IMPORTANT INFORMATION for the
ATI RADEON™ Mac Edition
Firmware Update (RADEON Universal)

August 2005

Requirements

Instructions

Release Notes

Mode Tables

• Bootable Mac OS X 10.3.6 or newer system
• Retail RADEON Mac Edition graphics card (installed in AGP and/or PCI slot)
• Firmware Update application file
• The computer MUST NOT be interrupted (shut down or power failure) during firmware update

IMPORTANT: Do not turn off your computer while the firmware update is being applied.*  Do not run any other applications while running the firmware update. The update will flash all retail RADEON cards installed in the computer.

OSX 10.4.x Tiger : Safe Boot is required to use this ROM Update. Hold shift during boot to Safe Boot.

1. Make sure the RADEON card is installed in one of the computer's AGP or PCI slots (the updater supports multiple cards)
2. Boot the computer into Mac OS X 10.3.6 or newer
3. Locate the ATI RADEON Rom firmware update application file (ATI RADEON ROM update)
4. Double-click the file to launch it
5. Follow the on-screen prompts
6. While flashing, you will see a new window pop up with text showing the current ROM version and new version being flashed
7. When complete, this window will automatically close and you will be prompted to restart the system - you're done

Note: It is normal behavior for the RADEON card's TV-Out display and/or VGA connected through DVI-I port to go blank during the flash procedure. Please wait and any such display will return once the flashing has completed.

For convenience, the firmware update will work with or without a display connected to any RADEON Mac Edition card. As an advanced option, the original firmware release and in some cases an interim release are also included. There should be no need to revert to the older versions.

*WARNING: If your computer is accidentally shut down in the middle of the update, you may need to use a secondary video card to start the system and re-apply the update.

A flash failure due to power loss or other interruption of the flash procedure (system crash/hang) will generally leave the RADEON card with an invalid or blank ROM. When booting such a card you will not have a valid display. Apple System Profiler will show this card with a name of "pcifff,ffff." You will need to boot from a different card (or on-board video) to run the flash program again. Run this version of the flash program to repair a previously blanked RADEON card.  You may flash to either old or new version during the repair.

This update brings the retail RADEON board firmware up to date with the latest enhancements and bug fixes

RADEON PCI
Fixed a bug where Formac panels would hang on boot
Fixed possible blank screen on bootup with some non-ddc displays
Fixed a hang when reporting AAPL,vram-memory property
Fixed a cursor hang when selecting Detect Displays from System Preferences
Fixed a bug where some non-ddc displays were incorrectly identified
Fixed a bug where ADVANCED settings were not saved to NVRAM on beige G3 (and earlier systems)
Fixed a bug where a dead cursor may appear after Detect Displays
Monochrome modes are no longer supported

Non DDC (Display Data Channel) Analog Monitors
The mode table below represents the base list of modes made available by the RADEON Mac Edition driver. If you have a NON-DDC monitor, you will receive a list containing all the modes in the table, with an assortment of refresh rates up to the maximum listed. The refresh rates listed will be in the following order: 60, 75, 85, 90, 100, 120, 150, 200Hz. Any other refresh rates or resolutions are created by the operating system. Refresh rates are shown up to the card's maximum - not all presented modes will work for the connected monitor. The system will prompt you with a confirmation dialog when changing to any mode.

Non-DDC monitors include older displays as well as any display connected using BNC cables.

DDC Analog Monitors and LCDs.
When using a monitor that supports DDC, the mode list will be modified to exclude resolutions and refresh rates that fall outside the monitor's capabilities. Therefore, the maximum refresh rate presented may not be what is indicated in the list, but instead the closest rate from the following list (60, 75, 85, 90, 100, 120, 150, 200Hz). The operating system may create additional resolutions and refresh rates depending on the information it receives from the monitor.  Additionally, if the monitor includes the necessary information, modes are also created at the monitor's highest refresh rate (for instance, 170Hz).

Digital Displays (DDC)
DVI displays (or ADC with DVI adapter) will vary in mode list depending on their built-in information. Only modes specified through DDC will be available. The RADEON card's maximum digital resolution is 1920x1200 (using a reduced blanking interval compatible with Apple's Cinema HD ADC Display, using an Apple or third-party powered adapter). Digital displays are generally 60Hz, though some displays such as IBM's T221 high-end LCD will allow a lower refresh rate for increased resolutions (example: 3840x2400@15Hz).

Minimum Analog Mode Table for 2D and 3D modes.

Note, the minimum refresh rate for each resolution above is 60Hz. (OS may introduce other refresh rates, including 56Hz)

Another way to express the list, but in a more concise manner is as follows: