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

[m0bil]

Did you ever really read this post from the first up to the last line?

I think so, what do you mean ? I already tried replacing the AppleBacklightFixup.kext on Catalina Loader with the one at the end of the post, but result is the same, no brightness control at all. Only way I get brightness control on Catalina is completely disabling the AppleBacklightFixup.kext

 

[hexagram92]

Then proceed with the Axe.

Open System Profiler for me and go to Software>Extensions and sort by "Obtained From" since these are stock Kexts that are modified they should say obtained from "Unknown". AppleGraphicsControl or AppleGraphicsDevicePolicy should show up as "unknown" as shown in this screenshot.

Hello @highvoltage12v I think what i described earlier is the same issue as @doscore. I got the same results as you show on your screenshot but it's not functional. Still searching why.

 

[spacebiscuit]

Should this card work in my 27" Mid 2011 iMAc:

DELL NVIDIA Quadro K1100M 2GB N15P-Q1-A2

Seller said it is for Dell only, but that is out of the box without flashing I am guessing, or am I missing something. Thanks.

 

[ZenSurfeur]

Should this card work in my 27" Mid 2011 iMAc:

DELL NVIDIA Quadro K1100M 2GB N15P-Q1-A2

Seller said it is for Dell only, but that is out of the box without flashing I am guessing, or am I missing something. Thanks.

the first page is your friend

 

[highvoltage12v]

Hello @highvoltage12v I think what i described earlier is the same issue as @doscore. I got the same results as you show on your screenshot but it's not functional. Still searching why.

Okay I read your post and now I think I have some actual context on the issue. Because when Mac OS did the update to 10.15.7 as a standard update. It saw the AGC Kext was a modified Kext. For whatever reason it didn't replace it in the update and keep the 10.15.6 Kext/plugins instead. I believe you need to boot into another OS such as Mojave or Catalina. And drag the 10.15.7 AppleGraphicsControl.kext into the System/Library/Extension folder manually. Drag Kext utility into System/Library and then take the entire Extensions Folder and drop it onto the Kext utility icon. It will then proceed to fix permissions on all kexts in System/Library/Extensions.

When I did my 10.15.7 update I was having a similar issue as well. I think these two have a high probable cause of being related. Apple changed something Major to AGC with the 2020 iMac's. Usually there isn't much issues when the AGC Kext isn't completely updated with every updated. What's happening is the AGC shell Kext is being updated but the AGC/plugins/AGDevicePolicy Kext isn't and that's our issue, the two become mismatched.

 

[spacebiscuit]

the first page is your friend

Yes I have read it multiple times over, but although the card is listed as working I am not sure if it should be a Dell or HP variant or if there is any difference...

 

[ZenSurfeur]

Yes I have read it multiple times over, but although the card is listed as working I am not sure if it should be a Dell or HP variant or if there is any difference...

Dell is the first choice HP might be ok too the card will work if
- it's fully functional i mean not dead,
- you flash it use the usb @xanderon method,
- reset pram

if it's successful you will got the 4 diag leds on

 

[pappl]

@pappl
Thank you for this observation regarding the GTX860M GPUs

Nvidia did something unusual with this GPU. They created 2 architectures, Kepler and Maxwell, but left the variant identifications ambiguous. To complicate matters, two memory sizes were offered.

I have updated my post. Based on my research using GPUZoo & Techpowerup:
the GPU Variant: N15P-GX-B-A2 is Kepler-based
the GPU Variant: N15P-GX-A1 is Maxwell-based.
Furthermore, I've created a ROM specific for the 2048MB version of the card and uploaded it to my original post to hopefully improve compatibility.
Cheers.

Please double check to avoid anybody buying the wrong variant.
I checked the sites and i'm still unsure.
See techpowerup and GPUzoo don't even mention N15P-GX-B-A2, they are all copy/pasting N15PGX-A1 for all variants:

GTX 860M Kepler: N15P-GX-A1

GTX 860M Maxwell: N15P-GX-A1

GTX 860M OEM (Maxwell): N15P-GX-A1

This can't be correct.

This old seller description says:

GTX 860M N15P-GX-B-A2... is one of the first cards based on Nvidia's new Maxwell architecture (GM107 chip), but is still manufactured in 28 nm.

Who knows the description is true?
Who knows, maybe the variant code has nothing to do if Kepler or Maxwell is built in?

Since Maxwell version is a newer design it should logically be the higher numbered variant code N15P-GX-B-A2, this would explain why there are no older Kepler variants anymore on aliexpress. All only my guessing.

Anybody out there already installed a GTX 860M and still knows the used variant code?

pappl

 

[hexagram92]

Okay I read your post and now I think I have some actual context on the issue. Because when Mac OS did the update to 10.15.7 as a standard update. It saw the AGC Kext was a modified Kext. For whatever reason it didn't replace it in the update and keep the 10.15.6 Kext/plugins instead. I believe you need to boot into another OS such as Mojave or Catalina. And drag the 10.15.7 AppleGraphicsControl.kext into the System/Library/Extension folder manually. Drag Kext utility into System/Library and then take the entire Extensions Folder and drop it onto the Kext utility icon. It will then proceed to fix permissions on all kexts in System/Library/Extensions.

When I did my 10.15.7 update I was having a similar issue as well. I think these two have a high probable cause of being related. Apple changed something Major to AGC with the 2020 iMac's. Usually there isn't much issues when the AGC Kext isn't completely updated with every updated. What's happening is the AGC shell Kext is being updated but the AGC/plugins/AGDevicePolicy Kext isn't and that's our issue, the two become mismatched.

First of all, thanks for your feedback and help on this.
I'm not sure i had really understand all so i explain step by step what i've done on my 10.15.6 (do not have 10.15.7 now since my reinstall from scratch):
- reboot on mojave
- sudo mount -uw /Volumes/Catalina on terminal (don't know if it's useful because it's not the system running Catalina)
- killall Finder on terminal (don't know if it's useful because it's not the system running Catalina)
- move AGC where you said
- move kext utility where you said and launched it
- cancel action at kext utility launch
- drag extensions folder to kext utility and let it go
- finish with an error that seemed not important ("unable to build extensions.kext" which is normal for me as it is the folder)
- sudo reboot

After this still blank screen so reboot with Alt to have Applebootpicker.
Now my iMac crash after some minutes of use, even if i have not any problem of temperature verified in MacFans

Any idea ? Do not hesitate to tell me if i'm wrong and missed something

 

[hexagram92]

First of all, thanks for your feedback and help on this.
I'm not sure i had really understand all so i explain step by step what i've done on my 10.15.6 (do not have 10.15.7 now since my reinstall from scratch):
- reboot on mojave
- sudo mount -uw /Volumes/Catalina on terminal (don't know if it's useful because it's not the system running Catalina)
- killall Finder on terminal (don't know if it's useful because it's not the system running Catalina)
- move AGC where you said
- move kext utility where you said and launched it
- cancel action at kext utility launch
- drag extensions folder to kext utility and let it go
- finish with an error that seemed not important ("unable to build extensions.kext" which is normal for me)
- sudo reboot

After this still blank screen so reboot with Alt to have Applebootpicker.
Now my iMac crash after some minutes of use, even if i have not any problem of temperature verified in MacFans

Any idea ? Do not hesitate to tell me if i'm wrong and missed something

Tried apply a reset pram with no luck.
SMC reset applied, i'm waiting to see if it's resolving the problem or not.

 

[highvoltage12v]

First of all, thanks for your feedback and help on this.
I'm not sure i had really understand all so i explain step by step what i've done on my 10.15.6 (do not have 10.15.7 now since my reinstall from scratch):
- reboot on mojave
- sudo mount -uw /Volumes/Catalina on terminal (don't know if it's useful because it's not the system running Catalina)
- killall Finder on terminal (don't know if it's useful because it's not the system running Catalina)
- move AGC where you said
- move kext utility where you said and launched it
- cancel action at kext utility launch
- drag extensions folder to kext utility and let it go
- finish with an error that seemed not important ("unable to build extensions.kext" which is normal for me as it is the folder)
- sudo reboot

After this still blank screen so reboot with Alt to have Applebootpicker.
Now my iMac crash after some minutes of use, even if i have not any problem of temperature verified in MacFans

Any idea ? Do not hesitate to tell me if i'm wrong and missed something

A few steps here are ambiguous since you are booted from another OS eg. Sudo Mount -uw / isn't needed as the drive remains unlocked booted into another OS. You're running with a GTX 770m as your handle says correct? Just to be clear there is no Backlight control on this card and no Brightness Fix-up kexts are needed. I believe something on your iMac is Causing a Kernel panic. What kind of "black screen" do we have? Does your system stay running with System sounds if mashing the keyboard?

Or do you hear your Optical drive initialization like during a reboot? If you think your iMac is Panicking, on the next reboot bring up the AppleBootPicker hold Command+V to have your iMac verbose boot. Try and see what the panic is, however it will happen very fast. Maybe record your LCD with a phone.

You have a 2009 iMac so ignore anything SandyBridge/Sleep related.

 

[pappl]

Just installed and flashed a k4100m. Works good! .....

How is fan behaviour? Are 100W TDP of this card okay for thermals?

 

[nikey22]

It is confusing, I agree and maybe the GPU variant isn't consistent. Take this example:

This card is a GTX860M 2048MB, GPU Variant: N15P-GX-B-A2 and if you look carefully, the sticker shows bios: 80.04.F5.00.06

If we inspect the bios, we can clearly see it is a Kepler card:

 

[hexagram92]

A few steps here are ambiguous since you are booted from another OS eg. Sudo Mount -uw / isn't needed as the drive remains unlocked booted into another OS. You're running with a GTX 770m as your handle says correct? Just to be clear there is no Backlight control on this card and no Brightness Fix-up kexts are needed. I believe something on your iMac is Causing a Kernel panic. What kind of "black screen" do we have? Does your system stay running with System sounds if mashing the keyboard?

Or do you hear your Optical drive initialization like during a reboot? If you think your iMac is Panicking, on the next reboot bring up the AppleBootPicker hold Command+V to have your iMac verbose boot. Try and see what the panic is, however it will happen very fast. Maybe record your LCD with a phone.

You have a 2009 iMac so ignore anything SandyBridge/Sleep related.

Ah, my thoughts were right so ^^, ok for useless mount.
Yes, it's a gtx770m with no brightness support. I viewed this with the brightness thing, i use brightness slider instead which is sufficient for me.

I got a blank screen, the same i had when i changed my graphic card from radeon to geforce, as described here : https://forums.macrumors.com/thread....1596614/page-236?post=28406927#post-28406927 . I confirm it's the same you describe here.
The strange thing is i made a new install and disabled auto-apply patch from @dosdude1, i install it manually after. So i do not use your patch after install (.ie reapply stock catalina files). I only use your AGC patch.
And i don't use the patch for sandy bridge as i do not have it (but i understand you ask for it)
I use the original apple boot loader.

 

[hexagram92]

A few steps here are ambiguous since you are booted from another OS eg. Sudo Mount -uw / isn't needed as the drive remains unlocked booted into another OS. You're running with a GTX 770m as your handle says correct? Just to be clear there is no Backlight control on this card and no Brightness Fix-up kexts are needed. I believe something on your iMac is Causing a Kernel panic. What kind of "black screen" do we have? Does your system stay running with System sounds if mashing the keyboard?

Or do you hear your Optical drive initialization like during a reboot? If you think your iMac is Panicking, on the next reboot bring up the AppleBootPicker hold Command+V to have your iMac verbose boot. Try and see what the panic is, however it will happen very fast. Maybe record your LCD with a phone.

You have a 2009 iMac so ignore anything SandyBridge/Sleep related.

By the way SMC reset did the trick, my system is stable again. But what's the relation with kext modification ?

 

[astuermer]

on the mid 2010 iMac (I imagine it will be similar for all 21.5 Unibody iMac) there isn't a specific fan for the GPU.
the fan cooling the ODD is also cooling the GPU... so you should link the ODD fan to the GPU sensor (if available) or the GPU heatsink sensor.

Thanks!
I am currently testing MacsFanControl on my stock HD6770 with some games until my ordered K1100M arrives.
The GPU Diode (seems to be the GPU sensor) goes up to 70°C degrees and only 1400rpm on the ODD fan.

If I am linking the ODD fan manually to the GPU Diode sensor and let it start at 50 degrees up to a maximum of 70, the fan goes up to 2600rpm.

Is there a good start and maximum temperature for the ODD sensor?
Or just trial and error?

Btw, the iMac case has around 45°C degrees on the upper back.

Thanks

 

[pappl]

It is confusing, I agree and maybe the GPU variant isn't consistent. Take this example:
View attachment 963600
This card is a GTX860M 2048MB, GPU Variant: N15P-GX-B-A2 and if you look carefully, the sticker shows bios: 80.04.F5.00.06

If we inspect the bios, we can clearly see it is a Kepler card:
View attachment 963602

👍👍👍
Is this your card?

Even this 80.04.E8.00.0D bios seems to be a Kepler variant:
https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/205992/205992

These are the ones on aliexpress.

N15P-GX-B-A2 🤔


Hope these chinese pics aren't fake.

Otherwise: Seems to be the only cheap option under 75W TDP and native brightness control.

Thanks a lot for your hard work!
pappl

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Thanks!
I am currently testing MacsFanControl on my stock HD6770 with some games until my ordered K1100M arrives.
The GPU Diode (seems to be the GPU sensor) goes up to 70°C degrees and only 1400rpm on the ODD fan.

If I am linking the ODD fan manually to the GPU Diode sensor and let it start at 50 degrees up to a maximum of 70, the fan goes up to 2600rpm.

Is there a good start and maximum temperature for the ODD sensor?
Or just trial and error?

Btw, the iMac case has around 45°C degrees on the upper back.

Thanks

read the pdf attached to the opencore post.

 

[hexagram92]

read the pdf attached to the opencore post.

Hello,

Thanks!
I am currently testing MacsFanControl on my stock HD6770 with some games until my ordered K1100M arrives.
The GPU Diode (seems to be the GPU sensor) goes up to 70°C degrees and only 1400rpm on the ODD fan.

If I am linking the ODD fan manually to the GPU Diode sensor and let it start at 50 degrees up to a maximum of 70, the fan goes up to 2600rpm.

Is there a good start and maximum temperature for the ODD sensor?
Or just trial and error?

Btw, the iMac case has around 45°C degrees on the upper back.

Thanks

Hope to help you.
You need to disable gpu discrete mode if it exist (on macfans and harwaremonitor)
After that, plug the ODD fan to the GPU heatsink (if you do not have opencore loader)
Personnaly, i got good results with 35 to 60°C on my gtx 770m (keep in mind the cpu temp is upper than that)
Exceed 70 for heatsink sensor will result in failures

 

[hexagram92]

A few steps here are ambiguous since you are booted from another OS eg. Sudo Mount -uw / isn't needed as the drive remains unlocked booted into another OS. You're running with a GTX 770m as your handle says correct? Just to be clear there is no Backlight control on this card and no Brightness Fix-up kexts are needed. I believe something on your iMac is Causing a Kernel panic. What kind of "black screen" do we have? Does your system stay running with System sounds if mashing the keyboard?

Or do you hear your Optical drive initialization like during a reboot? If you think your iMac is Panicking, on the next reboot bring up the AppleBootPicker hold Command+V to have your iMac verbose boot. Try and see what the panic is, however it will happen very fast. Maybe record your LCD with a phone.

You have a 2009 iMac so ignore anything SandyBridge/Sleep related.

Oops, sorry, completely miss your subject about optical drive and reboot. Sometimes it happens, but not always at each boot. As i remember it's when i do a pram or SMC reset.

Ok i try the Cmd+V thing.

 

[elise_s1]

Thanks!
I am currently testing MacsFanControl on my stock HD6770 with some games until my ordered K1100M arrives.
The GPU Diode (seems to be the GPU sensor) goes up to 70°C degrees and only 1400rpm on the ODD fan.

If I am linking the ODD fan manually to the GPU Diode sensor and let it start at 50 degrees up to a maximum of 70, the fan goes up to 2600rpm.

Is there a good start and maximum temperature for the ODD sensor?
Or just trial and error?

Btw, the iMac case has around 45°C degrees on the upper back.

Thanks

In theory with the standard GPU the original setting is supposed to be the best... but if you let it run cooler it won't be a bad thing, also considering the GPU is the one that fails the most.
Keep also in mind if you still are on the original thermal paste the deltaT between GPU diode and heatsink is actually higher than originally intended

for the K1100 using GPU heatsink as sensor I set 38 to 50 but you can play around that, there is no absolute standard.

 

[hexagram92]

A few steps here are ambiguous since you are booted from another OS eg. Sudo Mount -uw / isn't needed as the drive remains unlocked booted into another OS. You're running with a GTX 770m as your handle says correct? Just to be clear there is no Backlight control on this card and no Brightness Fix-up kexts are needed. I believe something on your iMac is Causing a Kernel panic. What kind of "black screen" do we have? Does your system stay running with System sounds if mashing the keyboard?

Or do you hear your Optical drive initialization like during a reboot? If you think your iMac is Panicking, on the next reboot bring up the AppleBootPicker hold Command+V to have your iMac verbose boot. Try and see what the panic is, however it will happen very fast. Maybe record your LCD with a phone.

You have a 2009 iMac so ignore anything SandyBridge/Sleep related.

Ah, my thoughts were right so ^^, ok for useless mount.
Yes, it's a gtx770m with no brightness support. I viewed this with the brightness thing, i use brightness slider instead which is sufficient for me.

I got a blank screen, the same i had when i changed my graphic card from radeon to geforce, as described here : https://forums.macrumors.com/thread....1596614/page-236?post=28406927#post-28406927 . I confirm it's the same you describe here.
The strange thing is i made a new install and disabled auto-apply patch from @dosdude1, i install it manually after. So i do not use your patch after install (.ie reapply stock catalina files). I only use your AGC patch.
And i don't use the patch for sandy bridge as i do not have it (but i understand you ask for it)
I use the original apple boot loader.

By the way SMC reset did the trick, my system is stable again. But what's the relation with kext modification ?

Ok, i think i've made some big **** on my side because :
- Cmd+V execute perfectly after Applebootpicker
- After that i try to reboot and tadaaaaa : what ? i see the boot now ? really ?
- Hmmmm i'm ashamed....

So sorry lose your time on that.... but i don't know why it cames back.... SMC reset can do it ? (i have used it so many times with no results....)

As it's all ok now, do you think it's a good thing to try to go to 10.15.7 update on top of 10.15.6 with @dosdude1 1.4.4 patch and your last AGC patch for 10.15.7 ? Or it's a bit too risky ?

 

[nikey22]

POST #10,000

This is an Insanely Great! thread
Everyone has been terrific with their contributions and experiences for our never-ending quest of the perfect Apple iMac.

 

[hexagram92]

Ok, i think i've made some big **** on my side because :
- Cmd+V execute perfectly after Applebootpicker
- After that i try to reboot and tadaaaaa : what ? i see the boot now ? really ?
- Hmmmm i'm ashamed....

So sorry lose your time on that.... but i don't know why it cames back.... SMC reset can do it ? (i have used it so many times with no results....)

As it's all ok now, do you think it's a good thing to try to go to 10.15.7 update on top of 10.15.6 with @dosdude1 1.4.4 patch and your last AGC patch for 10.15.7 ? Or it's a bit too risky ?

I think i will wait a little for it as i experienced a sudden reboot when launching a ps remote connection for a first test before a local game 🙃
For your information, never seen that before, the extensions report says now the same date (6/13/2020) for the two AGC et AGDP extensions. So the work on Mojave made a result i think. Do you agree ?

 

[highvoltage12v]

I think i will wait a little for it as i experienced a sudden reboot when launching a ps remote connection for a first test before a local game 🙃
For your information, never seen that before, the extensions report says now the same date (6/13/2020) for the two AGC et AGDP extensions. So the work on Mojave made a result i think. Do you agree ?

Do you think this is a hardware problem such as a failing PSU, it's not uncommon for the 2009 iMac's to have a failing PSU. We have seen it before on this thread.