Fully Compatible NVIDIA Graphics Cards for Mac OS X

One of the most important components in a custom build is the graphics card.  If you're building a CustoMac, it's an especially tricky decision.  Not only do you have to worry about what will be a good performer for the cost, but you also have to be informed what is fully supported, and what is not.

Below we've listed a few fully compatible NVIDIA graphics cards for Mac OS X.   Each gives a range of port options, full install compatibility, and are known to work with minimal configuration.  They may not be the most powerful or newest cards available, however they are undoubtedly smart and safe options.  All of the following models have been personally tested by our team.

ASUS GeForce 8400GS

DVI/VGA

This oldie is a perfect fit for someone on a budget who doesn't need much power, but wants a silent card with two working outputs.  Full acceleration enabled with GraphicsEnabler=Yes.

PNY GeForce 9800 GT

DVI/DVI

A standby choice for many enthusiasts, this card gives great performance.  Full acceleration enabled with GraphicsEnabler=Yes.

EVGA GeForce GT 240

DVI/VGA/HDMI

A great choice for a HTPC setup, with working audio + video via HDMI.  Full acceleration enabled with GraphicsEnabler=Yes.

PNY GeForce GTS 450*

DVI/DVI/Mini-HDMI

PNY GeForce GTX 460*

DVI/DVI/Mini-HDMI

EVGA GeForce GTX 470

DVI/DVI/Mini-HDMI

The newest cards to gain compatibility status, these three 'Fermi' cards are a good choice for their new architecture, CUDA support, and awesome next-generation performance.  Full acceleration enabled with GraphicsEnabler=Yes.  Details here. 


*NVIDIA 450/460 cards are fully supported, but some users are reporting random freezes and open gl issues.  Take caution when choosing these cards for now.   -tonymacx86

For more information about compatible graphics cards, check out the Graphics Card Database on the Wiki.  Feel free to add a comment here with detailed info about your compatible models.

-tonymacx86 & MacMan

For discussions on this and other topics, register today at tonymacx86.com!

MultiBeast 2.5 Update

This past weekend MultiBeast was updated to version 2.5 as part of the NVIDIA "Fermi" drivers update.

Please do not upload or redistribute MultiBeast to any other sites. 

Full list of changes:

• Updated Chameleon 2.0 RC5 - Prerelease to RC5 r643 for Fermi based card support 
• Added Chameleon 2.0 RC5 - ATI Experimental by Kabyl in Advanced Options -> Chameleon
• Added ATI 48xx Patch for 10.6.5 to Advanced Options -> Kexts -> Graphics -> ATI
• Changed Advanced Options -> smbios.plist -> MacPro to a menu
• Moved existing MacPro4,1 smbios.plists to Advanced Options -> smbios.plist -> MacPro4,1
• Added MacPro3,1 smbios.plist to Advanced Options -> smbios.plist -> MacPro3,1
• Added MacPro5,1 smbios.plist to Advanced Options -> smbios.plist -> MacPro5,1
• Added Auto-Detect CPU to Advanced Options -> smbios.plist -> iMac11,1
• Added Auto-Detect CPU to Advanced Options -> smbios.plist -> MacPro3,1
• Added Auto-Detect CPU to Advanced Options -> smbios.plist -> MacPro4,1
• Added Auto-Detect CPU to Advanced Options -> smbios.plist -> MacPro5,1
• Fixed all Mac Pro smbios.plists to have valid system-identifiers for each model serial number
• Changed EasyBeast smbios.plist to MacPro3,1 Auto-Detect CPU
• Changed UserDSDT smbios.plist to MacPro3,1 Auto-Detect CPU

If this utility has helped you, please consider a contribution to support further MultiBeast development.  Thanks in advance, and enjoy!

-tonymacx86 & MacMan

For discussions on this and other topics, register today at tonymacx86.com!

Updated NVIDIA Drivers for Mac OS X: Install Guide and iBoot-GE

This week, NVIDIA released drivers for their line of "Fermi" cards for Mac OS X.  Besides supporting their new flagship Quadro 4000, these drivers support the GeForce GT 430, GTS 450, GTX 460, GTX 465, GTX 470, GTX 480. They also show increased OpenGL, Quartz Graphics, and User Interface performance for NVIDIA 2xx cards.

To use the new drivers on any system, we made an alternate installer, tonymacx86 NVIDIA Update, that overcomes the official installer's system limitations.  We also created iBoot-GE, a new variation of iBoot that uses Chameleon's GraphicsEnabler instead of enabler kexts.  Finally, we've updated MultiBeast to include the necessary bootloader.

• The tonymacx86 NVIDIA Update is the official NVIDIA updater tweaked to allow install on any system.  

• iBoot-GE uses Chameleon's GraphicsEnabler, with updated device IDs for new NVIDIA cards.  Update: iBoot now works for NVIDIA 4xx cards- you may need to type -x PCIRootUID=1 to install using these cards

• MultiBeast now contains Chameleon 2.0 RC5 Prerelease which includes device IDs for all new NVIDIA cards.

Guide for a Fresh Installation
If you're starting from scratch, follow iBoot + MultiBeast.

1. Install using iBoot
2. Install latest Combo Update
3. Install UserDSDT or EasyBeast, plus the latest Chameleon 2.0 RC5 from MultiBeast
4. Install the tonymacx86 NVIDIA Update 
5. Reboot

Guide for an Existing Installation
If you've already installed and configured your system to boot from hard drive

1. Install latest Combo Update
2. Install the latest Chameleon 2.0 RC5 from MultiBeast
3. Install the tonymacx86 NVIDIA Update 
4. Reboot

Post your results in the forum!  Have fun, and enjoy!  

-tonymacx86 & MacMan

For discussions on this and other topics, register today at tonymacx86.com!

Minimal DSDT Edits for Gigabyte Socket 1366 Motherboards

MacMan has posted a new DSDT editing guide for Gigabyte Socket 1366 Motherboards.  

Since I posted Minimal DSDT Edits for Gigabyte Socket 1156 Motherboards I picked up a Gigabyte X58A-UD3R Rev 2.0 motherboard as part of the post tonymacx86 and I did for the CustoMac Pro 2010 project on his blog.

I started researching and testing what edits from my Socket 1156 post were or weren't needed on this board. The good news is that the majority of the edits carry over, but some are not needed. For example, we don't need to inject anything for the USB ports to be fully recognized. But there are a couple of required Socket 1366 specific edits.

To read the full article, and detailed explanations behind each edit, visit MacMan's blog.

Related Posts: New Minimal DSDT Edits for Gigabyte Socket 1156 Motherboards

For discussions on this and other topics, register today at tonymacx86.com!

Mac OS X 10.6.5 Update

Today Apple released Mac OS X 10.6.5 the 5th major update to Mac OS X Snow Leopard. To update for any supported CPU, simply run Software Update, or download the standalone installer from Apple.

Download the Mac OS X 10.6.5 Combo Update

Be sure to back up any important data, and if possible clone your hard drive before applying the update.  Testing is underway.  Report your results in the forum here. 

What we know about 10.6.5 so far...

• Intel Core i3 CPUs now identified in System Profiler and About This Mac... 
• Updated drivers for ATI and NVIDIA cards
• Two new ATI framebuffers: Nomascus and Orangutan for HD5xxx cards
• Adds support for exFAT file systems used on SDXC cards
• 10.5.0 Darwin kernel 

Most supported systems will not need to make any post-installation fixes, but here are a few points to be aware of. 

• Audio - The update will replace your AppleHDA.kext.  If you aren't using the ALC889a codec with Legacy889aHDA, you will have to reinstall the 10.6.2 AppleHDA Rollback using MultiBeast.  If you're using VoodooHDA, you will not need to make any modifications.

• USB - As of MultiBeast 2.4.1, EasyBeast has been updated to include USB Rollback, which enables full USB functionality on 10.6.5.  If you already have a system installed using EasyBeast, simply install the new USB Rollback option.  Download MultiBeast.

• Sleep enabler kexts are version specific.  Remove before installing the update.  

• iBoot 2.5.2 integrates the new 10.5.0 kernel and USB fixes for 10.6.5.  If you're having issues post-update, you can always boot using iBoot, then target your drive.  

• When using iBoot 2.5.2 as a rescue disk with 10.6.5, in order to have USB 2.0 support, you MUST have a USB 2.0 device plugged in at boot time.   Download iBoot.  

Related Posts: Mac OS X 10.6.4 Update, Mac OS X 10.6.3 Update

For discussions on this and other topics, register today at tonymacx86.com!

MultiBeast 2.4.0 Update

Today MultiBeast was updated to version 2.4.0.  We've added Core i3 options to smbios,plist, Chameleon RC5 Prerelease, USB 3.0 support, as well as a few other additions, fixes and features. Please do not upload or redistribute MultiBeast to any other sites. 

Full list of changes:

• Added Core i3 smbios.plist for iMac and Mac Pro
• Added Chameleon 2.0 RC5 r594 Prerelease
• Added Chameleon RC5 Default Theme
• Added USB 3.0 Support - LaCie driver patched by modbin
• Added VoodooHDA 0.2.72 with prefPane
• Merged VoodooHDA Official and Experimental choices and clarified VoodooLabs and Project OS X branches in descriptions
• Set all VoodooHDA Verbose outputs to 0 in info.plist
• Replaced MacPro3,1 with MacPro4,1 in smbios.plist
• Renamed menu choice JMicron36xATA to JMicron36x ATA
• Renamed menu choice JMicron36xSATA to JMicron36x SATA
• Renamed menu choice JMicron36xeSATA to JMicron36x eSATA

If this utility has helped you, please consider a contribution to support further MultiBeast development.  Thanks in advance, and enjoy!

-tonymacx86 & MacMan

For discussions on this and other topics, register today at tonymacx86.com!

USB 3.0 Now Supported in Mac OS X

USB 3.0 is now supported in Mac OS X!  LaCie released drivers today for their new line of USB 3,0 PCI-E and ExpressCard controllers.  Download the drivers here.

The device identifies as USB Super-Speed Bus in System Profiler and IORegistryExplorer.  USB 2.0 devices are confirmed working on these USB 3.0 ports.  We haven't had a chance to test USB 3.0 devices.  Our initial testing was done on GA-H55N-USB3, GA-P55A-UD4P and the GA-X58A-UD3R.

We need more testers! Report your findings in the tonymacx86 Forum here.

UPDATE:
LaCie's driver is working only on specific LaCie devices.  Luckily, we've been tipped off to a patched version of the kext, which enables any USB 3.0 device.  Available in the latest MultiBeast. You can test speeds using Xbench, then target any drive plugged to the USB 3.0 ports.  Please post any stats in the forum! 

For discussions on this and other topics, register today at tonymacx86.com!