64 bit questions / solutions

[Mr_P]

We have a new mac pro with a 5770 card. Many issues... First is it will only run 32 not 64 bit

Thats fine - there is no performance gain in 64bit mode and many drivers are not yet supporting 64bit.
Stick with 32bit.

To select the 32-bit kernel for the current startup disk, use the following command in Terminal:
sudo systemsetup -setkernelbootarchitecture i386

and even then the LFG input
[/SIZE]

LFG should not do this in 32bit mode. Try removing Intensity Pro - use a new blank catalyst show and try again.
Try re-install drivers from Active Silicon website:
http://downloads.activesilicon.com/l...-v02_00_00.dmg

& Intentsity Pro cards can bring the os down when you enable it with various other random crashes, however once its running its solid.
[/SIZE]

Check your settings as above and re-install latest driver
What version of catalyst are you using? Richard has a workaround that may work for Decklink Cards.

We have 2 THTG Dvi cards on the outputs and using the MDP - DVI adaptor the only resolution is 2400 / 600, whereas the dual link Dvi output works fine.
[/SIZE]

The MDP-DVI adaptor is single link - ie you will only get limited resolutions out of a Matrox TH2G
Either use the Matrox TH2G-DP edition (with a plethora of adaptor cables) or use a MDP-DVI-D active adaptor from apple (£60.00)

However you can only use 2 out of 3 of the outputs at any time.
[/SIZE]

Have you checked how many you can use without a TH2G.
There is a limit to what a graphics card can do....

I'm told that if we buy the Apple active MDP - DVI it will all work a treat giving 3 dual link DVI outs , but I'd be happy with 2.[/SIZE]

Not necessarily 3x DVI-D outputs.... but you should get 2...

Questions basically are...

Will apple fix the 5770 drivers anytime soon ? even then its going to need another adaptor if not 2 to work properly so is there any point waiting?

Impossible to answer - apparently there may be some hope in the OS build after next...
Do wait - on paper the 5870 card could be good...
The existing adaptors will do the same as they do now.... resolutions wont change.

Does anyone any experience of the MDP Active DVI adaptor ?

MDP-DVI-D adaptor works - you must test it to see what it does with the TH2G

[/SIZE]
Would the sensible move be to junk it for a GTX285 ?

Dont junk it - leave it on the shelf for a few months
If you can get a GTX285 - it will be a better choice than 5770/5870 right now (11/11/10)
Else use a GT120 - its cheap, works ok and is a good interim solution.

Whats stopping Catalyst / Lfg whatever working in 64 bit and how likely is a fix for that?

AS drivers are 32bit
nothing else takes advantage of 64bit at the moment - so no reason to run it...


basically - follow the guidelines and workarounds here on the forum and new MacPros work fine if you run them in 32bit with an nvidia graphics card.

Simon