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

[Aesthetica]

GTX 770m and three pipe heatsink arrived

Sanded it down with the sanding tool of a multi function tool like this and a lot of sandpaper. Took a while but the metal is pretty soft so it just involved a lot of aluminum 'dust' rather than sparks.

Now I just need to order some thermal paste.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Hey, ya'll. I got a mid-2011 21.5 inch iMac and recently the GPU failed. I read through quite a few of the pages in this thread and have some questions.
I have noticed that quite a lot of people have tried the GTX 765M and I wanted to get the NVIDIA Quadro K2100M or K1100M instead (due to budget reason). I will be upgrading my hard drive to an SSD and install os Sierra on it before changing the GPU. I just wanted to verify that this K2100M or K1100M matches what was provided in the OP: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Preci...108503?hash=item34268d8617:g:9OkAAOSw5BpeliEh

Dell 51Y08 Precision M4800 NVIDIA Quadro K1100M 2GB DDR5 Laptop Video Card | eBay

Precision M4800 Laptop Notebook Video Card, NVIDIA Quadro K1100M, 2GB DDR5, Dell P/N 51Y08.

www.ebay.com

Another question I am confused about flashing, are we supposed to flash VBIOS before or after the first boot (post graphics card replacement)?

Please give the non existing official guide in the first post here a chance and read it.

The card seems to be a K1100M and stick with this or the K2100M. The bigger cards draw too much power in the smaller 21.5" systems and will most likely cause stability issues...

Flashing before (CH341A) is the most easy and safest way, if you ask me. If you get the clip seated it will write the new vBIOS regardless the state of the former vBIOS. This does not work like this with the Nvidia flash software in any case.

You have to install High Sierra and all the lastest patches before to get the latest firmware installed. This is a must to use the OpenCore....

 

[RRPC]

updated today my CPU to i7 2600 non K. its nice at 39°c. used the thermal Grizzly Kryonaut cool compound
and suc6.
also prepared a SD card with opencore. i was thinking that it don't work. but it works i think.
if modify the config.plist to let the speakers work at windows. and i'm happy that the internal speakers are working flawless.

yet i don't have sett the catalina loader SD card as 1st boot drive.
becasue of one thing. if i'm manual ( hold down the alt/option key) pick the catalina loader SD card to boot.
i first get the black screen. but if i choice again for the catalina loader SD card. and press enter because it's saying that it have loaded the catalina loader. or something. i get the white boot picker.

is this because i pick it manual ? or is this the default ?. ill prefer the white one better
i have flashed the DMG to a SD card (2GB) with balenaEtcher.

 

[nathansz]

A solution for black screens/no external output on 10.15.4 is just about complete, just waiting on my partner @Ausdauersportler to try a few iMac models he has before I come to my conclusions.

is this for a particular card?

I have no problem with 10.15.4 so long as I don't let my machine sleep

no opencore

 

[s44sakuni]

Please give the non existing official guide in the first post here a chance and read it.

The card seems to be a K1100M and stick with this or the K2100M. The bigger cards draw too much power in the smaller 21.5" systems and will most likely cause stability issues...

Flashing before (CH341A) is the most easy and safest way, if you ask me. If you get the clip seated it will write the new vBIOS regardless the state of the former vBIOS. This does not work like this with the Nvidia flash software in any case.

You have to install High Sierra and all the lastest patches before to get the latest firmware installed. This is a must to use the OpenCore....

@Ausdauersportler Thank you for the response I will be getting either one of those 2 for sure.
My iMac won't let me get pass the Apple logo as it gives me just a grey screen -- same deal if I boot with a usb or try to do internet recovery so I plan to just clone my hard drive from my other 2011 iMac (using the latest High Sierra) using the clone app.
A couple of questions:
1. When you said "the latest patches" you mean from the latest update of high sierra from apple correct?
-- Once my system boots after installing the graphics card & proper VBIOS flashing I will be using the usb or sd card method to use OpenCore.
2. Knowing that we lose the boot screen after installing the graphics card does that also mean that we will lose the screen when we hold the option key to pick the boot option?
-- If yes then I was going to unplug the SATA cable from the SSD (so that way it would only boot from the USB) and insert the USB with the Linux over SSH method described in the OP which contains the vBIOS flash method -- then flash and once that is done reinsert SATA cable and boot (as described by xanderon who made the method)
Swap Hardware
swap your GPU to NVIDIA and (!) disconnect every SSD/HDD, makes it easier to boot blindly from one USB or SD Card, connect the ETH Cable (!)

 

[highvoltage12v]

is this for a particular card?

I have no problem with 10.15.4 so long as I don't let my machine sleep

no opencore

what model machine, I have the 10.15.4 issue so far on a 2010 21.5" iMac with k2100m and iMac 2011 27" with 780M. The issue is when booting blindly there is never a login screen, but the iMac is blindly on the login screen, AKA no Displayport initialization. The fix resides in AppleGraphicsControl. You mind running this "ioreg -l | grep -i board-id" in terminal, i'd like to know which model iMac you have.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

is this for a particular card?

I have no problem with 10.15.4 so long as I don't let my machine sleep

no opencore

Cannot say, I just figured out the issue shows up at least with the K2100M on one late 2010 and one mid 2011 without OpenCore. Using OpenCore or installation using an external display only without OpenCore (which is common during installation of the card) hides the problem completely. I had this with my 2011. Installation of 10.15.4 using the external display, configuration of OC, installation of the LCD, no issue visible.

If you deactivate OC you get the issue while rebooting: Black internal display...

Have you tried the sleep kexts posted by @highvoltage12v and linked to post #1 ? Sleep is working using this solution on the iMac 2011 models.
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@Ausdauersportler Thank you for the response I will be getting either one of those 2 for sure.
My iMac won't let me get pass the Apple logo as it gives me just a grey screen -- same deal if I boot with a usb or try to do internet recovery so I plan to just clone my hard drive from my other 2011 iMac (using the latest High Sierra) using the clone app.
A couple of questions:
1. When you said "the latest patches" you mean from the latest update of high sierra from apple correct?
-- Once my system boots after installing the graphics card & proper VBIOS flashing I will be using the usb or sd card method to use OpenCore.
2. Knowing that we lose the boot screen after installing the graphics card does that also mean that we will lose the screen when we hold the option key to pick the boot option?
-- If yes then I was going to unplug the SATA cable from the SSD (so that way it would only boot from the USB) and insert the USB with the Linux over SSH method described in the OP which contains the vBIOS flash method -- then flash and once that is done reinsert SATA cable and boot (as described by xanderon who made the method)
Swap Hardware
swap your GPU to NVIDIA and (!) disconnect every SSD/HDD, makes it easier to boot blindly from one USB or SD Card, connect the ETH Cable (!)

0) If you have two iMacs you may use Target Disk Mode to access the disk of the broken one.
1) Yes, latest apple patches and firmware
2) Read the very first post of this thread, again. You will loose the boot screen only while no new vBIOS is flashed. And yes, disconnecting internal disks makes this an easy task. You will have an open system without a LCD panel installed during this time.

Plan looks good. Get the Linux USB stick and OpenCore SD card ready and test the boot of the Linux stick on the other iMac at least once before. Just to be prepared.

 

[Panick007]

I was able to boot from the cd and begin the process of copying the original vbios from the GTX 765M, but I couldn’t save the 2 backed up .rom files successfully, I think because I booted from the cd and don‘t know my way around Linux, I don’t know the correct command. I started over, but now when I type the same command ./nvflash_linux —save ~/original.rom nothing happens, whereas when I first tried it returned the EEPROM info. Why would that happen? The attached photo shows my first attempt. Any advice?

I’m struggling here. I follow the instructions from @xanderon and ssh into my iMac, I seem to be connected properly but this is what I receive in terminal. What am I doing wrong?

 

[nathansz]

what model machine, I have the 10.15.4 issue so far on a 2010 21.5" iMac with k2100m and iMac 2011 27" with 780M. The issue is when booting blindly there is never a login screen, but the iMac is blindly on the login screen, AKA no Displayport initialization. The fix resides in AppleGraphicsControl. You mind running this "ioreg -l | grep -i board-id" in terminal, i'd like to know which model iMac you have.

"board-id" = <"Mac-942B59F58194171B">

its the machine in my sig

 

[highvoltage12v]

"board-id" = <"Mac-942B59F58194171B">

its the machine in my sig

Yes, I have that board ID added to the kext, basically as of 10.15.4 AppleGrpahicsControl isn't loading on boot anymore if the board ID isn't added to the kext.

 

[nathansz]

Cannot say, I just figured out the issue shows up at least with the K2100M on one late 2010 and one mid 2011 without OpenCore. Using OpenCore or installation using an external display only without OpenCore (which is common during installation of the card) hides the problem completely. I had this with my 2011. Installation of 10.15.4 using the external display, configuration of OC, installation of the LCD, no issue visible.

If you deactivate OC you get the issue while rebooting: Black internal display...

Have you tried the sleep kexts posted by @highvoltage12v and linked to post #1 ? Sleep is working using this solution on the iMac 2011 models.

I have tried the sleep kexts. they have worked sporadically on my machine but mostly not.

if my machine sleeps for more than a couple hours it won't wake and I have to reboot, sometimes more than once to overcome various issues

 

[highvoltage12v]

EDIT: 8/16/20 NEW AGC kexts have been added to change "board-id" to "board-ix" in the AppleGraphicsDevicePolicy binary. This has the same affect as "agdpmod=pikera" from Whatevergreen, this upload is for AMD users.

"instant on" K3100m/k4100m/k5100m/780m etc cards need this kext to fix DisplayPort Output.

I'm uploading a patched AppleGrapahicsControl.kext that is now necessary as of 10.15.4, the symptoms after this update are a blank screen but system sounds are heard when holding down the Escape key, as well a loss of any Displayport output. The cause of this is Apple Clamping down on 3rd party kexts from loading, this mainly affects hackintosh users, but affects us as our iMacs are no longer a supported platform.

What does this patched AppleGraphicsControl.kext do to allow 2009-2011 iMacs to properly boot? We now need our board ID's to be added to the AppleGraphicsDevicePolicy.kext within AppleGraphicsControl.kext, this allows the kext to properly load on boot, before this wasn't necessarily needed. I have so far all known 5 board ID's that are supported on our thread.

iMac12,2	(27-inch Mid 2011)	Mac-942B59F58194171B
iMac12,1	(21.5-inch Mid 2011)	Mac-942B5BF58194151B
iMac11,3	(27-inch Mid 2010)	Mac-F2238BAE
iMac11,2	(21.5-inch Mid 2010)	Mac-F2238AC8
iMac11,1	(27-inch Late 2009)	Mac-F2268DAE

Thanks to @Ausdauersportler for the helping/testing for this kext.

How to install when your iMac boots with a Blank screen? (assuming your LCD works just fine)

When booting you need to Hold Alt/Option to bring up the AppleBootPicker, then select the Catalina partition. Since the iMac's Screen is already on when using AppleBootPicker the iMacs screen will remain on the entire boot process allowing you to log in and then proceed to install the Patched AppleGraphicsControl Kext.

To install this kext
1. unlock your System partition, open terminal enter

sudo mount -uw /
killall Finder

2. drag the kext on-top of the kext utility icon let it install/timeout with an error.

3. Open terminal and enter "sudo reboot" skipping this step may leave your iMac hanging at the desktop (A Catalina issue)


Make sure to unzip the kext to a new folder, so there aren't any "1" or "2"... at the end of the AppleGraphicsControl.kext filename. Remember the is replacing the System Kext in System/Library/Extensions and must be done using Kext Utility linked here http://cvad-mac.narod.ru/index/0-4.

 

[jborko]

Great work! Appreciate the enormous amount of time and work put into this!

 

[s44sakuni]

0) If you have two iMacs you may use Target Disk Mode to access the disk of the broken one.
1) Yes, latest apple patches and firmware
2) Read the very first post of this thread, again. You will loose the boot screen only while no new vBIOS is flashed. And yes, disconnecting internal disks makes this an easy task. You will have an open system without a LCD panel installed during this time.

Plan looks good. Get the Linux USB stick and OpenCore SD card ready and test the boot of the Linux stick on the other iMac at least once before. Just to be prepared.

2. I gotcha, I guess I extended the term "loose the boot screen" to losing everything including the options key that is used to pick the booting drive. I will post an update once done. Appreciate the guidance

 

[Ausdauersportler]

I have tried the sleep kexts. they have worked sporadically on my machine but mostly not.

if my machine sleeps for more than a couple hours it won't wake and I have to reboot, sometimes more than once to overcome various issues

I have now three iMac 2011 and the all sleep perfectly fine with this @highvoltage12v package. If you have still problems you might face another - hardware - issue. Try to use the pmset command for more detailed infos.
One of my 780M cards will not wake up and made sleep impossible - the card is broken or on it's way there.

 

[bmxburner]

Just to post that I’m happily running 10.15.4 on my iMac 2011 12,2 with K2100 and OpenCore thanks to the efforts in this thread. The above patched kext fixed my only remaining issue of blank screen after sleep - so thanks!!

 

[nathansz]

I have now three iMac 2011 and the all sleep perfectly fine wich this @highvoltage12v package. If you have still problems you might face another - hardware - issue. Try to use the pmset command for more detailed infos.
One of my 780M cards will not wake up and made sleep impossible - the card is broken or on it's way there.

I've looked in pmset logs but I don't have the knowledge to use the information

it's always the same series of messages form sleep then trying to wake then powering down by holding power button then restart

I'm not that bothered since everything runs great so long as I never sleep (except brightness control of course)

 

[Ausdauersportler]

I've looked in pmset logs but I don't have the knowledge to use the information

it's always the same series of messages form sleep then trying to wake then powering down by holding power button then restart

I'm not that bothered since everything runs great so long as I never sleep (except brightness control of course)

View attachment 909595

My next step would be to put the complete "Failure during sleep: ......." directly line into google and search within the hits. This might be more efficient than reading manual pages of pmset and error code lists...

 

[nikey22]

@highvoltage12v
is it okay to install this AppleGrapahicsControl.kext in a system with 10.15.3 in preparation to upgrade to 10.15.4?
Thanks.

 

[highvoltage12v]

@highvoltage12v
is it okay to install this AppleGrapahicsControl.kext in a system with 10.15.3 in preparation to upgrade to 10.15.4?
Thanks.

It will just be overwritten so no point. When you can do is hold the alt key and select your 10.15 disk and will have a login screen if booting through the Apple bootpicker

 

[nathansz]

My next step would be to put the complete "Failure during sleep: ......." directly line into google and search within the hits. This might be more efficient than reading manual pages of pmset and error code lists...

yeah I've read the man pages, the error code lists, and a ton of google. it seems to be a fairly common issues, mostly MacBooks and hackintoshes. none of the solutions I found have worked for me so I just have sleep set to never and all is well

 

[JoeOIVOV]

Can anyone please point me to the VBIOS for WX7100. I read the first page and it has a link for WX7100 but doesn't provide the VBIOS for WX7100 only AMD_Beta4 for 560X-580X.

NVM, found it. AMD_GOP.zip - #4,921

 

[herrdude]

I am just curious. What is your boot time for those using 10.15.4, OpenCore, and the sleep kexts from high voltage?

Without the kexts, I boot in 15 seconds. With the kexts, it takes almost 80 seconds...

 

[nathansz]

I am just curious. What is your boot time for those using 10.15.4, OpenCore, and the sleep kexts from high voltage?

Without the kexts, I boot in 15 seconds. With the kexts, it takes almost 80 seconds...

I don't have OpenCore but do have reFind. with the sleep kexts its about 30 seconds from startup through reFind and to the desktop

 

[Mark Meretz]

It works mega well, many thanks for the solution ;-)