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iM 4,1-14,4 2011 iMac Graphics Card Upgrade
- Thread starter MichaelDT
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Where the firmware is storeged at? Because my iMac is on High Sierra fully updated at the moment, but it is on a HDD and I'll switch to a SSD. In this case can I go straight to Catalina or still gotta install HS plus updates first?
Depends: If you have the latest firmware installed go straight to Catalina, otherwise install High Sierra an all upgrades until you got the latest firmware. Please take a look at the OpenCore section on page #1 and post #1.
Firmware is stored in the boot rom bios chip on the logic board. Please check your system and read the post #1
Glad you are finding a new use for your iMac, they make great Windows Machines.
I think what you need to know is where to check your Firmware version. Go to Apple>About This Mac> "System Report..." Then find the BootROM version, it should be either 87.0.0.0.0 or 98.0.0.0.0. (one other I don't recall)
If installing a card with Bootscreens at all, your iMac can still permform Firmware updates. I have had Macs perform updates just fine with Flashed Nvidia Cards.
Now if we were manually injecting modules into the firmware like EG2.ffs etc then we would be concerned with firmware updates.
Ok so I managed to have it working on both High Sierra and Catalina.
I also managed to have manual brightness adjustment using OpenCore.
To be honest though I do not like to use an USB as boot loader for ordinary use.
Not being by any means knowledgeable in the Apple world, is there a chance of "inserting" the Kext in the normal iOS booting process without relying on another drive?
Alternatively, is there anybody actually working on a new Vbios for the K1100 providing native brightness adjustment? if this is the case I will happily use temporary methods while waiting.
TIA
I also managed to have manual brightness adjustment using OpenCore.
To be honest though I do not like to use an USB as boot loader for ordinary use.
Not being by any means knowledgeable in the Apple world, is there a chance of "inserting" the Kext in the normal iOS booting process without relying on another drive?
Alternatively, is there anybody actually working on a new Vbios for the K1100 providing native brightness adjustment? if this is the case I will happily use temporary methods while waiting.
TIA
I'm slowly making my way through all the information in this thread, and putting together a parts list to upgrade my 2011 iMac. I just wanted to give thanks to everyone who's contributing.
That being said, my iMac has a busted ethernet port. In trying to do the SSH Linux method for flashing the GPU I want to use, would a thunderbolt to ethernet, or USB to ethernet adapter work? Or am I hosed in that regard?
That being said, my iMac has a busted ethernet port. In trying to do the SSH Linux method for flashing the GPU I want to use, would a thunderbolt to ethernet, or USB to ethernet adapter work? Or am I hosed in that regard?
I keep an EFI windows 10 install around on a USB to SATA adapter+SSD and USB boot Windows 10. It's pretty nifty to not have to keep a drive internal and move it from Mac to Mac.
Hello enthusiasts!
In my 2011 iMac, I replaced a broken Radeon 6979m with a GTX 780m. I flashed the GTX 780m BIOS from nikey22 (Thank you GOOD MAN!) And my iMac started up with a boot screen and dimmable. But, as reported on the forum, the maximum brightness level was lower than before the BIOS flashing. I downloaded Kext AppleBacklightFixup.kext and installed it using the Kext Utility. AppleBacklightFixup.kext appeared in the / System / Library / Extensions folder. Rebooted iMac but the maximum brightness level is unchanged. Please, tell me what I did wrong and how to do it correctly?
In my 2011 iMac, I replaced a broken Radeon 6979m with a GTX 780m. I flashed the GTX 780m BIOS from nikey22 (Thank you GOOD MAN!) And my iMac started up with a boot screen and dimmable. But, as reported on the forum, the maximum brightness level was lower than before the BIOS flashing. I downloaded Kext AppleBacklightFixup.kext and installed it using the Kext Utility. AppleBacklightFixup.kext appeared in the / System / Library / Extensions folder. Rebooted iMac but the maximum brightness level is unchanged. Please, tell me what I did wrong and how to do it correctly?
I guess, when I restore my mac, with the buildin restore option. I need to repatch the Kext files again, isn't it?
If it is, is there a way to patch the restore image/partition?
If it is, is there a way to patch the restore image/partition?
Hi, I just flashed a 880M GTX, I have updated the Kext as being described here: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread....1596614/page-339?post=28742848#post-28742848
After reboot the brightness was low, until I pressed the dim buttons on my keyboard to plus it up and down. otherwise try to change the brightness from the display settings.
I have an issue with the GTX880M which I cannot address. When running Unigine benchmark, the benchmarkt stops at some point. running with the high quality profile.
running with the medium profile, the first frames are choppy. After that it runs fine and smooth, 40+ frames/sec. the heat runs up to 80 degrees. whitescreen, error.
with the high profile the machines stops sometimes with a white screen with a stop error. reboot needed.
GPU heatsink temperature is about 56 degrees, GPU PECI about 40 degrees.
this machine ran well with a K1200M btw.
I will see if i can redo the thermal paste
running with the medium profile, the first frames are choppy. After that it runs fine and smooth, 40+ frames/sec. the heat runs up to 80 degrees. whitescreen, error.
with the high profile the machines stops sometimes with a white screen with a stop error. reboot needed.
GPU heatsink temperature is about 56 degrees, GPU PECI about 40 degrees.
this machine ran well with a K1200M btw.
I will see if i can redo the thermal paste
i have scrolled through the massive pages of this and wondered what other people experiences with the K3100M has been?
my setup is a 2010 imac, i flashed the card in windows and i have the boot menu and boot screens... windows 7 works without drivers installed but as soon as i install the drivers i get black or white screens and osx just gives me a black screen on installers and my main HS.. the firmware for EFI is up to date.. any more ideas?
my setup is a 2010 imac, i flashed the card in windows and i have the boot menu and boot screens... windows 7 works without drivers installed but as soon as i install the drivers i get black or white screens and osx just gives me a black screen on installers and my main HS.. the firmware for EFI is up to date.. any more ideas?
Have you tried running the benchmark with screen brightness turned right down? Is it more stable?
I not so sure of this card any more since I have a huge number of similar (not same) issues. But your problem might be solved by the black screen issue patched AGC - search post #1 for it. Each OS version has it’s own...
I have had backlight problem with the lcd panel...no crashes but needed keep the brightness down otherwise screen would turn black although the imac kept running...able to see the display with a bright torch.
I have replaced the lcd panel and back to normal now.
My problem was made worse with adding usb peripherals...I put it down to failing leds drawing more power.
I have been running the gtx880m for 9 months now on my iMac. -It does run hot...but needs power...I have overvolted a little and underclocked by 50..still playing around with this...on Windows...my Catalina runs stable enough with stock..although I haven’t benchmarked in a while.
Hello there
For help, two K610m refreshed Nick[D]vB vbios and one can be used normally on iMac. The non-bootable motherboard with handwritten label only turns on the first LED light and the fan stops after a single turn.
Nick[D]vB vbios test VGA no signal DP interface and no signal on PC MXM transfer PCIE card
The vbios of the nvidia k610m project obtained by a special way refreshes two K610m with MXM to PCIE, and the PC test VGA and DP signals can be used normally.
The performance test scores of the original nvidia k610m and the OC overclocked version k610m have improved significantly.
Seek help using nvidia k610m vbios editor to add support for startup screen and system brightness adjustment.
Thank you
For help, two K610m refreshed Nick[D]vB vbios and one can be used normally on iMac. The non-bootable motherboard with handwritten label only turns on the first LED light and the fan stops after a single turn.
Nick[D]vB vbios test VGA no signal DP interface and no signal on PC MXM transfer PCIE card
The vbios of the nvidia k610m project obtained by a special way refreshes two K610m with MXM to PCIE, and the PC test VGA and DP signals can be used normally.
The performance test scores of the original nvidia k610m and the OC overclocked version k610m have improved significantly.
Seek help using nvidia k610m vbios editor to add support for startup screen and system brightness adjustment.
Thank you
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This post is quite some time ago, but why did you use the 780m firmware on a 880? I’m having some issues on the 880m with the 880 firmware. I was wondering if you had the same?
Still no luck. I finally got a Win7 laptop, and flashed K1100M with Nick's rom. The 3rd LED was not turn on.
I got a error message "Chip Main Memory with the contents are in disagreement" after flashed, maybe that's the problem. I unplug the CH341A and restarted the flash programmer, verified the chip Winbond W25X20 again, it passed though.