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iM 4,1-14,4 2011 iMac Graphics Card Upgrade
- Thread starter MichaelDT
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Can someone tell me if:
1) After the GPU change and update to latest version of Final Cut Pro X 10.4.9 the iMac 2011 can render 4K or 1080p with no bugs or Kernel Panics?
P.S. any GPU from #1st post
As everybody know, we update our macs to get the latest versions of the software, but not always the latest software is the stable version of this software. Logic Pro X, Final Cut Pro X, Adobe Suite, Avid Pro Tools and so on. For music producers the update process is way more slow due compatibility issues.
So, I'm in High Sierra, iMac 2011, 21.5" with stock GPU. All my software is stable and fully functional and all my budget comes from the works I did with this stable softwares on my iMac. I cannot get any risk. Final Cut Pro 10.4.6 is so far the best stable version, Logic Pro X 10.4.6 is so far the best stable and no bug version. I'm fine in Hihg Sierra, but I need to prepare myself to a future GPU update following the #1st post.
I know there is a lot of guys here in the same situation, guys who are waiting to a more stable, reliable, easy and effortless way to update your iMac 2011 to Mojave or Catalina/Big Sur but cannot get a risk to have their main budget threated by some unkown problem.
I read the #1st post and know that all instructions are fine and almost with no errors in the process. An absolutely phenomenal work there, I have no word to describe how didactic the guys have worked!
1) After the GPU change and update to latest version of Final Cut Pro X 10.4.9 the iMac 2011 can render 4K or 1080p with no bugs or Kernel Panics?
P.S. any GPU from #1st post
As everybody know, we update our macs to get the latest versions of the software, but not always the latest software is the stable version of this software. Logic Pro X, Final Cut Pro X, Adobe Suite, Avid Pro Tools and so on. For music producers the update process is way more slow due compatibility issues.
So, I'm in High Sierra, iMac 2011, 21.5" with stock GPU. All my software is stable and fully functional and all my budget comes from the works I did with this stable softwares on my iMac. I cannot get any risk. Final Cut Pro 10.4.6 is so far the best stable version, Logic Pro X 10.4.6 is so far the best stable and no bug version. I'm fine in Hihg Sierra, but I need to prepare myself to a future GPU update following the #1st post.
I know there is a lot of guys here in the same situation, guys who are waiting to a more stable, reliable, easy and effortless way to update your iMac 2011 to Mojave or Catalina/Big Sur but cannot get a risk to have their main budget threated by some unkown problem.
I read the #1st post and know that all instructions are fine and almost with no errors in the process. An absolutely phenomenal work there, I have no word to describe how didactic the guys have worked!
First, please do not shout at us, we are perfectly able to read sentences set with non bold letters. Secondly no-one can promise you anything about the future and about non existing kernel panics and lastly I am pretty sure that the 4K acceleration has been mentioned in the first posts or the announcements made with the BIOS. It is a completely different questions which software version running on which operating system release will support which additional hardware in your (modded or stock) iMac. Check this with the software vendors site...
And please ask Apple the same question with supported hardware. I have never seen bug free software in my whole live.
Here are my results. I am puzzled by the amount memory Engine reports on my card. 256mb? I searched here and dint find any comments but Google show some people claiming that its a known problem with Unigine especially on Nvida cards. Does anyone know if that's true? Or is that result typical for my setup?
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Da bin ich mir nicht so sicher!
Just to join the club of "white screen" HP labeled K3100M users. Got a card from China via the Bay (advertised as a new one, but the label was already broken). Flashing works, getting boot screen, too. But booting into any version of MacOS starting with High Sierra and finishing with Catalina gives me a white or sometimes a black screen. This cannot be cured or patched with AGC.
I tried a different Dell BIOS from techpowerup.com, too. This I used some month ago successfully with Catalina (before we had the perfectly edited BIOS provided by @nikey22). This experiment fails to. So this card is (half) dead, too. After flashing with the @nikey22 BIOS I can use the Linux flashing tool directly on the screen, but it never makes it to the MacOS. This is dead card number 6 out of 6, now.
Unfortunately I do not have a different HP machine to cross check.
known issue with High Sierra, rerun valley with the settings mentioned on post #1 to compare with submitted results.
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don't worry everything is ok. i reinstalled the K2100M because after the PRAM reset on the K5000M I had a black screen and couldn't do anything.@Wania> I hadn't noticed that you had Mojave, I hope you have a backup of your original kext, my apologies!
Edit: Am I dumb, Since you have 2 machines you must have the original on the other one... phew! 🥵
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Bonsoir,
thank you I'm reassured, score perfectly normal, that's another good news!!!
After there are always crazy people like me who have fun overclocking! mdr! 😂
Edit: Don't forget that not every CPU or GPU has the same chance to go high.
I think it's for example my case with my Xeon, too bad we can't overclock it! it never exceeded 50W which doesn't match its plug.
But I didn't get any info from other users of this one or its version + IGPU (i7 2600).
thank you I'm reassured, score perfectly normal, that's another good news!!!
After there are always crazy people like me who have fun overclocking! mdr! 😂
Edit: Don't forget that not every CPU or GPU has the same chance to go high.
I think it's for example my case with my Xeon, too bad we can't overclock it! it never exceeded 50W which doesn't match its plug.
But I didn't get any info from other users of this one or its version + IGPU (i7 2600).
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You may search the initial post @Nick [D]vB made. Since both cards are meant also to run I the 21.5" model one should take care of the limited power supply and heat transportation capabilities of those machines. But since the 4130 is drawing 40W and it is running in an 21.5 too you may have some head room to play with. On the other hand overclocking means limited live time ... do not know if it worth the risk in a system already hit hard by the dead or still dying old ATI cards....Bonsoir,
thank you I'm reassured, score perfectly normal, that's another good news!!!
After there are always crazy people like me who have fun overclocking! mdr! 😂
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Apologies in advance for asking a non-GPU question.
"Scooby" (mid-2011 27" iMac with a WX7100 and Catalina booted from OC), just got a Wi-Fi BT card upgrade, in hopes that I can use Apple watch to unlock it. The ability to approve admin requests from the watch now works, but the unlock feature does not. It appears to try, but then still wants the password. Under the same OC with Mojave, the unlock from watch does work. Is there something in OpenCore, or perhaps a kext within Catalina that might need adjusting? I'm using @Ausdauersportler latest 0.6.0 image and the unmodified WX7100 plist. Here is the card I upgraded to:
BCM94360CDPAX
I ask here, only because my setup is so similar to others. I've written the seller to see if they have advice. Worst case I guess I will just keep it on Mojave. I guess next is to wipe Catalina and try installing fresh again, but was hoping to avoid frustration if this is a known issue, and just unknown to me.
"Scooby" (mid-2011 27" iMac with a WX7100 and Catalina booted from OC), just got a Wi-Fi BT card upgrade, in hopes that I can use Apple watch to unlock it. The ability to approve admin requests from the watch now works, but the unlock feature does not. It appears to try, but then still wants the password. Under the same OC with Mojave, the unlock from watch does work. Is there something in OpenCore, or perhaps a kext within Catalina that might need adjusting? I'm using @Ausdauersportler latest 0.6.0 image and the unmodified WX7100 plist. Here is the card I upgraded to:
BCM94360CDPAX
I ask here, only because my setup is so similar to others. I've written the seller to see if they have advice. Worst case I guess I will just keep it on Mojave. I guess next is to wipe Catalina and try installing fresh again, but was hoping to avoid frustration if this is a known issue, and just unknown to me.
There's a thread for thatApologies in advance for asking a non-GPU question.
"Scooby" (mid-2011 27" iMac with a WX7100 and Catalina booted from OC), just got a Wi-Fi BT card upgrade, in hopes that I can use Apple watch to unlock it. The ability to approve admin requests from the watch now works, but the unlock feature does not. It appears to try, but then still wants the password. Under the same OC with Mojave, the unlock from watch does work. Is there something in OpenCore, or perhaps a kext within Catalina that might need adjusting? I'm using @Ausdauersportler latest 0.6.0 image and the unmodified WX7100 plist. Here is the card I upgraded to:
BCM94360CDPAX
I ask here, only because my setup is so similar to others. I've written the seller to see if they have advice. Worst case I guess I will just keep it on Mojave. I guess next is to wipe Catalina and try installing fresh again, but was hoping to avoid frustration if this is a known issue, and just unknown to me.
iMac Mid 2011 Bluetooth 4.0 internal upgrade
if you mean. read my tutorial.. yes indeed I have done so, also I did do extra investigation on how to connect, and hook all up. I'm thinking about to de solder the connector on the old Bluetooth card and put it on the new adapter board. so the connector Just slide on. as I have no purpose for...
forums.macrumors.com
Wrong card, wrong thread! Somewhere deep in the net I found a note that a BT 4.2 card would be needed to get watch unlock with Catalina. You could have found this...searching the few posts and pages on the BT thread.Apologies in advance for asking a non-GPU question.
"Scooby" (mid-2011 27" iMac with a WX7100 and Catalina booted from OC), just got a Wi-Fi BT card upgrade, in hopes that I can use Apple watch to unlock it. The ability to approve admin requests from the watch now works, but the unlock feature does not. It appears to try, but then still wants the password. Under the same OC with Mojave, the unlock from watch does work. Is there something in OpenCore, or perhaps a kext within Catalina that might need adjusting? I'm using @Ausdauersportler latest 0.6.0 image and the unmodified WX7100 plist. Here is the card I upgraded to:
BCM94360CDPAX
I ask here, only because my setup is so similar to others. I've written the seller to see if they have advice. Worst case I guess I will just keep it on Mojave. I guess next is to wipe Catalina and try installing fresh again, but was hoping to avoid frustration if this is a known issue, and just unknown to me.
Thanks; not sure how I missed that. Will give it a read. Much appreciated.There's a thread for that
iMac Mid 2011 Bluetooth 4.0 internal upgrade
if you mean. read my tutorial.. yes indeed I have done so, also I did do extra investigation on how to connect, and hook all up. I'm thinking about to de solder the connector on the old Bluetooth card and put it on the new adapter board. so the connector Just slide on. as I have no purpose for...
Update: Had seen that thread before but not noticed latest posts; subscribed now. Lots of familiar folks on there. I ordered a BCM943602CDP card from the states to swap in, which appears to be the solution. Took over 60 days to get the original adapter & card from HK (local338shop), but not a total loss for the adapter and cabling will be used.
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No, we cannot solve this unknown problem! Try to disassemble, start the 2011 without a video card, do a PRAM reset and then put in the K3100M again. It this does not help, we cannot help you.
The only thing we know is we have a rising numbers of apparently broken cards K3100M after flashing reported by users. I am not pretty sure about this, until there is more evidence buy only cards you can return.
Hi, I want to give very positive feedback, that I was able to successfully replace a broken AMD GPU from an iMac (27-inch, Mid 2010, i3) with a Quadro K610M 1024 MB flashed with the appropriate ROM by Nick[D]vB.
It works like a charm and I am very happy with the results. Currently there is only the brightness control left, which does not work yet. And here I would have one question for better understanding of brightness control via OpenCore / native Brightness control.
I understand that installing/using Opencore is like an additional bootloader, which would enable to load dedicated settings / configuration where the available kext for brightness control could be activated.
Is there also the possibility that the current K610M BIOS could be adopted so a native support of the brightness control could be implemented? Is there any chance to support this or reference code from other GPUs available?
Thanks a lot for all the work done within this thread to enable a wide list of GPUs for our iMacs.
BR
Chris
It works like a charm and I am very happy with the results. Currently there is only the brightness control left, which does not work yet. And here I would have one question for better understanding of brightness control via OpenCore / native Brightness control.
I understand that installing/using Opencore is like an additional bootloader, which would enable to load dedicated settings / configuration where the available kext for brightness control could be activated.
Is there also the possibility that the current K610M BIOS could be adopted so a native support of the brightness control could be implemented? Is there any chance to support this or reference code from other GPUs available?
Thanks a lot for all the work done within this thread to enable a wide list of GPUs for our iMacs.
BR
Chris
Please read post #1 how to use and enable the Catalina Loader / OpenCore package. Some guys spent a lot in time in getting this easy to deploy. Of course somebody could develop a new version of a BIOS, it took only six years of trial and error to get the first card working. Read the note about cluttering the thread with such requests, too.
Thank you for your fast reply and fully understood your feedback. Please apologize the confusion from my side - I was not referring to request the developers to implement an update for my card and I am highly respecting the efforts and work of the experts here. I wanted to ask if someone could join to support implementation or testing for K610M BIOS or maybe porting code from similar GPUs or something else (too give something back too)
There’s no documentation available, it is pure reverse engineering. Grab the available modded BIOS versions and start your journey. I am afraid that there is no written knowledge available and helping you modding a BIOS is by far more complex than doing it alone.
There are surely some threads and external sites having information about this.
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You can buy a 2nd hand HP Elitedesk 800 G1 USDT with the basic config to test the MXM VGA on windows environment. (CPU Pentium G3240 or core i3 4150, 4GB DDR3 SODIMM, 128GB SSD). You will need a beefy power supply (180W or 230W) for the MXM card to work. If you want to use the iMac heatsink, you will have to take the motherboard out of the case.
I tested my WX4150 (4GB) with a piece of aluminum as a heatsink on my HP setup above, Windows ran well, but the card was not recognized at the first boot. After 3,4 reboots, the driver was suddenly downloaded automatically and the system recognized my card.
I used Atiwinflash to flash the card, the Dell 560 BIOS (from WX4150 ROM link on #1) was not accepted (Error message: Sub system mismatch).
The ROM from WX4170 link on #1 was accepted. I consider the flash successful (no other ROM to try anyway). The card is still recognized in Windows, but I don't know how to make it work instead of Intel iGPU in windows.
I will report the next result after putting it to my iMac.
Bonjour,
Perfectly ok, I think I'll iron my card to the maximum that I recommended 2200 / 1006, it will also avoid the death of the power supply, which is the 3rd frequent failure of iMacs (GPU or HDD first and then power supply...), otherwise ATI cards have a manufacturing defect and there are a lot of cards like that recognized and supported by manufacturers, not to mention the stop of lead soldering in 2011 it seems to me that caused quite a problem.
There is another thread about replacing graphics cards in the MacPro series machines. There you have a table sorted by performance. Unfortunately we have here two benchmarks which doesn’t end in the same order when doing OpenGL and metal tests.
The only thing one can do is splitting the table into Nvidia Kepler and AMD Polaris parts and replacing or adding a column with average OpenGL scores and Metal Scores.
I will check this option out later.
Edit:
Just redesigned the table slightly adding an OpenGL relative score to the old HD6790M card (100%), but on the long run it does not help either. People need to know that the Nvidia metal cards open the doors widely to use Mojave, Catalina and even Big Sur. But it is a completely different story when you check the software support for special apps and special hardware. Using the lates FCPX makes an AMD Polaris card necessary, but we cannot maintain a world wide compatibility list of "what works with what" here for all the graphics related software products out.
The longer the first post becomes, the more complicated the info in the table is, the more details the people will simply miss when passing by. This is information theory basics. At the very end you hide each and every golden needly under a huge pile of hay. Everything is there, but nobody is going to find it.
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Please let it be in this shape. It is the same the other thread uses. We do not have to reinvent the wheel several times. And I just wrote: It is the completely useless and old OpenGL value. Apple deprecated the OpenGL support. Probably Big Sur will be the last OS to have OpenGL drivers on board and will support the Nvidia cards.nono
if I get the edit rights to post 1 I can offer to do it myself
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