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GeForce 4 mx black screens in 2001 qs 9.2.2
Posted by: treellama on 2022-03-27 05:34:34
I have a GeForce 4 MX that must have come out of a MDD (AGP with ADC/DVI). It boots fine in Tiger, but in 9.2.2 the screen turns black and the mouse hangs. I tried disabling extensions but it barely makes it that far. GeForce driver versions are 3.1, I don’t see anything newer available.

Anybody seen anything like this? The machine boots ok with its original 2 MX but it would be nice to have a little more speed. I may end up needing the ADC connector so a flashed card is out.
Posted by: CircuitBored on 2022-03-27 07:07:44
As far as I am aware, the MDD version of the GeForce 4 MX is not compatible with Mac OS 9. As a hail mary: try using a DVI-VGA adapter if you aren't doing so already. Something about the DVI circuitry on these cards just doesn't play nice with the drivers designed for the VGA cards. It's an issue shared by a few different NVidia and ATI cards from that era.

Are you able to test the card with another machine? You should give it a try with an earlier version of Mac OS 9 too, perhaps 9.1 or 9.2. As far as 9 is concerned, the newest graphics drivers aren't always the best for your card/machine config. Try some older driver versions. Sadly, I think your odds of getting this card to work with a QS running 9 are quite slim but I'd love to be proven wrong.

I may end up needing the ADC connector so a flashed card is out.

They're quite expensive but consider getting yourself an ADC-DVI adapter. This isn't just a good move for freeing up your graphics cards options; it also reduces the load on the ageing power supply, which quite notoriously suffers from weak ADC power circuitry.

I hope at least some of this is helpful!
Posted by: treellama on 2022-03-27 10:45:58
Hmm, the MDDs that shipped with this card could boot into 9 so I just assumed it would work. It’s in a Quicksilver 2001 right now, so I should have ADC power. The DVI works fine in Mac OS X on the same machine so it’s just a driver issue. I can try some older ones, but it’s hanging even with extensions off so I don’t have a lot of hope. Oh well, the 2 MX is also acceptable.

Unfortunately the display I have my eye on will not work with a DVI to ADC 🙂
Posted by: CircuitBored on 2022-03-27 11:18:50
Hmm, the MDDs that shipped with this card could boot into 9 so I just assumed it would work.

It's worth considering that I only say the GF4MX from the MDD doesn't work with OS9 because I have tried it myself multiple times to no avail. I was doing exactly what you're trying to do - use it in a Quicksilver. I actually vaguely recall that the card worked with OS9 in the MDD but not in the Quicksilver. Sadly I unloaded all my surplus GPUs last year so I no longer have one around to check again.

Unfortunately the display I have my eye on will not work with a DVI to ADC
Ohoho! Is someone eyeing up an ADC Studio CRT?
Posted by: treellama on 2022-03-27 12:57:57
It's worth considering that I only say the GF4MX from the MDD doesn't work with OS9 because I have tried it myself multiple times to no avail. I was doing exactly what you're trying to do - use it in a Quicksilver. I actually vaguely recall that the card worked with OS9 in the MDD but not in the Quicksilver. Sadly I unloaded all my surplus GPUs last year so I no longer have one around to check again.

That's enough for me. Some mysteries I am OK leaving unsolved.

Ohoho! Is someone eyeing up an ADC Studio CRT?

Maybe not, flakey FB sellers are flakey.
Posted by: CircuitBored on 2022-03-27 13:04:32
If it were 2012 I'd say "grab yourself a GeForce 4600 Ti and forget about everything else" but sadly those cards are now in the stratosphere, price-wise. It's still worth setting up a saved search on eBay because they do pop up for reasonable prices from time to time.

Maybe not, flakey FB sellers are flakey.

Amen. I'd own a G4 Cube if it weren't for FB sellers and their "I've left the country for six months - oops" behaviours. One day...
Posted by: treellama on 2022-03-27 18:47:51
Ah, got it! Big gouge in the glass, but the price was right.
Posted by: CC_333 on 2022-04-16 00:23:13
ADC Studio CRT
I have one!

I was going to sell it a few years ago, but recently, I'm actually inclined to keep it because the things are virtually impossible to find, and I got lucky.

Last I tried it, it worked, but the two major issues it has are (one of which I caused): it had some convergence issues that wouldn't calibrate out, and there are some gouges in the glass from when I tried removing the flaky antiglare coating (they're there, but I guess they're not too bad?)

I should try it again to see if it still works (considering the last time I tried it was 2010-2011, I'm doubtful). Will it work on one of those ADC to DVI converters (the kind that lets one use an ADC display on a normal PC or late-model Mac with DVI ports)? I ask because I have two of them, and I'd rather use it if I can so I don't overload any of my G4's geriatric PSUs.

c
Posted by: DarthNvader on 2022-04-16 02:06:12
I have a GeForce 4 MX that must have come out of a MDD (AGP with ADC/DVI). It boots fine in Tiger, but in 9.2.2 the screen turns black and the mouse hangs. I tried disabling extensions but it barely makes it that far. GeForce driver versions are 3.1, I don’t see anything newer available.

Anybody seen anything like this? The machine boots ok with its original 2 MX but it would be nice to have a little more speed. I may end up needing the ADC connector so a flashed card is out.
Did you try the last driver version for OS 9( 3.5.2 )?

nVidia3.5.2Drivers.sit

drive.google.com drive.google.com
Posted by: treellama on 2022-04-16 05:02:36
I should try it again to see if it still works (considering the last time I tried it was 2010-2011, I'm doubtful). Will it work on one of those ADC to DVI converters (the kind that lets one use an ADC display on a normal PC or late-model Mac with DVI ports)?

I don’t believe so. But if you google a bit, there are some designs for ADC breakout boards that have VGA that I think might work.
Posted by: treellama on 2022-09-04 10:57:37
Did you try the last driver version for OS 9( 3.5.2 )?

No, somehow I missed your post. But I just tried driver version 3.5 and it works, so, case closed!
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