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

[Juan Anibal Rivera]

Usually if you take the iMac apart while standing up and not laying down you run an increased chance of stretching/damaging this cable, could be the connector on the board, but I'm not there to examine it, the pins are very small. Yes remove your copper shim, this could be part of the issue, but I'm leaning more towards the cable. Here is how I did my k4100m I used really large thermal pads and took the tape off the metal bracket behind the card, you just want adequate cooling for the VRAM, it's doesn't have to be too crazy.

Yes try the 6750m, should be an easy/mess free swap considering you have both heatsinks available.

Perfect, thank you for your help. I will be doing that in the morning, will report back once it’s done.

 

[mazz0]

I have a mostly functional alpha ROM for the 780M it has backlight control under OpenCore but the card Benchmarks a bit low. The ROM is from @Nick [D]vB so I really don't want to upload it as it's not mine. I haven't heard from Nick in months so I don't know when/if a revised version will ever be released. But it does exist.

Interesting! How low is low? A slow 780M might still be faster than a K2100M?

Would you be comfortable PMing the ROM over? I understand if not, no pressure. Let's just hope @Nick [D]vB comes out of isolation soon!

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Interesting! How low is low? A slow 780M might still be faster than a K2100M?

Would you be comfortable PMing the ROM over? I understand if not, no pressure. Let's just hope @Nick [D]vB comes out of isolation soon!

The 780M in an iMac has twice the performance of an K2100M and is limited by the max. power draw of 70W per MXM slot and the heat sink, only. On page one and post #1 you will find the link to a performance table online.

Currently I would only use cards offering (native) brightness control. In addition to the heat generator you have the backlight burning the whole time. I had this in December with a K2100M and it was no fun.

 

[Cordonblu]

No luck, clean high sierra install, no kexts, all unplugged besides mouse/keyboard, ethernet and secondary screen unplugged. Same score as catalina with all the kexts so I guess the core is still stuck at 400 Mhz, what is strange is that when I ran the geekbench5 compute test it reports that the max frequency is 800 Mhz, other k4100m in geekbench report different max frequencies ( Maybe geekbench sees the correct max frequency? or does it report its max frequency reported by the vbios? ). I'm up to debug for you if you want.

Hi lads,

Just returned from W7 land, gpu clock is still stuck at 405 Mhz, I have noticed that in Nvidia inspector the card is always stuck at P5 when is being pushed ( Furmark ), P8 when idle ( arround 113 Mhz ), and that P0 is empty which I think it explains why the card is stuck at 405 Mhz as its the clock limit of P5, overclocking didn't help or work. I have attached 2 copies of the current vbios, logs of the sensors while running furmark and screenshoots of gpuz/nvidia inspector. @nikey22 Could it be a bad flash or maybe a model that for some reason it isn't fully compatible with your vbios? I may be able to put this card into a mxm laptop but I don't know if it has a whitelist.

Cheers.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

OpenCore 0.5.9 Catalina Loader

Has anybody checked it out, so far?

I would like to get a least one or two positive feedback messages before changing post #1 and dropping the original links there.

Please check out and reply!

 

[ZenSurfeur]

OpenCore 0.5.9 Catalina Loader

Has anybody checked it out, so far?

I would like to get a least one or two positive feedback messages before changing post #1 and dropping the original links there.

Please check out and reply!

I'am using this version >OK
[automerge]1595946830[/automerge]
Nvidia must be a Kepler Gpu model? Maxwell Gpu (the successor of kepler) like M3000M or M4000M would be ok?

 

[highvoltage12v]

I'am using this version >OK
[automerge]1595946830[/automerge]
Nvidia must be a Kepler Gpu model? Maxwell Gpu (the successor of kepler) like M3000M or M4000M would be ok?

Only if you want to be in High Sierra forever, and nobody here will develop a ROM for Maxwell it's pointless.

 

[ZenSurfeur]

Only if you want to be in High Sierra forever, and nobody here will develop a ROM for Maxwell it's pointless.

OK

 

[mazz0]

The 780M in an iMac has twice the performance of an K2100M and is limited by the max. power draw of 70W per MXM slot and the heat sink, only. On page one and post #1 you will find the link to a performance table online.

Currently I would only use cards offering (native) brightness control. In addition to the heat generator you have the backlight burning the whole time. I had this in December with a K2100M and it was no fun.

Native meaning you haven't been able to get it working with OpenCore?

 

[jay508]

Hi lads,

Just returned from W7 land, gpu clock is still stuck at 405 Mhz, I have noticed that in Nvidia inspector the card is always stuck at P5 when is being pushed ( Furmark ), P8 when idle ( arround 113 Mhz ), and that P0 is empty which I think it explains why the card is stuck at 405 Mhz as its the clock limit of P5, overclocking didn't help or work. I have attached 2 copies of the current vbios, logs of the sensors while running furmark and screenshoots of gpuz/nvidia inspector. @nikey22 Could it be a bad flash or maybe a model that for some reason it isn't fully compatible with your vbios? I may be able to put this card into a mxm laptop but I don't know if it has a whitelist.

Cheers.

In this case, I also encountered on K2100m that the temperature sensor wire of the radiator forgot to be plugged in, which led to the operation at the lowest frequency. Could you also check the temperature sensor wire of the graphics card radiator at K4100m?

 

[Cordonblu]

In this case, I also encountered on K2100m that the temperature sensor wire of the radiator forgot to be plugged in, which led to the operation at the lowest frequency. Could you also check the temperature sensor wire of the graphics card radiator at K4100m?

Its sounds possible, I'll give it a try while I wait @nikey22 reply

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Its sounds possible, I'll give it a try while I wait @nikey22 reply

The two rom files you attached are the same. You may use a hex editor to compare one of these with the original version @nikey22 published on your own. The first part should be identical.

Download the K4100M rom again, compare and flash again in the unlikely event of a bit flip. Comparing binary files you can do yourself by using checksums or terminal commands like diff and shasum.
You are the first using a HP branded K4100M here.

 

[Cordonblu]

The two rom files you attached are the same. You may use a hex editor to compare one of these with the original version @nikey22 published on your own. The first part should be identical.

Download the K4100M rom again, compare and flash again in the unlikely event of a bit flip. Comparing binary files you can do yourself by using checksums or terminal commands like diff and shasum.
You are the first using a HP branded K4100M here.

Hi,

I reflashed the original @nikey22 rom 2 times already and didn’t had any issues while flashing but the core is still stuck, I just realised that I uploaded 2 times the same bios, my mistake they’re the same. Right now im disassembling the imac to check for any unplugged cable just in case.

Cheers.

 

[shademruser]

You messed something up during the base @dosdude1 patcher installation, all other users here got and get it running using the stock patcher and published patches.

Thank you sir, Ill start over from the beginning with a fresh dosdude1 installer.

 

[Tom.Tom]

PRAM reset! Give it a try.

LED #4
•
Indicates that computer and LCD panel are communicating. This LED will be ON when computer is turned on and video signal is being generated. If LED#4 is ON and there is no image on display, then the LCD panel, the LED backlight board, or the cables between LCD and logic board or backlight board might be installed incorrectly, or need replacement.

OK, here is some follow up:

I managed to get another 27" 2011 iMac and swapped displays - mine works fine in other iMac, the other one's doesn't in my iMac. This means the LCD and cables are fine. Of course there still may be some problem with my other internals, but...

I managed to get to my iMac using VNC and I see the GPU reported by the system, but the only display available is the one used by VNC. I did also the test with external display and none of the two ports produce any video signal. Also the external display does not show up in the system report.

Let me remind you that my screen got completely black after about 30 minutes after the first iMac startup with flashed K2100 but no OpenCore yet. The computer had the display turned off by the OSX power management, but the backlight was on (there was nothing on the screen but the backlight was clearly visible). I pressed the key to wake the screen up and then the backlight gone. iMac was still working, it didn't shut down or hang. I was also not moving or touching iMac, so it's unlikely something got loose inside for instance...

My question to you is then - is it possible that the reason for the LED #4 is off, is the malfunction of the video card? If this K2100 was flashed ok and is visible to OSX, and the LED #3 is on, but there is no video on external display isn't it pointing to the GPU problem? Is there any other way I could test this GPU to confirm if its ok or not, other than trying to replace it with another one?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

OK, here is some follow up:

I managed to get another 27" 2011 iMac and swapped displays - mine works fine in other iMac, the other one's doesn't in my iMac. This means the LCD and cables are fine. Of course there still may be some problem with my other internals, but...

I managed to get to my iMac using VNC and I see the GPU reported by the system, but the only display available is the one used by VNC. I did also the test with external display and none of the two ports produce any video signal. Also the external display does not show up in the system report.

Let me remind you that my screen got completely black after about 30 minutes after the first iMac startup with flashed K2100 but no OpenCore yet. The computer had the display turned off by the OSX power management, but the backlight was on (there was nothing on the screen but the backlight was clearly visible). I pressed the key to wake the screen up and then the backlight gone. iMac was still working, it didn't shut down or hang. I was also not moving or touching iMac, so it's unlikely something got loose inside for instance...

My question to you is then - is it possible that the reason for the LED #4 is off, is the malfunction of the video card? If this K2100 was flashed ok and is visible to OSX, and the LED #3 is on, but there is no video on external display isn't it pointing to the GPU problem? Is there any other way I could test this GPU to confirm if its ok or not, other than trying to replace it with another one?

Thanks in advance.

Yes, a bad GPU may be the root cause. Install the card over into the second iMac to confirm.

 

[Pascal Baillargeau]

OpenCore 0.5.9 Catalina Loader

Has anybody checked it out, so far?

I would like to get a least one or two positive feedback messages before changing post #1 and dropping the original links there.

Please check out and reply!

I will be back home in a few days, i'll check it then.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

I will be back home in a few days, i'll check it then.

Do you use a different device ID to use the FakeSMC temps with your 7100 or does this affect the performance?

 

[roscho]

OpenCore 0.5.9 Catalina Loader

Has anybody checked it out, so far?

I would like to get a least one or two positive feedback messages before changing post #1 and dropping the original links there.

Please check out and reply!

I appreciate the inclusion of IORegistryExplorer and like the clean graphical bootloader outfit.

Works fine for me apart from the paradoxical performance breakdown after loading the Falcon SMC firmware. (Geekbench goes down from 35000 to 10000).

I tried without FakeSMC kexts and temps as well as performance are virtually unchanged-so is FakeSMC with the WX7100 necessary after all?

Are the duplicate (zipped) Config.XYZ.plist files of any use?

Cheers,

roscho

 

[Ausdauersportler]

I appreciate the inclusion of IORegistryExplorer and like the clean graphical bootloader outfit.

Works fine for me apart from the paradoxical performance breakdown after loading the Falcon SMC firmware. (Geekbench goes down from 35000 to 10000).

I tried without FakeSMC kexts and temps as well as performance are virtually unchanged-so is FakeSMC with the WX7100 necessary after all?

Are the duplicate (zipped) Config.XYZ.plist files of any use?

Cheers,

roscho

WX7100, right? You used the other version before without PolarisBoost?

This version comes without the device-id settings to get the FakeSMC temp readings. @highvoltage12v told my some WX7100 owners saw performance issues using another device-id. Cannot confirm without a working card 🙂

EDIT:
And no, the FakeSMC is only off use directly after installing the card to see the coupling of GPU with sink. You would like to see low temperature differences. In real production I do not see any reason to have it installed.

EDIT:
Without the Falcon SMC firmware the smaller WX4170/WX4150/WX4130 have a Malaria, i.e. mid performance before sleep and low performance after sleep. You can see it both with Valley (OpenGL) and Metal (GeekBench). With this firmware settings we have mid performance after boot and high after sleep (Metal) and high performance with OpenGL in any case.
Probably we need a special WX7100 config.plist. Take a look at this or the one @Pascal Baillargeau just posted.

 

[Pascal Baillargeau]

Do you use a different device ID to use the FakeSMC temps with your 7100 or does this affect the performance?

Here's my current WX7100 config.plist for opencore 0.59. There is only an ID injection via DeviceProperties. No changes on performances.

 

[Tom.Tom]

Yes, a bad GPU may be the root cause. Install the card over into the second iMac to confirm.

Ok, will do. BTW has anyone came up with a mod to be able to remove the GPU without taking out the whole mobo? Maybe drilling the studs where the original screws mounting the card to the bracket go and use some long thin screws with nuts from the bracket side?

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Ok, will do. BTW has anyone came up with a mod to be able to remove the GPU without taking out the whole mobo? Maybe drilling the studs where the original screws mounting the card to the bracket go and use some long thin screws with nuts from the bracket side?

Yes, look at this post 🙂

 

[r6mile]

Ok, will do. BTW has anyone came up with a mod to be able to remove the GPU without taking out the whole mobo? Maybe drilling the studs where the original screws mounting the card to the bracket go and use some long thin screws with nuts from the bracket side?

On the 2009/2010 27" iMacs you don't have to take out the logic board to do this. However as you are reconnecting the GPU upside down without seeing the top of it (if that makes sense), you run the risk of damaging something near the MXM slot - I got lucky the first time but not so much the second time so killed something near there. So I wouldn't necessarily recommend it! (I'm sure it's a breeze for more experienced folks though)

 

[jumpncrash]

hello again everyone.

I have another probably dumb question, but I was wondering what the proper procedure would be to update lilu and whatevergreen on opencore loader would be? I have downloaded the latest releases from github but I'm wondering if I need to copy everything over to the /EFI/OC/kexts folder or if I just need to replace the 2 kext files (lilu + whatevergreen)
I can't seem to find a guide so I'm assuming it's probably pretty simple but I figured I would ask first.

Thanks