com.apple.Boot.plist Graphics Strings!

[Ianxxx]

Anyone know how to make a string for my XFX 7900GS so I don't have to use nvinject?

[eddie11c]

Making the string is not all that hard, but you may have to modify the original kexts if your video card is not supported. I think only the newer cards are supported from Apple. Give me a bit and I will write a quick how-to.

[Ianxxx]

Cheers. :-)

[eddie11c]

Ok so here is the quick how-to. Get the attached gfxutil and template.plist and copy them to your desktop. Open up terminal and type

cd ~/desktop
./gfxutil -f display

You should get something along these lines printed out

PciRoot(0x1)/Pci(0xe,0x0)/Pci(0x0,0x0)

Now copy that and open the template.plist and look for the line near the top where you see this example and replace it with what you copied. Scroll down near the bottom of the plist and change this:

<key>model</key>
<string>NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GTX</string>

to whatever model Geforce card you are using. You can also change the Rom-revision to whatever you like. Once your done making your changes save the file as in.plist.
Go back to terminal you should still be in the desktop directory and type this.

./gfxutil -i xml -o hex ./in.plist ./out.hex

you should now have a new file called out.hex on your desktop. Open this file with whatever editor you like it and it will have your new graphics string. Copy it and open finder and head to /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration and open up your com.apple.boot.plist. Under the last string, which is usually the timeout

<key>Timeout</key>
<string>10</string>

add a couple new lines as follows

<key>device-properties</key>
<string>PASTE YOUR LONG HEX STRING HERE!</string>

close and save the file. If it doesn't let you save it, save as a copy elsewhere and you can move it back replacing the old one. Make sure to save a backup copy of the original just in case. If you had full QE/CI prior to making these changes, browse over to /system/library/extensions and delete the NVinject/Natit or whatever you were using and reboot. Don't hold me responsible if you break your own install but this does work for some, but not all.

[zephyroth]

No problem for you if I add it to the wiki ? Or maybe you could do that yourself ?

[eddie11c]

go for it! Oh and this for only for Nvidia based cards, no idea what you have to do as far as the template goes for ATI cards.

[zephyroth]

Yes I know . This how to is on the Netkas Forum. I manage to get my 8800 GTS working this way without NVinject.

[eddie11c]

Cool I can bug you if my 8800GTS doesn't work, my new computer parts will be here tomorrow!

[Ianxxx]

Thanks Eddie, works good for me.
Hope it does get added to wiki, it's great having all the info in one place instead of scattered throughout different forums.

[eddie11c]

ok added to the wiki how to guide.