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

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The first post of this thread is a WikiPost and can be edited by anyone with the appropiate permissions. Your edits will be public.
Ausdauersportler said:
This WX7100 is for sale for users in Europe. Please send me a personal message of get into direct contact with user @meggle
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I'd like to take you up on the offer! I just created this account so I can't PM yet, though. My iMac 27" Late 2009 shipped with a Radeon 4850M, 512 MB. The first time it failed, I replaced it with the same model; the second time I replaced it with a Radeon 6970M, 2 GB. Now this one has failed too, and getting a tested WX7100 locally with a BIOS already on it would be awesome. (I'm in South Holland.)
 
Wania said:
I used this ROM from the post, it is the same size as the one before (262KB). how did you flash the card?
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Used the same rom as well and I flashed it through Linux with SSH from another computer.
[automerge]1595469295[/automerge]
Wania said:
I used this ROM from the post, it is the same size as the one before (262KB). how did you flash the card?
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How about you? Which method did you use? How did you get it to work?
 
Mytime said:
Used the same rom as well and I flashed it through Linux with SSH from another computer.
[automerge]1595469295[/automerge]

How about you? Which method did you use? How did you get it to work?
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I flash through an EFI copy of Windows 10. You can boot Windows 10 over USB, so any Sata SSD+ SATA to USB adapter will allow you to boot Windows 10. Just make sure after the initial boot you disable VGA Device with device ID containing 8086 which is the hd3000 iGPU, it will cause a BSOD.
 
highvoltage12v said:
Okay, that is a Proper MXM-A card, but your issue is strikingly similar to my 2011 21.5" iMac when it had the incorrect (test) MXM-B card installed. The issue could be from Too many drives installed into your iMac, or a weak power supply. My issues were Reboots when setting up a New User account at the Welcome screen. Shuffling through iTunes Songs Quickly and downloading large files using Safari. Basically the MXM card draws power from the same rails as your drives do and doing something with a large power draw will cause these panics. Do you have a 3.5" HDD in your iMac still? This is drawing the needed 12V your MXM card also needs. I suggest removing (unplugging) it for the time being to help diagnose this issue. If this helps, try swapping it for a 1TB ssd as this will only draw 5V instead of 12v.

Eventually the real issue here is your power supply. I swapped mine with one from my 2010 Model iMac which helped a bit, but removing the improper MXM-B card from my iMac was my solution. I think removing the HDD from your iMac will be yours.
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Ok, I will try that.
I have 500GB HDD + 250GB SSD installed.

Random reboots... I would try doing a RAM check - unless your machine generates an error log you could attach here to mine for data..
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Memory is tested and test passed.
I also run Apple Hardware test, before I change GPU -> passed
Hardware should be ok, because Linux and High Sierra runs ok. Only "unsupported" software cause problems.
 
Mytime said:
How about you? Which method did you use? How did you get it to work?
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post #4363, only I didn't disconnect the drive. Booted from USB holding ALT
forums.macrumors.com

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 forums.macrumors.com
 
I think I figured out my issue, but not 100% sure. Instead of flashing the GPU with my 2011 iMac, I used the 2009 iMac to flash the GPU. Now the GPU only works with the 2009 iMac and will not work on the 2011 iMac. When I plug in the GPU into the 2011 iMac, it won’t even power on. It tries to power on for 1-2 seconds then turns off. Anyone have the original GPU bios or know a way to make it work on the 2011 iMac? iMac won’t even power on, so I can’t reflash it using the 2011 iMac. Again this is just my guess, since it does not work on two of my 2011 iMac, but works on the 2009 iMac with i7 processor.
 
Mytime said:
I think I figured out my issue, but not 100% sure. Instead of flashing the GPU with my 2011 iMac, I used the 2009 iMac to flash the GPU. Now the GPU only works with the 2009 iMac and will not work on the 2011 iMac. When I plug in the GPU into the 2011 iMac, it won’t even power on. It tries to power on for 1-2 seconds then turns off. Anyone have the original GPU bios or know a way to make it work on the 2011 iMac? iMac won’t even power on, so I can’t reflash it using the 2011 iMac. Again this is just my guess, since it does not work on two of my 2011 iMac, but works on the 2009 iMac with i7 processor.
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This is funny! We have exactly the same issue with al lot of the AMD cards not surviving or allowing the POST of the 2011 system with exactly the same symptoms - a split second the fans try to run but the everything stops, again. To my knowledge this observation has never been made with an Nvidia card (flashed or not flashed).

Have you tried a PRAM reset with your 2011 using a working card or no card at all - the system should boot without a card offering remote access?

BTW: These AMD cards run fine in late 2009/2010 system, then.
 
I have some questions about this upgrade:

1) I will make sure the heatsink is clear of hitting anything. If it hits anything, it will be on the video card itself or on the main board?

2) When I get the Dell M6800 Quadro K4100M, are there any steps I should do before I flash the card in this 2011 27" iMac? Should I attempt to boot it first or anything to ensure it works or something? I'm not sure what I should expect if I do that without the flashed firmware.

3) Do I need anything other than thermal compound when installing the heatsink? I’ll put that on the GPU and surrounding memory chips?
 
Allistah said:
I have some questions about this upgrade:

1) I will make sure the heatsink is clear of hitting anything. If it hits anything, it will be on the video card itself or on the main board?

2) When I get the Dell M6800 Quadro K4100M, are there any steps I should do before I flash the card in this 2011 27" iMac? Should I attempt to boot it first or anything to ensure it works or something? I'm not sure what I should expect if I do that without the flashed firmware.

3) Do I need anything other than thermal compound when installing the heatsink? I’ll put that on the GPU and surrounding memory chips?
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1. The interference will be between the MXM card coils on the edges of the card and the Heatsink.


2. If you have the actual laptop, you can do the flashing on the laptop which will make your life easier. Otherwise A. Create a functioning Windows 10 install on the iMac to flash the card B. Become familiar with the Linux USB flash method before the card arrives, connect Ethernet and make sure you have a way of knowing your iMacs IP address, also have a mini-DP cable on hand as sometimes the iMac can Display video through the one Mini-DP port in the Linux environment.

3. You need k5 Pro Viscous thermal paste along with normal Thermal paste for the GPU Die
 
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highvoltage12v said:
1. The interference will be between the MXM card coils on the edges of the card and the Heatsink.

2. If you have the actual laptop, you can do the flashing on the laptop which will make your life easier. Otherwise A. Create a functioning Windows 10 install on the iMac to flash the card B. Become familiar with the Linux USB flash method before the card arrives, connect Ethernet and make sure you have a way of knowing your iMacs IP address, also have a mini-DP cable on hand as sometimes the iMac can Display video through the one Mini-DP port in the Linux environment.

3. You need k5 Pro Viscous thermal paste along with normal Thermal paste for the GPU Die
Click to expand...

1. Understood - thank you!
2. I don't have the laptop - I already made the Linux USB Boot drive and booted up with it and connected to the iMac via SSH so that's working perfectly already. I'll make sure I have the right firmware on the USB drive before I boot it.
3. I don't have the k5 Pro Viscous thermal paste so I'll have to buy some - all I have is Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut.

Thanks so much for answering, I really appreciate it!
 
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Ausdauersportler said:
This is funny! We have exactly the same issue with al lot of the AMD cards not surviving or allowing the POST of the 2011 system with exactly the same symptoms - a split second the fans try to run but the everything stops, again. To my knowledge this observation has never been made with an Nvidia card (flashed or not flashed).

Have you tried a PRAM reset with your 2011 using a working card or no card at all - the system should boot without a card offering remote access?

BTW: These AMD cards run fine in late 2009/2010 system, then.
Click to expand...

I’m using a Nvidia card k4100m, just tried the pram reset with the same results. If anyone has been able to solve this please let us know.
 
Mytime said:
I’m using a Nvidia card k4100m, just tried the pram reset with the same results. If anyone has been able to solve this please let us know.
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I have a K4100M on the way. I hope it works in my 2011 27". I'll be flashing it on the same machine so I hope I don't run into the same troubles that you two are experiencing. :-( Hope you two can get it figured out.

What exact card do you have? Before I flash mine, I'll be saving the original firmware so let me know if you need that from mine. I think it's from a Dell 6800M.
 
For Nvidia Users booting with OpenCore(k1100M/k2100M/ETC)/ native booting K3100M/K4100M & 780M

I have Updated the ApplebacklightFixup.kext to include the proper Backlight stepping-levels for the 2009-2011 27" iMac. You can replace the one in your OpenCore loader with this or install it Natively to System/Library/Extensions. This actually makes my Previous guide irrelevant unless you really like the Native Kext feeling.

Lilu.kext will be needed for the kext to be listed as 'loaded' but it's still working for me without it.
Usual Verbiage below....
If installing to System/Library/Extensions. Catalina users need to Unlock their System Partition using Hackintool first. Then install with Kext Utility. Finally Open Terminal and enter "sudo reboot" as sometimes Catalina will hang on the Desktop.
 

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RRPC said:
What BIOS van you flash. Or should there be made a new bios.
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The card is from a dell m6800 so it comes with a dell bios.
Volonteer to try it and post feed back, I got TB> hdmi cable and a second 3 heatpipes heatsink
k4100m and k5100m are quite similar maybe nikey22 can make another vBios :) I cross my fingers
I will post the original vbios
 
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ZenSurfeur said:
The card is from a dell m6800 so it comes with a dell bios.
Volonteer to try it and post feed back, I got TB> hdmi cable and a second 3 heatpipes heatsink
k4100m and k5100m are quite similar maybe nickey22 can make another vBios :) I cross my fingers
I will post the original vbios
Click to expand...
also intresting
 
highvoltage12v said:
I have Updated the ApplebacklightFixup.kext to include the proper Backlight stepping-levels for the 2009-2011 27" iMac. You can replace the one in your OpenCore loader with this or install it Natively to System/Library/Extensions. This actually makes my guide irrelevant unless you really like the Native Kext feeling.

Usual Verbiage below....
If installing to System/Library/Extensions. Catalina users need to Unlock their System Partition using Hackintool first. Then install with Kext Utility. Finally Open Terminal and enter "sudo reboot" as sometimes Catalina will hang on the Desktop.
Click to expand...
Is this kext just for nVidia cards?
 
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