Support for PowerMac11,2
  • Moderator
    Kronos
    Posts: 2526 from 2003/2/24
    Well if we are pedantic I could point out that this another R5 230.

    But I never checked that one with 3.10, so...

    The 1st card was a bit of an oddball with 2GB, 2xDP and DVI which might have been the reason. Point is if he wants to go for higher res newer cards are the better option, older X1??? cards if 3D is what he wants.
  • »10.10.25 - 16:35
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    Andreas_Wolf
    Posts: 12467 from 2003/5/22
    From: Germany
    > if we are pedantic I could point out that this another R5 230.

    Thanks for clarification that this is about two different Radeon R5 230 cards where one doesn't work with MorphOS 3.19 and the other may work. Nothing pedantic about that.
    An RV910-based R5 230 working with 3.19 on PCIe-based G5 Mac would be splendid news as highest so far reported working card has been RV810-based HD5450, while cards reported as non-working include RV910-based HD6450.
  • »11.10.25 - 07:05
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  • Moderator
    Kronos
    Posts: 2526 from 2003/2/24
    Well as usual I forgot that it's not an X1900GT, but a X1950GT.

    Doesn't matter, both cards asrael22 bought should work (tm) and he will have to decide if he prefers 3D or a modern connector and less noise/heat as the 4350 should be fanless and come with HDMI.
  • »11.10.25 - 08:16
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  • Order of the Butterfly
    Order of the Butterfly
    asrael22
    Posts: 445 from 2014/6/11
    From: Germany
    Not sure right now what I would use the 3D for, supposedly mostly TinyGL based games?

    I'll report back next week when cards arrived.
    Thank you.
  • »11.10.25 - 08:52
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  • Priest of the Order of the Butterfly
    Priest of the Order of the Butterfly
    matt3
    Posts: 762 from 2004/2/10
    FYI

    The 1900 and 1950 GT are quiet cards.

    The 1950 XT is not, even when MorphOS spins the fan down it still is somewhat noticable.

    Also, one clarifying item.

    Even with a PC based 1900/1950 you can still boot from CD and install the OS. But be warned that Mac OS firmware might require a few reboots to get the PC card to "hook up" and start booting so MorphOS can take over. So still your best bet is the 1900 PPC variant. That is bullet proof and works without issues.

    At the end of the day, the A1117 is still not officially supported, but a bunch of us use them as daily drivers and they work great... But you may run into issues with video cards because of this. There is only one video card that works as expected with this system. So keep all that in mind...

    To get the PPC Mac to boot from CD first, you need to modify the firmware to boot from CD first and then you don't need the PPC Video card.

    [ Edited by matt3 11.10.2025 - 09:31 ]
  • »11.10.25 - 14:23
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  • Order of the Butterfly
    Order of the Butterfly
    asrael22
    Posts: 445 from 2014/6/11
    From: Germany
    So seems the HD4350 doesn't work.

    Could also be the card is defect. But no display on either port.
    And there is a mechanical problem. The heat sink goes around the card to the bottom which doesn't make it fit on the x16 slot. So I had to put it to the x8 slot.
    Something to keep in mind.
  • »13.10.25 - 12:21
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  • Moderator
    Kronos
    Posts: 2526 from 2003/2/24
    Quote:

    asrael22 wrote:
    So seems the HD4350 doesn't work.




    x8 vs x16 should make no difference.

    Now the make sure (before you buy 14 other cards):
    - did you check the card in a PC
    - if not, does the G5 have a working OSX install, if yes boot with both NVidia and Radeon installed and check if the radeon is showing in system information
    - what kind of screen did you use, very high and very low resolutions can cause issues
    - when booting does the G5 ramp up the fans after time and does the caps lock LED still work will tell wether MorphOS has crashed or is still running
  • »13.10.25 - 15:03
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  • Order of the Butterfly
    Order of the Butterfly
    asrael22
    Posts: 445 from 2014/6/11
    From: Germany
    Yeah, I've got a 11,2 with Mac OSX 10.5. Will check the card there.
  • »13.10.25 - 16:05
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  • Order of the Butterfly
    Order of the Butterfly
    asrael22
    Posts: 445 from 2014/6/11
    From: Germany
    I've put the HD card into that G5 with Mac OSX installed. When going to System Information and PCI cards it reports an error saying that "An error happened while collecting information" (or so). Maybe that card is really broken. :(

    On MorphOS I see that it is booting. My USB hub is starting the blue lights and I can reset via the keyboard. So I guess it doesn't crash but there is just nothing on the gfx card output.

    Getting the X card later today....
  • »14.10.25 - 10:16
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  • Order of the Butterfly
    Order of the Butterfly
    asrael22
    Posts: 445 from 2014/6/11
    From: Germany
    I just found an Asus EAX 1600 PRO from an old PC lying here. That's not supported by any chance, or?

    [ Edited by asrael22 14.10.2025 - 11:39 ]
  • »14.10.25 - 10:37
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  • Order of the Butterfly
    Order of the Butterfly
    asrael22
    Posts: 445 from 2014/6/11
    From: Germany
    Oh, surprise. This thing actually works. Seems it's Radeon X1600 Pro based. :D
    It's bloody noisy but quite fast.
    AirPort works, too.

    But that's cool.
    I just found that the other 11,2 I have is actually a 2,3 GHz version. So I'll have to move everything to that one. Suppose it's a bit faster. :D

    [ Edited by asrael22 14.10.2025 - 12:07 ]
  • »14.10.25 - 11:00
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  • Moderator
    Kronos
    Posts: 2526 from 2003/2/24
    Quote:

    asrael22 wrote:
    Oh, surprise. This thing actually works. Seems it's Radeon X1600 Pro based. :D



    Pretty much the low end when it comes to plausible GFX card in that system

    Quote:


    I just found that the other 11,2 I have is actually a 2,3 GHz version. So I'll have to move everything to that one. Suppose it's a bit faster. :D


    Or you "just add" 500MHz to the 2GHz one.
  • »14.10.25 - 11:40
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  • Order of the Butterfly
    Order of the Butterfly
    asrael22
    Posts: 445 from 2014/6/11
    From: Germany
    Quote:

    Kronos wrote:
    Quote:

    asrael22 wrote:
    Oh, surprise. This thing actually works. Seems it's Radeon X1600 Pro based. :D



    Pretty much the low end when it comes to plausible GFX card in that system



    OK, may be. I'm a bit out of this. Since many years I just buy Apple devices and don't care about what is in there GFX related. In Apple Silicon Chips you can't change it anyways.


    Quote:

    Kronos wrote:
    Quote:


    I just found that the other 11,2 I have is actually a 2,3 GHz version. So I'll have to move everything to that one. Suppose it's a bit faster. :D


    Or you "just add" 500MHz to the 2GHz one.



    How? Is that what you mentioned in the beginning "going all in"? I didn't know exactly what you mean.
  • »14.10.25 - 12:02
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  • Moderator
    Kronos
    Posts: 2526 from 2003/2/24
    Take 1 CPU out of a Quad.
    Installer AirCooler from 2.9 or 2.3GHz CPU
    Drop CPU into single CPU G5 (2.0 or 2.3GHz)

    -> 2.5GHz DualCore with 1.25GHz FrontSideBus
  • »14.10.25 - 15:13
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  • Order of the Butterfly
    Order of the Butterfly
    asrael22
    Posts: 445 from 2014/6/11
    From: Germany
    OK, for that I'd need a quad first. :|

    On the other front:

    The X1950 Pro worked fine. Though not long. I chose a high resolution in Unreal then got a colorful screen and that was it. Card doesn't come to life anymore. Maybe I put it in and out also a bit too often. :(

    But it worked and it wasn't that noisy. The fan was temp driven it seems.

    Now for what I can say I've got a working 11,2. That's great.

    [ Edited by asrael22 14.10.2025 - 17:51 ]
  • »14.10.25 - 16:51
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  • Moderator
    Kronos
    Posts: 2526 from 2003/2/24
    Quote:

    asrael22 wrote:
    OK, for that I'd need a quad first. :|




    Well the good thing is that quads are known to blow their PSU, hence plenty of CPU modules to be found.
  • »14.10.25 - 17:01
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  • Order of the Butterfly
    Order of the Butterfly
    asrael22
    Posts: 445 from 2014/6/11
    From: Germany
    Does the type of memory play some role whether the card is supported? Like DDR3 vs. GDDR3?
  • »16.10.25 - 09:49
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  • Order of the Butterfly
    Order of the Butterfly
    asrael22
    Posts: 445 from 2014/6/11
    From: Germany
    Finally I have a X1950 Pro that is working will with fan control, an ASUS X1950 Pro.

    One note: if the card has an additional power socket, it must be connected to the mainboard or the card will most likely not work or not work stable.
    There is no cable for that in the G5, it must be bought.
  • »09.11.25 - 10:51
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  • EVX
  • Just looking around
    Posts: 8 from 2026/1/10
    I had a scare on my 11,2 2gig G5 today, the network card started acting up and eventually stopped showing up after a few boots. I pulled the card and it sure did not visually match any airport card on ebay at all. The PCB has 2 holes for of those inner/outer construction plastic rivets that hold the card to the chassis above it. Most cards have a nice looking housing. This one is a bare pcb. I am a bit worried about sourcing a spare card. Last I checked, the G5 ethernet ports aren't supported and that leaves only PciE cards for ethernet as a possible option for networking.

    I put some DeOxit electronics cleaner on the connector edge and worked it in/out a few times before wiping off the excess. It came back to life on the next boot.

    Did you get your airport card working? I am half way tempted to get one with the same connector edge, but the ebay seller states it isn't compatible late '05 dual cores...

    Cheers,

    -E

    G5 "1117" 11,2 2Ghz Airport Card

    [ Edited by EVX 27.01.2026 - 08:42 ]
  • »27.01.26 - 04:54
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  • MorphOS Developer
    cyfm
    Posts: 576 from 2003/4/11
    From: Germany
    Afair, the late PMac G5 11,2 also requires the Apple Runway card 820-1830-A as an adapter to use the Airport module

    Apple PMac G5 Airport card carrier

    I got hold of one many years ago but I must admit that the WiFi quality is rather poor as soon as the PMac sits below some desk and the Access Point is not anywhere nearby, so the better option is a proper networking card.
    I mostly bought it for the the Bluetooth support of the combo Airport card but that is mostly useless today as well as the current standards are way past what the Apple H/W offered back then.
  • »27.01.26 - 05:33
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  • Paladin of the Pegasos
    Paladin of the Pegasos
    NewSense
    Posts: 1565 from 2012/11/9
    From: Manchester, UK/GB
    The Airport Extreme A1027 card works in the PCIe PowerMac G5s, as there is still the residual Airport Extreme input slot on the board, just below the PCIe slot frame, but towards the back of the device, you just have to know (be careful) which way to insert (orient) the card as there are no metal support guides in front of it as there are on the earlier PowerMac G5 models. I know this works as I fitted one for a friend using the antenna lead from an A1106 (IIRC) as the intermediate connector to connect it to the built-in antenna leads already inside the PCIe model PowerMac G5s.

    I think I supported the Airport card with a DIY plastic frame fastened (hot-melt-glue, or such-like) to the main part of the case. I can't remember how I supported it, but I know I made it sturdy enough to be OK.  8-)

    Then I bypassed the Runway, (Hen's Teeth) virtually impossible to obtain, dual interface card, and just fitted a Bluetooth dongle (the small semi circular USB connectors) that you used to see fitted in the side of laptops, and just put that in one of the USB slots, that way I also added Bluetooth to the PowerMac G5 PCIe model (I think it was an A1177). Some of the dongles may not work, and you have to choose the older models that worked with Windows XP and 2000 I seem to remember, but it worked OK, as I tested it with my Apple A1016 keyboard and a basic bluetooth mouse.

    Hope this helps.  8-D
    MacMini 1.5GHz,64MB VRAM, PowerBooks A1138/9 (Model 5,8/9),PowerMac G5 2.3GHz(DP), iMac A1145 2.1GHz 20", all with MorphOS v3.18+,Airport,Bluetooth,A1016 Keyboard,T-RB22 Mouse,DVD-RW-DL,MiniMax,Firewire/USB2 & MacOSX 10.4/5
  • »27.01.26 - 09:50
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  • EVX
  • Just looking around
    Posts: 8 from 2026/1/10
    You are exactly right. While it works for now, I will be looking at backup solutions for connectivity. Thanks so much for the confirmation.

    -E




    Quote:

    cyfm wrote:
    Afair, the late PMac G5 11,2 also requires the Apple Runway card 820-1830-A as an adapter to use the Airport module

    Apple PMac G5 Airport card carrier

    I got hold of one many years ago but I must admit that the WiFi quality is rather poor as soon as the PMac sits below some desk and the Access Point is not anywhere nearby, so the better option is a proper networking card.
    I mostly bought it for the the Bluetooth support of the combo Airport card but that is mostly useless today as well as the current standards are way past what the Apple H/W offered back then.

  • »27.01.26 - 22:34
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  • EVX
  • Just looking around
    Posts: 8 from 2026/1/10
    Thanks for the insight! I don't see many A1027 available on the 'bay but I will keep an eye out. I've tinkered with lots of computers in my time but the G4 & G5 stuff blew completely past me 20 years ago so it's all "new".

    -E


    Quote:

    NewSense wrote:
    The Airport Extreme A1027 card works in the PCIe PowerMac G5s, as there is still the residual Airport Extreme input slot on the board, just below the PCIe slot frame, but towards the back of the device, you just have to know (be careful) which way to insert (orient) the card as there are no metal support guides in front of it as there are on the earlier PowerMac G5 models. I know this works as I fitted one for a friend using the antenna lead from an A1106 (IIRC) as the intermediate connector to connect it to the built-in antenna leads already inside the PCIe model PowerMac G5s.

    I think I supported the Airport card with a DIY plastic frame fastened (hot-melt-glue, or such-like) to the main part of the case. I can't remember how I supported it, but I know I made it sturdy enough to be OK.  8-)

    Then I bypassed the Runway, (Hen's Teeth) virtually impossible to obtain, dual interface card, and just fitted a Bluetooth dongle (the small semi circular USB connectors) that you used to see fitted in the side of laptops, and just put that in one of the USB slots, that way I also added Bluetooth to the PowerMac G5 PCIe model (I think it was an A1177). Some of the dongles may not work, and you have to choose the older models that worked with Windows XP and 2000 I seem to remember, but it worked OK, as I tested it with my Apple A1016 keyboard and a basic bluetooth mouse.

    Hope this helps.  8-D




    [ Edited by EVX 27.01.2026 - 17:31 ]
  • »27.01.26 - 23:25
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