Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iM 4,1-14,4 2011 iMac Graphics Card Upgrade

Status
The first post of this thread is a WikiPost and can be edited by anyone with the appropiate permissions. Your edits will be public.
FlorisVN said:
no problem.
perhaps Nick will make a rom for these quadro cards someday, let's hope.
And if not it is possible to install a GTX765m inside a 21,5" iMac, i would personally not reccomend it in the first place.
But others have done it, and it is possible..
Click to expand...

If Nick, or anyone else felt inclined, I think a rom for this and or the k2000m would be hugely appreciated by many - low powered, easy to fit etc. and METAL compatible. I'll live in hope!
 
  • Like
Reactions: FlorisVN
tobee1k said:
If Nick, or anyone else felt inclined, I think a rom for this and or the k2000m would be hugely appreciated by many - low powered, easy to fit etc. and METAL compatible. I'll live in hope!
Click to expand...

you are correct, it would be great for 21,5" iMac users out there.. ;)
 
Just went to turn my iMac on and it's not POSTing anymore - fans spin up for a second then stops, does this over and over.

I wonder if there's any chance I corrupted the bootrom when I was trying to read it? Otherwise I might need a new board.

Doesn't appear to be any physical damage from where I was trying to clip it:
 

Attachments

  • IMG_9613.jpg
    IMG_9613.jpg
    1.5 MB · Views: 245
liquidtwitch said:
Just went to turn my iMac on and it's not POSTing anymore - fans spin up for a second then stops, does this over and over.

I wonder if there's any chance I corrupted the bootrom when I was trying to read it? Otherwise I might need a new board.

Doesn't appear to be any physical damage from where I was trying to clip it:
Click to expand...

I hope you also made a few backups of your bootrom using the romtool from dosdude1 ?
If so, write this original backup back to the iMac, and try if it will work then again..

if so, compare the dumps always, using commands like shasam and check and compare files sizes.
They must all be the same.
 
liquidtwitch said:
Yep SIP was disabled. I checked when I was first having issue with romtool.
Click to expand...

Ok,

You made multiple backups with rom tool, they all look the same when you open them with uefi tool.. ?
Have you checked file sizes of them, and comparted them.. ?

Have been able to make any backups at all using the ch341A eeprom clipper.. ?

To me it also looks different, on the screenshot you have send.
Maybe Nick can help you with this, when he is back..

Btw you also have 27” iMac here correct.. ?
 
liquidtwitch said:
Only got the one romtool backup unfortunately. But I'll try and make a backup of the eeprom once the new clip arrives.

@Nick [D]vB any idea why my rom dump (https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/2011-imac-graphics-card-upgrade.1596614/post-27783702) looks so different?
Click to expand...

Its a pitty you only made one backup dump.
Always make multiple, I would say at least 3 or more.

Try to make a new one when your new eeprom clipper arrives I would say..

So your iMac doesnt do anything at all, at the moment.. ?

When you plug in power first led on logic board. Should light up..
 
liquidtwitch said:
1st led is on, when I turn it on the fans spin up and then stop straight away - then they spin up again every 3 seconds or so. No chimes or anything.
Click to expand...

So how exactly got your iMac in this state.. ?

Have you also tried resetting the smc ?
 
liquidtwitch said:
Last turned on yesterday when I did the 765m install/flash - hasn't worked since I tried clipping to the eeprom. I've done an SMC/PRAM to no avail.
Click to expand...

Ok, strange.
So the firmware on the eeprom should still be stock and untouched i would say.
There are very little capacitors near the eeprom chip on the logic board, perhaps you have destroyed them while trying to put the eeprom clip on.. ?

Checking the logic board perhaps is a good idea.. ?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nick [D]vB
eeehhh i just had some time to mod the BootRom, or at least i wanted to. I assumed the Toolrom software was to communicate with the CH341A, but it is not. So that software is only for the modification of the BoorRom and i need some other software to read and flash the Bootrom, right?

Is there a mac version for this? I only have windows software to use, so i think i go that way. Now i need a long USB cable because the only Computer who is able run that software is a Windows XP computer on the other desk. I don't have any WXP or W7 laptops here.

Or how do you guys do this?
 
Hi guys. Who has any success in updating the vbios? I’m just planning to order a video card with Ali Express.
 
Roman78 said:
So that software is only for the modification of the BoorRom and i need some other software to read and flash the Bootrom, right?
Click to expand...

Flashrom looks like the way to go, it's available for macos but you have to stuff around with drivers. If you get virtualbox and run Ubuntu it's a bit easier as the CH341A has native support - you just have to run apt-get install flashrom.
 
i have used flashrom on MacOS, runs great and used it for the bootrom patch here..
[automerge]1569159550[/automerge]
Underbeat88 said:
Hi guys. Who has any success in updating the vbios? I’m just planning to order a video card with Ali Express.
Click to expand...

yep done so trough bootcamp using nvidia nvflash,
 
What program to work from Windows to copy a dump? Chip sst25vf032b. Programmer CH341A. Through a clothespin is not determined. What am I doing wrong?
 
Do NOT use the normal CH341 windows software / drivers, use the version of Flashrom I posted here (you must install the included driver first through device manager). Make several dumps just in case, then use UEFITool 0.26 to edit.

Also be very careful attaching & removing the clip, you must support the weight of the ribbon cable so it does not pull on it. It is very easy to damage the clip so it will not stay attached, then you risk damaging the EEPROM chip / logic-board trying to make it work.

I am still travelling at the moment so I might not be able to reply quickly, but I will try and check back later and I should be home next week. Good luck with it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Thoskan and FlorisVN
Why not use the Windows software? I just did and looks like it worked. I read the Bootrom with the Windows-Tool. Modified it with the UEFITool 0.26 and saved it again to the eprom.

Now I have a Boot screen, but just before the Apple appears I see some text scrolling by for a slip second. Is this normal?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nick [D]vB
So... is that BootRom mod not PRAM safe?

Just had some problems with my audio, so i did a PRAM reset and the screen stays again black after that until the OS loaded.

Edit: I have no Audio on Mojave but I have on El Capitan. But on El Capitan I somehow dont have a boot screen, well I did ones but after a reboot Pram Reset it was gone. I still have Bootscreen on Mojave... Lets test the Boot menu... brb...

Edit 2: the Boot menu works and after that i Have bootscreen again. Mazbe my El Cap is f...

Edit 3: Now i try to install a Sierra on a new harddisk.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Nick [D]vB
Roman78 said:
Why not use the Windows software? I just did and looks like it worked. I read the Bootrom with the Windows-Tool. Modified it with the UEFITool 0.26 and saved it again to the eprom.

Now I have a Boot screen, but just before the Apple appears I see some text scrolling by for a slip second. Is this normal?
Click to expand...

what program are you using? what settings, in what position is the jumper, in which slot is the clothespin inserted?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back