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

[Allistah]

It would be cool to know what K4100M cards have worked for people. As of now, the one from a Dell M6800 that I bought has not worked. Maybe there are some that work and some that don't. I saw on Ebay there is a guy selling brand new K4100M cards still in the bag - they have the stock thermal pads and everything on them which is cool but I'm a little chicken to buy one since I have no idea if they would work or not. He wants $150 for each.
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My card was a Dell card for an M6800 worked fine. Pay attention for the bios version sticker as this will make sure it's from the same model computer.

My card didn't have the bios version sticker on it. I've been around hardware for many years and usually things either work or they don't. I can't figure out why some K4100M cards work and others don't. Nothing makes sense in that regard.

 

[highvoltage12v]

It would be cool to know what K4100M cards have worked for people. As of now, the one from a Dell M6800 that I bought has not worked. Maybe there are some that work and some that don't. I saw on Ebay there is a guy selling brand new K4100M cards still in the bag - they have the stock thermal pads and everything on them which is cool but I'm a little chicken to buy one since I have no idea if they would work or not. He wants $150 for each.
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My card didn't have the bios version sticker on it. I've been around hardware for many years and usually things either work or they don't. I can't figure out why some K4100M cards work and others don't. Nothing makes sense in that regard.

Yeah I know about that listing, there is a high chance of them working at least

 

[herrdude]

Ok, my complete setup is as follows:
2011 27 inch iMac, i7 2600, HD 6750m, 16gb (4gb x 4) 1333mhz RAM, 256gb SSD (boot drive) & 1TB SSHD.

It could be as you said and I didn’t connect the CPU thermal sensor cable. Will get back to you on that. Thanks.

As @Ausdauersportler said, you should put that info into your signature. The objective is to avoid searching through the posts to see what the specs of your iMac. You can change it through your profile.

 

[Wania]

Pay attention for the bios version sticker as this will make sure it's from the same model computer.

this is my K4100M and it work fine. BIOS version: 80.04.AE.00.03

 

[Tom.Tom]

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?

Guys,

Some update on this subject - I unscrewed the main board, unplugged the WiFi card and disconnected the top three cables, but left all other ones plugged in and very gently pulled the top of the board out just an inch or so. That was enough to fit a short (two inch maybe) flat screwdriver behind the top of the GPU board to unscrew it. Yes, even though there are torx screws I managed to do that with the flat SD!

Then I disconnected the GPU sensor and gently pulled the GPU board out of the socket, paying an attention to keep it parallel to main board and not let it fall away towards the inside of the iMac. The video card was out without removing the whole main board and even without disconnecting all the cables. Then I mounted another graphics card to the heat sink and again very gently plugged it into the MXM socked, checking both sides to be perfectly aligned with the socket. I attached the heat sink with GPU board to the metal bracket with rubber bands in two places to make sure it is not loose. Plugged in the display and all worked fine

I think, that when I'm done with swapping GPUs, I'll secure it with a plastic clamp band just in case I'll have to remove it again in the future.
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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?

...and another update on this one for the record.

I had three LEDs on and the fourth one off, the K2100m after flashing was working for around 30 minutes, then the whole screen got black (no backlight), OSX was working fine and the K2100m was visible to the system but the display was not - neither the internal, nor the external.

I swapped the GPU back to the old ATI one which was failing, but giving at least the boot screen image and I've got all four LEDs on and initial boot screen (it was pink, and system hang, but the display worked well.

The conclusion is - even though all sources usually say that if you have no 4th LED on, it's the display problem, it may be also the GPU problem, even though the third LED is on. I had K2100m with OSX booting fine, but with black display, 3rd LED on and 4th LED off and original Radeon with OSX not booting, but with working display and all four LEDs on.

I'll be returning my K2100m back to the seller and requesting another one, however I am worried that the new one will eventually fail as well and may do it after the one month warranty period which he gives as these are used GPUs...

 

[highvoltage12v]

I put in windows registry:

EnableControlBrightness=0x00000001
RMBrightnessControlFlags=0x00000320
Restart Windows.

Brightness control is active for GTX780M on Windows 10, booting with or without Opencore. Using standard drivers. Thanks.

I will be creating an How too guide based on this information, only difference is K4100m and Future @nikey22 ROMS need the RMBrightnessControlFlags flags changed to a different value (0x00000400) , thanks for the hint!

 

[Juan Anibal Rivera]

If running with any Temp sensor unplugged the fans will spinning at full speed and the CPU will be locked to 1.6GHz, so if your GPU/ODD/CPU/LCD temp sensors are unplugged you will be stuck at 1.6GHz. So your HP k4100m flashed to the Correct VBIOS by @nikey22 cannot output a picture to the internal LCD? I wonder if the HP boards are missing a signal out that our LCD needs? Anyone here successfully have a working HP board?
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My card was a Dell card for an M6800 worked fine. Pay attention for the bios version sticker as this will make sure it's from the same model computer.

I looked at my fan control app and it seems that everything you mentioned about the sensors that might under-clock the CPU are all connected (at least it looks like they are). I will open it up anyway just to be sure. I gotta see how many temperature sensors are in the iMac to make sure I get them all.

 

[highvoltage12v]

I looked at my fan control app and it seems that everything you mentioned about the sensors that might under-clock the CPU are all connected (at least it looks like they are). I will open it up anyway just to be sure. I gotta see how many temperature sensors are in the iMac to make sure I get them all.

HWMonitor is included with the OpenCore image on page 1, please use this.

 

[Tom.Tom]

A quick question - could you please confirm that 1mm thermo pads are ok for K2100m (or other recommended cards)? In the location I live K5 is very difficult to source unfortunately...

 

[Ausdauersportler]

A quick question - could you please confirm that 1mm thermo pads are ok for K2100m (or other recommended cards)? In the location I live K5 is very difficult to source unfortunately...

Since all heat sinks are different you will not get a general answer. I found K5 on Amazon and eBay - okay, I am living in Europe and K5 comes from a greek company.

 

[Tom.Tom]

Since all heat sink are different you will not get a common answer. I found K5 on Amazon and eBay - okay, I am living in Europe and K5 comes from a greek company.

You are right, thanks, will order it. BTW - where do you live - I'm from Poland

 

[Ausdauersportler]

You are right, thanks, will order it. BTW - where do you live - I'm from Poland

I am one of your direct neighbours living in the Wild West!

 

[Tom.Tom]

I am one of your direct neighbours living in the Wild West!

Nice, thanks again for your previous repies and advices to my questions 👍

 

[Allistah]

this is my K4100M and it work fine. BIOS version: 80.04.AE.00.03

This card has a Dell BIOS sticker which means it actually came from a Dell machine.

 

[highvoltage12v]

this is my K4100M and it work fine. BIOS version: 80.04.AE.00.03

Yes the card has the typical Dell QR code sticker on the back @Allistah

 

[mazz0]

Hi guys,


I wonder if someone can help me here. I've installed a 2100M on an iMac running Catalina (installed using Catalina Patcher). I'm trying to resolve the constant fan issue. I'm starting by going through "Using the Catalina Loader on an iMac.pdf". I'm a little confused at two points.

Step 10:

...
Second: Open the target folders in Finder:
open /System/Library/Extensions
open /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks
Third: Copy Extensions and single framework using Finder drag and drop
...

Copy what from where to where? You've listed two destinations and not said what to put where. I'm also not clear on whether I can skip all this, since the line "If you never used the terminal go ahead to 11" seems to suggest step 11 will provide a GUI driven alternative to this?

If I skip ahead to Step 11 and try to use OpenCore Configurator I don't see any kexts to install:

Sorry if I've missed something obvious at some point!

 

[stephle]

Hi

all the worlds

here is my modest contribution

K5000M. with native backlighting target mode , diag mode

I did not test the target screen mode (not the hardware for. ;( .)

I invite you to test knowing that the speeds and voltages are not yet optimized

 

[highvoltage12v]

Hi guys,


I wonder if someone can help me here. I've installed a 2100M on an iMac running Catalina (installed using Catalina Patcher). I'm trying to resolve the constant fan issue. I'm starting by going through "Using the Catalina Loader on an iMac.pdf". I'm a little confused at two points.

Step 10:

Copy what from where to where? You've listed two destinations and not said what to put where. I'm also not clear on whether I can skip all this, since the line "If you never used the terminal go ahead to 11" seems to suggest step 11 will provide a GUI driven alternative to this?

If I skip ahead to Step 11 and try to use OpenCore Configurator I don't see any kexts to install:
View attachment 938693
Sorry if I've missed something obvious at some point!

You have a constant fan at 100% issue? You may have forgot to plug in a cable which is a hardware problem.
The only thing that goes to System/Library/PrivateFrameworks is AppleGVA this will fix Airplay which isn't as important as the kexts that fix sleep on 2011 Models which go to System/Library/Extensions. On Catlina unlocking the system partition is necessary for both tasks.
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Hi

all the worlds

here is my modest contribution

K5000M. with native backlighting target mode , diag mode

I did not test the target screen mode (not the hardware for. ;( .)

I invite you to test knowing that the speeds and voltages are not yet optimized

Target Display mode will likely work as long as the iMac Display shows up as internal (iMac icon in Displays setting, not a Cinema Display)
Thanks so much for your contribution, to bad I dont own a k5000m.

 

[nikey22]

@Allistah
couple of suggestions:
1. Reinstall High Sierra from scratch. I'm not convinced this is a GPU card issue. Its sounds like a corrupt OS install. I've had this happen when I thought it was bad GPU, but it was a corrupt kernel.
2. The next time you are in there, remove some of the excess K5Pro paste, especially near the VRAM chips. Although it may not be conductive, debris and other elements that get caught in it could short out some of the small components on there. You really only need a small amount.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Hi guys,


I wonder if someone can help me here. I've installed a 2100M on an iMac running Catalina (installed using Catalina Patcher). I'm trying to resolve the constant fan issue. I'm starting by going through "Using the Catalina Loader on an iMac.pdf". I'm a little confused at two points.

Step 10:

Copy what from where to where? You've listed two destinations and not said what to put where. I'm also not clear on whether I can skip all this, since the line "If you never used the terminal go ahead to 11" seems to suggest step 11 will provide a GUI driven alternative to this?

If I skip ahead to Step 11 and try to use OpenCore Configurator I don't see any kexts to install:
View attachment 938693
Sorry if I've missed something obvious at some point!

Go back to page one and load the latest version of the Catalina Loader. If you have a 2011 follow the instructions on post #1 regarding the Catalina installation.

 

[mazz0]

You have a constant fan at 100% issue? You may have forgot to plug in a cable which is a hardware problem.
The only thing that goes to System/Library/PrivateFrameworks is AppleGVA this will fix Airplay which isn't as important as the kexts that fix sleep on 2011 Models which go to System/Library/Extensions. On Catlina unlocking the system partition is necessary for both tasks.
[automerge]1596062083[/automerge]

Target Display mode will likely work as long as the iMac Display shows up as internal (iMac icon in Displays setting, not a Cinema Display)
Thanks so much for your contribution, to bad I dont own a k5000m.

Go back to page one and load the latest version of the Catalina Loader. If you have a 2011 follow the instructions on post #1 regarding the Catalina installation.

Oh? Page 1 seems to suggest fan control is an issue until you configure OpenCore - have I misunderstood?

7. GPU Temperature Monitoring is available on cards marked with a + or ++when using both custom VBIOS and OpenCore. A modified version of FakeSMC and GPUSensors is included with the OpenCore bundle to allow monitoring of GPU temps. But you still have to use some third party tool to control the fans. The GPU die temperature is not available and (probably for that reason) the Apple SMC still not running properly.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Hi

all the worlds

here is my modest contribution

K5000M. with native backlighting target mode , diag mode

I did not test the target screen mode (not the hardware for. ;( .)

I invite you to test knowing that the speeds and voltages are not yet optimized

Hi!

This comes out of the blue

We would like to add this to our list. What do you mean by diag mode?
Do you have some screen shots?

It will take some time to test it, I guess these cards are rare to non existing here in this community.

Thanks, great work!

 

[Cordonblu]

If running with any Temp sensor unplugged the fans will spinning at full speed and the CPU will be locked to 1.6GHz, so if your GPU/ODD/CPU/LCD temp sensors are unplugged you will be stuck at 1.6GHz. So your HP k4100m flashed to the Correct VBIOS by @nikey22 cannot output a picture to the internal LCD? I wonder if the HP boards are missing a signal out that our LCD needs? Anyone here successfully have a working HP board?
[automerge]1596045260[/automerge]

My card was a Dell card for an M6800 worked fine. Pay attention for the bios version sticker as this will make sure it's from the same model computer.

Mine is a HP branded and I can confirm that is working without any problems so far.

 

[bokkow]

Mine is a HP K4100M too

I’m guessing the only real difference is that Dell actually used the ROM chip on the card and HP left it “empty” and used their regular BIOS to point out the card.
But hardware-wise they’re the same

 

[rochi2233]

Hello everyone, completed k610 flash and install on a 2010 27" iMac.
Have problems with last Catalina in which backlight cannot be controlled.
In high Sierra it works perfect with the open page open core bootloader while in Catalina I can't get it to work with both the first page open core package and with @Ausdauersportler latest 0.5.9 open core package. Am I missing something? Catalina installed with dosdude patcher and without autopatch.