[omar96]

I know OS 9 is a dead horse, but I must beat it because of a couple of apps I have that aren't very happy in Classic mode. First my system specs, then my problem and my failed attempts at fixing them:

Sawtooth AGP PowerMac G4
Sonnet 1GHz/2MB L3
640MB PC100
2 x 120GB HDD's (OS X is on the first partition of the first HDD, OS 9 is on the second partition of the first HDD. Second HDD is where stuff like iDVD files and my iTunes music go...no apps here, so I don't think it matters)
Radeon 8500 AGP 64MB (Mac edition, not a crappy flashed card)

And that's pretty much all the hardware; no scanners or printers or other USB devices.

What happens is when I boot into OS 9 it works fine for 5-10 minutes, and then it just locks up. Nada. I dropped the original 400MHz G4 CPU in there, same story. I drop the 1GHz CPU back in and drop in the original Rage128 and it works for what seems like hours on end. I pop in a GF2MX (flashed PC card) and it works fine. I think the trouble is related to the 8500. Wonderful. I pop the 8500 back in and start up with extensions disabled, same story...lockup in a few minutes.

Then I decided to (since it's such a quick thing to do) do the following in quick succession:

Re-install the Rage128
Reinstall OS 9
Apply the 9.2.1 and 9.2.2 updates, restart with extension manager (holding space bar) and turn off all ATI-related extensions
Hit ATi's website and -- oh, look, a new Radeon 8500 driver dated January of 2005. Sweet. Install the driver and shut down.
Pop in the R8500
Start up OS9 as normal
Locks up within 10 minutes. ARGH!
Restart with all extensions disabled.
Still locks up.

I'm gonna pull my hair out. If it works with the GF2MX, I'm tempted to look for a used GF4Ti and use that instead, but I don't really want to drop the cash on the card (since they're still outrageously priced) and take a chance that IT has problems. Anybody have ANY suggestions at all? I'm frustrated to my wit's end.

[italiano]

Flashed cards are EVERY BIT as good as the mac Edition cards... "Crappy" is your anger speaking cause you were overcharged or lack the expertise and guts to flash your own. I have owned all flavors of the Mac Editions and also the flashed versions - there's no difference except the ROM CODE on the chip. Some lack ADC but then ADC is a dead horse... ATI has you brainwashed into believing they're "different". THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE in the 8500's - the Mac Edition and the PC Editions are the SAME EXACT piece of hardware... some are flashed by ATI with Mac Roms some with PC Roms - the 9800's I sell are actually better as they're 2X/4X/and 8X so when untaped and dropped into a G5 they're true 8X - the Mac Edition 9800 Pro (not the SE) runs at 4X TOP SPEED on the G5 - mine gives you true 8X on an 8X machine. Visit my site - we have a flashing - forum and you'd be amazed at what can be done. Knowledge is power and calling something crappy because you don't own it is inane.

[omar96]

Alright, whatever...I was just trying to emphasize that if people suspected a badly-flashed card that it's no thte case. Sorry to offend your sensibilities. I've BEEN to strangedogs (among several other websites) because I've spent countless hours searching for a way to flash my ASUS GF4Ti4400. So far, it appears impossible because of some resistor placement, I think. If you think a flashed 8500 would solve my ills, or if you think another card, one I can flash, will fix it, then I'm all ears; it'll save me around 50%, I'm fully aware. Until then, this is just mindless flaming on your part. Did you read my whole post? Apparently not; you missed where I mentioned that a **FLASHED** GF2MX worked. Dammit, boy, I appreciate the bump but I don't appreciate your tone.

Anyway, thanks for latching on to one word and changing the topic. I'm still over the original problem and would be very thankful to anybody with some actual advice.

[italiano]

I highly recommend a 9800 Pro 128-megger... IT'S THE FINEST CARD MADE for the G4 and fully supported in the next OS - Motion too! It sounds like a video card problem to me - buy a 9800 Pro PC Version on Ebay then head over to the site and we'll hook you up with a "private" rom that's NOT on the download section and easy to follow instructions. I get cranky in my old age - sorry to have been cranky with you - from reading the post a few times I say it's definitely the GPU on the card. All flashing can be done in OS X - no PC needed - as long as you have a PCI card to boot with... if you don't I have a few 7000's left for cheap.

[omar96]

I've been eyeing a 9800, indeed...I think that's probably the route to go...but I've got two questions about it:

1: is the stock PSU in the Sawtooth enough, given I've also got 2 HDD's and an upgraded CPU?

2: I've read on some sites that when using an AGP 8x card, I might have to put sticky tape over a couple connectors. I failed art class in grade school (not really, but you see where I'm going with this...), so do you think this will be necessary with my config and a 9800?

3: (I also failed counting) is the 9800 supported in OS 9?

I think it's the GPU too, but I wonder if it's something that happens with ALL R200 GPU's...I had a flashed PCI Radeon 9100 in a B&W (rev2) that had the same problem, but that machine was always running OS X so it didn't matter.

[omar96]

ATi's website says that the 9800 isn't supported in OS 9, so I was going to have to eliminate it as a choice. The hell with it, says I, and bought a copy of Finale 2005, which is a wild change from my copy of Finale 98... So now I don't need a new video card. :o Still might investigate the 9800 if it's an easy switch option.