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

[codesoho]

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...

Looks the same, yeah. I think the Alienware GTX765 overall is a safe choice for a swap, even though 1-2 guys in this thread had bad luck with incompatible or simply defective ones.

The x-bracket was unusable with the iMac's heatsink. It can be modified but not worth it IMO. Apple's bracket is just fine.

Paid 106$ for mine actually.

 

[highvoltage12v]

@FlorisVN Did your HP elitebook k3000m work without the bios mod?

 

[CuriousMacCow]

The graphic card or TDM specifically?

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

Hi!

Referring to the graphics card. I have a 2011 iMac 27". The idea is to mod for an SSD + Higher HDD Storage. Just had it "repair" from a failing AMD GPU; fearing that it will fail in the coming months. Thinking of either selling it (while its working) to get 2013-current Macbook Pro 15" (well unmodifiable, and not as robust) or swap the GPU card (compatible and not likely to fail; with bootscreen, etc.), and get an EGPU bundle (why? for multi-output video and editing).
I'd like to be future ready, and have a functional iMac at par with the current ones. Like what you said, "Ready for Mojave." Which in fact is EGPU native. What do you think?

Hoping to hear from ya! Thanks!

 

[codesoho]

Referring to the graphics card. I have a 2011 iMac 27". The idea is to mod for an SSD + Higher HDD Storage. Just had it "repair" from a failing AMD GPU; fearing that it will fail in the coming months. Thinking of either selling it (while its working) to get 2013-current Macbook Pro 15" (well unmodifiable, and not as robust) or swap the GPU card (compatible and not likely to fail; with bootscreen, etc.), and get an EGPU bundle (why? for multi-output video and editing).
I'd like to be future ready, and have a functional iMac at par with the current ones. Like what you said, "Ready for Mojave." Which in fact is EGPU native. What do you think?

Third party MXM cards are the only alternative to the unreliable and expensive Radeons of 2009-2011. No boot screen though, unless something changes over at netkas forums?

eGPU on TB1 would not be a good investment IMO. More on that topic...

On top of that Apple just recently cut TB2 support for their eGPU solution. So even if you go that route you will be forced on using scripts and/or other inconvenient workarounds.

 

[CuriousMacCow]

Third party MXM cards are the only alternative to the unreliable and expensive Radeons of 2009-2011. No boot screen though, unless something changes over at netkas forums?

eGPU on TB1 would not be a good investment IMO. More on that topic...

On top of that Apple just recently cut TB2 support for their eGPU solution. So even if you go that route you will be forced on using scripts and/or other inconvenient workarounds.

Though I’ve seen videos via Youtube eGPU workaround just via TB3 to TB2 conversion adapter. So a 2011 imac is a TB1?

Regarding the GPU, would you suggest in doing a swap like what you did? But your have a boot screen right?

 

[codesoho]

But your have a boot screen right?

That was a mistype, I meant login screen. So no boot screen unfortunately.

 

[CuriousMacCow]

That was a mistype, I meant login screen. So no boot screen unfortunately.

Oh okay. But brightness control was solved via software? Which is?

So which is better sell 2011 27” or swap out the GPU?

Would you suggest swapping out same GPU as yours? Or are there any ones compatible as listed here by passatgt

640M, 650M, 660M, 675MX, 680M, 750M, 755M, 775M, 780M

Thanks!

 

[codesoho]

Oh okay. But brightness control was solved via software? Which is?

The app is called Shades, it can actually go lower in brightness than the native implementation which can be useful.

Would you suggest swapping out same GPU as yours? Or are there any ones compatible as listed here by passatgt

The rule of thumb is to go with the Alienware/DELL models, there have been many successful reports of various models throughout this thread. I personally went with the GTX765 because the low cost / low risk factor and the thermal design of the iMac itself. As much as I'd like to shove a 980 in this thing, chances are it will overheat.

If you are opening your iMac for the first time be aware that LVDS video connector on the motherboard is very fragile. Good luck!

 

[rpmurray]

Macvidcards.com has been blowing smoke about bringing out Nvidia cards for the iMac, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

 

[CuriousMacCow]

The app is called Shades, it can actually go lower in brightness than the native implementation which can be useful.

Got this!

So what you're suggesting is upgrade rather than sell it? Ya?

would a GTX 780M work? the Late 2013 imac has it

 

[Mr-Mur]

Got this!
would a GTX 780M work? the Late 2013 imac has it

It definitely will do, I have the same 780M. But no boot screen, no brightness control

 

[CuriousMacCow]

It definitely will do, I have the same 780M. But no boot screen, no brightness control

Got it! I'm basing it on the current NVIDIA System that are already in circulation with the current iMac's. The 780M is the highest in all the systems.

So you think I should swap out the GPU instead of selling it?

Will it overheat or rather put the fan at full speed? The 6970m is 75 watts while the 780m is a 100watt GPU. Will there be any issues?

I'm looking at the 860m at 75watts. Will that work?

 

[Mr-Mur]

Got it! I'm basing it on the current NVIDIA System that are already in circulation with the current iMac's. The 780M is the highest in all the systems.
I'm looking at the 860m at 75watts. Will that work?

I currently have detached my 780M and working with older 6770M (mainly because I need sometimes brightness & boot).
But when 780M was installed it worked flawlessly: no overheat, no freezes or power shortage (note TDP).

When 780M receive a proper ROM BIOS I will definitely swap a new GPU back.

 

[CuriousMacCow]

I currently have detached my 780M and working with older 6770M (mainly because I need sometimes brightness & boot).
But when 780M was installed it worked flawlessly: no overheat, no freezes or power shortage (note TDP).

When 780M receive a proper ROM BIOS I will definitely swap a new GPU back.

So the TDP doesn't affect overheat even though the 780M is 100watts compared to the 6970 (75watts)? No overheating and noisy system? Cool.

Aren't you flashing to make the boot screen work?
[doublepost=1536484537][/doublepost]

As much as I'd like to shove a 980 in this thing, chances are it will overheat.

Check this out!
https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=4175243&st=0&p=90213950&#entry90213950

 

[liquidtwitch]

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.

That's the first I've heard of non i5/i7 cpu upgrade - can you elaborate? The Xeon X3470 is about half the cost of the i7-2600.

 

[codesoho]

That's the first I've heard of non i5/i7 cpu upgrade - can you elaborate? The Xeon X3470 is about half the cost of the i7-2600.

Specs-wise X3470 (Lynnfield) is identical to i7 870 that was included in the Mid-2010 iMac lineup. Not sure what the alternative for 2011 Intels (Sandy Bridge) would be?

When installed X3470 is listed as i3 550 (the original CPU) in Sys Info but the Geekbench score (over 9000!) says otherwise

Check this out!
https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=4175243&st=0&p=90213950&#entry90213950

Nice. Anyone with GTX780m, 880m or 980m can share full load GPU temps?

 

[CuriousMacCow]

Nice. Anyone with GTX780m, 880m or 980m can share full load GPU temps?

Good call! Give it a share guys!

 

[FlorisVN]

is it possible to get gpu temp readings within macos ?
or not possible due to Mac EFI lack, temps can be read out within Windows Bootcamp ??

How can we ever know if our own gpu's have correct temperature.. ?

 

[highvoltage12v]

I currently have detached my 780M and working with older 6770M (mainly because I need sometimes brightness & boot).
But when 780M was installed it worked flawlessly: no overheat, no freezes or power shortage (note TDP).

When 780M receive a proper ROM BIOS I will definitely swap a new GPU back.

is it possible to get gpu temp readings within macos ?
or not possible due to Mac EFI lack, temps can be read out within Windows Bootcamp ??

How can we ever know if our own gpu's have correct temperature.. ?

The best you can see in Mac OS is the GPU heatsink temperature. You cannot read the Die temp at all even with web drivers etc. I don't know about Windows, that's something I want to do the next time it's apart.

 

[FlorisVN]

@FlorisVN Did your HP elitebook k3000m work without the bios mod?

hi thx,

i recently ordered an new power supply for our second 27" 2011 imac, so i can safly test this card out.
I have not tested it yet, power supply will be here in 2 days.

Unfortionutly when i have inspectec the Quadro K4000m i cannot see a bios eeprom chip with 8 legs, to clip my eeprom clip on to it.
I dont know if my clip will accept this card, if a bios flash is needed :S

I hope the HP bios will work...
if not i dont know how to flash it..

I will post a picture of the PCB soon here..
Hope somebody can tell me where the 8 legged bios eeprom chip is located, I cannot see it on the board...

 

[Mr-Mur]

The best you can see in Mac OS is the GPU heatsink temperature. You cannot read the Die temp at all even with web drivers etc. I don't know about Windows, that's something I want to do the next time it's apart.

I am using iStat Menus to view and control all sensors, including GPU's. You're correct, Die cannot be seen unlike a heatsink temperature (because it's been read with a proprietary sensor).

 

[passatgt]

Little update on my quest to find a card that can be flashed with an orig apple rom. I got a Dell 6770M 1GB card from Aliexpress which looked identical, however its not... The bios chip is Pm25LD512, which is 64kB, while the ROM pulled from the original Apple card is 128kB. So i'm not able to change the rom:

"Error: Image size (131072 B) doesn't match the flash chip's size (65536 B)!"

Do you think i can change the chip to Pm25LD010, which is 128kB and try again? Or thats not how it works?

 

[tsialex]

Little update on my quest to find a card that can be flashed with an orig apple rom. I got a Dell 6770M 1GB card from Aliexpress which looked identical, however its not... The bios chip is Pm25LD512, which is 64kB, while the ROM pulled from the original Apple card is 128kB. So i'm not able to change the rom:

"Error: Image size (131072 B) doesn't match the flash chip's size (65536 B)!"

Do you think i can change the chip to Pm25LD010, which is 128kB and try again? Or thats not how it works?

Yes, you can transplant the SPI-flash and test it.

 

[liquidtwitch]

I hope the HP bios will work...
if not i dont know how to flash it..

I had a HP Quadro K3100m and I first got no GPU LED nor anything on boot, after a restart I wouldn't even post.

 

[liquidtwitch]

Apologies for double posting, the replacement for the failed K3100m arrived - reporting another successful Alienware 780m install. Black screen when attempting to boot windows so that's another hurdle but everything else seems to be working fine - idling at 36 degs. Haven't done any heat sync modification, if it runs a bit hot I might follow Mr-Mur's excellent guide for how to do a dyi cooling solution.