Power Mac G4 problem: can't select more than 256 colours on monitor!

**Revolution** · 2nd September 2011, 02:33 PM

Hey guys,

I've got a problem with an 867Mhz Power Mac G4 connected to an aluminium Apple Display. For some reason I can't select more than 256 colours on the monitor. Here is a photograph I took of the control strip (obviously the G4 is running OS 9).

ImageShack® - Online Photo and Video Hosting

Any ideas as to how I can fix the problem?

Cheers,

Jed

**Byrd** · 2nd September 2011, 05:03 PM

Hi Revolution,

that's a bit weird - what's the graphics card, is it ATI or nVidia? Most work out of the box under OS 9 - you can do 256/thousands/millions without graphics card extensions needing to be installed (but desirable for more features/acceleration), but some later cards in the OS 9/X transition definately need the right drivers installed. You could also try deleting your Monitors & sound preference file.

JB

**Revolution** · 4th September 2011, 10:58 PM

Still no dice... thanks for the help anyway Byrd!

Cheers

**Byrd** · 5th September 2011, 10:21 AM

So what is the graphic card?

**stewiesno1** · 5th September 2011, 10:58 AM

I'd upgrade to OSX unless you have a software program you absolutely need to run in OS9. If you are using the bog standard 4X AGP NVIDIA GeForce 2 MX which came with the Mac and connected the Aluminium Display to it via the DVI port then OS9 is probably struggling to cope with the later extensions the monitor requires to run under thousands or millions of colours as Byrd points out. It has probably defaulted back to the minimum output so you can at least see and problem shoot.
Did you have this setup working before or have you just bought the monitor and plugged it into the Mac ?
This page here may have some info ( scroll down a fair way )
Accelerate Your Mac Graphics Card and Video Related Articles

Stewie

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