Hi, and thanks for taking the time to look at this. I have a PowerPC 4400/200 machine that I am refurbishing, and cannot get the video to output. I have tried with two LCDs and two different VGA/DB15 adapters, and I just tried tried a 12" RGB CRT. Problem is, I don't know if the 12" CRT is good - the green light comes on, but there is no background (light gray hue) to it. Could someone please point me to maybe a LCD they know works with the Viewsonic Macintosh Adapter? So the 4400 has a new PSU, the green light shows on the motherboard, and it makes the Apple chime when you power it on. The two LCDs I tried were a Mitsubishi 15" and a Xerox 17". I refuse to believe this machine has a bad video out - any pointers would be greatly appreciated? Lastly, could I throw a PCI video card in it like an ATI Rage LT for mac and get a video out, or does that need to be configured natively to work? Again, thanks for the input...
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Macintosh PowerPC 4400/200 Video Problems
- Thread starter budghiss
- Start date
Definitely look at your RAM. In testing an extra DIMM I sold to another member here I ran into this:
“Tested the DIMM out this evening to make sure it still worked and I was wrong about it working in the Dual banked slots it actually only works in the Single banked slot where it works as 32MB. If I put it in one of the Dual banked slots I get a chime but nothing else on startup.”
Some info on the 4400’s oddball memory:
“Tested the DIMM out this evening to make sure it still worked and I was wrong about it working in the Dual banked slots it actually only works in the Single banked slot where it works as 32MB. If I put it in one of the Dual banked slots I get a chime but nothing else on startup.”
Some info on the 4400’s oddball memory:
Power Mac 4400!
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I'm beginning to think it's the board - when I remove the RAM module, I don't get the broken-mac sound. The chime kicks in right away, and it just runs - no video, no keyboard. I have removed the PCI, the SCSI, the VRAM, etc. to no avail. Even though the green light is on on the motherboard, I think it is faulty.
Is there any HD activity, or can you boot from a floppy to suggest booting?
Non dip switch adjustable DB15 - VGA monitor adapters can cause issue with video output standards (and Viewsonic did have some unusual monitors in the day, I used to swear by some NEC branded adapters that just worked). I’d recommend a PCI ATI Rage 128 Mac video card as the cheapest, most compatible and easiest to find. Alternately a Mac Edition Radeon 7000 for some 3D acceleration later on.
Non dip switch adjustable DB15 - VGA monitor adapters can cause issue with video output standards (and Viewsonic did have some unusual monitors in the day, I used to swear by some NEC branded adapters that just worked). I’d recommend a PCI ATI Rage 128 Mac video card as the cheapest, most compatible and easiest to find. Alternately a Mac Edition Radeon 7000 for some 3D acceleration later on.
Ok, thanks for the input. I think it's worse than that. I put a PCI PC Diagnostic card in it, and it hangs at 'FF' - the first stage. I know it may not be a traditional BIOS, but the manual points to the CPU. So just to be clear - when I turn the machine on, it goes to 'FF' and stays there - it does not cycle through the boot process. The only thing I can think of doing is new thermal paste to the CPU - I'm doubtful that will help...
Well then, it looks like I need to get this video out work either by putting a PCI card in or changing the VGA adapter to get it to work on one of my LCDs. Anything I'm overlooking? I don't know what else to test, and outside of the VGA adapter, I don't know why I'm not getting video...
What type of "new stick" and in which slot? i.e. are you sure it is compatible with the special/strict requirements of the 4400?
3.3-volt, 64-bit-wide, 2k refresh, 168-pin unbuffered extended data out (EDO) JDEC-standard DIMMs with an access time of 60ns or faster. It also only supports some specific DRAM device sizes in specific numbers (type/number of memory chips on the DIMM). See page 40 of the Apple 4400 Dev Note.
Unless you are absolutely sure your DIMMs are compatible/good I'd try each one alone in DIMM slot 1 and then alone in slot 2.
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I've been down to one stick in slot one. I have two sticks - the 16MB stick that came with it, and a 32MB stick (32MB EDO DIMM 168-pin Unbuffered Non-ECC 60ns 3.3V 2K Refresh) that I ordered off eBay. I'm a bit concerned that it doesn't act any differently when no RAM is present - I read it makes a different noise if no RAM is present - mine's not doing that...
I just pulled my 4400 out and removed all the DIMMs. I can confirm I do get a normal startup sound, same as you, but nothing further (as one would expect). Apparently the chime isn't part of the memory test.
FWIW prior to testing that I put a clock battery in and started it up as a base line and after the chime it did just sit there. I did a keyboard reboot (CMD-CNTRL-Power key) and it started right up. subsequent restart and shutdown/start up worked fine. def something odd there, prob related to booting after no power or clock battery.
FWIW prior to testing that I put a clock battery in and started it up as a base line and after the chime it did just sit there. I did a keyboard reboot (CMD-CNTRL-Power key) and it started right up. subsequent restart and shutdown/start up worked fine. def something odd there, prob related to booting after no power or clock battery.
This is a good point. If it's just a video adapter problem the system should boot. You'd hear the HD makiigf noise for a few minutes and then quiet down. If you stick a bootable floppy in the drive same, any other floppy it would eject it. Those behaviors would point to the video adapter/monitoring being at issue.
So for the battery, I used a battery pack of 3 AA batteries. That's what I read would work - it's measuring a little high, about 5V. I can do a keyboard restart, but I cannot get it to respond to the PRAM reset (p+r+option+cmd). It's a shame I can't get video - I have RAM to max it out, plus the L2 cache chip, etc.
