Thread

iMac graphics ROM file for ATI RAGEIIc

iMac graphics ROM file for ATI RAGEIIc PowerPC 25 posts Jul 30, 2011 — Oct 16, 2011

#1 Sat, 30 Jul 2011 - 13:02

Hi!

Could I find anyone skillful enough to dump the ROM file from the original iMac grpahics card the Ati Rage IIc?

I want to use it for flashing.

I will be more than thankful, and report back on all, hope to get it working in my B&W G3.

This will be helpful, downloading the ROM shouldnt be hard.

Thanks!

#2 Thu, 13 Oct 2011 - 13:15

Are you in need for the ROM file still?

I have both logic boards that were sold as iMac Bondi blue (one operating iMac G3/233), but no idea how to dump the graphics ROM, I´m afraid.

#3 Thu, 13 Oct 2011 - 14:06

Hi,

Thanks for reply indeed!

Use "ATIccelerator II" to save the rom file:

http://thomas.perrier.name/index.html

Use "Flasher & dumper" to dump (download to disk) the ROM image. Then upload it somwhere so I can download it.

There is realy no risk in doing that.

Thanks!

#4 Thu, 13 Oct 2011 - 20:54

I did not care to run OSX on my iMacs, is there a OS9 utility too to grab the video rom?

I guess I could make Jaguar run on the iMac, but ATIccelerator II claims 10.3.9 as a minimum,

so it would be a long term project rather and I would need some old version of ATIccelerator.

#5 Thu, 13 Oct 2011 - 21:45

Hi,

If you would be so kind and tried to install 10.3.9

According to

apple-history.com

It is compatible with mac os 10.3.9

And run the ATI Accelerator

I realy cant find a tool to dump the ROM. I searched all over. I sent a couple e-mails hope someone replies.

I promise I will post pictures here and will try to use the card for dual display. And maybe even conect using the bridge the cards have so they can work in tandem. I will investigate.

Thanks!

#6 Thu, 13 Oct 2011 - 23:10

All right, I´ll put 10.3.9 on my "To Do" list. I know the iMac is supposed to run it, but it will be a pain with only little RAM.

Don´t expect a result soon please - maybe someone else chimes in?

There must be some Bondi blue´s still in operation with a newer OSX.

#7 Thu, 13 Oct 2011 - 23:39

It might be possible to dump the rom with some random ppc linux distro and the right tool. That way you would just need a livecd of some kind and maybe a usb stick to save the file to. Saves installing a whole OS.

#8 Fri, 14 Oct 2011 - 09:51

Thats a bright idea protocol7,

I might try Slackintosh or Ubuntu8, are you aware of a video ROM dump utility for one of those?

I'm not what you would call a command line addict, btw.

#9 Fri, 14 Oct 2011 - 11:05

This is starting to be interesting!

Thanks 24bit and protocol7!

#10 Fri, 14 Oct 2011 - 11:32

I'm not that linux-savvy I'm afraid, so that's why I said "the right tool". I'm sure there is one, I just don't know what one.

#11 Fri, 14 Oct 2011 - 19:31

With a little help from my friends, I made a bootable Panther pATA from an old 4.3 GB Mac Seagate.

If the combo update is successful, I should be able to dump the Rage IIc´s ROM.

If all goes well, should I save the Rage Pro Turbo´s ROM as well?

Wouldn´t be a big thing to swap the Panther disk again.

#12 Fri, 14 Oct 2011 - 19:44

Thank you so much 24bit!

Make dumps of both ROM files, the second I dont need but it migh come in handy sometime. Even for you maybe.

Thanks again

#13 Fri, 14 Oct 2011 - 21:13

Seems to be a dead end I´m afraid.

ATIccelerator cant find a video card.

Screenshot: http://www.multiupload.com/3C4BKBXGHS

Additionally the author claimed that dumper tools from Graphiccelerator would not work with embedded chips.

Soory I spoke too soon, maybe Ubuntu offers a more versatile ROM dump utility though.

#14 Fri, 14 Oct 2011 - 21:42

Hi,

Didnt the package contain ati flasher and ati dumper? So you would use dumper? Maybe try to use the Graphicaccelerator http://thomas.perrier.name/graphiccelerator.html

Let me know

Thanks

#15 Fri, 14 Oct 2011 - 21:50

I know this is a pointless observation, but... don't all those linked tools seem to say pretty clearly that they don't work with cards older than the Rage 128?

#16 Fri, 14 Oct 2011 - 21:54

One more thing.

Would you go to About this mac>more info>graphics

and post the picture here?

Thanks

#17 Fri, 14 Oct 2011 - 21:58

Gorgonops what tool would you suggest to dump the graphics ROM file?

Thnaks

#18 Fri, 14 Oct 2011 - 22:26

Are you certain that the iMac G3 even has a standalone video BIOS, rather than having it integrated into the main Open Firmware flash image? (That's a question, not a suggestion that I know the answer. Those tools you linked to likewise say the don't work to dump the BIOS of integrated cards.)

#19 Fri, 14 Oct 2011 - 22:29

Maybe dump the whole rom and extract the graphics afterwareds?

#20 Fri, 14 Oct 2011 - 23:10

Graphiccelerator comes with a ROM dump util called ATI Multi Dumper, ATIccelerator uses another way to tweak the graphics without dumping the ROM it seems.

ATI Multi Dumper 8.7 (PowerPC only): OS X and 9. Dumps the ROM of ATI cards, as well as a text file containing various pieces of information you probably don't need. Note that on-motherboard graphics cards (iMacs, eMacs, PowerBooks, iBooks) are not supported by the dumper tool. Does not support Intel-based Macs.

Still System Profile reports some video ROM:

http://www.multiupload.com/POFRDV3OOU

After all, I dont think there will be an easy way to have something saved and I doubt you could use it for your G3 card. :-(

#21 Fri, 14 Oct 2011 - 23:15

At least now we know the device ID for the ATI RAGEIIc 0X4756.

#22 Sat, 15 Oct 2011 - 16:37

Little more than nothing...

But you made me install Panther on my old iMac (192MB), which I never even would have considered otherwise.

Not bad, the 10.3 OS. I wonder, if I can "restore" the OS to a somewhat bigger non Apple drive to have it co-exist with 9.2?

But thats off topic.

Best wishes, comrade in the East!

#23 Sat, 15 Oct 2011 - 20:23

To be honest, I don't know that I've ever even seen an ATI card prior to the Rage 128 era that had a flash upgradable BIOS. Are you sure the IIc card you have even supports that?

I guess the obvious question is "why bother with such an old card anyway"? GeForce MX cards are just as worthless as Rage IIc cards now, and the result would be far more useable.

#24 Sat, 15 Oct 2011 - 20:49

Well to be honest I dont have ge force MX card, only the AGP version and I need the PCI and the only PCI I have is the IIc. I thought every card has a flashable bios. Ok then I will look around for for the PCI MX.

But to ask if it is worth bothering, is irrelevant. Especialy on this foum :lol:

Why does anyone bother with 68k in the age of multi core processors? For fun? I doubt it. For nostalgia? Idoubt it.

The reason is far more deeper that can be explained within a few lines.

It is because everything is so worthless in these times, the money, life, death, love, sex.

So you reach out for something obviously worthless that has been stuck in back of your mind since you were a kid.

For us it is the Macintosh and 68k.

R.

#25 Sun, 16 Oct 2011 - 09:25

I found a Voodoo2 card. Its a PC card but from what I googled it works in mac. But not in OsX. Damn. Geforce MX PCI is very hard to find where I live.