G4 (sawtooth) graphic cards

The only thing I now is that the AGP Swatooth has an AGP 2x slot, so newer cards will not fit to it.

GeForce Ti's, and ATI Radeon 7000 should fit, as I read at least.

If you go looking for a Radeon 7000 PCI Mac Edition, get one with not just VGA out but also DVI-I and S-Video out, with also 32MB of RAM. This will give you the opportunity to drive a DVI LCD Display if the mood ever takes you. I recently got a pair of such cards (USD20 each) for Beige PCI Macs from the eBay seller tangaishi.

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An AGP Radeon 7000 (and then possibly an OS re-install) would switch on Quartz Extreme

In Mac OS X 10.2 and later, Quartz Compositor uses the processors (GPUs) on supported graphics cards to vastly improve composition performance. This technology is known as Quartz Extreme, and is enabled automatically on systems with supported graphics cards.

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A PCI 7000 will only let you do this through an unsupported hack, with debatable results.
However any of the following cards will support Core Image, which would be both faster and shinier:

* ATI Radeon 9550, 9600, 9650, 9600 XT, 9600 Pro, 9700 Pro, 9800 XT, and 9800 Pro* ATI Radeon X600 XT, X600 Pro, X800 XT, X850 XT, X1600, X1900 XT

* NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra, 6600, 6600 LE, 6800 Ultra DDL, and 6800 GT DDL

* NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT, 7600 GT, and 7800 GT

* NVIDIA Quadro FX 4500

Any GPU capable of handling Core Image instructions is also Quartz Extreme capable. The requirements for Core Image are greater than those of Quartz Extreme.

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I was just about to say what bunson just said(before the power just went out very unexpectedly on this clear sunny day -_- )

He is right though, a PCI Radeon 7000 is not worth it in a Sawtooth, only use them in B&W, Beige G3 or older. But an original Radeon (aka 7200) would still whup it's backside in games though.

Since the Sawtooth only has 2x AGP your best card is a Radeon 9800 and if you like to do any gaming it would be what you want to go for. If all you want is Mac OS X's GUI to run smoothly then I suppose a GeForce FX 5200 would do.

Just do not use a Radeon 7000 PCI in a Sawtooth unless it is for a second display with the primary being on an AGP card.

On a side note, I never got PCIExtreme to work on my Sawtooth with PCI Radeon 7000 so don't get your hopes up.

http://themacelite.wikidot.com/compatibility

Thanks for your help I will keep and eye on ebay for any of the above cards unless anyone knows where I can get any new ones

I had good success with PCIExtreme on my Beige G3 with a Radeon 7000 in it. it actually helped allot more then hurt performance and i had the numbers to back it up as well MacJunky can even back me up. but its not the same with All Macs. allot of them will have performance issues when its enabled and very few wont.

If you want to use your PCI bus for anything else time critical (like a multi channel sound recorder) I've heard it's not advisable, as it chokes the bus.

I pulled a PCI radeon 7000 32mb out of a beige g3 to put in my sawtooth, it still would be better than the stock rage 128 pro AGP right?

I did the hack and now OS X KP's at startup.

I have not had much look with a card yet I have bought 2 of ebay an had to send them back because they did not work one was Nvidia GeForce 6200 DVI 256Mb AGP x2-8 Power Mac G4/G5 and was told that it was because

I have upgraded my CPU with the Sonnet/Encore/ST G4 1.8Ghz. and the other was

a ATI Radeon 9800 Pro now whether it was the same problem or the card did just not work I don't know but it would not work.

as anybody got a definitive answer as to what will work in my Mac.

Was the 9800 a Mac version?

PCI radeon 7000 / still would be better than the stock rage 128 pro AGP, right?

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Yes

Geforce FX5200 should work too. Hardly a great card but miles better then the 128.

I just got a Geforce4 MX 64MB AGP Card and Leopard runs great on it! Although there is no Core Image, but who cares?!?!

I am running Leopard on this puppy with a Dual 450MHz CPU, and 512MB RAM and it's pretty snappy.

The Geforce4 MX Cost me like $20+$10 shipping (stupid stingy ebay sellers...)

you could flash a PC 6200 AGP for that thing. a AGP Geforce 6200 (has to be the wang version) would work better then a 7000 PCI or AGP, or you could use a Radeon 9800 Pro in it as well. i think those are the Max cards you can use in them since its AGP 2x

normally any Apple card (even if its a flashed PC card) will command a premium price for it, thats why i said to buy a PC model and flash it yourself since the cards for PC can be had for under $50 in most cases, but you do have to have a PC with a AGP 2x slot in it with a secondary PCI card to be able to flash one. or you can try it blind.

all the info and card roms and compatible cards are on theMacelite wiki

to Bunsen: yes it was a Mac version ( but could have been duff )

to Rodus and Coius: I have been told because my G4 AGP is no longer stock ie upgraded that no Geoforce cards will work because of power issues is this true ?

also Macupgrades (where I got the CPU ) told me the only one that will fit is in the PCI slot ATI Radeon 9200 PCI 128MB Graphics Card is this True?

All I want is a better card than the stock 128 to improve performace with Leopard. ie Core graphics.

I haven't heard that and would doubt it's correct (maybe someone else can correct me here). IIRC the 5200's were 8x AGP so you'd have to tape a couple of the connectors which is hardly a major trial but the power draw shouldn't be an issue.

just as an example would this card work

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RADEON-GRAPHICS-128MB-CARD-9800-PRO-MAC-EDITION-AGP4X_W0QQitemZ220271815184QQihZ012QQcategoryZ3762QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

According to this. Yes [] ]'>

to Rodus and Coius: I have been told because my G4 AGP is no longer stock ie upgraded that no Geoforce cards will work because of power issues is this true ?

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/me looks at the sawtooth next to him that has 512MB RAM and *DUAL 450MHz CPUS* and also notes that the Geforce4 MX 64MB was a drop-in replacement for the crappy Rage 128Pro card that it came with and looks back to where he is typing from the working G4.

Seems to be working fine...

to coius

I also note that you are running a stock machine no upgrades

mine has sonnet/encore st/G4 1.8Ghz CPU and 1GB memory

and there in lies my problem, nothing seems to work because of the upgrade.

^^The CPU and Ram upgrades are not the problem here, as a last resort you may need to beef up the PSU for a high end AGP card but if you stick an old Radon in, their power requirements are not high.

ok I have my eye on Radeon 9800 pro I will give that a try

if it still doesnt work, you should try the atx power supply hack. although it might just be safer to get your hands on something like a quicksilver or some g4 with a bigger power supply.

to coiusI also note that you are running a stock machine no upgrades

mine has sonnet/encore st/G4 1.8Ghz CPU and 1GB memory

and there in lies my problem, nothing seems to work because of the upgrade.

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Did you upgrade the machines firmware before installing that 1.8ghz cpu?

I did update everything before cpu upgrade anyhow that was not the issue

as everything was working fine with stock ATI Rage 128 pro.

Anyways I have good news I got a ATI 9800 pro 128mb and fitted it and its working perfectly now a lot faster, a real speed boost.

Thanks everyone for all your help,I'm another Happy Mac user now [] ]'>

Hey folks, if I can bring up this topic again...

I have a G4 450 "Sawtooth" I have flashed a 6200 wang video card and it will not always boot. Some times the system boots with no issue. Other times it begins booting, Grey Apple screen, but then when the screen turns blue before it shows the loading screen it hangs there. I'm running 10.4.11

I suggestions on where to look or start troubleshooting? Has anyone run through this before?

It should work fine. Did the G4 start reliably before you put in the 6200?

Also, apparently this card shouldn't be taped so make sure there is no tape on the gold connectors. It could also be a flashing problem so it may be worth reflashing the card. If it still doesn't work after that then maybe try a system re-install as the drivers could be corrupted (yes, I'm grasping at straws here [] ]'> )

If all the above doesn't solve the problem than you could have a duff card on your hands.

I know what you mean about grasping at straws.... I've tried a few already.. pram, nvram, cleaned everything using Onyx. I hope its not a duff card as these are hard to find.... lol.

I'll try your suggestions.. Thanks.

My G4's have been wonky like that before. Just leave everything unplugged from the machine without battery for a couple days. Then try again.