the card compatibility was my mistake.

It appears that the Apple G4 firmware update 4.1.8 actually contains a generic GF2mx rom, which 'overrides' (don't know the technical specifics) whatever rom is on the card, so in theory _any_ GF2mx card will run in a G4 if it has had the firmware update.

So I'm left with a few choices:

1. Sell the card

2. Try and 'flash' the card with a GF4mx rom - if anyone has any informed info on the success rating of such a procedure let me know (just don't send me a link to xlr8yourmac.com ... 'been there :-)

3. Hold onto the card, and hope that Apple inserts the same firmware fix for GF4mx cards that it's done with Gf2mx cards.

My question concerns the last option. Does anyone know if Apple is planning anything like it? Should I hold onto the card and see if a firmware upgrade makes it usable in the next few months?

'Appreciate any info,

Tobes.

[blizzard]

Why not hang onto it...something might come up. Alternatively, you could sell the card and invest in a GeForce 3, which, to my understanding, you CAN flash, and which are just as fast as the 4MXs anyways...your call.

[Crazy ebot]

Originally posted by blizzard:
<STRONG>Why not hang onto it...something might come up. Alternatively, you could sell the card and invest in a GeForce 3, which, to my understanding, you CAN flash, and which are just as fast as the 4MXs anyways...your call.</STRONG>

I hate to see a good card sitting around doing nothing (to answer your first question), especially if there is a way of getting it to run on my machine. I'd rather sell it to a wintel guy using a TNT and see that big smile on their face when they set Wolfenstein to 1600x1200 and go play. :-)

Investing in a GF3 card could work, but I'd still have to flash it yeah? I've also read stuff which suggests none of the new GF3 cards are flashable, and I don't know how easy it'll be to find an older card, or even what an 'older' card is ...

You seem confident that the GF3 cards are flashable, have you had a win or know personally of someone who has?

A couple of people have pointed out http://www.cybercoment.com/macgeforce.htm , which lists among other things the Mac GF4mx rom ... since the page correctly lists my ASUS 7100 pro GF2mx as working without a flash, I'm going to take a gamble and assume his other info is on the money.

The hardest part (so far) is finding someone with a wintel box, an AGP slot and a PCI VGA card ... that's willing to help out. *sigh* where's everyones' spirit of adventure gone? ;-)

Thanks for your thoughts Blizzard,

Tobes.

[blizzard]

I flashed my own GF2MX and you actually don't need the extra video card in the PC...just take out the PC's AGP card, put in the new card, and use DOS to flash it. The note on the site made it look like you might need another video card in the PC if you want to convert the new Mac card BACK to a PC card...I can't comment on this personally cuz I've never wanted to do that. As for the GeForce 3's, I do not personally know anyone who's done it; all my impressions are from the XLR8 forums where a number of people reported success flashing their GF3's. You'd be better off returning there to get the lowdown on this operation. I'd love to do it myself, but being a poor old university student, there's no way I can currently afford it.

As for the flashability of a GF4MX...I couldn't say. XLR8 would have more info than I would. It would certainly be nice...but again, from what I've been reading online, the GF3's are at least equal to, and quite possibly better than, the 4MXs...so maybe you should visit a few PC hardware sites to get the lowdown and then make your call from there.

Best of luck!

[Crazy ebot]

Originally posted by blizzard:
<STRONG>I flashed my own GF2MX and you actually don't need the extra video card in the PC...just take out the PC's AGP card, put in the new card, and use DOS to flash it. The note on the site made it look like you might need another video card in the PC if you want to convert the new Mac card BACK to a PC card...I can't comment on this personally cuz I've never wanted to do that. As for the GeForce 3's, I do not personally know anyone who's done it; all my impressions are from the XLR8 forums where a number of people reported success flashing their GF3's. You'd be better off returning there to get the lowdown on this operation. I'd love to do it myself, but being a poor old university student, there's no way I can currently afford it.</STRONG>

Yeah, found out lots of that last night when a friend and I flashed the GF4mx card - which didn't work. We eventually got the flash to take (after lots of subsystem errors '0000008'), but the card still didn't register in my mac, so I figure either the ROM I used was faulty, or the ASUS card is a little too different from the Apple card. Such is life. :-)

I knew the flash had done something btw 'cause the wintel box no longer liked the card,which is another another good reason to have a PCI VGA card acting as the main video source. :-)

Did you know that the ASUS 7100 Pro 64meg GF2mx AGP card works straight out of the box? Can't get the TV out to work though.

<STRONG>As for the flashability of a GF4MX...I couldn't say. XLR8 would have more info than I would. It would certainly be nice...but again, from what I've been reading online, the GF3's are at least equal to, and quite possibly better than, the 4MXs...so maybe you should visit a few PC hardware sites to get the lowdown and then make your call from there.
</STRONG>

I've already tee'd up with a guy to see if he'll sell me an ASUS 8200 GF3 (Deluxe or Pure - not Titanium). I've also gone and read the other xlr8 threads (Brett's side page in particlular), see if I have more luck - all wished luck appreciated btw. :-)

Cheers,

Tobes.