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

[FlorisVN]

What about this GPU i found on Ali Express ? ( see link below)
its an nvidia 765m Dell Alienware version, withouth xclamp on the backside.
Should work fine i think in 27" and 21,5" 2011 iMacs, withouth bootscreen and brightness control ?

It doesnt have a x bracket on the back..

Our 2011 27" iMac GPU is about to die... :S

https://www.aliexpress.com/store/pr...7376656&transAbTest=ae803_1&priceBeautifyAB=0

 

[FlorisVN]

I hope and suppose it should work, like stated in this topic before..

See post #309 here : https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/2011-imac-graphics-card-upgrade.1596614/page-13#post-22337963

and K3000m should still work fine with built in drivers from macos, aswell as nvidia drivers.
https://osxlatitude.com/forums/topi...-k3000m-high-sierra-sleep-and-backlight-help/

If it gets in, i will test it right away, and let you guys know the result...

 

[highvoltage12v]

i just bought this card :

https://www.ebay.nl/itm/283093250603?ViewItem=&item=283093250603

I hope and suppose it should work, like stated in this topic before..

See post #309 here : https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/2011-imac-graphics-card-upgrade.1596614/page-13#post-22337963

and K3000m should still work fine with built in drivers from macos, aswell as nvidia drivers.
https://osxlatitude.com/forums/topi...-k3000m-high-sierra-sleep-and-backlight-help/

If it gets in, i will test it right away, and let you guys know the result...

TLDR: It doesn't matter if the card has the same specs, it matters what machine it came from because cards bios.

If this card is really from a HP 8770w it might not work with the iMac because the DCB tables programmed in the bios may not match up. From my experience the 8770w uses a LVDS for the internal LCD and has less outputs on the laptop. Yes i Know the iMacs LCD when talking to the Dell mxm card does not define as internal EDP screen, it's able to use one of the many other Display ports that are defined on the DCB section of the Dell created bios. But let us know if an HP card will actually produce an image on the internal screen. If it does then it's another card we can potentially use. If not you could possibly install it in the iMac use one of the (maybe DCB table problem again) thunderbolt/displayport outs on the back, install a windows only drive and reflesh a bios from techpowerup. You would be doing this at your own risk/ have a ch341a with SOIC8 SOP8 EEPROM clip on hand.
https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios...ro+K3000M&interface=&memType=&memSize=&since=

 

[FlorisVN]

@highvoltage12v

Thanks for your message !
I hope this HP version will work OOB.

If not i will then try flashing it with one of the Dell bioses from techpowerup.com, good advise thank you !

I can order a ch341a with SOIC8 SOP8 EEPROM they are very cheap, i can also use this to flash the bios i presume ?
I have a Rasbery Pi 3 rev. B also on hand, maybay i can use that also with this device ?

Ive done some research with google, and found that you can flash a bios within windows.

What do you suggest i will try ?

I just bought my programmer with cable clip
https://www.ebay.nl/itm/113221129875?ViewItem=&item=113221129875

 

[passatgt]

Hi there fellow iMac'ers!

I also joined this GPU-upgrade-club and finally swapped stock 6770 to GTX 780M at my iMac 2011 mid-2011 27''.
But still no boot screen and lost brightness controll
iMac also got a newer i7-2600 against i5-2400s.
I published full report at my personal web-site (in Russian) so feel free to launch Google Translate.

Thank you!
View attachment 773718 View attachment 773719 View attachment 773720

Hi! Can i ask how thick thermal pads did you used? And any issues with cooling? I'm also thinking about installing small copper heatsinks onto the exposed memory chips, i guess it won't hurt. Something like this: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Copper-Heatsink-Cooler-Heat-sink-Thermal-Conductive-Adhesive-For-M-2-NGFF-2280-PCI-E-NVME/32874741909.html

I think i could install this across the chips, grind out the part where the imacs metal bracket are and put some thermal pads where its touching it, so basically that metal bracket would act ask a heatsink.

 

[highvoltage12v]

@highvoltage12v

Thanks for your message !
I hope this HP version will work OOB.

If not i will then try flashing it with one of the Dell bioses from techpowerup.com, good advise thank you !

I can order a ch341a with SOIC8 SOP8 EEPROM they are very cheap, i can also use this to flash the bios i presume ?
I have a Rasbery Pi 3 rev. B also on hand, maybay i can use that also with this device ?

Ive done some research with google, and found that you can flash a bios within windows.

What do you suggest i will try ?

I never actually had success booting windows in the iMac after the card has been changed. However what i'm recommending is to do this while the LCD is off the iMac. Or maybe if your original MXM card is still functional Create an EFI install of windows on the same drive and later be chosen in Startup Disk in system preferences.

What I recommend is doing this with a ch341a programmer because you will have a definite full backup of the chip of your original rom, without relying on windows and you can restore that if you end up with a brick. I haven't had used a raspberry to do rom flashing only the ch341a. The software on windows isn't perfect but I used it from here

you will have to identity the the EEPROM chip on the board, read the model and find the closest one in the software, usually the same brand and mbit size.

 

[FlorisVN]

@highvoltage12v

Thanks for your fast response !

I have purchased a ch341a with cable cip, i think flashing this way is also the best then..
and of course make a backup of the original before starting..

thanks for the video !
ive seen ultransc video's in the past as well, they are great ...

btw, i hope that if the HP bios wont work, Dell versions do..
i will test them out, and post results here...

so other know what to expect with nvidia quadro k3000m cards..

 

[Mr-Mur]

Hi! Can i ask how thick thermal pads did you used?

I used Arctic Cooling Thermal Pad for GDDR5 memory chips.
But you have to swap stock 6770M radiator with 2 heatpipes (PN: 661-5967-A) with a bigger one (PN: 730-0628-A).
More details at my web-site (it is in Russian, but Goggle Translate will help): http://www.schidakov.ru/all/imac-upgrade-2600-and-gtx780m/

Also, I made my own copper radiator for GDDR5 chips at back side:


Full report is also available at: http://www.schidakov.ru/all/imac-upgrade-gddr5-gtx780m/

 

[highvoltage12v]

@highvoltage12v

Thanks for your fast response !

I have purchased a ch341a with cable cip, i think flashing this way is also the best then..
and of course make a backup of the original before starting..

thanks for the video !
ive seen ultransc video's in the past as well, they are great ...

btw, i hope that if the HP bios wont work, Dell versions do..
i will test them out, and post results here...

so other know what to expect with nvidia quadro k3000m cards..

Yeah we need more options for card support, prices will only go up if were limited to Dell/Alienware cards.


Question to everyone else here, did you try your card in Mojave and have an instant reboot waking from sleep? I have been having this problem with my 2011 27" 780m ever since DP 1. I have a hunch that this is happening because it's doing something power management related to the 2013 iMac with 780m GPU. Won't know until Nvidia web drivers are released, but i'd like to hear from a 765m owner or a k3000m owner.
[doublepost=1535469329][/doublepost]

I tried a second time with an other GTX 765M. This time, i've got the chime sound, fans turn on, keyboard is recognized, system looks like to start but no display, even when i plug an external monitor on the mini DP/Thunderbolt.
Led 1 and 2 are on, but led 3 (which is communication with video card) is off

I think this card is ok. Could it be a BIOS/firmware issue with the card ? My logic board ?

That's the same exact results I had. It's amazing Mac Rumors isn't sending me notifications of posts in this forum anymore.

 

[passatgt]

I used Arctic Cooling Thermal Pad for GDDR5 memory chips.
But you have to swap stock 6770M radiator with 2 heatpipes (PN: 661-5967-A) with a bigger one (PN: 730-0628-A).
More details at my web-site (it is in Russian, but Goggle Translate will help): http://www.schidakov.ru/all/imac-upgrade-2600-and-gtx780m/

Also, I made my own copper radiator for GDDR5 chips at back side:
View attachment 778320

Full report is also available at: http://www.schidakov.ru/all/imac-upgrade-gddr5-gtx780m/

Thanks! And how thick are the thermal pads? 1mm?

I have 6970M so its already equipped with the bigger heatsink. Your solution looks cool with that copper plate, but i think it would be a good idea to add thin thermal pads so its touching the metal bracket when its installed. Not sure if it makes any difference though.

 

[liquidtwitch]

I've got my 780m on the way and I'm getting Windows ready - but the "restart in OS X" options doesn't work because there doesn't seem to be any Bootcamp drivers for APFS. So besides from making a new macos install with HFS how do I get Bootcamp to reboot to Macos?

 

[FlorisVN]

I've got my 780m on the way and I'm getting Windows ready - but the "restart in OS X" options doesn't work because there doesn't seem to be any Bootcamp drivers for APFS. So besides from making a new macos install with HFS how do I get Bootcamp to reboot to Macos?

The bootcamp software for windows has the option to choose the startup disk.
This should fix your problem into booting into macos again...

 

[highvoltage12v]

The bootcamp software for windows has the option to choose the startup disk.
This should fix your problem into booting into macos again...

I've got my 780m on the way and I'm getting Windows ready - but the "restart in OS X" options doesn't work because there doesn't seem to be any Bootcamp drivers for APFS. So besides from making a new macos install with HFS how do I get Bootcamp to reboot to Macos?

I know the Boot Camp chooser in Windows has been broken since APFS on my 2010 Mac Pro. To get around this You would have to reset PRAM (Alt, Command, PR ) and it will boot back into Mac OS. It's the same way I boot back into High Sierra when I break Mojave.

 

[liquidtwitch]

I know the Boot Camp chooser in Windows has been broken since APFS on my 2010 Mac Pro. To get around this You would have to reset PRAM (Alt, Command, PR ) and it will boot back into Mac OS. It's the same way I boot back into High Sierra when I break Mojave.

Good tip thanks.

I've been thinking though, how is the boot partition set when you select the boot os from the OS? Does it write to config file on the EFI petition?

If so maybe it's possible to set it to always boot from a bootloader running on a usb drive like Clover, refIT, rEFInd etc.

 

[highvoltage12v]

Good tip thanks.

I've been thinking though, how is the boot partition set when you select the boot os from the OS? Does it write to config file on the EFI petition?

If so maybe it's possible to set it to always boot from a bootloader running on a usb drive like Clover, refIT, rEFInd etc.

It's written to the NVram, which makes it difficult to modify without the correct utility. After a Pram reset it will always choose the first operating system installed to the disk. I have High Sierra in the in the first partition because we can't access the boot picker.

 

[liquidtwitch]

It's written to the NVram,

Ah! PRAM reset is a good enough solution I guess, thanks for your input.

 

[codesoho]

Just reporting on another successful GPU swap on my 27" iMac (mid-2010). I've already done various upgrades in the past including WiFI/BT, 2 SSD + 4TB HDD and Xeon X3470 but was kinda hesitant with the graphic card.

I've ordered a cheap Alienware GTX765 from aliexpress and unexpectedly the installation went pretty smooth. Basically just did the hardware swap and turned on the iMac. Straight to login screen - no power-up issues, web drivers or kext edits required.

Target Display Mode appears to be working on my Win10 PC and girlfriends Macbook Pro (Retina, Late 2013).
The only issue I've had is when trying to exit TDM in Windows the screen goes completely black.


Thank you all for your input guys, I guess my iMac is finally Mojave ready

 

[MarshallH]

Hi,
So I put a nvidia quadro k3000m in a 27in 2011 imac, the computer chimes and appears to boot into mac os but the screen never comes on, need help?

I moded the heat sink.
The mac is running maverick and the graphics card came from a Dell laptop.
Nvidia web drivers are installed.

I am going to test with screen sharing tonight, I am under the impression that if the mac boots and screen sharing works that means that the computer recognises the graphics card? But then why does my screen stay black?

 

[CuriousMacCow]

Just reporting on another successful GPU swap on my 27" iMac (mid-2010). I've already done various upgrades in the past including WiFI/BT, 2 SSD + 4TB HDD and Xeon X3470 but was kinda hesitant with the graphic card.

I've ordered a cheap Alienware GTX765 from aliexpress and unexpectedly the installation went pretty smooth. Basically just did the hardware swap and turned on the iMac. Straight to boot screen - no power-up issues, web drivers or kext edits required.

Target Display Mode appears to be working on my Win10 PC and girlfriends Macbook Pro (Retina, Late 2013).
The only issue I've had is when trying to exit TDM in Windows the screen goes completely black.


Thank you all for your input guys, I guess my iMac is finally Mojave ready

Congratulations! Will this work with a 2011 iMac 27”?

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

Hi,
So I put a nvidia quadro k3000m in a 27in 2011 imac, the computer chimes and appears to boot into mac os but the screen never comes on, need help?

I moded the heat sink.
The mac is running maverick and the graphics card came from a Dell laptop.
Nvidia web drivers are installed.

I am going to test with screen sharing tonight, I am under the impression that if the mac boots and screen sharing works that means that the computer recognises the graphics card? But then why does my screen stay black?

Better check if you connected all the cables.

 

[MarshallH]

Better check if you connected all the cables.

All cables are connected, checked it twice. Any other ideas?
[doublepost=1536153818][/doublepost]

All cables are connected, checked it twice. Any other ideas?

I have heard that sometimes an external display will work even if the internal display does not, I am going to test this as well. If an external display will work what needs to be done to get the internal display working?

 

[codesoho]

Congratulations! Will this work with a 2011 iMac 27”?

The graphic card or TDM specifically?

Not sure about the latter, 2010 has a Mini DisplayPort vs Thunderbolt on 2011.

 

[FlorisVN]

Just reporting on another successful GPU swap on my 27" iMac (mid-2010). I've already done various upgrades in the past including WiFI/BT, 2 SSD + 4TB HDD and Xeon X3470 but was kinda hesitant with the graphic card.

I've ordered a cheap Alienware GTX765 from aliexpress and unexpectedly the installation went pretty smooth. Basically just did the hardware swap and turned on the iMac. Straight to login screen - no power-up issues, web drivers or kext edits required.

Target Display Mode appears to be working on my Win10 PC and girlfriends Macbook Pro (Retina, Late 2013).
The only issue I've had is when trying to exit TDM in Windows the screen goes completely black.


Thank you all for your input guys, I guess my iMac is finally Mojave ready

hi,


did you bought this one from AliExpress ??
https://nl.aliexpress.com/store/pro...7376656&transAbTest=ae803_1&priceBeautifyAB=0

 

[codesoho]

did you bought this one from AliExpress ??
https://nl.aliexpress.com/store/pro...7376656&transAbTest=ae803_1&priceBeautifyAB=0

This was the original listing:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/GTX...296.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.7a2c4c4dChjvkD

 

[FlorisVN]

This was the original listing:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/GTX...296.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.7a2c4c4dChjvkD

Hi thanks for your message.
It looks the same as the one i Found, yours is from a different reseller..
The one i found on Ali Express dont have an x-clamp, maybay also easier to install ?
And has free shipping...