Hey guys...
(I also have (2) GTX 460 in SLI...BUT
This post in about how to get my proud classic Monster of the nVidia Gtx 295 1792 MB (dual PCB) to work out the box with snow leopard and kinda fix it to work with Lion up to 10.7.3
I was stuck with the same low low low resolution u were talking about for a while. I have a Nvidia GTX 295 (Dual PCB) Bios ROM version 62.00.4E.00.0(2) & (3).
In order to make APP STORE and then Upgrade to Lion, I had to start with a CLEAN and FRESH Install.
This is what I did to get it to work with Snow Leopard:
(I'm using Alienware Desktop which uses x58 mobo, Intel chipset ICH10)
1) I used iBoot 3.2 or 3.3.
>>>Boot from iboot. Then placed the RETAIL Snow Leopard 10.6 DVD and I booted with NO flags...just to make sure boot with -v (iboot already adds "GraphicsEnabler=Yes" only 1 graphics card works right now, which is ok for the installation)
2) install Snow Leopard (X11 and Rosetta are ok). Reboot. Place iBoot disc again. boot with no flags or just -v to see what's wrong.
MAKE A BACKUP
Now we need to update...in order to UPGRADE to LION
3) In order to get the APP STORE to work (I couldn't make it work in 10.6.8 no even to safe my life... I TRIED EVERYTHING... and I mean EVERYTHING for months!!! my problem was the ETHERNET kext. I did find something that worked 1 week ago
my Ethernet is BCM5784 or BCM5784M...>>I used a kext from osx86.com called BCM5722D edited for BCM5784>>>then I placed it in /System/Library/Extensions/IONetworkingFamily.kext/Contents/PlugIns/BCM5722D.kext)
3.1)>>>Download and install the Combo Update DO NOT REBOOT YET 10.6.6 from the mac. I'm pretty sure I used this one
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1349 (...the 10.6.8 combo update only made it harder making graphics and ethernet not work again)
4)run MULTIBEAST, which I did NOT use either "EasyBeast" or "DSDT" from there.
>>4.1)- What I used was>>> System Utilities>>>the only Kexts I need it were EVOREBOOT & FAKESMC>>>then add a BOOTLOADER (Chimera of course) and add a THEME. Also Add "System Definition" >>>MacPro (either one it's fine) most people use the basically standard MacPro3,1 INSTALL and DON"T REBOOT YET
MAKE A BACKUP IF U BOOTED SUCCESSFULLY!!! or CLONE THE DISC so if u get stuck u can return to a clean SNOW LEOPARD
5)Now let's fix the graphics. I used GTX295.EFIPACK.v1.2.dmg Get it from this link
http://www.mediafire.com/?bcdtv4noboejty3 (thanks to insanelymac and members)
>>5.1) Open the efipack and pick if u are single pcb (fan is in the middle of the card) OR dual pcb (fan at the opposite side or extreme of the ports and has HDMI on top and 2 dvi's on the bottom)
>>>>>copy the hex value that is going to generate and paste it in /Extra/org.boot.plis MINE LOOK LIKE THIS IN SNOW LEOPARD
Code:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
<key>EthernetBuiltIn</key>
<string>Yes</string>
<key>Kernel</key>
<string>mach_kernel</string>
<key>Kernel Flags</key>
<string></string>
<key>Legacy Logo</key>
<string>Yes</string>
<key>Timeout</key>
<string>2</string>
<key>device-properties</key>
<string>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</string>
</dict>
</plist>
6)Now that u have updated it to 10.6.6 and installed MULTIBEAST witht your bootloader, theme, and kexts (I only need it evo...and fakesmc) REBOOT!!!
7) You might try "GraphicsEnabler=Yes" i didn't need it on the boot. other useful flags if ur system is diff. are: arch=i386 PCIRootUID=1 npci=0x2000 -x pmVersion=0 maxmemory=4096
8) if u succeeded it to 10.6.6 now try the APP store (i don't recommend to get LION illegaly). Buy Lion and follow the guide from "tonymacx86" of course.
>>>>My ethernet didn't work at that point and I used the WIFI. Other solution would be to merge your Graphics EFIstring and your ETHERNET efi string into 1 long efi string. You can send me a message if u wanna now.
9)... after the booting to the partition INSTALLER for the new LION 10.7.3 installation your DVI's ports would NOT work...BUT your HDMI will. so USE THE HDMI! and INSTALL Normally over the Snow Leopard Installation. REBOOT.
Install the MULTIBEAST for LION here. and use the same procedure that we used in Snow Leopard + now add "Extension Migration Tool". (what I'm trying to keep it a CLEAN installation in everything.
10) Final step...you can boot with "GraphicsEnabler=Yes or No" if u want (I did'nt use it). HDMI works at full resolution but no acceleration. What I noticed is that the ORDER in which LION reads the GTX 295 it's backwards so I had to use "NVDA, Parent" method in both PCI roots to get the full resolution to the DVI...
-just for the record> I did try to use the 2 evil kexts but only made my card to go GLITCHY and with a lot of noise after booting. just like an old TV.
This is my org.boot.plist with my efistring in LION 10.7.3 (NO ACCELERATION, just the DVI's works full and no HDMI..just to get you to a point in which you can install the drivers).
Code:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
<key>UseKernelCache</key>
<string>Yes</string>
<key>Kernel</key>
<string>mach_kernel</string>
<key>Kernel Flags</key>
<string></string>
<key>Legacy Logo</key>
<string>Yes</string>
<key>Timeout</key>
<string>2</string>
<key>device-properties</key>
<string>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</string>
</dict>
</plist>
I'm pretty sure i tried to use the original "Geforce" from 10.6.0 in Lion and didn't work.
I will install drivers and I post my results.
Good Luck guys. Please hit me up with questions about the NVIDIA GTX 295 (Dual PCB)
my specs:
I didn't change anything in the BIOS of my ALienware to make it work with MAC. just set it to AHCI and your are set. and update to latest BIOS
Alienware Desktop BIOS A11
MOBO is x58 from alienware with Intel Chipset ICH10. (don't know who is the actual builder) but the model is "MS-7591" v1.0
16 Gb in Ram
(2) WD Velociraptors 10,000 RPMs with 600GB each. (1 for windows 7 and the other one for MAC) Awesome!
(1) SSD Intel XM25...just for boot games in windows
awesome too
(1)WD Caviar Black 1TB (just for backups) and (1) Seagate Barracuda 1.5TB just for storage.
Nvidia GTX 295 Dual PCB
Broadcom WIFI 14e4, 4328
Broadcom Ethernet BCM5784
TV tuner (not mac compatible)
Core i7 920 (overclocked)
Power SUpply by ANTEC---Gaming series 900 Watts
CPU Cooling system (standard with ALienware)
