Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
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.
Hello, thanks to your help and support I was able to modify iMac 2011. I now have a boot screen, the GPU is working and I was so happy that I installed Catalina on a new disk and ... I have Kernel Panic :(
I changed graphics cards (I have two pieces) on each is the same. This happens when you wake up. iMac reboots and shows error and send to apple. Does anyone have that?


View attachment 878106

panic(cpu 0 caller 0xffffff7fa17e9306): NVRM[0/1:0:0]: Read Error 0x00070000: CFG 0x11e110de 0x00100000 0x00000000, BAR0 0xb0000000 0xffffffa3cc91b000 0x0e6210a1, D3, P0/3
Backtrace (CPU 0), Frame : Return Address
0xffffffa3cc5baed0 : 0xffffff8020739a3b
0xffffffa3cc5baf20 : 0xffffff8020870fe5
0xffffffa3cc5baf60 : 0xffffff8020862a5e
0xffffffa3cc5bafb0 : 0xffffff80206e0a40
0xffffffa3cc5bafd0 : 0xffffff8020739127
0xffffffa3cc5bb0d0 : 0xffffff802073950b
0xffffffa3cc5bb120 : 0xffffff8020ed17f9
0xffffffa3cc5bb190 : 0xffffff7fa17e9306
0xffffffa3cc5bb210 : 0xffffff7fa18b611b
0xffffffa3cc5bb270 : 0xffffff7fa3118dea
0xffffffa3cc5bb2c0 : 0xffffff7fa3118d13
0xffffffa3cc5bb300 : 0xffffff7fa17cfe11
0xffffffa3cc5bb3a0 : 0xffffff7fa18d0280
0xffffffa3cc5bb400 : 0xffffff7fa17b84b7
0xffffffa3cc5bb4a0 : 0xffffff7fa17b0370
0xffffffa3cc5bb500 : 0xffffff7fa17b03df
0xffffffa3cc5bb530 : 0xffffff7fa17adb72
0xffffffa3cc5bb5d0 : 0xffffff7fa17edb1c
0xffffffa3cc5bb750 : 0xffffff7fa17ee58d
0xffffffa3cc5bb840 : 0xffffff7fa1c8a98e
0xffffffa3cc5bb890 : 0xffffff7fa1c589ab
0xffffffa3cc5bb8c0 : 0xffffff7fa1c5a0c2
0xffffffa3cc5bb8f0 : 0xffffff7fa1c5ad0c
0xffffffa3cc5bb910 : 0xffffff7fa1caf473
0xffffffa3cc5bb930 : 0xffffff7fa1c500a0
0xffffffa3cc5bb950 : 0xffffff7fa1bbff14
0xffffffa3cc5bb970 : 0xffffff7fa1ba8218
0xffffffa3cc5bb9b0 : 0xffffff7fa1b733e5
0xffffffa3cc5bb9f0 : 0xffffff7fa1b969bb
0xffffffa3cc5bba30 : 0xffffff7fa1b9b6fa
0xffffffa3cc5bba80 : 0xffffff7fa1b9cee9
0xffffffa3cc5bbac0 : 0xffffff8020e663fb
0xffffffa3cc5bbb10 : 0xffffff7fa1b9d0e2
0xffffffa3cc5bbb60 : 0xffffff8020e6f393
0xffffffa3cc5bbca0 : 0xffffff8020820b92
0xffffffa3cc5bbdb0 : 0xffffff802073f8b8
0xffffffa3cc5bbe10 : 0xffffff8020716545
0xffffffa3cc5bbe70 : 0xf

sleep kernel panics are known issue with mojave/catalina.
instell HD3000 iGPU graphic kexts, are neccecary.
for more info on this problem, please see first post of this thread, its a wiki post !
 
So, I was not able to resolve the 780M problems - seems, after all, it was a dud card. While still trying to resolve the return of that card I acquired 765M. And I am in... Card confirmed working no boot screen and brightness for the moment, but I am going to work on that later today. Oh, and I have WX7100 on the way too. @Ooze, impatiently waiting for all the results of your build.
 
So, I was not able to resolve the 780M problems - seems, after all, it was a dud card. While still trying to resolve the return of that card I acquired 765M. And I am in... Card confirmed working no boot screen and brightness for the moment, but I am going to work on that later today. Oh, and I have WX7100 on the way too. @Ooze, impatiently waiting for all the results of your build.

i'm sorry to hear you got a dud GTX780m card.
Luckally your GTX765M works.. (GTX765M is also compatible with Nick's EFI Mod ;) )
a WX7100 is also a nice one, and perhaps a card which is more future proof for MacOS, until Apple will ditch Nvidia Kepler drivers for good within macOS.
I think a year or to left perhaps for Kepler, but who knows..
 
The new bios I'm building for the WX7100 is mainly around increased performance, memory timings, better boost, better undervolting and watt management, taking some of the stress off the PSU.
Very tempting, I will definitely watch progress on that. I tried a few games on my setup and performance would indicate that Mac OS also has the memory issues you saw in windows. Not sure if there's a program like gpuz to check on macOS. No boot screen is a little much to give up though.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jborko
Thanks, FlorisVN - I already managed to flash the vbios in windows (thanks for the clone image). Now I do have internal display both on Windows and on Mac, but I made one mistake - I reset the NVRAM to get back to OSX - I was not able to blindly choose the partition or something else was going on. With that I re-enabled SIP.

I was looking back into previous posts but was not 100% clear on one thing... I learned by practice that NVRAM reset also resets SIP. So, it is obvious that I have to have that disabled to take the dump using the romtool, (the tool itself warns about it - fortunately I already did that).

The question is: Before I flash the bootrom with the programmer do I need to disable SIP as well, or can this be done with SIP enabled?

Just as a precaution I will disable it, but I am curious to understand whether having SIP enabled is going to be a problem or not during write.

Additionally, I run several tests with the programmer SOIC-8 clip - I have decided to take out the spring and put a rubber band on the front side of the clip. The spring presses too heavily and I am worried it could damage the chip or the area around the chip.

fe9e0d21b9c2baf8642bfec1487201c9.jpg


Edit: All right!!! I am in!!!
3e3412a6e2ada95c42b7744921006480.jpg
 
Last edited:
Very tempting, I will definitely watch progress on that. I tried a few games on my setup and performance would indicate that Mac OS also has the memory issues you saw in windows. Not sure if there's a program like gpuz to check on macOS. No boot screen is a little much to give up though.
WX7100 and WX4170 both have VBIOSes for the bootscreen. However you will need to do a backlight mod as the backlight control is even more screwed with these cards.
 
  • Like
Reactions: FlorisVN
Hello jborko and FlorisVN
I used Vbios from @nick https://forums.macrumors.com/attachments/kepler-beta2-zip.861577/
for my card GTX 765M of imac 27 2011 but there is no boot menu.

How to have the boot menu ?

Thanks in advance

[1] Read the last ~106 pages of the thread, again. Watch the videos.


[2] Update both iMacs to the newest High Sierra / Bootrom version.


[3] Flash the graphics cards under Windows using NVflash (with external screen)


[4] Dump each Bootrom with RomTool then edit it with UEFI Tool.


[5] Flash the edited Bootrom with Flashrom using the CH341A Clip.


Good luck!

; )

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/2011-imac-graphics-card-upgrade.1596614/page-106
 
Thanks, FlorisVN - I already managed to flash the vbios in windows (thanks for the clone image). Now I do have internal display both on Windows and on Mac, but I made one mistake - I reset the NVRAM to get back to OSX - I was not able to blindly choose the partition or something else was going on. With that I re-enabled SIP.

I was looking back into previous posts but was not 100% clear on one thing... I learned by practice that NVRAM reset also resets SIP. So, it is obvious that I have to have that disabled to take the dump using the romtool, (the tool itself warns about it - fortunately I already did that).

The question is: Before I flash the bootrom with the programmer do I need to disable SIP as well, or can this be done with SIP enabled?

Just as a precaution I will disable it, but I am curious to understand whether having SIP enabled is going to be a problem or not during write.

Additionally, I run several tests with the programmer SOIC-8 clip - I have decided to take out the spring and put a rubber band on the front side of the clip. The spring presses too heavily and I am worried it could damage the chip or the area around the chip.

fe9e0d21b9c2baf8642bfec1487201c9.jpg


Edit: All right!!! I am in!!!
3e3412a6e2ada95c42b7744921006480.jpg

good you have it working now ;)
Enjoy your EFI bootscreen thx to Nick ! :)

Glad to hear a user who used my winclone image with succes.. ;)

Enjoy your iMac, now for many more years to come, also thx to Dosdude1 of course with his patchers.. ;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dilli
However, I have something wrong with the graphics card or I made a mistake somewhere, the performance of my GTX765 is very poor. The card is working properly there are no artifacts, temperature is ok. The strange thing is that the benchmark incorrectly recognizes the GPU memory instead of 2GB is 256MB
 

Attachments

  • Zrzut ekranu 2019-11-21 o 15.07.38.png
    Zrzut ekranu 2019-11-21 o 15.07.38.png
    75.7 KB · Views: 152
  • Zrzut ekranu 2019-11-19 o 23.03.03.png
    Zrzut ekranu 2019-11-19 o 23.03.03.png
    69.7 KB · Views: 184
Does anybody know if i can perform the bootrom fix from Nick on my K2000m to get my bootscreen back?
 
Does anybody know if i can perform the bootrom fix from Nick on my K2000m to get my bootscreen back?

Not atm, as far as I know.
There us currently no custom vbios released for your card.
for Nvidia currently still only GTX765/770/780m are possible.

This could change someday perhaps..
[automerge]1574349965[/automerge]
However, I have something wrong with the graphics card or I made a mistake somewhere, the performance of my GTX765 is very poor. The card is working properly there are no artifacts, temperature is ok. The strange thing is that the benchmark incorrectly recognizes the GPU memory instead of 2GB is 256MB

have you also tried other benchmarks within macOS Catalina.. ?
Perhaps heaven benchmark and catalina dont play well together.. ?

Also ran Heaven under High sierra/Mojave ??
[automerge]1574350226[/automerge]
That was it!
View attachment 878130(sorry its sideways)
Everything is working. I don't know what to say to everyone here but a massive thanks for all the help, especially Dosdude1 and Nick!
Im going to go upgrade the drives and install Catalina now, if anyone needs help especially with the roms feel free to ask me as it was a bit tricky to get.

just upgrade that poor core i3 someday.. :p
get a i7 860-870 for example, pairs much better with that upgraded GPU if you ask me.. :p
 
Last edited:
Hi,
external display could work under Windows bootcamp, have you tried this.. ?
you need a custom vbios, like the one from Nick, in order to get a internal display working under Windows Bootcamp !

Also the suggestion from @hijglander , is very good !
@FlorisVN / @hijglander was able to install Nick Rom from nvflash. I accessed windows by system preference / boot disk and selected windows to boot. the installation of Nick rom on windows was completed successfully but on macos system the apple screen appears but if i turn on the mac and press the option key the screen goes completely black without the bootcamp menu. thanks for your help
 
  • Like
Reactions: hijglander
Hi all! I understand that this is not the topic ... But no one thought about installing ivy bridge processors on our poppies. As I understand it, without editing with bootrom, this is impossible.
 
Hi
I am ready now to flash my card eith Niks rom but i just see that the Rom has 258kb but my dumpped one and the dell one has about 126kb is it normal is there any risk i use nvflash with bootcamp , i have the 341a programer but does nt reconized the eprom thanks for your help
[automerge]1574361283[/automerge]
Hi
I am ready now to flash my card eith Niks rom but i just see that the Rom has 258kb but my dumpped one and the dell one has about 126kb is it normal is there any risk i use nvflash with bootcamp , i have the 341a programer but does nt reconized the eprom thanks for your help
Sorry its an nvidia 780m running now with flashed dell rom
 
@FlorisVN / @hijglander was able to install Nick Rom from nvflash. I accessed windows by system preference / boot disk and selected windows to boot. the installation of Nick rom on windows was completed successfully but on macos system the apple screen appears but if i turn on the mac and press the option key the screen goes completely black without the bootcamp menu. thanks for your help

You still need to modify your bootrom.
Do the bootrom patch with the new custom vbios, and you have an EFI bootscreen.
Akkording to your screenshot, you still have not done the bootrom patch, which is needed !
[automerge]1574361342[/automerge]
Hi all! I understand that this is not the topic ... But no one thought about installing ivy bridge processors on our poppies. As I understand it, without editing with bootrom, this is impossible.

This could perhaps be a next great project of @Nick [D]vB..
[automerge]1574361446[/automerge]
Hi
I am ready now to flash my card eith Niks rom but i just see that the Rom has 258kb but my dumpped one and the dell one has about 126kb is it normal is there any risk i use nvflash with bootcamp , i have the 341a programer but does nt reconized the eprom thanks for your help
[automerge]1574361283[/automerge]

Sorry its an nvidia 780m running now with flashed dell rom

I first always reccomend using nvflash under Windows or even Linux.
I have only used nvflash so far for the vbios, and it worked fine for me and others here..

using a CH341A for the vbios will be my backup option...
Since most of us already put in their new upgraded graphics card in their iMac's,using nvflash is a more preffered way.

At least it was for me, since I wont have to take out the graphics card again, when using a CH341A programmer..
The bootrom patch is another story, but wont require you to take appart the whole iMac again..;)
 
Yes right now already flashed with nvflash and every thing is well (about the gpu)
[automerge]1574365069[/automerge]
Now just is to make the boot rom work but i dnt know where to start
As i know first is to use the old original card and start with basic install menu to use terminal and disable the spi ok
And after i have to dump the bootrom is there any tuto to do this because after dum what to do exactly to mod and i must reflash with ch341 with witch program and do any help is welcom thanks for Nik and comunauty for support
 

Attachments

  • 108718B9-FE26-41E7-B7DB-7128557CE48A.jpeg
    108718B9-FE26-41E7-B7DB-7128557CE48A.jpeg
    601.3 KB · Views: 171
Last edited:
WX7100 and WX4170 both have VBIOSes for the bootscreen. However you will need to do a backlight mod as the backlight control is even more screwed with these cards.
Noticed as I have a wx7100 paired with a dying light. just not the performance I expected so that's why I'm interested in a performance focused rom
just upgrade that poor core i3 someday.. :p
get a i7 860-870 for example, pairs much better with that upgraded GPU if you ask me..
Haha its not actually an i3, its a Xeon 3470. For some reason the about this Mac screen / system report will report it as an i3 but most other programs (ex. Minecraft f3 screen). If there is a way to fix or spoof the about this Mac screen I would absolutely love it since its hard to show off with an i3.
 
Hello Everyone,

I am trying to upgrade my iMac mid 2011 21.5 GPU. Which one do you suggest? I have 32gb Ram and i7-2600S with a Kingston SSD

Thanks
 
Noticed as I have a wx7100 paired with a dying light. just not the performance I expected so that's why I'm interested in a performance focused rom

Haha its not actually an i3, its a Xeon 3470. For some reason the about this Mac screen / system report will report it as an i3 but most other programs (ex. Minecraft f3 screen). If there is a way to fix or spoof the about this Mac screen I would absolutely love it since its hard to show off with an i3.
Yeah my 2010 21.5" iMac with a Xeon L3426 shows up as a core i3 also. Nothing really can be done about it.
[automerge]1574392603[/automerge]
Hello Everyone,

I am trying to upgrade my iMac mid 2011 21.5 GPU. Which one do you suggest? I have 32gb Ram and i7-2600S with a Kingston SSD

Thanks
Really only a k2000m can for sure be safe with a 2.15" iMac. I was having reboot issues with a 770m in my iMac. They are only designed to power MXM-A cards which are less wattage then MXM-B cards. I really want to try a 765M in my 21.5" but I can't find one for a reasonable price EG $75.
 
Last edited:
Yeah my 2010 21.5" iMac with a Xeon L3426 shows up as a core i3 also. Nothing really can be done about it.
[automerge]1574392603[/automerge]

Really only a k2000m can for sure be safe with a 2.15" iMac. I was having reboot issues with a 770m in my iMac. They are only designed to power MXM-A cards which are less wattage then MXM-B cards. I really want to try a 765M in my 21.5" but I can't find one for a reasonable price EG $75.

any 4gb ones? Also if I do the upgrade is it a huge difference than the basic one?
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.