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

[FlorisVN]

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.

did you also do an nvram reset.. ?
This is reccomended after flashing the vbios !

 

[JohannusNL]

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.

I fixed it. This iMac wasn’t running on the latest Firmware. So I installed High Sierra and installed update 004 which includes the latest firmware. The valley benchmark ran with no issues until the end.
The heaven benchmark failed. Reinstalled the application and everything works fine.

 

[Phoenix Fire]

Hi, thanks for all the information. I tried to read the first page and the last ones, but I can't find an answer. A friend will give me his late 2009 27" with gpu problem. I initially had the idea of use it only for Target display mode, that, looking on the web, should work also with gpu problem, the important things is that macOs boot up. But looking on this thread I am considering to fix it. Which should be the cheapest way to make this iMac works again? In the first page I read that custom bios can not be installed on such iMac, thus I want to know which card is the best to use.
Thanks in advance

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Hi, thanks for all the information. I tried to read the first page and the last ones, but I can't find an answer. A friend will give me his late 2009 27" with gpu problem. I initially had the idea of use it only for Target display mode, that, looking on the web, should work also with gpu problem, the important things is that macOs boot up. But looking on this thread I am considering to fix it. Which should be the cheapest way to make this iMac works again? In the first page I read that custom bios can not be installed on such iMac, thus I want to know which card is the best to use.
Thanks in advance

Go to the table on post #1, check if your system is supported and then do a price check for used cards on eBay yourself. We try here to share technical information about this GPU change, this is not a seller platform nor we can or will recommend certain sellers or sources.
Nevertheless: The cheapest card has been for a while the K610M. But your milage may vary depending on the market you have to buy from.

 

[Phoenix Fire]

Go to the table on post #1, check if your system is supported and then do a price check for used cards on eBay yourself. We try here to share technical information about this GPU change, this is not a seller platform nor we can or will recommend certain sellers or sources.
Nevertheless: The cheapest card has been for a while the K610M. But your milage may vary depending on the market you have to buy from.

the problem is that at the first page, first point of "Important Notes Before You Begin" is

1. The modified (video) BIOS version made by @Nick [D]vB, @nikey22 and @internetzel require an Intel i3 CPU or better. There is currently no way to make the features of these VBIOS working on Core 2 Duo systems (late 2009).

So I am asking which video card I can buy that is compatible

 

[Ausdauersportler]

We are writing there about the CPU in your iMac! There is no way to use one one the cards listed with a core2duo CPU.
You need the later version, Intel i-series starting with i3-540...

What system do you have?

And please add this hardware to your signature, tired of guessing what hardware you are using or talking about.

 

[Phoenix Fire]

We are writing there about the CPU in your iMac! There is no way to use one one the cards listed with a core2duo CPU.
You need the later version, Intel i-series starting with i3-540...

What system do you have?

And please add this hardware to your signature, tired of guessing what hardware you are using or talking about.

I have not it yet, I will take it soon, but I am trying to understanding what I can do. Looking at first page I thought that all late 2009 had core2duo.
I know that with core2duo I can't use the gpu of first page, for this reason I am asking if someone known a compatibile gpu that do not cost too much. Of course I know that you can't recommend particular sources or vendors, but it is possible to give an overview of which usually are the cheapest models

 

[FlorisVN]

I have not it yet, I will take it soon, but I am trying to understanding what I can do. Looking at first page I thought that all late 2009 had core2duo.
I know that with core2duo I can't use the gpu of first page, for this reason I am asking if someone known a compatibile gpu that do not cost too much. Of course I know that you can't recommend particular sources or vendors, but it is possible to give an overview of which usually are the cheapest models

nope 09 27" iMac's, came in C2D and Core i models, as far as I can remember...

 

[Ausdauersportler]

I have not it yet, I will take it soon, but I am trying to understanding what I can do. Looking at first page I thought that all late 2009 had core2duo.
I know that with core2duo I can't use the gpu of first page, for this reason I am asking if someone known a compatibile gpu that do not cost too much. Of course I know that you can't recommend particular sources or vendors, but it is possible to give an overview of which usually are the cheapest models

Then I have to stop this here and now. Do know nothing about your iMac and want us to guess about potential options? You cannot be serious about that Come back when you know what system you have and check the compatibility list, again. We cannot help with different systems, currently!

 

[Phoenix Fire]

Then I have to stop this here and now. Do know nothing about your iMac and want us to guess about potential options? You cannot be serious about that Come back when you know what system you have and check the compatibility list, again. We cannot help with different systems, currently!

I asked before I do not know that late2009 can have iX cpu, I thought that they have all core2duo, so I ask "which gpu are compatible with such iMac? The ones in first page are only compatible with other iMac"

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Catalina 10.15.7

downloaded and installed with the current @dosdude patcher is running fine on my 2011 WX4170 based system with the latest OC version published on this thread. Used the "install to this machines" option and installed all sleep patches later, again. Sleeping works, the AMD card provides the same benchmark results. Did not check all the apps, including Safari and the ever lasting question if DRM secured contents as Netflix will be shown with Safari correctly...

I assume the same will work (fine) for alle systems equipped with a Nvidia card, too.

Edit: Install to this machine works only with 2011 models unless you modify the @dosdude1 patcher. Owers of 2009/2010 systems will have to go the USB thumb drive way....

 

[internetzel]

I asked before I do not know that late2009 can have iX cpu, I thought that they have all core2duo, so I ask "which gpu are compatible with such iMac? The ones in first page are only compatible with other iMac"

Related to the Core2Duo models someone recently posted this:

Hola, para los que tengan un imac del 2009 Core2Dúo, para Modelos A1311 A1312, yo he logrado colocar una gráfica nVidia GT120 de los iMac A1224 A1225 de los últimos, que ya traían DDR3. Con esta gráfica, el iMac A1311 y A1312, funciona correctamente, reconoce la gráfica, tiene pantalla de inicio, y lo mejor, que hay control de brillo de forma nativa. Vamos, en resumen, es simplemente pincharla en el Mac, y listo. No tiene un rendimiento bueno, pero esos equipos tampoco ya dan mucho de sí, así que al menos, es posible seguir utilizándolos para ofimática o fotografía. Vamos, que sin calentarse mucho la cabeza, y comprando una GT120 MXM de iMac A1224 A1225 en AliExpress, tienes el problema resuelto. Bueno, espero haber ayudado.View attachment 956345

 

[Phoenix Fire]

Related to the Core2Duo models someone recently posted this:

thanks it can be a very good replacement, but I can't understand what he means with rendimento bueno, does it mean that it is not powerful?

 

[Antonio Gerson B. da Cruz]

Dear friends, has anyone get the external display port working using K610M?
Thks!

 

[DJRath]

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?

I tried lots of different roms at the time and @Nick [D]vB 780m rom worked best (no boot screen or backlight control) on the 880m but @nikey22 880m rom is much more stable with better performance and boot screen/backlight. I would not recommend trying the 780m rom.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Dear friends, I'm afraid I f**kd up my Firmware rom. Can anyone, please, post the Firmware bios rom file for the iMac 27" 2011 EMC 2429?
I'll try to rewrite it and save my mac.

No, no!

I encourage everybody to keep the firmware in private. This firmware contains the board-id of the iMac, is related to the apple/iTunes/iCloud ID when in use.

One can only try to fix your own firmware or getting firmware from a broken board without having iCloud access, later. Fixing a firmware to make it fully work is not an easy task I am afraid!

 

[Edhawk]

I would like to thank everyone associated with this thread, all the bios developers, implementers, testers and Guru's for all the hard work and effort they have put in to this matter. For without their input I would not have been able to upgrade/fix and refurbish my wife's old iMac.

Following the information in this thread I have been able to update and refurbish what was believed to be a DOA iMac mid-2010. The Apple Service Consultant who inspected and tested the system said it was dead and I should throw it away or leave it with his company to dispose of correctly. Glad I didn't listen to him!

It had a few issues, which required the the following:

• Cleaned the buildup of dust from the case.
• Overhauled the three fans, CPU, ODD and HDD
• Replaced the PSU Board - original was overheating so you couldn't touch the rear top left corner of the case
• Replaced LED Backlight Inverter Board - original was overheating, as above
• Installed spare 2TB WD HDD - original 1TB HD worked but really slowly, took about 90minutes to boot!

I also chose to upgrade the following components:

• CPU - i3-550 upgraded to i7-860
• RAM - 4GB upgraded to 20GB (RAM taken from dead laptop)
• OS Disk - Installed spare Samsung 850 EVO 250GB SSD to spare SATA port
• GPU - AMD Radeon HD5670 512mb upgraded to NVIDIA Quadro K1100M 2GB
• WIFI/BT - Separate Wifi Card and Bluetooth cards upgraded to a Broadcom BCM94360CD, which I already owned so just required the PCIe adapter card, (https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/bluetooth-upgrade-imac-2010-how-to.1849116/)

The machine runs really well considering its age. My wife is overjoyed as her baby is back!

So once again thanks to all those who helped to create this great thread.

 

[FlorisVN]

Dear friends, I'm afraid I f**kd up my Firmware rom. Can anyone, please, post the Firmware bios rom file for the iMac 27" 2011 EMC 2429?
I'll try to rewrite it and save my mac.

a user posted some here in the past, i think was with blank serial number..

its many pages back by now...

 

[herrdude]

I would like to thank everyone associated with this thread, all the bios developers, implementers, testers and Guru's for all the hard work and effort they have put in to this matter. For without their input I would not have been able to upgrade/fix and refurbish my wife's old iMac.

Following the information in this thread I have been able to update and refurbish what was believed to be a DOA iMac mid-2010. The Apple Service Consultant who inspected and tested the system said it was dead and I should throw it away or leave it with his company to dispose of correctly. Glad I didn't listen to him!

It had a few issues, which required the the following:

• Cleaned the buildup of dust from the case.
• Overhauled the three fans, CPU, ODD and HDD
• Replaced the PSU Board - original was overheating so you couldn't touch the rear top left corner of the case
• Replaced LED Backlight Inverter Board - original was overheating, as above
• Installed spare 2TB WD HDD - original 1TB HD worked but really slowly, took about 90minutes to boot!

I also chose to upgrade the following components:

• CPU - i3-550 upgraded to i7-860
• RAM - 4GB upgraded to 20GB (RAM taken from dead laptop)
• OS Disk - Installed spare Samsung 850 EVO 250GB SSD to spare SATA port
• GPU - AMD Radeon HD5670 512mb upgraded to NVIDIA Quadro K1100M 2GB
• WIFI/BT - Separate Wifi Card and Bluetooth cards upgraded to a Broadcom BCM94360CD, which I already owned so just required the PCIe adapter card, (https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/bluetooth-upgrade-imac-2010-how-to.1849116/)

The machine runs really well considering its age. My wife is overjoyed as her baby is back!

So once again thanks to all those who helped to create this great thread.

Go to your system report (under SATA) and make sure the SSD is on 6GB/s port. Just to be sure the system is at top speed.
Ignore this post. It is the result of spending 5 days in Zoom meetings (with my 2011 iMac!!).

 

[internetzel]

thanks it can be a very good replacement, but I can't understand what he means with rendimento bueno, does it mean that it is not powerful?

Yes, "No tiene un rendimiento bueno" means that it doesn't have good performance.
But as long as you don't know whether the iMac you'll be getting is Core2Duo or Core-i one you'll not know what spare part you need. And for the Core-i ones you can get pretty well performing graphics cards.

 

[internetzel]

Catalina 10.15.7

downloaded and installed with the current @dosdude patcher is running fine on my 2011 WX4170 based system with the latest OC version published on this thread. Used the "install to this machines" option and installed all sleep patches later, again. Sleeping works, the AMD card provides the same benchmark results. Did not check all the apps, including Safari and the ever lasting question if DRM secured contents as Netflix will be shown with Safari correctly...

I assume the same will work (fine) for alle systems equipped with a Nvidia card, too.

Edit: Install to this machine works only with 2011 models unless you modify the @dosdude1 patcher. Owers of 2009/2010 systems will have to go the USB thumb drive way....

@dosdude1's Catalina Patcher 1.4.4 unfortunately cannot create bootable installers for Catalina 10.15.7 . Well, it creates an installer but it doesn't work.

 

[iPlasm]

my iMac 2011 21.5" on High Sierra got new Update: Security Update 2020-005 High Sierra

my firmware seems to be same as before after updating "Security Update 2020-005 High Sierra".
Boot ROM Version: 87.0.0.0.0
SMC Version (system): 1.71f22

This site (or the first page of this thread link is available) says the updates may not directly tells if a new firmware upgrade is available, so it may merged with update software MacOS.
these updates always breaks the Night Shift patch, I have to reapply them all time!
Just for report news.

 

[Mars911]

did you also do an nvram reset.. ?
This is reccomended after flashing the vbios !

I did reset nvram, but no good news.

Anyone knows that if the error message "Chip Main Memory with the contents are in disagreement" is normal?

 

[Pascal Baillargeau]

@dosdude1's Catalina Patcher 1.4.4 unfortunately cannot create bootable installers for Catalina 10.15.7 . Well, it creates an installer but it doesn't work.

I did used Catalina Patcher 1.4.4 to create a 10.15.7 installer. It works here. You should try again(downloading new files?).

 

[Pascal Baillargeau]

iMac 2011 21,5'' and WX4150.
I tried to install a WX4150 in an iMac 2011 21,5'' and it works. It was an HP card coming from a ZBook.
No need to say i took extra care, assembling graphic card and heatsink, putting some tape where i thought it could be needed to protect from potential shorts.

Edit (for fools):
I am not saying all WX4150 cards will work in an iMac 2011, beware.
I didn't took photos, i thought it will not work. So please stay calm, stand still and wait for further informations. I will take photos of this card, but not before a week, i'am afraid.
Thanks.