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

[nikey22]

Here's what I did with mine.

1. I screwed in some screws:

2. Used some sockets that fit inside the screws:

3. Upside down:

4. A few light taps of the hammer:

5: Out come the rivets stuck to the screws:

6. Took about 10minutes:

 

[spwnrpe]

@highvoltage12v
Here's what I did with mine.

1. I screwed in some screws:
View attachment 889073
2. Used some sockets that fit inside the screws:
View attachment 889079
3. Upside down:
View attachment 889080
4. A few light taps of the hammer:
View attachment 889081
5: Out come the rivets stuck to the screws:
View attachment 889082
6. Took about 10minutes:
View attachment 889084

I’ll try during the weekend, but with the bracket off the card #chicken

 

[Terros]

Did you put K5 pro all over the card and modify the X-bracket? Don't think they will be happy with that.

Nope and nope.

Basically them just saying in a nut shell "I'm not competent doing this" even though been in I.T for more than 15 years with far harder projects and case in point, the next 780M from a different seller worked basically straight away.

 

[jborko]

For those of you who have done many of these - how's your luck been with these greymarket cards? So far, I've purchased two K2000Ms and three K1100Ms and 3 of 5 have been DOA. (Short on the MXM board or damaged resistors/caps.)

I was writing something similar few posts ago > here

780M (from ali - China - seller jodie's store) - Dead on arrival - Packaged in a bubble wrap and thin cardboard box. There was some kind of damage on the PCB not far from the eeprom, that stores the vbios - as if the lines were melted. Windows symptoms were the same as on the video couple of pages ago (over TeamViewer you could not see the screen just weird trails from the mouse). I did flash it successfully (blindly with a batch script) but even with that the symptoms remained the same. Returned it for a full refund.

765M (from ebay - Poland - seller dahez) - Packaged very well, smaller harder cardboard box in a larger cardboard box. Worked flawlessly without any issues whatsoever.

WX7100 (from ebay - China - seller ebl2018) - I got fooled here I suppose and a different model was shipped to me - W7170M. (I think there was one more person with the same swap from the same seller) Packaged in a bubble wrap and thin cardboard box. Visually no defects, no visible deformation... Card was working fine - flashed ok with Nick's prepared vbios. No backlight as expected, worked ok on an external monitor but required NVRAM resets to have boot screen. Also, there was a problem with some sort of a low-resolution ghost screen (detected in windows as primary display). Returned it for a full refund

WX7100 (from ali - China - seller IT card store) - Packaged in a bubble wrap and thin cardboard box. Visually all was OK. No visible deformation. I screwed up here with the removal of the rivets. However the seller agreed to refurbish the card, so I sent it back and waiting...
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Nope and nope.

Basically them just saying in a nut shell "I'm not competent doing this" even though been in I.T for more than 15 years with far harder projects and case in point, the next 780M from a different seller worked basically straight away.

I had difficulties with the return of the first 780M as well. They were saying that I am using it with a different motherboard, that I should have watched for compatibility upfront etc. etc. I managed to return it only after a dispute. And the argument that won (I was lucky here) was that the eeprom was different to the one in the original advertisement picture.

 

[bosscharles]

If you are looking for performance and a proper upgrade path for your GPU, I would agree with this. However, I can certainly confirm that the smaller MXM-A cards work perfectly fine in the 27" iMac if you are looking for a cheaper/budget solution. Over the weekend I was able to install a Quadro K1100M GPU in one of my 27" 2011 iMacs. Had to drill out the X-clamp rivets as expected (shaving down the original X-clamp had some odd overlap with back resistors and I did not think this would be good) but no grinding of the heatsink as required with many of the larger cards.

How did you install the K1100 onto the 27 heatsink? The elevated section of the heatsink for mxm b cards gets in the way.... did you use a shim on the chip? or grind away at the heatsink? thanks.

 

[NOTNlCE]

How did you install the K1100 onto the 27 heatsink? The elevated section of the heatsink for mxm b cards gets in the way.... did you use a shim on the chip? or grind away at the heatsink? thanks.

Nothing here interfering... I did not grind or shim at all. I'll be installing another this weekend - can post pictures.

 

[bosscharles]

Nothing here interfering... I did not grind or shim at all. I'll be installing another this weekend - can post pictures.

That's odd....See pic. Ram chips are clashing with the elevated section on the left. Also a tiny bit with the elevated section at the top..... So guess I need to use a shim on the chip so it is level. What do yours look like? Thanks

 

[Jay6]

Hello All,

I've have successfully install a gtx 780 GPU in my iMac 27'' . Thanks for all contributors of this thread.

I don't have boot screen so I want to flash the vbios with the latest beta3 version but I get this error message while trying to flash my card : ERROR: Mismatch in 256 byte page-mode programming

(Btw I've use the Linux version of Nvflash with live ubuntu and tried -6 -f -protectoff switches already and all linux nvflash versions)

Any help would be much appreciated !
thanks

Here's a full log
-----------------


ubuntu@ubuntu:~/Desktop$ sudo ./nvflash_linux 780M_EG2.rom

NVIDIA Firmware Update Utility (Version 5.414.0)
Simplified Version For OEM Only
Checking for matches between display adapter(s) and image(s)...

Adapter: GeForce GTX 780M (10DE,119F,1028,05AA) H:--:NRM S:00,B:01,D:00,F:00

Current - Version:80.04.AF.00.03 ID:10DE:119F:1028:05AA
GK104 Board - 20530001 (Normal Board)
Replace with - VersionE.AD.00.BE.EF ID:10DE:119F:1028:05AA
GeForce GTX 780M by Nick[D]vB (Normal Board)

Update display adapter firmware?
Press 'y' to confirm (any other key to abort): y
Identifying EEPROM...
EEPROM ID (7F,9D22) : PMC Pm25LD020 2.7-3.6V 2048Kx1S, page
Storing updated firmware image...

EEPROM programming failed.

NOTE: Exception caught.
Nothing changed!


ERROR: Mismatch in 256 byte page-mode programming


ubuntu@ubuntu:~/Desktop$ sudo ./nvflash_linux -v

NVIDIA Firmware Update Utility (Version 5.414.0)
Simplified Version For OEM Only
Adapter: GeForce GTX 780M (10DE,119F,1028,05AA) H:--:NRM S:00,B:01,D:00,F:00

Identifying EEPROM...
EEPROM ID (7F,9D22) : PMC Pm25LD020 2.7-3.6V 2048Kx1S, page
Reading adapter firmware image...
IFR Data Size : 1004 bytes
IFR CRC32 : 44BFB4F2
IFR Image Size : 1024 bytes
IFR Image CRC32 : 22288A43
IFR Subsystem ID : 1028-05AA
Image Size : 165376 bytes
Version : 80.04.AF.00.03
~CRC32 : 8DEF8834
Image Hash : 96E5E7B8C025E0BC361DE0CCAB1162C5
OEM String : NVIDIA
Vendor Name : NVIDIA Corporation
Product Name : GK104 Board - 20530001
Product Revision : Chip Rev
Device Name(s) : GeForce GTX 780M
Board ID : E128
PCI ID : 10DE-119F
Subsystem ID : 1028-05AA
Hierarchy ID : Normal Board
Chip SKU : 750
Project : 2053-0001
CDP : N/A
Build Date : 04/16/13
Modification Date : 04/18/13
UEFI Support : Yes
UEFI Version : 0x1001C (Apr 10 2013 @ 15488244 )
UEFI Variant Id : 0x0000000000000104 ( GK1xx MXM )
UEFI Signer(s) : Microsoft Corporation UEFI CA 2011
InfoROM Version : N/A
InfoROM Backup Exist : NO
License Placeholder : Absent
GPU Mode : N/A
Sign-On Message : GK104 P2053 SKU 001 VGA BIOS (HWDIAG).

ubuntu@ubuntu:~/Desktop$ sudo ./nvflash_linux -c

NVIDIA Firmware Update Utility (Version 5.414.0)
Simplified Version For OEM Only
Adapter: GeForce GTX 780M (10DE,119F,1028,05AA) H:--:NRM S:00,B:01,D:00,F:00

Identifying EEPROM...
EEPROM ID (7F,9D22) : PMC Pm25LD020 2.7-3.6V 2048Kx1S, page

 

[highvoltage12v]

Hello All,

I've have successfully install a gtx 780 GPU in my iMac 27'' . Thanks for all contributors of this thread.

I don't have boot screen so I want to flash the vbios with the latest beta3 version but I get this error message while trying to flash my card : ERROR: Mismatch in 256 byte page-mode programming

(Btw I've use the Linux version of Nvflash with live ubuntu and tried -6 -f -protectoff switches already and all linux nvflash versions)

Any help would be much appreciated !
thanks

Here's a full log
-----------------


ubuntu@ubuntu:~/Desktop$ sudo ./nvflash_linux 780M_EG2.rom

NVIDIA Firmware Update Utility (Version 5.414.0)
Simplified Version For OEM Only
Checking for matches between display adapter(s) and image(s)...

Adapter: GeForce GTX 780M (10DE,119F,1028,05AA) H:--:NRM S:00,B:01,D:00,F:00

Current - Version:80.04.AF.00.03 ID:10DE:119F:1028:05AA
GK104 Board - 20530001 (Normal Board)
Replace with - VersionE.AD.00.BE.EF ID:10DE:119F:1028:05AA
GeForce GTX 780M by Nick[D]vB (Normal Board)

Update display adapter firmware?
Press 'y' to confirm (any other key to abort): y
Identifying EEPROM...
EEPROM ID (7F,9D22) : PMC Pm25LD020 2.7-3.6V 2048Kx1S, page
Storing updated firmware image...

EEPROM programming failed.

NOTE: Exception caught.
Nothing changed!


ERROR: Mismatch in 256 byte page-mode programming


ubuntu@ubuntu:~/Desktop$ sudo ./nvflash_linux -v

NVIDIA Firmware Update Utility (Version 5.414.0)
Simplified Version For OEM Only
Adapter: GeForce GTX 780M (10DE,119F,1028,05AA) H:--:NRM S:00,B:01,D:00,F:00

Identifying EEPROM...
EEPROM ID (7F,9D22) : PMC Pm25LD020 2.7-3.6V 2048Kx1S, page
Reading adapter firmware image...
IFR Data Size : 1004 bytes
IFR CRC32 : 44BFB4F2
IFR Image Size : 1024 bytes
IFR Image CRC32 : 22288A43
IFR Subsystem ID : 1028-05AA
Image Size : 165376 bytes
Version : 80.04.AF.00.03
~CRC32 : 8DEF8834
Image Hash : 96E5E7B8C025E0BC361DE0CCAB1162C5
OEM String : NVIDIA
Vendor Name : NVIDIA Corporation
Product Name : GK104 Board - 20530001
Product Revision : Chip Rev
Device Name(s) : GeForce GTX 780M
Board ID : E128
PCI ID : 10DE-119F
Subsystem ID : 1028-05AA
Hierarchy ID : Normal Board
Chip SKU : 750
Project : 2053-0001
CDP : N/A
Build Date : 04/16/13
Modification Date : 04/18/13
UEFI Support : Yes
UEFI Version : 0x1001C (Apr 10 2013 @ 15488244 )
UEFI Variant Id : 0x0000000000000104 ( GK1xx MXM )
UEFI Signer(s) : Microsoft Corporation UEFI CA 2011
InfoROM Version : N/A
InfoROM Backup Exist : NO
License Placeholder : Absent
GPU Mode : N/A
Sign-On Message : GK104 P2053 SKU 001 VGA BIOS (HWDIAG).

ubuntu@ubuntu:~/Desktop$ sudo ./nvflash_linux -c

NVIDIA Firmware Update Utility (Version 5.414.0)
Simplified Version For OEM Only
Adapter: GeForce GTX 780M (10DE,119F,1028,05AA) H:--:NRM S:00,B:01,D:00,F:00

Identifying EEPROM...
EEPROM ID (7F,9D22) : PMC Pm25LD020 2.7-3.6V 2048Kx1S, page

Your ROM indicates you have a Dell card which means you could flash with a CLIP which I recommend. . I think I know what's going on here. Nick's ROM reads a being a 262KB ROM file, the EERPOM is only 256KB, so it wont flash. What I just did for you is remove some padding off the end to get it under 256KB. Try it and let me know, if it doesn't work I recommend flashing the card with a clip, its a dell card and has legs on the EEPROM.

 

[Jay6]

Your ROM indicates you have a Dell card which means you could flash with a CLIP which I recommend. . I think I know what's going on here. Nick's ROM reads a being a 262KB ROM file, the EERPOM is only 256KB, so it wont flash. What I just did for you is remove some padding off the end to get it under 256KB. Try it and let me know, if it doesn't work I recommend flashing the card with a clip, its a dell card and has legs on the EEPROM.

Thanks for your ultra fast reply and support /highvoltage12v but it does not work same error message

 

[Vovan]

Could anyone explain how to flash MAC VBIOS from under another computer running Windows step by step?
I understand that commands like
nvflash -b alt.rom and nvflash "newbios".rom
are not valid for Mac terminal and run in Windows Shell will flash PC vbios instead of Mac`s?
I`ve tried nvflash -b alt.rom via Team Viewer from PC in Mac`s Terminal - it does not recognise the command

 

[highvoltage12v]

Thanks for your ultra fast reply and support /highvoltage12v but it does not work same error message

Not sure why it's giving you an issue, I usually flash with -6 and rom name. See if you can get Windows 10 to boot instead of Ubuntu? Best way to do this is to create a Windows 10 EFI image on an ssd using another computer, turn off automatic login and have Nvidia 7xx drivers already installed.

Could anyone explain how to flash MAC VBIOS from under another computer running Windows step by step?
I understand that commands like
nvflash -b alt.rom and nvflash "newbios".rom
are not valid for Mac terminal and will flash PC vbios instead of Mac`s?
I`ve tried nvflash -b alt.rom via Team Viewer in Mac`s Terminal - it does not recognise the command

"nvflash64.exe -6 780M_EG2.rom" this is after you open CMD as an admin and then CD to the directory
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@highvoltage12v
Here's what I did with mine.

1. I screwed in some screws:
View attachment 889073
2. Used some sockets that fit inside the screws:
View attachment 889079
3. Upside down:
View attachment 889080
4. A few light taps of the hammer:
View attachment 889081
5: Out come the rivets stuck to the screws:
View attachment 889082
6. Took about 10minutes:
View attachment 889084

That's a nifty idea, punching them out. Never thought of that one, and you get to keep the X-bracket on the card.

 

[Vovan]

"nvflash64.exe -6 780M_EG2.rom" this is after you open CMD as an admin and then CD to the directory

But would not it flash PC`s vbios? How will it know that remote Mac should be flashed?

 

[highvoltage12v]

But would not it flash PC`s vbios? How will it know that remote Mac should be flashed?

What? You have to have a copy of windows 10 running on the iMac, and then team view into the iMac. For best results you need to set this all up on the iMac with the original ATI card. You need proper networking drivers installed, automatic login enabled and Nvidia drivers installed. If this is too complicated please go the Ch341a/Clip route.

 

[Vovan]

I can't install Windows on my iMac as I have Quadro K2000M after failure of the original card and there is no access to the boot screen.
I`ve read somewhere that there was a way to flash Mac GPU from a remote PC but can not find this post.
I save programmer as a last resort as do not want to disassemble Mac once again.

 

[highvoltage12v]

I can't install Windows on my iMac as I have Quadro K2000M after failure of the original card and there is no access to the boot screen.
I`ve read somewhere that there was a way to flash Mac GPU from a remote PC but can not find this post.
I save programmer as a last resort as do not want to disassemble Mac once again.

Still the best way to do this is with an EFI SSD with windows 10 pre installed, Nvidia graphics drivers and windows automatic login enabled. The iMac will boot EFI copies of windows, but you won't see it happening for about 30 minutes for itself to get situated. You don't happen to own an eGPU by chance?

 

[Vovan]

No eGPU unfortunately, just iMac and PC laptop

 

[Terros]

I can't install Windows on my iMac as I have Quadro K2000M after failure of the original card and there is no access to the boot screen.
I`ve read somewhere that there was a way to flash Mac GPU from a remote PC but can not find this post.
I save programmer as a last resort as do not want to disassemble Mac once again.

Have you got Windows RDP or TeamViewer installed on that Windows iMac?

That's what you need to do it blind remotely, even if Windows doesn't detect anything in device manager, just download the nvidia drivers for the 780M and install, it took mine awhile to install but typing on it as we speak.

Then just use Nvflash from that off a USB stick

Not sure if this is normal but the GPU clocks seem stuck at 405Mhz in any gpu load, just a bug or potentially an issue?

 

[highvoltage12v]

Have you got Windows RDP or TeamViewer installed on that Windows iMac?

That's what you need to do it blind remotely, even if Windows doesn't detect anything in device manager, just download the nvidia drivers for the 780M and install, it took mine awhile to install but typing on it as we speak.

Then just use Nvflash from that off a USB stick

Not sure if this is normal but the GPU clocks seem stuck at 405Mhz in any gpu load, just a bug or potentially an issue?

Not sure why. Here is how mine is running.
BTW these cards can get stupid hot, make sure you are using Macs Fan control in Windows 10.

Try drivers I'm using 391.25 and see if that helps

 

[Jay6]

Still the best way to do this is with an EFI SSD with windows 10 pre installed, Nvidia graphics drivers and windows automatic login enabled. The iMac will boot EFI copies of windows, but you won't see it happening for about 30 minutes for itself to get situated. You don't happen to own an eGPU by chance?

My windows 10 pre installation refuse to install nvidia 780m drivers since I don’t have the card in my pc.

How can I force install those nvidia drivers ?

 

[highvoltage12v]

My windows 10 pre installation refuse to install nvidia 780m drivers since I don’t have the card in my pc.

How can I force install those nvidia drivers ?

I think this was the command I used setup.exe -s Display.Driver

You need to let the first installer extract the files to a folder on the desktop, then copy all the items out of that folder to another folder. CD to that folder. And run setup.exe -s Display.Driver

 

[highvoltage12v]

My windows 10 pre installation refuse to install nvidia 780m drivers since I don’t have the card in my pc.

How can I force install those nvidia drivers ?

Okay here is a little guide to help you.
First run the downloaded installer, on the first extraction window choose a folder created on the desktop, let it extract. Once the checking compatibility window is Open you need to select all the files in the first folder and copy them to another folder, becasue once the installer closes it will delete the first folder. Now open CMD as an admin and CD to the folder on the desktop type into CMD setup.exe -s Display.Driver and it will silently install the display drivers, you can check Task manager for the activity spike.


An even better/simpler method is to find the nvami.inf file within Display.Driver right click on it and click install. Wait a few minutes and a dialog will popup saying install complete. That also guarantees sucesssful install.

 

[xanderon]

I ordered an active hdmi to dp Adapter and still no Signal for the second screen. (That was working before nicks bios, original clevo Firmware)

also I tried an original mini dp to mini dp cable from Apple (afaik also active) directly to the screen. Still no luck

any further ideas?maybe there is something to fix in the firmware?

 

[highvoltage12v]

I ordered an active hdmi to dp Adapter and still no Signal for the second screen. (That was working before nicks bios, original clevo Firmware)

also I tried an original mini dp to mini dp cable from Apple (afaik also active) directly to the screen. Still no luck

any further ideas?maybe there is something to fix in the firmware?

I'd definitely re-flash the firmware in W10 at this point. You have boot screen. Should be easy to boot w10.

 

[Jay6]

Okay here is a little guide to help you.
First run the downloaded installer, on the first extraction window choose a folder created on the desktop, let it extract. Once the checking compatibility window is Open you need to select all the files in the first folder and copy them to another folder, becasue once the installer closes it will delete the first folder. Now open CMD as an admin and CD to the folder on the desktop type into CMD setup.exe -s Display.Driver and it will silently install the display drivers, you can check Task manager for the activity spike.


An even better/simpler method is to find the nvami.inf file within Display.Driver right click on it and click install. Wait a few minutes and a dialog will popup saying install complete. That also guarantees sucesssful install.

Ok it worked with the .inf installer. Thanks for the guide.
now my HD is back in the iMac but nothing ... after 30 minutes still no screen .