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

[xanderon]

I assume you did not reinstall the MacOS and your have installed the HD3000/AppleIntelSNB/Lilu/Whatevergreen on disk?

You cannot inject via OpenCore and install the very same kexts on disk at the same time. Deselect everything from the OC config what you have on already on your disk.

If this does not work start over with a clean install, it is impossible to keep track of all the things you possibly did before.
To get the H.264 iGPU acceleration working you need all the @highvoltage12v kexts on disk, do not inject any of them.

I did not install a fresh system (yet) and I thought about that that y I cleaned all the kexts from disk that should be injected.

but the kext for backgroundcontrol was never installed, still its not working.

 

[jborko]

i was about to write some same thoughts on maybe the power draw is a bit to high for some PSU's.


maybe there is less watt PSU installed in some Imac's.
the radeon WX7100 mobile draw's around 130Watt (max).

AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100 Mobile Specs

AMD Ellesmere, 1243 MHz, 2304 Cores, 144 TMUs, 32 ROPs, 8192 MB GDDR5, 1250 MHz, 256 bit

www.techpowerup.com

it don't say idle power, but i read that the Regular (pc card) version is drawing 20Watt in idle.

what combinations do we know about succes installs.
such as.
(screen size)
Original GPU?
and CPU, and upgrade. (from i5 2400 to >i7 2600)
amount of ram.

not sure on how to test this

OK, so this morning I was reading some more on my theory and it seems that I am probably not very far from the truth. Most frequent causes of underpowered PSU is a fail to initiate POST.

POST problems and possible solutions > very general topic but should apply here as well > https://www.lifewire.com/fix-stopping-freezing-and-reboot-issues-during-the-post-2624441

Power draw causes and possible solutions > https://superuser.com/questions/120...-draw-more-power-than-power-supply-can-provid

Next thing I need to research is see if there is a way to power the Logic board from a PC supply (I am not sure if the cables are the same but I have one at home and will compare) EDIT: Mainboard cable require modification.

One more thing that came to mind is the CPU being used. I have the 2600 - 95W TDP version.

i7-2600 - 95W TDP
i7-2600s - 65W TDP
i5-2500s - 65W TDP
i5-2400 - 95W TDP

EDIT: Disconnecting the backlight inverter might also help to save some juice for the card, so might be worth attempting to start the machine with the backlight inverted disconnected.

@Pascal Baillargeau Can you confirm which CPU do you have? I don't see it in your signature.

its ticked by default. but still not working. also I get instant reboots IF I check AppleIntelHD3000 + AppleIntelSNB don't know y.

BUT I see its working more or less because I see the iMac and not a monitor under System Settings > Monitors

On some occasions (at least for me in the recent days of testing), I found out that sometimes OC behaviour is different when you select the Catalina Loader in the boot menu, get into the white background boot menu and select the boot drive from there. Perhaps it is worth to try, although I think it will not...

 

[StephN999]

Bonjour,

I have a little problem, I use the "automatic appearance mode", if I let my machine turn on overnight the next day no problem, if I turn off my machine non-Apple applications (among other Firefox and iStats Menus) remains in "dark" mode when turning on my machine.

As I do not know what modifications it comes from, I allow myself to put this message on 2 topics.

If we are already talking about it, excuse me I have read the entire topics. 😓

Thank you for your understanding.

Have a good day.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

I did not install a fresh system (yet) and I thought about that that y I cleaned all the kexts from disk that should be injected.

but the kext for backgroundcontrol was never installed, still its not working.

Something is working. Boot without the SD card holding OpenCore and check the Monitor panel in the systems preferences app, again. Make a screen shot and compare the pictures.
Somehow you display is right now recognized as the internal one and the picture has been changed to reflect this. Unfortunately the backlight control has not been enabled.

Could you please take and send screen shots from

About this Mac -> System Report -> Graphics/Display
and
About this Mac (only)

As I said before, starting over is probably the clean way. I would not like to poke into your old installation for weird settings.
[automerge]1590147334[/automerge]

Bonjour,

I have a little problem, I use the "automatic appearance mode", if I let my machine turn on overnight the next day no problem, if I turn off my machine non-Apple applications (among other Firefox and iStats Menus) remains in "dark" mode when turning on my machine.

As I do not know what modifications it comes from, I allow myself to put this message on 2 topics.

If we are already talking about it, excuse me I have read the entire topics. 😓

Thank you for your understanding.

Have a good day.

Probably an issue to be discussed on the "Catalina on unsupported Macs..." thread

 

[Antônio Nicola]

Using Opencore you have "Native" brightness with this card.
[automerge]1590087739[/automerge]


You have everything you need there:

Q: Flash VBIOS? How do I do that?
A: VBIOS can be flashed in one of two ways: Either directly with a CH341a clip programmer or with the "NVFLASH" software in Windows or Linux. THIS POST helps describe the flashing process. Others have found THIS POST useful. User @xanderon created a pre-made USB that can flash Nvidia cards in the iMac with Linux over SSH. Many have found this the easiest method. There is an add-on to flash AMD cards using this method, too. Additionally, user @jowaju created a simple Installer package that can be run on macOS Sierra (10.12) and higher that creates a 15GB Windows 7 Bootcamp partition with all the needed tools.


Personally, i flashed cards in windows10 or using clip. I haven't try linux ssh way.

Hello again. a doubt arose. how can I access Windows through the bootcamp using “a simple installer package” W7 installation tool if I no longer have the boot screen?

I already have a bootcamp partition in my Mac running w10. (It can be used?)

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Hello again. a doubt arose. how can I access Windows through the bootcamp using “a simple installer package” W7 installation tool if I no longer have the boot screen?

I already have a bootcamp partition in my Mac running w10. (It can be used?)

You need some local help if you do not understand/read the guides...without a screen or boot screen the iMac has to boot automatically into the W10. Before you should have setup the remote access. Then you need a second machine to remote access the W10 on your iMac using the Nvidia flash software.

You may also try the Linux boot steck, same story. Disconnect all there boot devices, boot into the stick, access from a second machine and flash.

Last but not least you could invest 15 USD into a CH314A flash programmer and flash the card before installing it. Then you get boot screen and screen and everything else..

This tasks needs some admin experience. Go and get local help. Somebody with Linux/UNIX experience using the USB stick or buy the programmer..

 

[Pascal Baillargeau]

@Pascal Baillargeau Can you confirm which CPU do you have? I don't see it in your signature.


Added.

 

[MikkelF]

Thank you for all the hard work behind this mod.

I have a mid 2011 iMac and I upgraded the GPU to a K2100M using herrdudes guide:

2011 iMac Graphics Card Upgrade

No, you won't get a picture on the stock vBIOS without a back-light mod, AMD users should flash the GOP vBIOS attached, you can do it from windows. Then use OpenCore to get boot-screen and brightness control with no other mods! https://www.techpowerup.com/download/ati-atiflash/ Download...

forums.macrumors.com

The system seems to be running fine (Mojave) for the past weeks since the upgrade. However I would like hardware H.264 encoding and it does not appear to work.

In the PDF overview of the different graphics cards (attached to the first post) it is stated that K2100M should have H.264/H.265 support when using OpenCore.
I have not made any kext changes since I use the OpenCore solution.
Is this correct or do I still need to make some kext changes besides using OpenCore?


When running VDADecoderChecker I get the following output:

/Users/username/Downloads/VDADecoderChecker ; exit;
GVA error: Not detecting IGPU in IORegistry!
GVA error: Not detecting valid offline codec!
AVDCreateGPUAccelerator: Error loading GPU renderer
VDADecoderCreate failed. err: -12473
An error was returned by the decoder layer. This may happen for example because of bitstream/data errors during a decode operation. This error may also be returned from VDADecoderCreate when hardware decoder resources are available on the system but currently in use by another process.
VDADecoderCreate failed. err: -12473

And in the Hackingtool system info it says "VDA decoder failed".


I have been searching through this thread for days but so far I have not found a solution.
I apologize if this has already been covered. In that case I hope someone will kindly point me in the right direction.

Please see the attached system info and OpenCore settings.
Regards, Mikkel
[automerge]1590154141[/automerge]

I have a mid 2011 iMac and I upgraded the GPU to a K2100M using herrdudes guide:

I posted the wrong link. This is the guide I followed:

2011 iMac Graphics Card Upgrade

How to Boot Seamlessly using the OpenCore Bootloader Many thanks to Nick(D)VB for bringing my iMac back to life! After spending many hours on a bazillion forums, here are the steps on how to get your iMac to boot using the OpenCore Bootloader with no keyboard manipulations. This works for...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Thank you for all the hard work behind this mod.

I have a mid 2011 iMac and I upgraded the GPU to a K2100M using herrdudes guide:

2011 iMac Graphics Card Upgrade

No, you won't get a picture on the stock vBIOS without a back-light mod, AMD users should flash the GOP vBIOS attached, you can do it from windows. Then use OpenCore to get boot-screen and brightness control with no other mods! https://www.techpowerup.com/download/ati-atiflash/ Download...

forums.macrumors.com

The system seems to be running fine (Mojave) for the past weeks since the upgrade. However I would like hardware H.264 encoding and it does not appear to work.

The secret is:

Just follow the original guide @highvoltage12v made and which is linked on page one. You have to install all his extensions on disk in /S*/L*/E*, otherwise the iGPU will not work.

The method proposed by @Nick [D]vB with injecting some extensions using the OpenCore framework works pretty fine with the AMD cards, but not with Nvidia cards if you need the Intel iGPU working. AMD cards offer their only by far superior H.264 acceleration. Having such a card there is no need to enable the Intel iGPU.

This does not answer your question, as I figured out one post later Sorry!

 

[Pascal Baillargeau]

Thank you for all the hard work behind this mod.

I have a mid 2011 iMac and I upgraded the GPU to a K2100M using herrdudes guide:

2011 iMac Graphics Card Upgrade

No, you won't get a picture on the stock vBIOS without a back-light mod, AMD users should flash the GOP vBIOS attached, you can do it from windows. Then use OpenCore to get boot-screen and brightness control with no other mods! https://www.techpowerup.com/download/ati-atiflash/ Download...

forums.macrumors.com

The system seems to be running fine (Mojave) for the past weeks since the upgrade. However I would like hardware H.264 encoding and it does not appear to work.

In the PDF overview of the different graphics cards (attached to the first post) it is stated that K2100M should have H.264/H.265 support when using OpenCore.
I have not made any kext changes since I use the OpenCore solution.
Is this correct or do I still need to make some kext changes besides using OpenCore?


When running VDADecoderChecker I get the following output:

/Users/username/Downloads/VDADecoderChecker ; exit;
GVA error: Not detecting IGPU in IORegistry!
GVA error: Not detecting valid offline codec!
AVDCreateGPUAccelerator: Error loading GPU renderer
VDADecoderCreate failed. err: -12473
An error was returned by the decoder layer. This may happen for example because of bitstream/data errors during a decode operation. This error may also be returned from VDADecoderCreate when hardware decoder resources are available on the system but currently in use by another process.
VDADecoderCreate failed. err: -12473

And in the Hackingtool system info it says "VDA decoder failed".


I have been searching through this thread for days but so far I have not found a solution.
I apologize if this has already been covered. In that case I hope someone will kindly point me in the right direction.

Please see the attached system info and OpenCore settings.
Regards, Mikkel
[automerge]1590154141[/automerge]


I posted the wrong link. This is the guide I followed:

2011 iMac Graphics Card Upgrade

How to Boot Seamlessly using the OpenCore Bootloader Many thanks to Nick(D)VB for bringing my iMac back to life! After spending many hours on a bazillion forums, here are the steps on how to get your iMac to boot using the OpenCore Bootloader with no keyboard manipulations. This works for...

forums.macrumors.com

I can only share settings working for me on an iMac with 780M. you need to replace AppleGVA.framework if it's not already done, and verify settings in config.plist.
H264 works, not HEVC, it's normal.
It's the HD3000 configured as an headless graphic card which decode H264.

 

[Antônio Nicola]

You need some local help if you do not understand/read the guides...without a screen or boot screen the iMac has to boot automatically into the W10. Before you should have setup the remote access. Then you need a second machine to remote access the W10 on your iMac using the Nvidia flash software.

You may also try the Linux boot steck, same story. Disconnect all there boot devices, boot into the stick, access from a second machine and flash.

Last but not least you could invest 15 USD into a CH314A flash programmer and flash the card before installing it. Then you get boot screen and screen and everything else..

This tasks needs some admin experience. Go and get local help. Somebody with Linux/UNIX experience using the USB stick or buy the programmer..

Your answer was able to open my mind and understand a little more about the subject. Now I know things that I had no idea. Soon I will do the tests, I hope all is well. Thank you.

 

[MikkelF]

Just follow the original guide @highvoltage12v made and which is linked on page one. You have to install all his extensions on disk in /S*/L*/E*, otherwise the iGPU will not work.

Thank you. This must be the guide you mention:

2011 iMac Graphics Card Upgrade

EDIT: 7/28/20 Please download the newest Lilu/WhateverGreen kexts from Github, they constantly change. EDIT: 4/17/20 An additional AppleIntelSNBGraphics.kext has been added to the pack to include board ID for iMac Pro/AMD-WX Series Config.plist. You can now have working sleep when your board ID...

forums.macrumors.com

But I still need OpenCore for the Backlight Fix because it can't be installed as the other kexts, right?

So am I right to assume that I should install AppleGVA framework from @highvoltage12v but not the kexts since they are better loaded with OpenCore together with Backlight Fix kext?

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Thank you. This must be the guide you mention:

2011 iMac Graphics Card Upgrade

EDIT: 7/28/20 Please download the newest Lilu/WhateverGreen kexts from Github, they constantly change. EDIT: 4/17/20 An additional AppleIntelSNBGraphics.kext has been added to the pack to include board ID for iMac Pro/AMD-WX Series Config.plist. You can now have working sleep when your board ID...

forums.macrumors.com

But I still need OpenCore for the Backlight Fix because it can't be installed as the other kexts, right?

So am I right to assume that I should install AppleGVA framework from @highvoltage12v but not the kexts since they are better loaded with OpenCore together with Backlight Fix kext?

I was pointing out how to the the Intel iGPU H.264 working, @Pascal Baillargeau only one post later showed how to get the K2100M H.264 working.

Never checked this out myself for Nvidia cards but I am pretty sure it should work! Just follow his guide, please! It is exactly the way I got the AMD H.264 working.

 

[MikkelF]

Just follow his guide, please! It is exactly the way I got the AMD H.264 working.

I don't mean to confront you.
The reason I ask is because this PDF (linked in the first post): https://forums.macrumors.com/attachments/imac-aftermarket-gpus-v4-pdf.911350/

- claims that without OpenCore backlight adjustment won't work and you need kext modification for H.264 (page 3).
- but with opencore both backlight and H.264 work without kext modification (page 4).

This confuses me because I'm not sure how said guide plays along with OpenCore since it makes no mention of it.
So I'm just asking for clarifications. When you ask me to follow the guide do you mean to:
* Totally skip OpenCore and start over with said guide (and what will then happen to backlight)?
* Or to do only the AppleGVA stuff and keep the OpenCore configuration?
* Or to the AppleGVA stuff and some of the kexts in the guide and let OpenCore inject the rest?

 

[Pascal Baillargeau]

I don't mean to confront you.
The reason I ask is because this PDF (linked in the first post): https://forums.macrumors.com/attachments/imac-aftermarket-gpus-v4-pdf.911350/

- claims that without OpenCore backlight adjustment won't work and you need kext modification for H.264 (page 3).
- but with opencore both backlight and H.264 work without kext modification (page 4).

This confuses me because I'm not sure how said guide plays along with OpenCore since it makes no mention of it.
So I'm just asking for clarifications. When you ask me to follow the guide do you mean to:
* Totally skip OpenCore and start over with said guide (and what will then happen to backlight)?
* Or to do only the AppleGVA stuff and keep the OpenCore configuration?
* Or to the AppleGVA stuff and some of the kexts in the guide and let OpenCore inject the rest?

You have already Opencore installed and working right?

 

[MikkelF]

I can only share settings working for me on a 780M. you need to replace AppleGVA.framework if it's not already done, and verify settings in config.plist.
H264 works, not HEVC, it's normal.

Thank you Pascal. I will be happy with H264

My current SMBIOS/NVRAM settings does not match yours...should I just change them manually and should I do so before or after the installation of AppleGVA?
[automerge]1590159500[/automerge]

You have already Opencore installed and working right?

Yes

 

[Ausdauersportler]

I don't mean to confront you.
The reason I ask is because this PDF (linked in the first post): https://forums.macrumors.com/attachments/imac-aftermarket-gpus-v4-pdf.911350/

- claims that without OpenCore backlight adjustment won't work and you need kext modification for H.264 (page 3).
- but with opencore both backlight and H.264 work without kext modification (page 4).

This confuses me because I'm not sure how said guide plays along with OpenCore since it makes no mention of it.
So I'm just asking for clarifications. When you ask me to follow the guide do you mean to:
* Totally skip OpenCore and start over with said guide (and what will then happen to backlight)?
* Or to do only the AppleGVA stuff and keep the OpenCore configuration?
* Or to the AppleGVA stuff and some of the kexts in the guide and let OpenCore inject the rest?

Everything is ok! But I am not the author and I am not a fan of this aftermarket PDF because I exactly promised this to happen. We have now two contradicting docs.

Until this morning I personally had no idea how to enable the Nvidia H.264 - I never thought about this before. When installing the first K2100M in my 2011 my only concern was to getting sleep and OpenCore and later iGPU working and spent some time on it.

@Pascal Baillargeau did obviously the same focussing more on the OpenCore docs @Nick [D]vB made and used the iMacPro ID, the shiki NVRAM args to use WEG to get this all working.

From what I knew before and I read some minutes ago I would assume:

- Use OpenCore and the iMac Pro ID
- Install the AppleGVA.framework exactly as @Pascal Baillargeau said in S/L/PF
- Put all kext files in the /S/L/E exactly as @highvoltage12v documented

Sorry, this is a little bit an experiment all the time.

 

[Pascal Baillargeau]

Thank you Pascal. I will be happy with H264

My current SMBIOS/NVRAM settings does not match yours...should I just change them manually and should I do so before or after the installation of AppleGVA?
[automerge]1590159500[/automerge]

Yes

Do a config.plist backup before and then edit manually config.plist.
Do a backup of AppleGVA and replace it.
The order doesn't matter, you'll need to reboot after. And maybe check with Videoproc if the functionality is active.
[automerge]1590160072[/automerge]
Concerning the PDF, HEVC only apply to AMD cards. H264 for both AMD and NVIDIA (for the cards referenced).
[automerge]1590160567[/automerge]
And i forgot something HD3000 should be configured as a headless video card, sorry.

 

[sparky720John]

Not perfect but better then no boot screen. And having brightness control is a bliss, especially at night!



John, I went through the same symptoms, but was not persistent and lacked some information. Please check my post 6541 > provides some insight as to what you can attempt to do. Don't give up. SMC reset/I know you can't NVRAM reset, but do the reset with a working card then shut down before the actual start-up, use one memory stick only, one drive only, connect only necessary cables (leave out WiFi, BT, SD, Mic etc) connected, I would attempt even without the 2 fans (HDD and ODD) for a short time. See for possible shorts, contacts with the heatsink (use electrical tape on sections of the card). Make sure it is seated properly.

I have a theory (maybe completely wrong) that the card might initially draw more power than the limit of the PSU/MB which causes the POST to fail. A person who has deeper insight might be able to tell us if this is related, and if perhaps under-clocked vbios on the card might help somehow?

I started out with a working system with the original card which was a AMD HD6770 model with 512 of ram, system would fire and begin to post.

with the new WX7100 card installed, the system does not even begin to try and post, I am not able to do a nvram reset, holding the keys, opt, cmd, p + r SMC reset has been tried since all i can do is pull the main pwr plug and pushing on the pwr button for 10 seconds,

then powering up nothing, the fans basically get a bump of power to spin them for about sec then its nothing, no movements to boot, post or anything.

I am likely to agree with @RRPC and say this maybe a power supply issue on my iMac.

my specs on mine are this,
Mid 2011 27" with the I5 (2500s) 2.7 gig processor
Radeon HD6770m w/ 512 men onboard
32gig 1333 MHz PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM (upgraded from 4gig standard )

not sure what else we need to know but feel free to ask. I don't know if its even possible to upgrade the power supply for the iMac to give more power to the video card or if I'm just missing something,
but to just have the video card installed all cables right, and seated and push power button to have no response shows me I'm not able to even power it on to flash the bios chip and have the metal capabilities. I don't want to give up either, but I am stuck at this point to know what else to even check and try.

disconnecting all fans and wireless don't seem to be posing any problems i have even disconnected the board next to the power supply and still same results the system does not even try to post or fire up.

Im at al losss, and of course out of money from the purchase, the card was also brand new out of box, although i can't tell if that was a lie or not, the card did look new and no signs of ever being used.

thanks

 

[Pascal Baillargeau]

I started out with a working system with the original card which was a AMD HD6770 model with 512 of ram, system would fire and begin to post.

with the new WX7100 card installed, the system does not even begin to try and post, I am not able to do a nvram reset, holding the keys, opt, cmd, p + r SMC reset has been tried since all i can do is pull the main pwr plug and pushing on the pwr button for 10 seconds,

then powering up nothing, the fans basically get a bump of power to spin them for about sec then its nothing, no movements to boot, post or anything.

I am likely to agree with @RRPC and say this maybe a power supply issue on my iMac.

my specs on mine are this,
Mid 2011 27" with the I5 (2500s) 2.7 gig processor
Radeon HD6770m w/ 512 men onboard
32gig 1333 MHz PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM (upgraded from 4gig standard )

not sure what else we need to know but feel free to ask. I don't know if its even possible to upgrade the power supply for the iMac to give more power to the video card or if I'm just missing something,
but to just have the video card installed all cables right, and seated and push power button to have no response shows me I'm not able to even power it on to flash the bios chip and have the metal capabilities. I don't want to give up either, but I am stuck at this point to know what else to even check and try.

disconnecting all fans and wireless don't seem to be posing any problems i have even disconnected the board next to the power supply and still same results the system does not even try to post or fire up.

Im at al losss, and of course out of money from the purchase, the card was also brand new out of box, although i can't tell if that was a lie or not, the card did look new and no signs of ever being used.

thanks

Do you have the possibility to use a clip to flash the vbios on this card?

 

[sparky720John]

Do you have the possibility to use a clip to flash the vbios on this card?

I don't have the tools to do the clip on the chip method,
with little research I'm finding my processor, is the 2500s which is using 65W TDP with the base video card, so not sure but seeing the WX7100 pulls 130TDP I'm not even sure how to know what my psu is pulling or providing.

Apple really didn't want to allow upgrades for anything

 

[BadBiscuit]

I don't have the tools to do the clip on the chip method,
with little research I'm finding my processor, is the 2500s which is using 65W TDP
...

Good info, and perhaps less likely it is a PS issue considering the processor. Have you tried running with minimal RAM and with the optical drive detached? If not, confirm it boots with that arrangement and the original card first, then reset PRAM, unplug and try the VX7100. That may help determine if a PS issues is in play. You may also want to consider picking up a clip, they are quite cheap and allows you to start with a boot screen (assuming the card works); less variables.

 

[RRPC]

@sparky720John @jborko
yes, it might. i'm not sure, i have to take a look in side my imac to see the PSU.
( or one of you have a open i mac and want to check that)

reading the About of @Pascal Baillargeau
and what have, and i do a rough calculation based on what i can finde on the network of power draw. per component

- i7 2600 - 95watt (max) idle about 45 watt.
- wx7100 - 130 Watt (max) idle 20watt.
- 3 SSD's, - what i read about 0.5watt per ssd. so 2 watts.
- 32GB ram - 2 watt per RAM, so 8 watt.

if we assume idle power, its bout 100 watts ( more or less)

what is left is the power draw of the LCD and main board.
and the consumption of fan's
i dont think that all is at full blast when you power the imac. i can stick a power meter between the main's and the imac to see the draw with the default GPU

i have
2011 27"
- i7 2600
- 1TB original HDD.
- 32GB ram
spin up of the HDD seems to be 30 watss acording to what i read on the internet.
but i have to see, test.
to round of.

i see that a iMac A1312 27 inch PSU is 310Watt, i'm not around my imac now. but i can take a look if i have the same PSU. 310watts sounds more than enough.

 

[sparky720John]

Good info, and perhaps less likely it is a PS issue considering the processor. Have you tried running with minimal RAM and with the optical drive detached? If not, confirm it boots with that arrangement and the original card first, then reset PRAM, unplug and try the VX7100. That may help determine if a PS issues is in play. You may also want to consider picking up a clip, they are quite cheap and allows you to start with a boot screen (assuming the card works); less variables.

The current setup is everything removed except the video card and just 1- 8gig ram stick installed
the hard drives, optical are not connected at all, and the system still just would flick the fans for less then a sec and the green diagnostic lights on the mainboard would not even move from the one thats on constantly before system is powered on LED501 is on solid green, system power button on, nothing,

(original setup with only the original video card attached, no hard drives or optical and 32 gigs / 16 gigs of ram, push the power button, get chime, and diagnostic LED 501 and 502-504 begin responding.)

so I'm guessing the PSU maybe involved and causing me this issue if we could confirm with @Nick [D]vB his exact specs on his experiment when the WX7100 worked for him we maybe able to see what maybe my problem.

was he running the I7 model? I am not even sure since it seems my model was the low end, that I'm not even sure if i can upgrade the processor to the 2600S I7-processor and have it work in my system.


I did find the my efi had an upgrade but with my os running yosemite, i couldn't seem to upgrade the EFI bios ( do you need to be on the original OS to install bios upgrades, or on the OS that is close to that bios release date, or does it mean my system wasn't included in that bios change?)

i maybe going back to the original video and not upgrading, seems a shame as its a great beast of a machine if i could just put a decent card in it thats metal capable. 8gig ram was awesome on the wx7100, the others all seem to only have 2 gig, maybe I'm looking at video ram being more is great and I'm wrong?

thanks

 

[roscho]

Dear all,

after years of reading this incredible thread anonymously, I'd like to present myself after successfully upgrading my imac mid 2011 gpu thanks to your great work.

Initially (around 2018) my HD6970 failed, but I was able to reflow it, using a heat gun (together with a fancy adapter cut out of a beer can) and an IR thermometer. This worked flawlessly for almost 2 years but in the meantime i got curious upgrading the dGPU by reading this thread. Like 1 year ago I failed getting a GTX 880m to work, although I did not try flashing a 780m BIOS yet, as suggested recently.

Nevertheless, in January I was lucky to buy the WX7100 (109-C95847-00C_02 "Ellesmere") from TheFalChris.
Motivation was to being able to play X-Plane on my imac.

Thanks to the incredible Work of NickDvB, herrdude and of course Ausdauersportler (amdvbflash) I was able to flash the GOP Bios and get it to work with opencore and Catalina, including sleep.

Benchmarks are somewhat dissapointing though, because the GPU clock is stuck at 300MHz, while Mem Clock can rise up to 1250MHz.

After thinking and reading a lot, I get the impression that this throttling might be either due to faulty GPU Power Management / DSDT / kext issues or due to BIOS itself.

Unfortunately my opencore/hackintosh knowledge is as insufficient as for BIOS editing...(yet)

What are your thoughts regarding the WX7100 GPU clock issue, this hasn't been discussed in a while...

Cheers,

roscho