How to check a Failing GPU under Sierra?

[disvar]

System details in my signature. Using Clover + Sierra 10.12.6.

So, yesterday my 1440p monitor failed to display anything at booting.
I thought my MSI Nvidia 660 was giving up.
No image using the intel 4000 internal gpu through HDMI.

I had to connect another smaller monitor to see something - and then flagging the InjectIntel option to have full resolution.

Under About this Mac > PCI there is no gpu detected.

Does it means that it fried? Is there some software I may use under Sierra to check my GPU ?

 

[Jamesbond007]

System details in my signature. Using Clover + Sierra 10.12.6.

So, yesterday my 1440p monitor failed to display anything at booting.
I thought my MSI Nvidia 660 was giving up.
No image using the intel 4000 internal gpu through HDMI.

I had to connect another smaller monitor to see something - and then flagging the Inject Intel option to have full resolution.

Under About this Mac > PCI there is no gpu detected.

Does it means that it fried? Is there some software I may use under Sierra to check my GPU ?

Possibly. Since you already switched to CPU integrated graphics, you can take out the card without affecting your system. Do you have another system on which you can test your graphics card to see if it had failed?

 

[disvar]

Yes I had a very similar system,
but I already tried to use the GPU with the smaller monitor and didn't work.

My uncle is skilled with electronics and found something:
2 capacitor short circuited and a burned conductive track.
He will try to repair them.

If he won't succeed, I will buy a used GPU.
I also have Mountain Lion and would like to maintain double boot capacity,
so my candidates are a GTX 660 ti or a GTX 760.

 

[disvar]

Success! He substituted all 6 capacitors with bigger ones.
The GPU works correctly. I will definitely buy a UPS for improved electrical stability.

 

[disvar]

Today I had again the same problem, will check for other hidden capacitors.

What is the best GPU choice for Sierra ? I think these should work OOB:
- GTX 660 Ti
- GTX 670
- GTX 760
- GTX 770

High tier (680, 780) are harder to find in good condition / good price

 

[Jamesbond007]

Today I had again the same problem, will check for other hidden capacitors.

What is the best GPU choice for Sierra ? I think these should work OOB:
- GTX 660 Ti
- GTX 670
- GTX 760
- GTX 770

High tier (680, 780) are harder to find in good condition / good price

Yes, for Sierra the GPUs you listed should work fine.

If you wish to have the option to upgrade to a later version of MacOS in the future, stay away from the 6xx cards since many of them have graphics glitches problems in High Sierra and beyond.

 

[disvar]

Thank you very much.
What about getting a new MSI RX 580? Does it work under Sierra?

 

[Jamesbond007]

Thank you very much.
What about getting a new MSI RX 580? Does it work under Sierra?

MacOS Sierra 10.12.6 is the first version to introduce support for the RX 560 / RX 570 / RX 580. I have MacOS Sierra 10.12.6 on my main system (in addition to High Sierra 10.13.6 and Mojave 10.14.6) and my Sapphire RX 580 works correctly in Sierra.

You have to update to MacOS Sierra 10.12.6 and you also need the Lilu and WhateverGreen kexts for the RX 580 to work under Sierra.

 

[disvar]

This GPU is making me insane.
I tried it on a friend's PC and it works.
I put in my hackintosh and it works!
The 2nd time I boot it never works again. Both with the big res monitor and the little one.
It could be the MB or PSU. But it does not make any sense.