[Eriamjh]

I am a victim of Apple's oversight to allow ANY GeForce card work in an AGP Sawtooth G4 (do a search to see how many others have this problem).

I don't want to buy a new video card because I'm sinking money into my house right now and can't spare it, but I already have panther and don't want to not use it.

I've read about a kludge that allows one to at least USE the machine but QE is disabled and the Sawtooth needs every advantage it can get.

Has there been a solution anyone is aware of or do I have to continue to wait?

Please post here if you are also a "victim" and maybe Apple will take notice (or if you have a cheap/free fix).

[David Lee]

This is a well known glitch, Apple removed the code from the geforce.kext file required to recognize the video card, and somehow this is related to the fact that the card has no external power supply for the Apple monitors. I bought one of the cards from OWC, who have supplied a workaround kext file, but it does have problems. No DVD playback, and no Quartz Extreme, so no Open GL apps work. Apple just has to get this right, OWC is working on it, but it is - strictly speaking - not their problem.
Going back to the original slow ATI Rage Pro is revolting after getting used to the speed of the 4MX. Come on Apple, get us old Mac users some support!

[::maroma::]

I am using a flashed GeForce3 in my 500MHz Sawtooth, upgraded with a GigaDesigns 1.2GHz card. It works like it has with all OS X versions. It has a really annoying flicker when doing certain things. But it works. This is probably because it's a flashed card. But not sure why.

[SMacTech]

Add me to the list with a inoperable Geforce4 mx on my AGP G4. I bought this card from OWC as well. Thankfully I kept the old ATI card.

[mcsjgs]

See this fix from OWC:

OWC GeForce Fix Link

Here are the step by step instructions for making this card work under Mac OS X 10.3.

Download the Mac OS X 10.2 "geforce.kext" file from our website. If you already have a Mac OS X 10.2 installation on your machine or another one, you can locate the file on it and use that one as well.
Make sure you are logged into your computer with administrator privileges. To do this you would need to launch NetInfo Manager, located in your Utilities folder. (Hard Drive -->Applications-->Utilities-->NetInfo Manager). Under the Security Menu, you can authenticate and Enable Root User.
Open the Extensions folder at this location (Hard Drive-->System-->Library-->Extensions)
Find the file named Geforce.kext in the folder you just opened.
Drag this file to the trash, it will state you need to enter your password to permit this, enter your Administrator password and click OK. The file should now be missing from the Extensions folder.
Click on the new file you downloaded and drag it into the Extensions folder, it will pop up a window that says you do not have permission to do this Click the button that says Authenticate, and you should now have the new file in the Extensions folder.
Launch Disk Utility. (Hard Drive -->Applications-->Utilities-->Disk Utility)
Repair Permissions using Disk Utility on the volume you just changed the Geforce.kext file on.
Restart your computer with the card installed, you should be back in business.

[Eriamjh]

The OWC solution prevents Quartz Extreme from working, but it is a workaround.

Xlr8yourmac.com reports that 10.3.2 is supposed to fix the Geforce card issue with Sawtooths. I haven't tried this update yet, but even if I did want to...

How would one install Panther and update it to 10.3.2 if one doesn't have a working video card? Would I have to do a transfer install rom another powermac?

Hmmm. Perhaps safe mode is the answer? Or something that involves the OWC fix to ionstall the update?

[eevyl]

Originally posted by Eriamjh:
Xlr8yourmac.com reports that 10.3.2 is supposed to fix the Geforce card issue with Sawtooths. I haven't tried this update yet, but even if I did want to...

Well, I confirm that for my Sawtooth (PowerMac G4 400 AGP Graphics) and a flashed GeForce2MX it is a no go with 10.3.2. I had to reinstall the OEM ATI card...

[Eriamjh]

I have seen updates on XLR*yourmac.com that it can work. I will find out soon... I'll post here when I know for sure.

[eevyl]

Well, trust me when I say it is a no go.

Updated to 10.3.2, shutdown, replaced ATI car d with flashed GeForce2MX card, startup and bom black screen.

Put again ATI card and startup fine.

[eevyl]

I just saw the message from "anonymous" that says he succeded, but I don't know what is he talking about "deleting geforce.kext"...

thread from xlr8yourmac

[Eriamjh]

OK. Success!

According to this page on OWC you can enable video (without QE in Panther). Once you do that, you can then use software update to get to 10.3.2.

I did this and appear to have full functionality on my 1.2GHz Gigadesigns upgraded sawtoothwith a GEforce2MX twinview AGP card.

Quartz Extreme is now enabled.

Thanks Apple. <mutters under breath>It's about time</mutter>

[emdash]

Yup, works for me, too. Hurray!

I did a clean install of Panther on a separate partition when it came out. I've always had video, it was just jaggy and artifact-y and horrible. (Been using my Jaguar install all this time.)

But this evening I booted into Panther, ran Software update, and all is well! Expose is the coolest.

Sawtooth 450/GeForce 4MX from OWC.

Good luck to those who are still having problems....

[eevyl]

Well, I tried hard but no way for me.

Power Mac G4 400 (AGP Graphics) 512 MB RAM
GeForce2MX 32 MB (flashed)

I installed the update with the ATI card, switched cards and all I get is a black screen after the gray screen with the Apple...