Radeon Compatibility Guide - ATI/AMD Graphics Cards

[jmacie]

I installed OSX 10.12.4 onto the PC in my profile using Unibeast/Clover in EFI mode. Getting OS X to boot to desktop was remarkably simple. I only needed to make 3 changes:
-Add boot arg: -nv_disable=1.
-Spoof CPUID to get Kaby lake to work.
-Enable legacy support in bios.

The problem is I am not getting 3D acceleration. System information recognizes my card correctly as 73001002 and it shows "R9 xxx 4096mb." When I start Cinnebench or Heaven, the screen goes black.

I edited X4100.kext to spoof my device ID to RX460, but after editing the file, I received an error message stating the file was installed improperly and can not be used. Manually restoring the permissions to "read only" did not fix the problem. Does anybody have any suggestions how I can get 3D acceleration to work?

1st, I can't give you much help, but I believe -nv_disable=1 is a boot argument for nvidia cards. Also, I'm not so sure about spoofing the ID in x4100. Someone with more real info will help you soon. You may need a helper card, I'm not sure on that either. Good Luck

 

[chorl]

Why don't you just use the 1080 in macOS?

Sleep/wake issues, I have to hotplug my Samsung 4K TV after sleep/wake. With ATI 7870 that works great, because I boot with nvidia 1080 in HDMI1, and then after boot, with one script, change source in TV to HDMI2, where is connected ATI card. Once in HDMI2, things work great.

I discovered two methods of disabling display (one called DisplayDisable *duh*, and with SwitchResX), but both are not consistent through sleep/wake.

Is there any SSDT patch to disable nvidia card once clover is loaded?

I noticed much improved smoothness with display (the one connected to nvidia card) disabled. I only want nvidia card to boot clover, and having proper sleep/wake behaviour.

 

[chorl]

Well, it turns out more easy than I thought...I used some "mental judo", and thought this: "I need additional kext for getting display signal with Nvidia 1080 and SMBios 17,1 definition...so, what does happen if I don't load that kext?"

Et voilá, no Nvidia 1080 display in OS X, perfect Nvidia 1080 gaming in Windows.

Sorry about this delirium...

New question, now I'm using ATI 7870 as "main card" in Mac OS X, which ATI card do you recommend with two displayport connectors, and easy deployment in Sierra? I'm using my 1080 as "helper card", so I need sleep/wake working properly...

Thanks.

 

[LostVector]

Well, it turns out more easy than I thought...I used some "mental judo", and thought this: "I need additional kext for getting display signal with Nvidia 1080 and SMBios 17,1 definition...so, what does happen if I don't load that kext?"

Et voilá, no Nvidia 1080 display in OS X, perfect Nvidia 1080 gaming in Windows.

Sorry about this delirium...

New question, now I'm using ATI 7870 as "main card" in Mac OS X, which ATI card do you recommend with two displayport connectors, and easy deployment in Sierra? I'm using my 1080 as "helper card", so I need sleep/wake working properly...

Thanks.

Doesn't the 7870 work well? Are you looking for a faster card?

 

[chorl]

Doesn't the 7870 work well? Are you looking for a faster card?

It works quite well, but I need another DP, once I can't use the three DP ports of the nvidia 1080. This 7870 was recover from older build, so I'm not so confident about mechanical parts (fans and connectors, mostly).

 

[LostVector]

It works quite well, but I need another DP, once I can't use the three DP ports of the nvidia 1080. This 7870 was recover from older build, so I'm not so confident about mechanical parts (fans and connectors, mostly).

The FirePro W7000 has 4 displayports and is about as native as you can get right now. Can get a used one for about 200 off ebay. A reference design 7970 has 2 mini-DP's and should also work well.

 

[chorl]

The FirePro W7000 has 4 displayports and is about as native as you can get right now. Can get a used one for about 200 off ebay. A reference design 7970 has 2 mini-DP's and should also work well.

Thank you very much, I'll keep an eye on that. But I'm not in the states, so prices will spike...I'll investigate other less pricey options, just in case..

But thanks for your comment.

 

[jussiissa]

Hello , i read somewhere on the web that a guy got a HD7950 running on SnowLeopard alongside a GT8800 i think . I would also like to conitinue using SnowLeopard and upgrade my GT120 on MacPro 5.1 . Would this HD7950 then work for SnowLeopard`? Most important thing for me is "silence" then comes "power" as i am no more gamer. I need SnowLeopard because i am still migrating from PowerPC. Thanks

 

[Adrian B]

Hello , i read somewhere on the web that a guy got a HD7950 running on SnowLeopard alongside a GT8800 i think . I would also like to conitinue using SnowLeopard and upgrade my GT120 on MacPro 5.1 . Would this HD7950 then work for SnowLeopard`? Most important thing for me is "silence" then comes "power" as i am no more gamer. I need SnowLeopard because i am still migrating from PowerPC. Thanks

I wouldn't give credence to someone on the web claiming that Apple provided drivers for a card two years before that card was released. Find a 5770 that isn't from XFX as these often had a custom BIOS that didn't work with OS X. Sapphire and Gigabyte models were popular back in the day.
I still have an old build running with a 5570 on Snow Leopard. My Sapphire 5770 also works but does not fit this build case. My HD 6870 does not work in Snow Leopard and neither does my Asus HD 7770.

Supported Snow Leopard cards can be referenced in the older Snow Leopard Buyers guides:
https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/...versions-of-os-x-using-older-chipsets.141225/

 

[jussiissa]

thanks, i had a hd6570 that was compatible with snow up to elcaptian (probably sierra,too) and faster than gt120, but also louder , so not an upgrade for me.
this is the post where he mentions his experience wot 7950 on SL
http://forum.netkas.org/index.php?topic=8643.0;wap2
maybe i can get a HD5770 but would like one only if it is not loud ; bought in the meantime a GTX 285 PC Version, maybe that can funcktion.