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

[Machist]

2011 iMac Graphics Card Upgrade

so guys, I have a little gift for you to give back after such an incredible thread :D hope you like it, the headaches to get it running were immens for me as a newb. I couldn't stand it to use fckin windows to flash the cards and so I prepared this ~350mb drive I created a Linux Live USB...

forums.macrumors.com

Will that package contains latest rom?
I have K1100M

 

[e-tip]

2011 iMac Graphics Card Upgrade

so guys, I have a little gift for you to give back after such an incredible thread :D hope you like it, the headaches to get it running were immens for me as a newb. I couldn't stand it to use fckin windows to flash the cards and so I prepared this ~350mb drive I created a Linux Live USB...

forums.macrumors.com

Will that package contains latest rom?
I have K1100M

In first page the link to the firmware brings you to the Beta1.2 version, that is the same included in the linux image. So i'd say it's the latest

 

[Cristhian Paladinez]

Hi, the heatsink bracket is the same for the 3 pipe heatsink?

 

[nikey22]

I don't know what went wrong but yeahhh, goodbye logic board

It looks like you blew a CPU fan inductor and capacitor. Dust shorted it out?

 

[dualstereo]

It looks like you blew a CPU fan inductor and capacitor. Dust shorted it out?
View attachment 929588

Maybe I don't really know what happened. Can it still work without it?

 

[snam11]

Hi, so I tried to upgrade my iMac 21.5 11' gpu to k2000m, disassemble everything, putting on the GPU and I try to check the led diagnostic before putting on the LCD.

At first there were only one led turn on. I unscrew the logic board and check evry cable at the back in case I miss something, then screw it back on and plug in psu and power cable.

As I was pressing the power button, I saw a spark on my logic board

View attachment 929546

As you can see on the bottom left 😣

I don't know what went wrong but yeahhh, goodbye logic board

if you're lucky is just a fuse (l5710) and the near cap (c5709) to replace, i can't tell for sure because the pic is out of focus

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Hi, the heatsink bracket is the same for the 3 pipe heatsink?

The 3-pipe version has a 6790M card installed using the bigger bracket. This one does not fit with the most tested cards here, you need the original Apple smaller bracket or you drive out the rivets from the one glued on your new card or you read post #1 on page #1.

 

[overshoot]

Maybe I don't really know what happened. Can it still work without it?

Yes but you'll overheat the CPU and possibly kill it.
Without that inductor, your CPU fan will not work and that will also trigger the SMC and make the other FANs run full blast.

 

[Mr-Mur]

OpenCore 0.5.9 upgrade anyone?

I tried myself perform OC update with some fixes (i.e. ocabc incompatible open runtime r4, removal of FwRuntime from plist), but I finally stuck with plist adaptation to newer requirements.

No way, is it worth?

 

[dualstereo]

if you're lucky is just a fuse (l5710) and the near cap (c5709) to replace, i can't tell for sure because the pic is out of focus

Seems like L5710.

 

[Oadbylad]

Hello

everybody

new to the forum I finally decided to register to share my experience.

I bought a 2009 imac 1 month ago with hs video card )
and I found on ebay a k5000m so I ordered it )

after browsing the forums a bit I could see that the kepler was compatible so I started

and the chess started: (((

no boot screen, random display ect .....

3 weeks later

I have my boot screen, and the brightness control command but not the adjustment: (((no effect, short.

after browsing the different pdf found on the net, I came across the description of the MXM structures, notably the adjustment of the gpio which controls it.

but I'm not from the computer world, all these instructions give me a hard time


so that's why I defer to you

do you know what are the table indexes that manage this, or the table itself, and if someone has already tried the experiment?

https://lekensteyn.nl/files/docs/mxm-graphics-module-software-specification-version-3.0-revision-1.1.pdf

on page 70

if anyone can help )


sorry for my English (


come to think of it, i saw a restart problem too long it seems to me.

you can test that

replace

01 74 47 B0 1E

1E in 01

thank you

Why are you researching the module? is the K5000m even doable? go back to the OP1

 

[snam11]

View attachment 929611
Seems like L5710.

seems it's only the fuse, but the huge solder blob shouldn't be there... did you mess around with the board?
the fuse in "regular" circuit blows to prevent bigger shock to other components, but that doesn't usually happens on any apple hw, i mean 9 out of 10 it happens on caps or any ic, and almost never on coils and fuse(s).
i shouldn't tell you that, but if you don't have any fuse like the blown one, you can use a wire to bridge it: you have to keep in mind next time you'll have a short it will blow more stuff and maybe you'll fry more stuff

first thing first: you should clean the area and check if the traces are still good, than you can replace the fuse.
i'd use isoprop. alchool to clean, and lot of flux to revive the pads and replace the fuse.
if you have a multimeter do a reading also on the cap. set it in continuity mode (or beep mode), and put the probes on both side of the cap, if it beeps the cap is gone, if not, maybe the cap is still good.

 

[mediabunker]

Hi all,

I'm ripping my hair out with an iMac 27" Mid 2011, which I hope you can offer some advice with.

I had the original AMD Radeon HD 6970M which failed and was replaced under the extended recall Apple offered a few years back. A few months ago the screen went black but I could see the screen with a torch. Reading online, I replaced the LCD controller/invert board (as it was relatively cheap!). This didn't help.

I then decided to swap out the GPU (6970M), as I know these are prone to failing and I had already had one replaced in this very unit. Reading on this forum, I opted to purchase a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M 3071MB card, which I installed with not too many issues.

The screen is still black but I cannot even see the screen with a torch shined against it anymore. The third green light on the main board is also NOT lighting up.

Weird thing is though, I can connect a secondary screen via the Displayport and it works and shows that the iMac can see the new GPU, so the card must be installed correctly?

I've also tried installing NVIDA graphic card drivers with no luck.

I also added the boardID to AppleGraphicsDevicePolicy.kext/Info.plist and cleared the caches etc as described here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/2011-imac-graphics-card-upgrade.1596614/page-25

Booting from a USB High Sierra installer also does not bring the screen to life?

Any thoughts before I go completely mad!!

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Hi all,

I'm ripping my hair out with an iMac 27" Mid 2011, which I hope you can offer some advice with.

I had the original AMD Radeon HD 6970M which failed and was replaced under the extended recall Apple offered a few years back. A few months ago the screen went black but I could see the screen with a torch. Reading online, I replaced the LCD controller/invert board (as it was relatively cheap!). This didn't help.

I then decided to swap out the GPU (6970M), as I know these are prone to failing and I had already had one replaced in this very unit. Reading on this forum, I opted to purchase a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M 3071MB card, which I installed with not too many issues.

The screen is still black but I cannot even see the screen with a torch shined against it anymore. The third green light on the main board is also NOT lighting up.

Weird thing is though, I can connect a secondary screen via the Displayport and it works and shows that the iMac can see the new GPU, so the card must be installed correctly?

I've also tried installing NVIDA graphic card drivers with no luck.

I also added the boardID to AppleGraphicsDevicePolicy.kext/Info.plist and cleared the caches etc as described here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/2011-imac-graphics-card-upgrade.1596614/page-25

Booting from a USB High Sierra installer also does not bring the screen to life?

Any thoughts before I go completely mad!!

Thanks in advance for any help.

Probably the black screen issue known and solved and documented in post #1 on page #1 - did you try to press alt/option on boot to get the boot selector. If this switches on the main LCD display it will work until reboot. To solve this issue check the docs...

 

[mediabunker]

Thanks for responding. Yes, I've read (and re-read) the initial post. Pressing Alt at boot does nothing and the external screen only kicks in later in on the boot sequence when the grey bar is almost across the screen, I'm guessing after the relevant drivers have loaded.

I'll keep working on other ideas. Thanks again.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Thanks for responding. Yes, I've read (and re-read) the initial post. Pressing Alt at boot does nothing and the external screen only kicks in later in on the boot sequence when the grey bar is almost across the screen, I'm guessing after the relevant drivers have loaded.

I'll keep working on other ideas. Thanks again.

Then it is probably a broken or misplaced display cable. Try to check and reseat the cable and directly after changing the video card (sometimes?) a PRAM reset is necessary.

Had a simular issue with a 2009 system. After changing the inverter board (which was apparently not the root cause) I found out a the very end that the LVDS cable of this particular screen was broken and the power cables of the screen were dying, too. Sometimes the backlight is working, sometimes only on the right hand side and most time not at all. With another display and another cable the same system is working.

And adding your hardware and current problem to a signature helps all others to keep track of your story. Nobody is willing to scroll back several pages to understand your original problem

 

[Murometc]

A few months ago the screen went black but I could see the screen with a torch. Reading online, I replaced the LCD controller/invert board (as it was relatively cheap!). This didn't help...
...Weird thing is though, I can connect a secondary screen via the Displayport and it works and shows that the iMac can see the new GPU, so the card must be installed correctly?

Have you tried connecting an external monitor with a native video card AMD-6970M?
If the external monitor will work, then the problem is not in the video card.
If you say that the image can be seen with a flashlight and if it corresponds to the real state of the operating system, then your video card (6970M) is working.
The problem of the darkened screen should be sought in the hardware of the computer.
For example, the presence of power to the inverter backlight monitor and so on ...

Changing the video card to a new GTX-770, perhaps you only complicated your task.
Because they put a new problem on an unresolved breakdown.

 

[jborko]

I tried myself perform OC update with some fixes (i.e. ocabc incompatible open runtime r4, removal of FwRuntime from plist), but I finally stuck with plist adaptation to newer requirements.

No way, is it worth?

I have upgraded the Catalina Loader with OC release 0.5.9 but I have the config.plist only for the AMD cards... I don't have a chance to test with nVidia K-series hence I haven't shared yet. If you do the upgrade on your own, what you need to do is make the changes in the config.plist with ProperTree or xcode (I found opencore configurator problematic (at least some of the versions). What can help is that you use only 2 drivers (efi's) with 0.5.9 > OpenCanopy and OpenRuntime.

 

[Cristhian Paladinez]

The 3-pipe version has a 6790M card installed using the bigger bracket. This one does not fit with the most tested cards here, you need the original Apple smaller bracket or you drive out the rivets from the one glued on your new card or you read post #1 on page #1.

I read this on the page #1:
"If you have a 2 pipe heatsink that came with the lower end GPUs on these iMacs and want to use an MXM-B Card, you'll have to buy a 3 pipe heatsink to cool it properly. You can get these on eBay."

necessary need use a 3 pipe heatsink to cool it properly? I have a 2 pipe heatsink (AMD 512mb GPU - iMac 2011 27") and want install a GTX 780m

 

[Ausdauersportler]

I read this on the page #1:
"If you have a 2 pipe heatsink that came with the lower end GPUs on these iMacs and want to use an MXM-B Card, you'll have to buy a 3 pipe heatsink to cool it properly. You can get these on eBay."

necessary need use a 3 pipe heatsink to cool it properly? I have a 2 pipe heatsink (AMD 512mb GPU - iMac 2011 27") and want install a GTX 780m

Get the 3 pipe sink, it has been documented in this way. You own a small MXM A sink. No way to use this!

Is there a reason to doubt what has been tested for years, now?

😉

 

[Cristhian Paladinez]

Get the 3 pipe sink, it has been documented in this way. You own a small MXM A sink. No way to use this!

Is there a reason to doubt what has been tested for years, now?

😉

Thanks for the reply!!, I want to do the upgrade of my old imac correctly

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Thanks for the reply!!, I want to do the upgrade of my old imac correctly

Believe me, the preparation of the sink and card installation on the sink is the most underestimated part of the story.

Use a Dremel to grind away the upper corners and make sure to have the GPU flat and with full contact to the copper part.

Otherwise you will cook the GPU during the first benchmark or first gaming session.

 

[Cristhian Paladinez]

Believe me, the preparation of the sink and card installation on the sink is the most underestimated part of the story.

Use a Dremel to grind away the upper corners and make sure to have the GPU flat and with full contact to the copper part.

Otherwise you will cook the GPU during the first benchmark or first gaming session.

Thanks again!, with your answers it is clear to me the way forward

 

[Underbeat88]

Hello to all. I have not visited this forum for a long time. Today I installed macOS Catalina 10.15.5 on my iMac 27 "2011, but it only loads when I press the option button, if I don’t click on it, the screen is black and nothing happens. Am I missing something or is it something wrong?

 

[Pacific1972]

CH341 Black Edition

does any user tried other AMD & Nvidia Cards flashing with original Apple BIOS and
CH341A Programmer successful ? Sometimes I must reinstall CH341A Driver on my
HP 8300 USDT "MXM Patch Machine" ...

After trying "GPU-hardware-compatible" cards together with TheMacElite ROMs and
TechPowerUps VGABIOS ROMS (Apple & unverified Uploads) my success was not
really recognizeable !

I try a GTX260M (Mobile GPU is like GTX9800M), an ATI HD5850M (want to flash to Apple
HD5870M), an ATI FirePro M5950 (compatible with HD6770M ?)...

Another question: has anybody got a 3rd Party Mobile GFX Card (except page 1 of this posts)
run with original Apple BIOS ROM ? Readout some VGA BIOS for 2012 iMacs and above...

Are MXM 3.0 and PCI-E 16x compatible or the same ? Sometimes I don't think so (because
of the TDP and there was no PCI-E (16x) to MXM 3.0 Adapter on international ebay or AliExpress
(I don't mean the PCI-E 1x to MXM Adapter for Bitcoin Mining)

Some GFX Cards have BIOS Chips, others don't need because the Laptop BIOS
supply the internal MXM cards with information - but you can't exchange MXM cards
between Laptops like GFX cards on PC (without the correct BIOS and the TDP)...

"I'm looking for a 100cm MXM Riser Cable 😁 with full power supply !"

Watch out for the "incredible form factor" ASUS Republic of Gamers MXM Cards which
some are buying for 50$ to 85$ - further infos follow after delivery, I want to put a GTX 765M
from ASUS ROG into my 27" iMac ! Perhaps I must solder some "TDP Support cables" 😄😄
and connect this **** to regular power supply...

An iMac 21.5" have limits for the MXM Port / TDP power supply, so you can't get a GFX Beast
in a little iMac - except changing the (TDP 65W - 73W) CPUs to Low Power Xeon
1260L (45W) - got MXM from 45W / 55W to 75W - anyone tried to do that ?

P.S. I don't need yet Mojave or Catalina !