Mac OS 9 Lives

Mac OS 9 Discussion => Hardware => Video Cards, Monitors & Displays => Topic started by: Apfel on November 20, 2013, 06:52:47 AM

Title: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: Apfel on November 20, 2013, 06:52:47 AM
Hello,

I had copied OS 9.1 from my iMac G3 DV to my PowerMac G4 "AGP". (I have the orange iMac disc with 9.0.4). Then I tried to update 9.1 with my white OS 9.2.1 Update CD.
After I had done this, the PowerMac got stuck after having loaded the desktop, if I had either a ATI 9200 AGP (flashed) or a 9200 PCI in it, when "ATI Video Accelerator" was activated in system extensions. The ATI Rage 128 did fine.
When I disable "ATI Video Accel." either in the extensions folder OR via esc+option+apple key, the desktop is accessable again. But(!), if I then start "Eight Legged Freaks", the game would freeze at "Initaializing" after the start screen.
So, I deleted 9.2.1 and installed 9.1 again. The "ATI Video Accelerator" is in the extensions folder but its ATI symbol is not there it is just an icon of a plugin/extension. Cro-Mag Ralley and Bugdom now warn me that there is no 3D hardware acceleration supported (though the 9200 has it). On my iMac G3 DV with the underpowered ATI Rage 128 the games work. (Bugdom is playable on the G4, Cro-Mag is not even like stop motion, just worse).

I have a Sonnet 1,2GHz 7455 CPU installed.

Someone told me, that you have to have the original install grey install discs, so that OS 9 works. It is to long ago since I last worked with OS 9, but wasn't OS 9 the easiest System back then and it was totally ok to just backup your System by drag and drop?

Also, the Updates are gone from Apples Website. I have a 9.2.1 from there, I downloaded long ago, but that won't work either, same as the white original Update-CD I have.
Note: I need the regional update, because my 9.0.4 is german.

Thanks in advance!
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: MacTron on November 20, 2013, 08:32:08 AM
First of all, make sure you have installed the latest version of Ati drivers for Mac Os 9.
For 3D on Raden 8500,9000,9200... "8500 3D Accelerator" is needed and the last vesion is 7.1.0
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: supernova777 on November 20, 2013, 11:14:24 AM
tbh i dont think those accellerators work with the 9200 model at all. i think its only for 8500 which was a more professional level card.. (despite the number being lower)

http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=22&card2=69

visit this link to see the 8500 vs the 9200

according to this info the 9200 has a rv280 different GPU chip then the 8500 which has rv200
which is probably causing problems....
ibeleive your problems may be related to not using the 9.2.2 image that was designed for the last level of os9 macs
such as the mdd 1.25ghz etc

heres what i suggest:
i suggest u do a clean wipe of your drive
i suggest u then install osx tiger 10.4 if u have the install disc..
during the install partition the harddrive in 2.. 1 for os9 and 1 for osx (u pick the size appropriate to what you need for both)
after osx is installed. go to macintoshgarden.org and find a download os9general.dmg  i forget where i got this frm but this was the original
9.2.2 install that works with the mdd and will have the most updated drivers for both radeon + nvidia graphics cards .. drivers that were not released
as stand alone install packages.. (im pretty sure)
then once you get this os9general.dmg u restore this to your other partition and when its done
u simply boot from this partition and u have a fresh fully updated os9.2.2 install with all drivers you need!

let us know how it goes.. ill try to post a link to os9general.dmg
if not i can upload it for you!
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: supernova777 on November 20, 2013, 11:23:27 AM
before u do all that tho check these drivers:
http://gona.mactar.hu/ATI_Mac/

on the page it gives the link:
 ATI OS 9 Mac Software Update January 2005
http://gona.mactar.hu/ATI_Mac/ATI_Radeon_Retail_Installer/ati-retail-9-2-2-jan2005.hqx

this might solve your problems
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: supernova777 on November 20, 2013, 11:25:22 AM
Requirements:
 
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: MacTron on November 20, 2013, 01:56:37 PM
Quote
according to this info the 9200 has a rv280 different GPU chip then the 8500 which has rv200
which is probably causing problems....

All the rv2x0 family uses the same drivers. In fact I've used −for years, and without problems− the 9200 drivers in macs with 8500 and 9000PRO because are the most updated.
In all this cards the 3D driver is allways  "ATI 8500 3D Accelerator".
But the drivers included at least in Mac os 9.2 are well known to be buggy.
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: MacTron on November 20, 2013, 02:08:23 PM
But the drivers included at least in Mac os 9.2 are well known to be buggy.
Even those included in os9general.dmg for the MDD.
Even more, I used an oficial localized version more updated than this avaliable in Macintosh Garden and the ATI drivers are buggy too.

So first of all upgrade the drivers with the links provided by supernova777.
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: supernova777 on November 20, 2013, 06:05:47 PM
check out this page maybe? i didnt read in detail but here:

http://macintoshgarden.org/apps/macintosh-system-922-1021-power-macintosh-g4-mirrored-drive-doors-mdd
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: Apfel on November 21, 2013, 05:00:25 PM
Sorry, I answer this late, was busy...


So, let's see, if I got you guys right:

1. The reason why you suggest the MDD-FW400 9.2.2, because it is the latest (2003), which would also have the latest drivers.
- This means you do not need the machine specific install (like it was with the grey discs of the era from 2003-2006), right?

2. Secondly, there is a latest ATI 8500/9000/9200 driver by ATI, which was released 2005, which would be better than the drivers included with the MDD install.

Side note: I allready used this exact ATI update from the link above, before I started this thread, but I did have the 9200 allready installed. Also there is no extension/Plugin that is called "ATI 8500 accelerator" after I had run the installer under 9.2.1.
---> solution: I would have to put the ATI 128 back in and then install ATI 8500 accelerator (January 2005). Right?

3. you recommend me to not update my 9.0.4 through 9.1 through 9.2.1 to 9.2.2, but instead better directly install the MDD-FW400 9.2.2, right? (which would then be

4. the regional problem: if I want german, I should be able to use my iMac G3 install discs (since all OS 9 work on all Macs), than use the 9.1 image from the apple page, then use the white 9.2.1 update CD and then use the 9.2.2 update I got from a user over at cubeuser.de (all are german.
Than install the ATI 2005 driver. Then swap out the ATI 128 card and install the 9200 card.

5. the macintoshgarden link says under "Bootable Image for PowerMac MDD"
Quote
9.0 runs fine on Sheepshaver (and can be updated to 9.0.4) but 9.1, 9.2.1, and 9.2.2 won't. For G4 AGP install, it has the special build of Mac OS specifically designed for the G4 AGP Graphics and will not boot in other G4 models.
What does that mean? That AGP-G4s need their own 9.0.4 and so I can't use my iMac discs?

6. Using the MDD install, would be equal to using the Quicksilver 9.2.2-CD (which did not make the 9200 work), after completely wiping the disc and running the installer successfully, right? So mistake I made was, to not keep the ATI 128 and first install the ATI 2005 drivers and THEN install the 9200 card, right?

Thank you very much!!!

I will try the next days.
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: supernova777 on November 21, 2013, 08:10:21 PM
http://www.macos9lives.com/downloads/os/OS9General.zip
 8)

heres the image i was speaking about.. yes i simply suggested this as the fastest way to get fully patched up to 9.2.2 
without trying to painstakingly find certain specific updates as it can be hard to find the updates now
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: Apfel on November 25, 2013, 05:26:30 AM
Thank you!

I think the general OS 9 alone (which is from a MDD-FW400 and will be bootable for all G3 and G4, despite the MDD-FW800) will not solve the problem. First and foremost thing I have to do is:
FIRST install the ATI Rage 128 Pro, again.

Since it says so in the ATI note, right?
Quote
Requirements:
 
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: Apfel on November 25, 2013, 06:04:00 AM
Quote
according to this info the 9200 has a rv280 different GPU chip then the 8500 which has rv200
which is probably causing problems....

All the rv2x0 family uses the same drivers. In fact I've used −for years, and without problems− the 9200 drivers in macs with 8500 and 9000PRO because are the most updated.
In all this cards the 3D driver is allways  "ATI 8500 3D Accelerator".
But the drivers included at least in Mac os 9.2 are well known to be buggy.

!!!! In the 2005 ATI driver update the file is afterwards seen as "ATI graphics accelerator" in the extensions folder, if I am correct! (See Link on the hungarian site)
Or are we talking about something different?
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: Knezzen on November 25, 2013, 06:09:48 AM
I had some problems like this back in the day on my "Sawtooth" G4 before I updated the firmware to the newest version (http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1126).

My Sonnet Encore/ST 1.2ghz would not boot OS 9.1 at all, only 9.2.x.
Don't know if this apply's to your G4 as well. I'd say you have to go for 9.2.2 if you have a Sonnet CPU in order to make it stable. I had an Apple Radeon 9000 Pro with an ADC port in that machine.


Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: Apfel on November 25, 2013, 07:17:41 AM
Thanks,

Updating the Macs own Firmware to 4.2.8 was the first I did, when I got it a long time ago.

You are right, the Sonnet could be the problem, which is why I got to the plan, that I now will install the orginal 500MHz CPU again + the ATI Rage 128 and then install the 9200 drivers and then put the Sonnet CPU and the 9200 back in.

I allready had an install of 9.2.2 froma Quicksilver on this machine and the Sonnet CPU still had the graphics problems, so I guess it is still something about the ATI drivers. The 1,2GHz Sonnet should work nevertheless then... well, maybe.

Also, the Sonnet FAQs say that the 1,2GHz supports 9.2.2, but the Sonnet Dual 1,8GHz, which I have to does not. A Tech at Sonet told me I had to remove a certain file in the OS X Libary folder and then the Dual 1,8GHz (7447) would work as well. Unfortunately I did not find the file.

I will try some things this afternoon and report back!

Does anyone know, whether the AGP/Sawtooth G4 needs another 9.0.4 to start with, than the other models or is that only a sheepeshaver restrictions (which I am not using btw.)?
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: supernova777 on November 25, 2013, 10:07:50 AM
honestly i never had any problems like this...
are u sure its not the 9200 itself?
i would just buy a radeon 8500 cheap and be done with it
its got the best support from what i have seen..
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: Apfel on November 27, 2013, 02:21:36 AM
Well, the problem appears with two 9200 samples. The AGP (flashed) one and the PCI (retail) one.

So, it might not be the card, that is faulty, but it might be a compatibility issue of all 9200 cards or a problem with the driver, I would guess.

A question: can one of the native speakers here interpret the sentence above with the sheepshaver note, please? Does it only make a restriction for using sheepshaver OR does it say, that AGP-G4s generally need their own 9.0.4, even, if you use it natively without sheepshaver?
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: Knezzen on November 27, 2013, 02:34:54 AM
To make sure you have everything right, I think the best thing to do is wipe the drive and install 9.2.2.
I don't really get why you should use 9.0.4 or 9.2.1. Install the latest and greatest!

When you're done, go to the extensions control panel and choose "Mac OS Base". Click the "duplicate" button and save as "Test" or something like that. Reboot and install the updated ATi Drivers. If it's still the same, I'd say it's a serious hardware problem as pre-OSX is pretty forgiving on bad hardware in general. Get an other graphicscard (Radeon 9000 or 8500 for instance) or buy an MDD for allmost nothing :)

EDIT:
Seen this and tried it? Have to be used with the 2005 ATi update for OS9 http://gona.mactar.hu/ATI_Mac/#9200rom
Quote
Radeon 9200 users:
This installer contains not the latest ATI ROM Xtender version! Jump here and update it: Radeon 9200 ROM Hotfix OS9

This driver almost the same as the ATI RADEON 9200 Mac Edition July 2004 driver but contains the "OpenGLRendererATI 1.3.5" extension also.

This installer has no "ATI Displays" control panel so you should use this driver as update (exclude the Radeon 9200, that is not supported by the ATI Displays control panel).

Have you tried zapping your PRAM? There can be some corrupt data there. Press and hold Command+Option+P+R when booting. Have you used the Cuda button on your motherboard to the reset it? When I had a 1.2ghz Encore/ST in my GBE, it would sometimes make some strange things happen. Zapping the PRAM and reseting the motherboard with the Cuda button would fix these issues. Try this before wiping the disk and installing a fresh 9.2.2 as I mentioned above.

Cuda instructions: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1939
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: supernova777 on November 27, 2013, 08:02:04 PM
Well, the problem appears with two 9200 samples. The AGP (flashed) one and the PCI (retail) one.

So, it might not be the card, that is faulty, but it might be a compatibility issue of all 9200 cards or a problem with the driver, I would guess.

A question: can one of the native speakers here interpret the sentence above with the sheepshaver note, please? Does it only make a restriction for using sheepshaver OR does it say, that AGP-G4s generally need their own 9.0.4, even, if you use it natively without sheepshaver?

i would say the driver is expecting the 9200 to be on the AGP bus, so to me it seems like a problem of the wrong ROM or ROM size flashed into the card, the pci version maybe use using a driver thats trying to reference the card on the AGP connection? are u leaving both of them in at the same time also?? did u flash the 9200 on a mac or on a pc
because i had problems when i tried to flash on a mac and then i flashed on a pc using the right rom and all was good .. mind u im talking about a 9800 that i flashed.. not a 9200. but i would assume the same things are involved. ie: HOW its flashed (pc vs mac), WHAT its flashed with (correct rom)

re: 9.0.4 thats just a sheepshaver limitation for some reason and has nothing to do with if u are running os9 natively in a powerpc mac!

personally the 9200 is not the card u want to run anyway . an 8500 performs much better and can be bought for cheap if you look!
i would use an 8500 or a 9000 card or a geforce 4mx..

the 9200 pci is supposedly the best card for a powermac g3 tho.. but i have no experience with it..
i would remove the flashed card to ensure the agp card isnt somehow causing the problem with the pci one

focus on trying to get the 9200 pci retail to function.. PERHAPS it only functions well on a pci only mac (b&w g3, yikes g4)

either way, if u had a radeon 8500 or 9000 u wont have this problem at all. i almost guarantee u that!
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: supernova777 on November 27, 2013, 08:03:51 PM
To make sure you have everything right, I think the best thing to do is wipe the drive and install 9.2.2.
I don't really get why you should use 9.0.4 or 9.2.1. Install the latest and greatest!

When you're done, go to the extensions control panel and choose "Mac OS Base". Click the "duplicate" button and save as "Test" or something like that. Reboot and install the updated ATi Drivers. If it's still the same, I'd say it's a serious hardware problem as pre-OSX is pretty forgiving on bad hardware in general. Get an other graphicscard (Radeon 9000 or 8500 for instance) or buy an MDD for allmost nothing :)

if u install the os9general.zip thats up for dl on the site it has nvidia + radeon ati drivers already installed
no need to even worry about this
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: Apfel on December 03, 2013, 11:16:00 AM
Sorry, for coming so late to say thank you for all your input and ask further questions.

To make sure you have everything right, I think the best thing to do is wipe the drive and install 9.2.2.
I don't really get why you should use 9.0.4 or 9.2.1. Install the latest and greatest!
Because I want my personal stuff and preferences as they are on my iMac G3 DV, where 9.0.4 was first and then around 2002 was updated to 9.1 and worked great since then. AND I would prefer having it in German, so I use the 9.2.1 and 9.2.2 Images to update my existing 9.1 install.
I thought drag and drop would just work (dragging 9.1 from the iMac to the PowerMac). Maybe there was something that got wrong.
I already tried using an all ready 9.2.2 install from a Quicksilver CD (not Update). Didn't work as well.
Fact is: the games that said there was something wrong with 3D or Hardware acceleration do not say something under 9.1 and the ATI Rage 128 Pro installed.

I now tried updating 9.1 again with the ATI 128 still installed.
1. tried with original Apple CD (white) 9.2.1 Update. Error message "Big System morsel" could not be read or something like that it said.
2. opened the .smi file of a german 9.2.1-update donwload under 10.4 (on HDD-1) and got a virtual install drive, so I saved the content of that virtual drive to a folder on HDD-1 under 10.4. Then I bootet into 9.1 (sitting on HDD-2 with 10.2 together on one partition and 10.5 on another) and started the Installer from the folder on HDD-1.
Everything ran good and said I now have to restart after successful update. I did.
I got the smiling face and the startup items at the bottom but than the bomb-message appeared and said there was something wrong with "PrefRestoreInit" error: -1101. "Please deactivate system extension by holding down option key". I did. but I just got the start volumes to choose from.
Choosing OS9 resulted in the same error message.

I then booted into 10.4 and manually put all extensions into the "extensions off" folder.
Now OS 9.2.1 started fully, but said it would like to run the filesharing assistent, but can't find the lib. So I disabled filesharing again.
Restart.
Message disappeared.
Started Cro-Mag Ralley and got told which extensions are to be switched to "on". I did bit by bit and restarted everytime. Now it tells me it needs one, that I can't find.

Before I use the OS-9-general install as described by you all. I will do a last test:
- put out all extension cards
- swap Sonnet CPU for 500MHz stock CPU
- use fresh drive with nothing on it. format it including OS 9 drivers.
- install 9.1 from the iMac by drag and drop
then:
A) use germanOS9.2.1Update.smi file (which was saved from/off the official Apple website) (do I have to do something special like create a bootable backup or something? The funny thing is you can't open the .smi file under OS9, so I will have to unpack it on a OS X computer that is connected via Firewire) and try if I get further
B) if A doesn't work, I use a fresh 9.0.4 and then again try to apply all German updates (9.1 included).
C) if that does not work I will use the OS9general.zip and afterwards install the ATI drivers.
When you're done, go to the extensions control panel and choose "Mac OS Base". Click the "duplicate" button and save as "Test" or something like that. Reboot and install the updated ATi Drivers. If it's still the same, I'd say it's a serious hardware problem as pre-OSX is pretty forgiving on bad hardware in general. Get an other graphicscard (Radeon 9000 or 8500 for instance) or buy an MDD for allmost nothing :)

EDIT:
Seen this and tried it? Have to be used with the 2005 ATi update for OS9 http://gona.mactar.hu/ATI_Mac/#9200rom
Quote
Radeon 9200 users:
This installer contains not the latest ATI ROM Xtender version! Jump here and update it: Radeon 9200 ROM Hotfix OS9

This driver almost the same as the ATI RADEON 9200 Mac Edition July 2004 driver but contains the "OpenGLRendererATI 1.3.5" extension also.

This installer has no "ATI Displays" control panel so you should use this driver as update (exclude the Radeon 9200, that is not supported by the ATI Displays control panel).
Well, I did jump to hotfix, and used the 2005 update. But the above "use that as update" means I have to first install the 2004 drivers and then the 2005 drivers??? Please comment.

Have you tried zapping your PRAM? There can be some corrupt data there. Press and hold Command+Option+P+R when booting. Have you used the Cuda button on your motherboard to the reset it? When I had a 1.2ghz Encore/ST in my GBE, it would sometimes make some strange things happen. Zapping the PRAM and reseting the motherboard with the Cuda button would fix these issues. Try this before wiping the disk and installing a fresh 9.2.2 as I mentioned above.

Cuda instructions: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1939
I did press the small tiny button on the logic board before I started the thread here. Did not try cmd+opt+p+r (I forgot that I could try that).
Unfortunately now it is too late, since I have done another install try.  :(
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: Apfel on December 03, 2013, 11:27:57 AM
i would say the driver is expecting the 9200 to be on the AGP bus, so to me it seems like a problem of the wrong ROM or ROM size flashed into the card, the pci version maybe use using a driver thats trying to reference the card on the AGP connection? are u leaving both of them in at the same time also?? did u flash the 9200 on a mac or on a pc
The 9200 IS ON the AGP Bus.
I only have one card installed at one time.
Both the 9200-PCI retail which is not flashed and the flashed AGP one have the problem. Since the 9200 was officially only sold as PCI, the ATI driver should try to "reference" it on the PCI bus. So at least the 9200-PCI should work, right?
I did not flash it so I can't provide any answer on that pc vs mac part.

(...)
personally the 9200 is not the card u want to run anyway . an 8500 performs much better and can be bought for cheap if you look!
i would use an 8500 or a 9000 card or a geforce 4mx..

the 9200 pci is supposedly the best card for a powermac g3 tho.. but i have no experience with it..
i would remove the flashed card to ensure the agp card isnt somehow causing the problem with the pci one

focus on trying to get the 9200 pci retail to function.. PERHAPS it only functions well on a pci only mac (b&w g3, yikes g4)

either way, if u had a radeon 8500 or 9000 u wont have this problem at all. i almost guarantee u that!
Hm, I do not know what I thought when I was selling my 8500, my 9000 and my 2MX.  :-\ (I could bite my own ***)
I even knew that the 8500 was better for gaming than the 9000. Maybe I thought I have the 9200 as an AGP version and that should be better, since the 9200 AGP schould be faster than the 9200-PCI and x200 is higher than 9000.

I have a 4MX laying around now. I will try that, but after that updating circus above I first have to get my OS 9 running properly again. Also I still would love to see the 9200 functioning.

PS: I guess one reason I kept the 9200-AGP was for curiosity/rareness reasons and that it has a Cube-formfactor.

I now will start over again with all upgrades uninstalled with a plain hard drive.


EDIT: I will try it the other way round. I will first try the OS9-general.zip and try the cards. Then, if no success I will try the ATI updates. Do I have to use the 2004 or 2005 one, again? If that does not work, I will put out the Sonnet CPU. - and try again
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: Knezzen on December 03, 2013, 11:39:25 AM
Well, I did jump to hotfix, and used the 2005 update. But the above "use that as update" means I have to first install the 2004 drivers and then the 2005 drivers??? Please comment.

It means that it's complementary to the full update. You should install the driver pack as usual and then install the hotfix over it. The 2004 or 2005 drivers should not matter.

So, install the 2005 update, reboot, install the hotfix, reboot.

I would just go out on ebay and buy a Radeon 8500, 9000 or the fastest OS9-compatible card there was, the GeForce 4 Titanium 128mb.

http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/Graphics/geforce4_ti/geforce4_titanium_Mac.html

Happy hacking ;)
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: Apfel on December 03, 2013, 01:52:11 PM
Thank you.

I now remember why I had kept the 9200 and sold all the others.

I planned a combination of a 9800 + 9200
9800 for OS X and Core Image (but no hardware acceleration, so no OpenGL under OS 9)
9200 with no Core Image but HW acceleration under OS 9

The Geforce4Ti 4600 would have HW acceleration under OS 9, but no Core Image (if I am correct),
but since it is AGP and the 9800 is faster I would have to decide between 1 card and superior OS 9 gaming, but no Core Image under OS X OR 2x cards and Core Image (9800) plus HW acceleration (9200).

Interesting, these benchmarks you linked to, they see the Geforce 4MX second to Geforce4Ti and the 8500 behind both, (well except for Apple Works scrolling test :-) were the 8500 is superior to the 4MX).
I always thought that the 8500/9000 is a better card than the 4MX. (Also see the benchmarks and the 3MX). Here http://www.jcsenterprises.com/Japamacs_Page/Blog/8923D90A-7AD8-41F1-BD1A-FEA5E1780B95.html the 4MX is behind the 3MX, the 3MX behind the 8500/9000/9200 and those are of course as expected behind the 4Ti. (the 9800 is talked about on the next page which focuses on OS X).
But anyhow, it is hard to say, what these numbers mean in real life. I have a sceptical feeling towards benchmarks in general. I'd say, if you do not notice the difference in real life, well... then what. On the other hand it always gives a good feeling to have some power left for the rare case you do not foresee, but may come some day. :)


When I think about it, I should make one Mac a sole OS 9 gaming machine :D and keep things separted. Then again I think of OS 7 games. OK, I could do that on a sole X machine in emulation or buy a Macintosh SE, which I always wanted to have, but they go so pricey here. and then again all the room that it takes...  ::) I also more like it as small and compact as possible. Sorry, for going off topic.
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: supernova777 on December 03, 2013, 01:56:01 PM
i have:

radeon 8500 agp
geforce mx 2
geforce mx 4

and the 8500 smokes all of them.

heres a mini chart of memory bandwidth + core clock mhz speeds
of the 4x agp cards

                        bandw   clock
geforce2mx       2.65      175
geforce4mx       2.65      250
8500                 8.8      275
9000                 8      250
9200                 6.4      200

the otehr thing to consider is ports.. VGA vs DVI vs ADC
the 8500 features DVI/VGA standard ports for standard compatibility wheras the
geforce cards are almost all DVI/ADC or VGA/ADC(? maybe?) i dont think any of them are DVI/VGA combo
which is why i choose the 8500 as the best card for features/compatibility/performance
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: Apfel on December 03, 2013, 02:06:06 PM
Quote
                        bandw   clock
geforce2mx       2.65      175
geforce4mx       2.65      250
8500                 8.8      275
9000                 8      250
9200                 6.4      200
That speaks a clear language, though people might argue that other hardware factors may come into account that might interact better with one or the other card. Plus this charts shows that maybe some benchmark tables are not that trusty as many think.
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: supernova777 on December 03, 2013, 02:11:52 PM
i got that info from gpureview.com
which offers alot more detailed information then those two properties that i chose to focus on!!

for 3d/2d accelleration the radeon 8500 agp is the best there is and best supported for os9.
but for g3s + pci graphics g4's the 9200 is obviously the best.

honestly the 8500 is the bomb its silent too.. yes a 9800 is almost twice as good specs wise for osx, but the 8500 is the best choice... i have a flashed 9800 aswell.. but its sitting on my desk unused even tho its alot faster its not supported + accellerated under os9 and thers no way im gonna be changing my monitor cables everytime i reboot.. :D if i decide to run osx on a given machine thats why i got this 9800 "on deck" ;)

btw
specs for
geforce4 titanium 4200 : (agp 4x)
clock speed: 250 MHz
mem bandw: 7.104 GB/sec

geforce4 titanium 4600 : (agp 4x)  <------------ BEST performing os9 card ever i  think
clock speed: 300 MHz
mem bandw: 10.4 GB/sec


geforce4 titanium 4800 : (agp 8x)
clock speed: 300 MHz
mem bandw: 9.6 GB/sec


so the best card is the titanium 4600 but the 8500 is available much cheaper usually
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: Apfel on December 03, 2013, 03:12:46 PM
Your 9800 isn't supported under OS 9 at all, or just HW acceleration wise?


PS: I got bad info. I downloaded the OS9general.zip from here and all unzippers (stuffit, macpardeluxe, BOMArchiveHeelper) did not work. An Error message came that said "can't unzip OS9general to xxx. Error code: -1" (xxx is the place I tried to unzip it, I tested several places on my ibook G4).
macintoshgarden provides a dead link under the MDD 9.2.2 install (that you said is the same as the OS9general).
I am now downloading the customized file by DieHard that is provided in this download section here. There is no further explanation so I guess I just have to drag and drop it, after unpackaging, right?
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: supernova777 on December 03, 2013, 03:57:29 PM
hmmm thats strange..
i can reupload the os9general
i zipped it using Winrar on windows 7
didnt think it would make a difference but i will upload the .dmg unzipped
i think .dmg is a compressed format already.. i just zipped it for safety?
first try this
open stuffit expander
use the file->expand function
and select the zip
it should work..
if not it should work with an updated stuffit
http://macintoshgarden.org/apps/stuffit-deluxe

while u try that i will reupload it now to be sure
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: Apfel on December 03, 2013, 04:23:40 PM
I allready have version 5 (macintoshgarden) on OS 9 and I tried it under OS X stuffitexpander 8 and 11. Now 11 says there may be a problem, because it was compressed with an unknown OS or application. Maybe Version 11 does not work with the newest stuff. Well Windows7 is restricting/complicating things anyway. I always have to tell people to please save their files as .doc not .xdoc. (while everyone can open .doc and it is provided by Win7 as an option).

Yes, I think .dmg is compressed already. It is better to pack it in a zip archive again, if you plan to send it via mail, because some providers will not allow to send executable applications. They do not see it is an application in the zip container.

Here is the OS9general.dmg (scroll down to DarkWallMac's post) https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/macos9/nR2QQCKaCFA/Vh3rCA71s_MJ
if you want to try the netboot.dmg talked about in the first post jump to the post by Rogerd095
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: supernova777 on December 03, 2013, 04:33:19 PM
http://macos9lives.com/smforum/index.php?topic=305.msg542#msg542

visit the thread the link has been updated to point to a .dmg
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: Apfel on December 04, 2013, 02:11:52 PM
Thank you.

In the meantime I succeeded doing something different.

I said before, that the white 9.2.1 CD I have seems to be defective (since Mac OS said "can't find Big System Morsel", but it maybe meant, that it can't find it on the old 9.1 install. I thought that file was damaged on the 9.2.1 CD).

I formatted a fresh HDD.
I put in the OS 9.2.1 (german) install CD and chose "System Installation" (so now there was no pre-existing 9.1 in the way).
9.2.1 completed without error. Now I mounted the german 9.2.2-Update.smi under OS 9.2.1 by double clicking.
It installed correctly.
Now I applied the 2005-ATI-Driver-Update.hqx http://gona.mactar.hu/ATI_Mac/ATI_Radeon_Retail_Installer/ati-retail-9-2-2-jan2005.hqx
After that I put in the 9200-PCI (retail).
I then mounted the hotfix.smi and installed the ROM-Update (it updates the ROM of the Card itself) http://gona.mactar.hu/ATI_Mac/ROM/radeon9200romhotfixos9.hqx

Now Cro-Mag-Ralley (which made the most hazzle) works great.

Puh, now sit down and take a rest  ;D

Nooooow I wanted to test the 9200-AGP (flashed). I installed that and applied the hotfix there as well. -> while the firmware-updater says it was successful, the 9200-AGP won't work:
a) with games that aquire a lot of hardware acceleration
b) if the "ATI Video Accelerator" Extension is activated in the Extensions ON/OFF Folder (is it "Extensions" in English? Maybe it is "Plugin"?). The desktop will freeze immediately after start-up. You will have to hit opt+cmd+esc (alt+apple+esc), after that you can proceed with normal stuff and games that do not acquire heavy 3D/HW-acceleration. Bugdom for example will lament, but will work. Cro-Mag-Ralley will prompt you with a black screen (before the Firmwareupdate-hotfix it at least would let me see the game-screens and go forward step by step in a 5-seconds rhythm).


Unfortunately I did not write down what firmware was shown in the System Profile for the AGP-9200. It now says:

Card type: ATY,DDParent
Card name: ATY,BugsyParent
Card modell: ATY,RV280
Card ROM #: 113-A27502-127
Card version: 1
Card manufacturer-ID: 1002
Video-RAM: 128MB

In the hotfix section http://gona.mactar.hu/ATI_Mac/#9200rom it says:
Quote
113-A27502-124
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: Apfel on December 04, 2013, 02:38:33 PM
Additional notes/questions:

1. Where would I find the latest OS 9 Nvidia drivers, btw.? Are these trustworthy http://mac.softpedia.com/get/Drivers/Apple-NVIDIA-Driver.shtml (I found that link on a site macosx.com. Firefox said that this site has an unknown certificate. I went there, though).

2. there seem to be hints, that no self-flashed PC card supports HW-acceleration in OS 9. Don't know if that is always true. See last post https://macosx.com/forums/mac-classic-system-software/283897-nvidia-driver-os9.html (flashed cards would work under OS X flawlessly, though).

3. what is "software graphics mode" see lat post https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2312878?tstart=0
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: supernova777 on December 04, 2013, 08:35:11 PM
1. Where would I find the latest OS 9 Nvidia drivers, btw.? Are these trustworthy http://mac.softpedia.com/get/Drivers/Apple-NVIDIA-Driver.shtml (I found that link on a site macosx.com. Firefox said that this site has an unknown certificate. I went there, though).
the extensions are built into the os9general.dmg file posted here on the site..
do u have an osx partition?
i have downloaded them before frm a site in a zip by themselves
this is why i said to use os9general.dmg to install it has all the radeon + nvidia drivers on it it already
and is 9.2.2 so no updates neccessary
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: Apfel on December 05, 2013, 11:46:37 AM
Yes I have an OS X partition, where I unpack dmg files since they won't be unpacked under OS 9's latest stuffit expander (I have Version 6 by the way, I browsed through the http://www.macos9lives.com/downloads/os/os9/Fresh9.2.2DragInstall.sea install that is posted here in the forum and it has Stuffit-Expander Version 5 I think :)).

While I was waiting for you to upload the unzipped dmg file, I had allready found a .dmg file from the google group, which I could unpack. But at the same time I ran the Install from the German "white-labled" OS 9.2.1 full version CD, which was successful and after that I installed the German 9.2.2 Update and after that the ATI-2005 drivers. Everything went fine and now I have a German Installation as I wanted (the mistake was to start from drag and dropping the iMac's OS 9.1).

I could browse through your OS9general.dmg and drag and drop the nvidia extensions, but I'd prefer using an installer, just to be sure nothing goes wrong, because I already noticed that the ATI installer installs new things and deletes older things. So I would not only have to drag and drop your Nvidia extensions from your dmg, but I would also delete the extensions in my folder that are not present in yours and I think that that would not be very save.

My nerves are wrecked enough from the last days, so sorry that I do not try installing your English 9.2.2general.dmg, after the one I created works fine. :-[

Quote
i have downloaded them before frm a site in a zip by themselves
and did you try to unzip those under OS X 10.4.11? I did and your zip did not want to unzip, because the "original program or OS that created the file was not found", which seems to be Win7, as you said.

All download links to the OS9general.dmg that I find on google are dmg, not zipped. The macintoshgarden.org dropbox link is dead, as I mentioned before.
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: supernova777 on December 05, 2013, 11:55:10 AM
the dmg is already posted on this site
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: Apfel on December 05, 2013, 12:16:47 PM
Yes, thank you! - but yesterday, while I was in the process it was the zip file and I did not want to wait till you were ready with uploading the dmg.
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: supernova777 on December 05, 2013, 01:38:52 PM
it was posted yesterday aswell. i uploaded it a few min after i said i would
!
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: Apfel on December 06, 2013, 05:01:31 AM
First of all, make sure you have installed the latest version of Ati drivers for Mac Os 9.
For 3D on Raden 8500,9000,9200... "8500 3D Accelerator" is needed and the last vesion is 7.1.0
One last question, though.
I ran the 2005-ATI-Driver-Update from the link. When I navigate into the ready installed System extensions Folder, after the Update, it shows the "ATI 3D 8500 Accelerator" as version 7.0.9, from 05/2004.
This is strange isn't it? (and I have not tried the 2004 update, that is shown on the side.)
MacTron, where did you get your 7.1.0 from. Was it maybe on a CD that came with an ATI MAC retail card?


Also, I found out when I browsed through different Install Images and ready Installations, that the ATI Driver Update only updates some of the drivers. The Extension named "ATI Driver Update" itself stays at the version that came with the OS install.
Also my 9.2.2 Update did not install Nvidia drivers, since maybe it thought I do not need them, because it found no Nvidia card in the Slot. So I have to manually drag and drop them from other installs.
Or I will get the latest package from Nvidia itself.
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: MacTron on December 06, 2013, 06:37:25 AM
I've told you:
All the rv2x0 family uses the same drivers. In fact I've used −for years, and without problems− the 9200 drivers in macs with 8500 and 9000PRO because are the most updated.
The Radeon 9200 drivers are the most updated:
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: supernova777 on December 06, 2013, 07:18:27 AM
why dont u throw them in a stuffit file for others to download + post as attachment;)
thanks for your keen research!!!!!
Title: Re: Problems with ATI Video Accelerator after Update from 9.1 to 9.2.1
Post by: Apfel on February 08, 2014, 10:50:42 AM
Sorry, didn't see your post until now. Do you mean me? What do you want me to upload?