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

[mario24601]

Hi all, just ran into this thread, I didnt even know it was possible to install a different GPUin the 2011 27". Ive been debating upgrading to a new machine, I still like my 2011 but gets a little slow at times when doing graphics intensive things. Mine has the AMD 6970M 2GB. What would you recommend as upgrade? The fastest and everything working properly on it (screen dim etc.)? Thank you!

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Hi all, just ran into this thread, I didnt even know it was possible to install a different GPUin the 2011 27". Ive been debating upgrading to a new machine, I still like my 2011 but gets a little slow at times when doing graphics intensive things. Mine has the AMD 6970M 2GB. What would you recommend as upgrade? The fastest and everything working properly on it (screen dim etc.)? Thank you!

First page, first post, this thread, read yourself...

 

[mario24601]

First page, first post, this thread, read yourself...

Thanks, are they arranged in order of "best" at number 1?

 

[GreppMichaels]

Please run valley at 1920x1080, medium, no AA and try got get approximately 30 FPS - than your card is working fine. Cannot comment on games...
Try to install OpenCore on SD card and enable temp sensors, may be your system is throttled down. Check with HW Monitor if your CPU is boosting and finally install the internal LCD, of not done.
Did you install everything back including the LCD and all thermo sensors?

I applied the thermal paste wrong, along with my x clamp coming off because these amazon screws did not meet the size requirement for the no xclamp removal version, got boned by cheap amazon stuff and wrongly applying thermal paste, somewhere along the way I lost the original screws as well from the amd card xclamp so I need to find replacements ha, atleast there are solutions!

 

[NOTNlCE]

Thanks, are they arranged in order of "best" at number 1?

There are pros and cons to all cards. You will need to take all the info (and yes, I apologize, there is a LOT of info) and decide for yourself. Only you know your skill set, what you are comfortable and not comfortable tinkering with, etc. Some cards require heatsink modifications, most or all require VBIOS flashing, some need OpenCore, some are expensive, some have a newer feature set, and some perform better than others. For *most* people, the K2100M is the sweet spot. Not a bank breaker, has brightness control with OpenCore, no heatsink mod needed, and is readily available. But you may find yourself wanting more performance, less price, etc. See what I mean?

The WX7100 is the fastest card, hands down, and has brightness control, but they are incredibly expensive (compared to other cards that work well), hard to source, and some cards have issues working in some machines, plus confusing Ebay listings, etc. Next in line in performance is the GTX 780M, but it does not *yet* have brightness control. It goes on from there. You can check out the performance metrics of each card in the spreadsheet linked on post #1.

 

[dn325ci]

I’m really trying hard to verify if my machine has a video card problem or something else. My machine is open and what I’m getting is all 4 diagnostic LED’s on the front of the motherboard are fully lit green, but my machine won’t boot past the Apple logo when trying to enter safe mode. When trying to boot normally it will just keep restarting after the Apple logo progress bar nears the end. Also the upper right corner (as viewed from the back) where the power supply is seems warmer than normal. It has a 2 or 3 year old Samsung SSD in it. Thoughts?

 

[mario24601]

There are pros and cons to all cards. You will need to take all the info (and yes, I apologize, there is a LOT of info) and decide for yourself. Only you know your skill set, what you are comfortable and not comfortable tinkering with, etc. Some cards require heatsink modifications, most or all require VBIOS flashing, some need OpenCore, some are expensive, some have a newer feature set, and some perform better than others. For *most* people, the K2100M is the sweet spot. Not a bank breaker, has brightness control with OpenCore, no heatsink mod needed, and is readily available. But you may find yourself wanting more performance, less price, etc. See what I mean?

The WX7100 is the fastest card, hands down, and has brightness control, but they are incredibly expensive (compared to other cards that work well), hard to source, and some cards have issues working in some machines, plus confusing Ebay listings, etc. Next in line in performance is the GTX 780M, but it does not *yet* have brightness control. It goes on from there. You can check out the performance metrics of each card in the spreadsheet linked on post #1.

Thanks, yeah I'm reading everything I can find. I was trying to find the simplest drop in that works as stock would.

 

[herrdude]

I’m really trying hard to verify if my machine has a video card problem or something else. My machine is open and what I’m getting is all 4 diagnostic LED’s on the front of the motherboard are fully lit green, but my machine won’t boot past the Apple logo when trying to enter safe mode. When trying to boot normally it will just keep restarting after the Apple logo progress bar nears the end. Also the upper right corner (as viewed from the back) where the power supply is seems warmer than normal. It has a 2 or 3 year old Samsung SSD in it. Thoughts?

All that means is that the logic board is communicating with the graphics card BUT the solder on the GPU die is defective, which is well known and explains the 290 pages of discussions here.

As I told you in your thread on the same subject, your graphics card is kaput. Take it out and bake it and you will see it working again.

But truth be told, all you are doing is kicking the can down the road as it will fail again. Plus the effort to bake it is equal to installing a new one, which will give you Catalina. It is really a no brainer.

 

[MikkelF]

Yes, thats at least what i am facing. Recently @MikkelF described the same. @Conney describes it also but AFAIR his is more closer to what you are observing - CPU clock related. Few weeks back i have came across few posts describing the similar symptoms (too many pages to trawl trough for references). Worthwhile saying that my behavior was observed even before 10.15.5 update, so there i tend to agree with what you said earlier, it does not appear to be OS related. For me the problem was not introduced by the latest update to Catalina. The fact that HS seamed to work better is that i haven't spent much time testing it, usually it was just after fresh boot that I ran Valley bench. HS is my alt installation , Catalina being primary. Thanks again for all your meaningful insights and help to the community.

Edit: Wanted to clarify that I observe it even without sleep. It just happens after some time/// Probably should look at logs but catalina is notorious for chattiness and spewing crap in the logs so not sure if looking at those is very obvious/helpful...

I might add that I also experienced it in Mojave and although I didn't specifically check the GPU clock I got the very same behaviour: High FPS right after boot and then shortly later about half the FPS.
Now in Catalina it's definitely the GPU being clocked down and I think it's fair to assume that as reason in Mojave as well, although the FPS/score is worse with Catalina than Mojave.
Also my system didn't sleep before the changes kicked in.
I haven't benchmarked in High Sierra.

 

[GreppMichaels]

Hey Guys!

So made a big discovery (for me 😀) on installing a K2100m on a 27 2010 imac, I saw a couple people post about having issues using m2 10mm screws for k2100m and it's existing XClamp, so the XClamp thread is 2mm but the actual threading of the video card and stock imac heatsink is 2.5mm, I figured this out the hard way when my GPU basically became undone from the heatsink because the screws weren't properly latching to the heatsink and they actually pulled the Xclamp off, (along with me improperly applying thermal paste to my new i7 CPU) which gave my computer some heart attacks.

I actually used the stock X Clamp with 2.5mm 12mm screws but you could probably go as far as 14mm, I didn't get to try those out but I think somewhere between those two lengths are perfect for a 2 pipe heatsink and the existing XClamp on a k2100m. Again thank you all for everything and am excited to use my slightly enhanced imac! I have a radeon HD 1gb from my 2010 imac if anyone is interested btw!
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Hi all, just ran into this thread, I didnt even know it was possible to install a different GPUin the 2011 27". Ive been debating upgrading to a new machine, I still like my 2011 but gets a little slow at times when doing graphics intensive things. Mine has the AMD 6970M 2GB. What would you recommend as upgrade? The fastest and everything working properly on it (screen dim etc.)? Thank you!

If you want my opinion, I had the radeon 5 series 1tb HD in a mid 2010 27 imac and upgraded to a k2100m 2gb, and have yet to notice any real gains in gaming. I'm sure it might help a bit in video editing but I was surprised, with that said most reviews say these aren't gaming cards. If you're looking to do workstation or video editing you might have better luck, but all the mxm A cards with currently functioning bioses (atleast the Nvidia from what I remember) aren't geared for gaming, I don't think many of the AMD cards are either, so consider even if you got a 4gb or 8gb beast, the chip architecture is designed for video editing/workstation/cad type stuff

 

[r6mile]

Hey Guys!

So made a big discovery (for me 😀) on installing a K2100m on a 27 2010 imac, I saw a couple people post about having issues using m2 10mm screws for k2100m and it's existing XClamp, so the XClamp thread is 2mm but the actual threading of the video card and stock imac heatsink is 2.5mm, I figured this out the hard way when my GPU basically became undone from the heatsink because the screws weren't properly latching to the heatsink and they actually pulled the Xclamp off, (along with me improperly applying thermal paste to my new i7 CPU) which gave my computer some heart attacks.

I actually used the stock X Clamp with 2.5mm 12mm screws but you could probably go as far as 14mm, I didn't get to try those out but I think somewhere between those two lengths are perfect for a 2 pipe heatsink and the existing XClamp on a k2100m. Again thank you all for everything and am excited to use my slightly enhanced imac! I have a radeon HD 1gb from my 2010 imac if anyone is interested btw!
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If you want my opinion, I had the radeon 5 series 1tb HD in a mid 2010 27 imac and upgraded to a k2100m 2gb, and have yet to notice any real gains in gaming. I'm sure it might help a bit in video editing but I was surprised, with that said most reviews say these aren't gaming cards. If you're looking to do workstation or video editing you might have better luck, but all the mxm A cards with currently functioning bioses (atleast the Nvidia from what I remember) aren't geared for gaming, I don't think many of the AMD cards are either, so consider even if you got a 4gb or 8gb beast, the chip architecture is designed for video editing/workstation/cad type stuff

Sounds like you had the same issue I did! We both must have misread the post that talked about what length M2 screws to use. I also have a 27 2010 i7 and was trying to install a K2100M with 10mm screws, and the GPU just wouldn't latch on to the heatsink either (thankfully I realised this before I closed the iMac back up). As I couldn't find 15mm screws (which is what the post recommended, once I read it more carefully), I used 16mm screws - my xclamp thankfully didn't come off, I just had to make sure that I didn't over-tighten. And that seems to have worked fine, no issues and my temps are looking normal.

I haven't done extensive testing on gaming, but I have briefly tried Company of Heroes 2 and Europa Universalis IV and so far the performance doesn't seem to be miles ahead of what I was getting with the 5750 1GB. But at least no graphics artefacts for me, so all good! FYI I flashed using the Linux USB over SSH and using Opencore. Still having some mild issues with Target Display Mode, but otherwise no major problems. I'm getting 28.9FPS and 1209 score on Unigine Valley.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Well, as you have anticipated, all cores' speeds stay at around 1.6 GHz...
Screenshot below. Grüße aus Polen 😉View attachment 923034

This morning I reinstalled the original 6750M and the CPU boost is back, the roaring CPU fan on start is gone and the Valley performance with this original card is on the same level as other reported here (12.1 FPS / 505 Score).

I did this again with booting OpenCore using the 6750M and got the same results including the proof, that the CPU went up to nearly 2.8 GHz on boost (11.8 FPS / 494 Score).

My first conclusion: The single K2100M may be bad or the installation on the sink was it.
Next step: Check another K2100M, using electrical tape to avoid contact of the coils with the sink.

 

[Desgus71]

Hi folks, I’ve had a GTX 765M inside my 27”iMac for sometime, but I’ve never flashed the card or done anything to get the boot screen, I’m not very proficient enough to do this by myself, I was wondering if anyone could offer their services? Preferably UK based. Many thanks

 

[toucharcade]

I might add that I also experienced it in Mojave and although I didn't specifically check the GPU clock I got the very same behaviour: High FPS right after boot and then shortly later about half the FPS.
Now in Catalina it's definitely the GPU being clocked down and I think it's fair to assume that as reason in Mojave as well, although the FPS/score is worse with Catalina than Mojave.
Also my system didn't sleep before the changes kicked in.
I haven't benchmarked in High Sierra.

After few more tests. I am thinking this is all due Valley behavior and nothing else. While you have the benchmark running, just fire up browser (brave / chromium based) and for instance twitch.tv with this video https://player.twitch.tv/?video=647985596&parent=www.example.com immediately the GPU Core jumps to 810MHz and the FPS counter in Valley also spikes... case closed in my view at least.

 

[meggle]

Hi yes its the 2011 27 inch iMac its in I flashed it from within windows 10 on the iMac, no obstacles I used a clean install of windows 10 and this was the only hard drive attached IE I unplugged the OSX drive and made sure the machine booted direct to Windows


Hi yes its in the 27 inch 2011 12,2 imac I unplugged ssd drive with OSX installed and plugged in an SSD with Windows 10 booted to that and flashed the card from there, no obstacles just used the info from this post.
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Please see attached file is that what your after ?

Hi! I am posting in reply to this VBIOS of a confirmed working 00D 7100. Below is the original ROM from my non-working 00D, maybe it helps? It has a different MD5sum from the one posted. I also noticed when inspecting them in a Hex editor that vBIOS from the working card is newer (01/05/17) and the one from the non-working is dated 09/02/16.
@Ausdauersportler

I also visually inspected the pictures and found some components being populated/unpopulated on the different cards, most notably one 8pin chip and a few transistors, and one different type of capacitor which probably doesnt matter.

So the non-working 00D has the 8pin chip, while the working 00D doesnt.
I also found this post from @Rasmussen who reports a non-working 00C with the chip present.
Then there is this post from @Ausdauersportler and @jborko who report a non-working 00C with the chip present.

BUT then I found @Pascal Baillargeau 's working 00D in this post has a chip present as well.

So I suppose while there is variations between boards, this chip being present does not indicate if it will work or not. Sigh. Well I'll leave this investigation here for posterity.

 

[dn325ci]

All that means is that the logic board is communicating with the graphics card BUT the solder on the GPU die is defective, which is well known and explains the 290 pages of discussions here.

As I told you in your thread on the same subject, your graphics card is kaput. Take it out and bake it and you will see it working again.

But truth be told, all you are doing is kicking the can down the road as it will fail again. Plus the effort to bake it is equal to installing a new one, which will give you Catalina. It is really a no brainer.

Got it. I was surprised to get it open and find LED 3 lit indicating a functioning graphics card, and decided I should consolidate my questions into this thread. I'll see where I can source a 2100M. Thanks.

 

[MikkelF]

After few more tests. I am thinking this is all due Valley behavior and nothing else. While you have the benchmark running, just fire up browser (brave / chromium based) and for instance twitch.tv with this video https://player.twitch.tv/?video=647985596&parent=www.example.com immediately the GPU Core jumps to 810MHz and the FPS counter in Valley also spikes... case closed in my view at least.

I can confirm your observation...so much for benchmark software.
I wouldn't say the case is closed however...in my opinion the OS doesn't power throttle correctly as it should.
If the OS doesn't know when to throttle or not that might cause issues in a bunch of situations and just because it appears to handle video playback it doesn't mean that it does so optimally.

Not that it matters a great deal to me since I basically just wanted to upgrade the OS on my old mac which I succeeded with...no need for optimal performance.

 

[dn325ci]

Follow up question: does it matter which variant of the k2100M I buy? I'm seeing variants intended for HP, Dell, Alienware, etc.

 

[sarsel33]

Hi all, thank you for all your tips, i upgrade my imac 27 2011 with a brand New quadro k610m, flash bios with usb stick and ssh, install catalina with dosdude (following all dosdude tutorial step), no problem at all. And when i start my imac i have artefact issues, anyone can explain me if i missed anything ? The quadro k610m is brand New and last bios was flashed without problems. The imac is freezed excepts mouse during a little time, next mouse freezed too and imac reboot. Any help will welcome. Thank you

 

[Fourk]

Hello everyone,

Here is my update with the CH341A Programmer.
Clevo R9M290X

VBIOS tests:
Clevo P370SM (UEFI) - Not Working (Original one)
Clevo P570WS - Not Wirkung
Clevo P570WS (UEFI Mod) - Not Working
AMD Factory one - not working
Dell UEFI - Not working
Dell - not working

The 3rd LED is not glowing and no Display output is working. What I recognize is that with the DELL once the Fans doesn’t Spin at 100% the whole time. The other once does.

So can anyone help me with this stuck or is this card official dead now ?

Kind regards,

 

[Curtis Gross]

The following is a vbios ROM for: Nvidia Quadro K610M

K610M:
MXM-A (3.0) bus interface, low powered card at TDP 30W.
It is a drop-in fit for the 21.5" iMac and 27” iMac heatsinks.
It is based on the GK208 GPU Kepler 2.0 architecture.
Metal supported.

I put this together only because there are now a few members on here that have one and it is relatively cheap to purchase for the moment.
It is based on Nick [D]vB's ROMs. All credit to him.
I have not had a chance to test it fully, but I can confirm brightness control will work with Opencore implementation on High Sierra 10.13.6.
Bootpicker menu is also available ofcourse.

This card should be added to our database of working GPUs.
Enjoy.

Nikey - can you do a quick writeup of how you modified the vbios? I want to use some spare time to look into the k3100 / k4100 / k5100

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Hello everyone,

Here is my update with the CH341A Programmer.
Clevo R9M290X

VBIOS tests:
Clevo P370SM (UEFI) - Not Working (Original one)
Clevo P570WS - Not Wirkung
Clevo P570WS (UEFI Mod) - Not Working
AMD Factory one - not working
Dell UEFI - Not working
Dell - not working

The 3rd LED is not glowing and no Display output is working. What I recognize is that with the DELL once the Fans doesn’t Spin at 100% the whole time. The other once does.

So can anyone help me with this stuck or is this card official dead now ?

Kind regards,

The 3rd LED does not come up with any of the working AMD card, so this is no indication at all. Having no display output is one. You are the explorer here, nobody will be able to share his experience with this type of card.

 

[ZenSurfeur]

Nikey - can you do a quick writeup of how you modified the vbios? I want to use some spare time to look into the k3100 / k4100 / k5100

I will need a K3100M vbios modded 🙂

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Hi all, thank you for all your tips, i upgrade my imac 27 2011 with a brand New quadro k610m, flash bios with usb stick and ssh, install catalina with dosdude (following all dosdude tutorial step), no problem at all. And when i start my imac i have artefact issues, anyone can explain me if i missed anything ? The quadro k610m is brand New and last bios was flashed without problems. The imac is freezed excepts mouse during a little time, next mouse freezed too and imac reboot. Any help will welcome. Thank you
View attachment 923529

Artefacts like this and quick reboots are most likely caused by bad cards or bad installations. Please check out that the card components do not cause any shortcuts and do not have contact with the sink. I use K5 pro to isolate or tape like simple transparent Tesa, M3, or the black electrical tape but it does not work out in every case and I have to refit it.
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I will need a K3100M vbios modded 🙂

At least this vBIOS gave me with my K3100M a boot into Catalina ....unfortunately my LVDS connector or cable of this iMac ist dead and I have only indications via screen sharing that this vBIOS detected my internal LCD. Output came to my external Cinema 23" display, only.

You can get a boot screen using the Catalina Loader!!

EDIT: 07/01/2020
The K3100M works also in my 27" mid 2011 system and boots Catalina 10.15.5 after resolving the black screen issue. Of course without a working brightness control, but using the Catalina Loader a limited boot screen. Screen shot attached.

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Nikey - can you do a quick writeup of how you modified the vbios? I want to use some spare time to look into the k3100 / k4100 / k5100

Nikey did reverse engineering based on the work @Nick [D]vB spent into the K2100M vBIOS. A K4100M version is already available. You may do the same.

 

[Fourk]

The 3rd LED does not come up with any of the working AMD card, so this is no indication at all. Having no display output in one. You are the explorer here, nobody will be able to share his experience with this type of card.

Sure but that wasn’t my question. How were able to made the cards workable which are currently working known ? Or they just plug it in and it worked ?
No modification needed ?