Mac 4400/200 & PCI Graphics

[budghiss]

Hi, and hopefully this is a short thread. I have a Macintosh 4400/200 that is not producing video. This has been discussed in a previous thread. My question is, if I were to purchase an aftermarket PCI GPU (ATI Rage 128 LT for Mac), would it bypass the onboard graphics and work as a substitute? Or is this something that needs to be configured natively with the onboard gpu in order to work? I would be running Mac OS 7.5 - 8.5... I'm trying to figure out if I can possibly salvage this 4400, and would like to know before I order the card. Thanks in advance...

 

[treellama]

Which side of OH are you on? I have some parts and experience with those (extremely flakey) motherboards here in Pittsburgh.

 

[Snial]

My question is, if I were to purchase an aftermarket PCI GPU (ATI Rage 128 LT for Mac), would it bypass the onboard graphics and work as a substitute?

It would work as a second video out, like PCI cards would on another PCI-based Mac. The PCI card will have a ROM providing a basic video driver for OpenFirmware, but you'll need an ATI extension for Mac OS 8.x to make use of any GPU capabilities. Once it's up and going, you can make it the primary monitor.

Or is this something that needs to be configured natively with the onboard gpu in order to work?

The onboard video hardware works independently. I didn't know the PM4400 had an actual GPU though, I just thought it squirted bytes of video to the monitor.

I'm trying to figure out if I can possibly salvage this 4400, and would like to know before I order the card. Thanks in advance...

I've been lurking on the other thread, because I have a soft spot for the PM4400 as it was my first PowerMac. Hope you do manage to get it fully functional!

http://oneweekwonder.blogspot.com/2022/04/a-toast-to-powermac-4400.html

 

[Arbee]

The PM4400 has an ATI 264VT on board. That was the immediate predecessor to the 3D Rage so it has 2D acceleration and video decoding but no 3D. I don't know how much acceleration 7.5.x/7.6 would've taken advantage of though.

 

[budghiss]

Ok, thanks for the input. I ordered the card - a ATI Rage 3D 128 LT - I'm doubtful it will work. If I can't get a video signal out, I'm going to part it out - it's a shame, but the box has been in storage for like 10 years, and these things happen. I will keep you posted...

 

[budghiss]

Which side of OH are you on? I have some parts and experience with those (extremely flakey) motherboards here in Pittsburgh.

I'm in Cincinnati, OH - at least a few hours away. I appreciate the offer, but let me see what this card does, and I'll keep you posted...

 

[Snial]

The PM4400 has an ATI 264VT on board. That was the immediate predecessor to the 3D Rage so it has 2D acceleration and video decoding but no 3D. I don't know how much acceleration 7.5.x/7.6 would've taken advantage of though.

Cool, didn't know that. It means the graphics even on my PM4400/160 would have run significantly faster than my PowerBook 1400c/166. I ran up to Mac OS 8.1 on mine.


Quite nice then! I think I only had 1MB of video RAM, which meant I had to choose 8-bit mode for 1024x768 on my multi-sync, Sony monitor. I did, however, buy a PAL, PCI TV card for it, so I could watch TV in a window or full-screen.

 

[nathall]

The “maxinmum.” I like that. Cover all your bases.

 

[Byrd]

I still think you've other motherboard issues (as the onboard video should display something), but a PCI Mac video card is a good part to have in your pocket for troubleshooting. As mentioned ATI Rage 128 from a B&W G3 would also suit and be cheap.

 

[budghiss]

I still think you've other motherboard issues (as the onboard video should display something), but a PCI Mac video card is a good part to have in your pocket for troubleshooting. As mentioned ATI Rage 128 from a B&W G3 would also suit and be cheap.

I agree - something else is probably wrong. I'm going to exhaust this option before it goes to the recycling center...

 

[Snial]

The “maxinmum.” I like that. Cover all your bases.

A typo in the Apple docs! Good spot!

 

[budghiss]

So even with the PCI ATI Rage GPU, there is still no video. I'm afraid I'm finished messing with this machine, for it's probably a bad motherboard. Thanks everyone for the input...

 

[joshc]

@budghiss Throw it up on trading post, and if you can’t ship the whole computer to someone, then just send the board to someone who may want it for spares or to try and get it going.

 

[nathall]

Yes. I’ve got a handful of boards I don’t have the patience and/or tools to repair, despite trying. At this point they should go to someone who does; we shouldn’t be throwing these things away. Eventually mine will get listed.

 

[uridium]

You could try an old SUN Microsystems XVR-100 video card then flash it. I've just gone this route with my 4400/160. Does work pretty nicely. Need to disconnect the primary monitor, it will sense something there and not go to it.




Does work quite well and is noticably faster/more snappierah than the onboard Mach64.

Kind Regards