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

[StephN999]

Hello,

@tgaillar> Thank you for your encouragement, what is certain is that concerning my processors, I have a good chance that it works, in any case happy to try to help despite my limits.

I noticed that the rom of Nick [D] vB Quadro 2100m, did not have the same settings as the original DELL, I do not know if it is wanted?

I still have to test but must see in the long term the same
settings as the original rom.

attached the differences and also the benchmark of Unigine.

Edit: @Ausdauersportler> you saw them or your benchmarks? because suddenly with my new settings I can not even get to these scores...

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Hello,
I noticed that the rom of Nick [D] vB Quadra 2100m, did not have the same settings as the original DELL, I do not know if it is wanted?
Edit: @Ausdauersportler> you saw them or your benchmarks? because suddenly with my new settings I can not even get to these scores...

I always used the settings found in @Nick [D]vB Quadro Beta2 ROMs - I guess we ill see Beta3 or final releases with higher clock values. But I also assume that these settings will be fine in the TDP limits of the smaller 21.5" models?
Most people to just replace MXM-A cards with MXM-A cards.

 

[derickz]

Today I used other flasher, now the HP K2100m works on imac 27" 2009 and imac 21" 2011, zoom works too. However it slow than the ATI HD 4860. Anyway to fix the slow issue?

Thanks,

Derick

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Today I used other flasher, now the HP K2100m works on imac 27" 2009 and imac 21" 2011, zoom works too. However it slow than the ATI HD 4860. Anyway to fix the slow issue?

Thanks,

Derick
View attachment 915429

Probably you got the legacy video patch installed - in that case go back to page #1 and post #1 and reread the instructions how to install Catalina on the 2009/2010 models.

 

[Martonita]

Long story short:
Take the K2100M, it is known to work - including all features your want. The speed gain of the 765 is not worth the trouble, if you ask me.

The AMD cards are quite risky, you simply do not know what you get and especially the 4130/4150 do not work in your mid 2011.
[automerge]1589562441[/automerge]

Replace it with a quality product CR2032 - it is nearly impossible to get the BR2032 (the high temperature version or the CR2032) at least here in GY.

Thank you so much for the advice, @Ausdauersportler. I'll go for it.

 

[WaffleMXM]

Hey guys, I’ve been reading this thread for a bit now and I kind of want to attempt to upgrade my late 2009 27” iMac.

I wanna go with the WX4130 - I saw a lot of photos and clues as to how WX4170 should look like and the ID. But not much on the WX4130.
I found one on Aliexpress, I can see some chips but I’m not sure if they’re the EEPROM.
Also it has a written ID on it but it seems like the most important part that’s in the guide - the D or C in the ID is missing.
I can see it says
109 C98581 00 02

Could anyone give me some tips for hunting down the right card?

This is the one i found

367,37 zł 35％ Off | Original FirePro WX4130 GDDR5 2GB Video Graphics Card With X-Bracket For Dell Precision M7510 M7520 100％ Test Working Well

367,37 zł 35％ Off | Original FirePro WX4130 GDDR5 2GB Video Graphics Card With X-Bracket For Dell Precision M7510 M7520 100％ Test Working Well

a.aliexpress.com

I tried to find as much info as I could before asking for help so I’m sorry if I missed some post that explains this...

 

[derickz]

It said only support 2011. Is it work on 2009 27" i7 imac?

Thanks,

Derick

 

[Ausdauersportler]

It said only support 2011. Is it work on 2009 27" i7 imac?

Thanks,

Derick

Yes! Only the Catalina Installation needs to be done a second time. Please go and read this page, search for Catalina and read the red printed lines.

 

[Lottosmp]

I've impemented an option of controlling the LCD brightness with an ESP32 and PWM.

A detailed, long write-up on Medium, a quick crappy video of it working, and source code on GitHub.

The ESP32 does PWM at 13kHZ or more, runs at 3.3V, dev boards accept up tp 12V (or USB 5V) VIN, start in < 0.5seconds, easy serial comms so no need for Wifi.


Ok, so after getting a GTX 765M working in my late 2009 iMac I decided to tackle brightness control. I decided to go with a hardware solution over OpenCore and ended up using an ESP32 to generate the PWM signals.

Based on wlagarde's and Nick [D] vB reverse engineered PWM info and passatgt's Github software I managed to get Micropython on an ESP32 to talk to my iMac via Serial over USB to adjust PWM brightness of the LCD panel. I adapted passatgt's software to communicate with ESP32 via serial instead of gamma/Raspberry Pi+Node Red over Wifi (I don't like the idea of relying on Wifi or a Raspberry that takes a while to boot and has too many issues with reliability imo).

It feels close to native thanks to passatgt's great work with OSD and media key interception, maybe just a tad bit of lag.

The source code for the modified MacOS app + MicroPython code is on Github.

The gist of it:

• Flash ESP32 with micropython, load the scripts to manage PWM + LED brightness and listen on serial port.
• Hook up a PCI-E extension cable with cut PWM line, route that line to the ESP32.
• Hook up the ESP32 to the internal IR USB port or an external port.
• If that worked, you can control the brightness with your favorite terminal emulator from the CLI or a menu bar app and "brightness +/-" keyboard keys.

 

[NOTNlCE]

Received my WX 4130 today and I have to say it was by far the easiest installation I've gone through for one of these iMacs. It is now sitting in my 27" 2010 iMac awaiting benchmarks.

It's much easier to access the video card in the 2010 vs the 2011. I simply took the screen off, popped the card out, re-used the existing X-Clamp (no resistors, caps or anything in the way on the WX 4130!) and reinstalled. No heatsink mod needed (sits nice and flush) and sealed her back up.

I booted into my Windows flash SSD (preloaded with Atiflash and the WX4130 rom from @internetzel), backed up the default BIOS, flashed WX4130_GOP.ROM, and rebooted. Without OpenCore, the iMac had no display, but the card was detected. I was able to Screen Share right in, change the boot device to my OpenCore USB (with the AMD Config.plist pre-set) and reboot. Boot screen and picker with OpenCore, brightness control, the whole 9 yards.

Benchmarks incoming - photos of the process attached.

 

[stephengrenfell]

Good morning all from southern France.

Well this morning I tried again with UniGine and a "cold" machine with external display.

Still same score 1170 with GTX780M 4GB and i5 2400.

However one thing I did notice is that Unigine report GPU température as 129 deg C. I'm pretty sure it was saying that yesterday too.

So I looked in Temperature Guage App and it shows - the values are moving so seem real (to me).

Why is that ?.

When you guys run Unigine what temperature GPU does it show - something sensible ?.

Oh, and I changed the PRAM battery yesterday evening it was 3.0V. This morning on boot up no BT or USB devices opérative - until forced power off and reboot repeated 3 times then USB and BT all working. Strange that....

This afternoon removal of the logic abord and dissassemble the GPU board to check the hestasink contact is good.

 

[gmonk]

Hi Guys, I was reading this very intersting thread, and you did a wonderful job here.
My eternal gratitude to MichaelDT, Nick [D]vB, liquidtwitch, FlorisVN, and all the guys that made this possible.

Dispite all odds, I'm attempting to put a Geforce 765m inside my 2011 imac 21.5.
I saw that Nick's Beta3 VBIOS does not include .ffs files. Does this mean that Bootrom patch is not required anymore?
Or do I have just to take the .ffs files from the beta2 zip and proceed to the bootrom patch also?

Thanks a lot,
Monk

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Good morning all from southern France.

Well this morning I tried again with UniGine and a "cold" machine with external display.

Still same score 1170 with GTX780M 4GB and i5 2400.

However one thing I did notice is that Unigine report GPU température as 129 deg C. I'm pretty sure it was saying that yesterday too.

So I looked in Temperature Guage App and it shows - the values are moving so seem real (to me).

View attachment 915597

Why is that ?.

When you guys run Unigine what temperature GPU does it show - something sensible ?.

Oh, and I changed the PRAM battery yesterday evening it was 3.0V. This morning on boot up no BT or USB devices opérative - until forced power off and reboot repeated 3 times then USB and BT all working. Strange that....

This afternoon removal of the logic abord and dissassemble the GPU board to check the hestasink contact is good.

The 129 degree reading is a software error. If you check the first post on the first page carefully than you can see that this is one of the known problems...the internal GPU temp sensor reading.

You card has a problem, and if this GPU 0 Heatsink temperature snapshot was during the benchmark it is the card, not the installation.

Just running valley on my 780 and the temps are rising above 54 on the sink showing FPS values around 60.

The CR2032 battery is running the NVRAM, i.e. changing it is IMHO is like an NVRAM reset and you are loosing the bindings to all BT devices etc...

EDIT:

My broken 780M made it impossible to get sleep even with High Sierra! Have you checked this?

 

[nathansz]

Good morning all from southern France.

Well this morning I tried again with UniGine and a "cold" machine with external display.

Still same score 1170 with GTX780M 4GB and i5 2400.

However one thing I did notice is that Unigine report GPU température as 129 deg C. I'm pretty sure it was saying that yesterday too.

So I looked in Temperature Guage App and it shows - the values are moving so seem real (to me).

View attachment 915597

Why is that ?.

When you guys run Unigine what temperature GPU does it show - something sensible ?.

Oh, and I changed the PRAM battery yesterday evening it was 3.0V. This morning on boot up no BT or USB devices opérative - until forced power off and reboot repeated 3 times then USB and BT all working. Strange that....

This afternoon removal of the logic abord and dissassemble the GPU board to check the hestasink contact is good.

I think 129 is the normal value the software reports when it cannot read the temperatuere

I'm more interested in reboot no usb, I have the exact same experiences, I thought new battery would help but I guesss not?

it seems like a power thing, but I have swapped power supplies between machines and get the same behaviour, ram also

are you able to wake from sleep on this machine?

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Dispite all odds, I'm attempting to put a Geforce 765m inside my 2011 imac 21.5.
I saw that Nick's Beta3 VBIOS does not include .ffs files. Does this mean that Bootrom patch is not required anymore?
Or do I have just to take the .ffs files from the beta2 zip and proceed to the bootrom patch also?

Again, page one, post one, searching for your card and finding this post...within seconds.

 

[gmonk]

I'm sorry, I've miss that, it's just that the link in the first post points directly to the zip download, and I missed that clarification reading all throught the posts...

Thanks a lot

 

[Ausdauersportler]

I'm sorry, I've miss that, it's just that the link in the first post points directly to the zip download, and I missed that clarification reading all throught the posts...

Thanks a lot

You are welcome! Probably this first post is not perfect, but it is the best we have to keep track of all current developments. Just this morning came two posts in which will likely make it to the guide there

 

[nathansz]

You are welcome! Probably this first post is not perfect, but it is the best we have to keep track of all current developments. Just this morning came two posts in which will likely make it to the guide there

the first post is VERY GOOD. perhaps better than it's ever been, but still a lot of information for a new reader to parse in their head if they haven't already been playing with this stuff

I understand how one might jump ahead looking for information even though it's in the first post

I appreciate the work you do trying to keep it clean

 

[Ausdauersportler]

the first post is VERY GOOD. perhaps better than it's ever been, but still a lot of information for a new reader to parse in their head if they haven't already been playing with this stuff

I understand how one might jump ahead looking for information even though it's in the first post

I appreciate the work you do trying to keep it clean

Thanks, but I came in late when most work was already done and I am more the (devils) advocate here than the author.

(I am another dwarf standing on the shoulders of giants)

When I constantly remind people reading there then it is for one single reason: I like to help to push the people into learning and solving their problems on their own. I will not remote control an adult to type in commands or move a mouse over the desktop.

 

[StephN999]

But I also assume that these settings will be fine in the TDP limits of the smaller 21.5" models?
Most people to just replace MXM-A cards with MXM-A cards.

Bonjour,
No problem, it doesn't even ventilate fully, 71 ° c maximum.

 

[_Beckett]

About this Mac->System Report->Hardware->Boot Rom Version == Firmware (probably Google can give you same answer?)
System == Hardware, i.e. iMac 27" late 2009 i5-750

You could change your signature in this forum to reflect your hardware. The signature is added to each post and everybody knows what we are talking about...

ah alright
sorry for a dumb questions...
Its 27' late 2009 C2D E7600 3.06 Ghz
bootrom version IM101.00CF.B00

 

[Ausdauersportler]

ah alright
sorry for a dumb questions...
Its 27' late 2009 C2D E7600 3.06 Ghz
I will edit this reply later when i come home, to check that bootrom version

There are no dumb questions, it is just my standard answer

And here we have another problem: Your machine is most likely incompatible at all. You need to have a system board with an Intel i3, at least. No Core 2 Duo support.

I will have to check the complete thread for the facts and will change the first post.

 

[Vego17]

@Vego17, Hey man, what happened with your WX7100? Any luck getting it going? Did you at least got it to boot?



What about you @Emilio306 ?

--

In the other news, I finally finished my first AMD implementation - my WX4170 project. Once again huge thanks to everyone contributing to this forum, especially to @Nick [D]vB (for the rom), @highvoltage12v (for the kext/framework work), @Ausdauersportler (for the support, the idea bouncing and sharing his OC experience), and all others here who have actively worked, tested and spent plenty of hours on building this knowledge.

So, I can report working 27", 2011 model with WX4170 and OC. Full HW Acceleration, Airplay, Boot Menu, brightness control. In essence all that I was missing with the GTX series, apart from the performance (maybe).

2 lessons I learnt with the WX4170 in relation to the setup:

• Heatsink does not require modification, but, you need to be generous with the K5 on the vrams, as they do not sit well on the heatsink
• I needed to put a piece of electrical tape on the left side of the card (when looking at the GPU), because, I believe some of the components were touching the heatsink which in turn resulted in boot problems initially. Coils were fine.

In the meantime my WX7100 project has regressed again. As @Ausdauersportler already explained, we ended without successful installation on the 2011 model, so I am eagerly waiting for a replacement card (the card was bad).

@jborko Sadly I have the same problem as you did, flashed rom with the programmer, installed it and the Mac doesn't want to start (fan spins for like half second and that's all, nothing happens). Was it confirmed that the card was broken? Because I don't know what to tell to seller.

 

[_Beckett]

There are no dumb questions, it is just my standard answer

And here we have another problem: Your machine is most likely incompatible at all. You need to have a system board with an Intel i3, at least. No Core 2 Duo support.

I will have to check the complete thread for the facts and will change the first post.

hmm
Kinda strange - isnt It? K610 works well...

 

[Ausdauersportler]

hmm
Kinda strange - isnt It? K610 works well...

I am talking about the cards flashed with a VBIOS provided by @Nick [D]vB. You will likely get all Kepler based cards running, if you do not need brightness control, or boot screens, or the other shortcomings detected 7 years, ago.