Mac OS X on x86 Hardware 2008–2024 Technical Archive
InfiniteMac OSx86 › OSx86 Core & 10.X › NVCAP // Basic Questions
17,252 reads · 2010-09-19 – 2011-09-03
Dossier 10.X Core NVIDIA GeForce

NVCAP // Basic Questions

The Story before: Since i have a few Problems with some Zotac GeForce Cards i tried making my own EFI-String for it. The Cards i am talking about are the Zotac GeForce 9800GT 1024MB and the Zotac GeForce 9500GT 1024MB. The Cards have the…

Primary Author
@lazybon3 Published 2010-09-19
Collection
OSx86 Core & 10.X
Archival Footprint
17,252 historical reads · 3 curated field notes (from 7 dispatches) · 2010-09-19 – 2011-09-03
Credited Voices (4)
@lazybon3 (4)@wildfire2004@aytek@bassistas

The Story before:

Since i have a few Problems with some Zotac GeForce Cards i tried making my own EFI-String for it.
The Cards i am talking about are the Zotac GeForce 9800GT 1024MB and the Zotac GeForce 9500GT 1024MB.
The Cards have the same Layout: VGA | HDMI | DVI

I got both Cards working with 10.6.4 with VGA-Output. QE/CI fully working.
I had the Cards working with NVEnabler 64 / GraphicsEnabler / GraphicsEnabler + NVIDIA.ROM/ EFI-String
but
The System will just give me output on the Display if i boot with VGA.
The DVI Port will only work if i boot from VGA, then connect DVI, and unplug VGA. Dual Display wont work with this.
Since i want to set up a dual (or even triple / if possible /) Display-Config it is kind of important to me that at least 2 Outputs work.

I made a Custom EFI-String based on the data i got from NVCAP (using a selfmade ROM-Backup) and it worked same as before. QE/CI working but only VGA-out and DVI with some "tricks".

So here are my questions about NVCAP:

- There seem to be two diffent styles of NVCAP Values

<key>NVCAP</key>
<data>BAAAAAAAAwAMAAAAAAAABwAAAAA=</data>
or
<key>NVCAP</key>
<data>04000000000003000c0000000000000700000000</data>

- Does it make any difference what style the values are in?
- Are they even a different Style, and even if they are, how do i convert them?
- Is there a NVCAP/EFI-String based workaround to get all Outputs ( VGA | HDMI | DVI ) working?

The main reason i need info on this is that i need at least dual-display support. The other Reason is that the GPUs are working way to slow (CineBench/OpenMark) when connected via VGA or DVI/VGA-Adapter.

If anyone got info to this, or any suggestions how i can get at least 2 outputs to work, it would be great if you could help me or just post a link to the solution.

The next thing i will try in a few days will be a HDMI to DVI Adapter, but if this works there is still the Problem with the slow VGA-out.

Things i have already tried are:

NVEnabler 64.kext >> QE/CI working / bad performance / VGA-Only
GraphicsEnabler=y >> QE/CI working / bad performance / VGA-Only
GraphicsEnabler=y + NVIDIA.ROM >> QE/CI working / bad performance / VGA-Only
EFI-String from EFI-Studio 1.1 >> QE/CI working / bad performance / VGA-Only
EFI-String Custom from NVCAP >> QE/CI working / bad performance / VGA-Only
GraphicsEnaber=no >> no QE/CI / VGA-Only
NVinject.kext >> no QE/CI / VGA-Only
Natit.kext >> no QE/CI / VGA-Only

Is there any other Enabler that could get Dual-Displays or even Triple-Displays to work?

Is this NVCAP valid?
<key>NVCAP</key>
 <data>04000000000003000c0000000000000700000000</data>

Any suggestions or Solution for this would be welcome.

Author Updates & Technical Revisions

Follow-up dispatches by @lazybon3

Author Update #1 @lazybon3 2010-09-25

HUGE Thanks!

This answers nearly all of my questions in just one link.
i will give that method a try tomorrow!

EDIT: Tried it! Works perfectly! I can't thank you enough!

T H A N K S

Author Update #2 @lazybon3 2011-02-01

Sorry for the late anwere...

I will try to find it, it has to be somewhere on my computer...
Since i build that configuration for someone else i am not sure if i still have it.

If i find it, and you still need it i will post it here later.

Author Update #3 @lazybon3 2011-03-21

Link to uphuck.ggrn.de as PDF

Since someone told me that the Link to

uphuck.gg rn.de/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=4239

doesn't work anymore i attached the Content of this forum post as a pdf.

gl&hf

Synthesized Community Field Notes

3 technical responses curated from 7 original dispatches

Field Note #1 @wildfire2004 2010-09-24

I had a challenge with NVCAP. This might help expand your understanding

uphuck.gg rn.de/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=4239

Field Note #2 @aytek 2011-01-24

9800GT efi string

Dear lazybon3 i have same card like you (9800GT) and same problems.

Is it possible to share your efi string ?

Field Note #3 @bassistas 2011-09-03

NVCAP problem

I have a qosmio g30 laptop with nvidia 7600go 256mb graphics. The card works fully with qe/ci enabler but only through the VGA port of laptop. If I boot without vga cable attached, I get a white screen that fades in from the text when loading in verbose mode or normaly after apple logo, just before enter the gui. So, if i boot with the vga cable attached , after the white apple logo the laptop internal screen turns black and I get normal signal through the vga, at any resolution and hardware acceleration !
I use NVEnabler.kext for this. I tried many NVCAP values, I also used NVCAP maker to extract NVCAP from my vBios but nothing changed. Still get output only through VGA port. Here is my NVCAP:
0400000000002700400000000000000700000000

any suggestions?

Sources & Contributor Provenance (4 credited usernames · Thread #6596)
UsernameDossier ContributionDispatchesActive Window
@lazybon3Primary Author42010-09-19 → 2011-03-21
@wildfire2004Contributor12010-09-24
@aytekContributor12011-01-24
@bassistasContributor12011-09-03