So I'm trying to put a new video card in my G4 Cube

[hyperneogeo]

I've tried original Mac upgrade cards (IE Radeon 8500, Radeon 9000, Radeon 7500) and flashed ones and they all do the same thing. The only one that works right off is this rage card that came with it. I boot it up and there's some sort of rainbow color screen happening and I'm really not quite sure what this means heh. Right now I'm working on a Mac 9000 Pro. I installed the drivers and then installed the card, I still get this screen. I feel like it's something stupid, but I don't see it lol. Any help would be great.

 

[jeremywork]

Never used a cube, but I've had plenty of turnkey experiences with those cards in the G4 towers over the years. I'm first wondering about that display. Not that I should judge by its cover, but a fixed sync display might look like that if fed an incompatible resolution.

 

[hyperneogeo]

oh it's a 15/24/31k display, max 640x480.

 

[jeremywork]

oh it's a 15/24/31k display, max 640x480.

Apple edit:MS liked to start leaving 640 x 480 off the 'recommended' list by the OS X era. Could be it's not detecting the sense pins and sending the otherwise default lowest of 800 x 600 or higher. I sometimes try plugging in one of those powerbook VGA to DA-15 adapters and then one of the pin-type adapters (sometimes the multisync ones work too, just unlocks all modes) to go back to VGA. Clunky but if you have them on hand it might produce a different result.

Edit: Nope, that was Microsoft. Didn't ever expect to mix those two up lol. In either case, a PRAM reset should also revert it to 640 x 480, at least until the OS might attempt to reset it to the last loaded. Holding shift to boot into safe mode should curb that if it happens.

If none of that helps it might be something else within the Cube.

 

[jeremywork]

Silly edits ^

 

[hyperneogeo]

Yeah I did a PRAM reset too, IE that button. I just find it funny that the Rage 128 or whatever it is with it works just fine, but anything else is just like nope. Maybe I should try it on a different monitor?

 

[hyperneogeo]

Silly edits ^

But, I appreciate the input!

 

[jeremywork]

'that button' is probably the CUDA switch, which resets the PMU, and not necessarily PRAM. Starting with CMD+OPT+P+R until you hear the boot chime at least a second time (can take a little while if there's a bit of RAM to test) will reset the PRAM.

Maybe I should try it on a different monitor?

I would, if you have one. Can't hurt to see...

 

[hyperneogeo]

Ah ok I'll give it a shot! Thanks

 

[jeremywork]

Sure, hopefully it turns out to be a simple thing!