I want to thank everyone that helped developing solutions for a myriad of different problems people have faced over the several years this long, long thread has been going on. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G work, guys!!!!
I'm the owner of a 21.5" iMac 12,1. I have successfully updated it to use an SSD in place of the original 7.200 RPM Hard Drive (added the OWC Sata cable with sensor). I have also removed the Optical Disk Drive (ODD), but I kept it's sensor connected and temporarily glued to the nearest metal frame. It's been running flawlessly macOS High Sierra with the last security update (2020-05).
My next goal is to try an update it to Catalina and, eventually, to Big Sur. I have read the first post several times now and have ordered both a Xeon E3-1245v1 and a Quadro k2100M. Still waiting for both to come the long way from HK... As far as I understand the several threads I've been following over the months (this one being the most informative), the iMac 12,1 power supply will not be able to handle both the Xeon and the K2100M, as it can only deliver 205-210W, even with the ODD drive removed and the lower watts consumed by the SDD.
The 27" PSU, on the other hand, can deliver 310W... So, I was thinking that maybe I could somehow extend each individual wire from the PSW connector, in order to have it connected to a 27" PSW that, with luck, would fit in the space left by the ODD drive.
I don't intend to highjack this thread with a different subject, the only reason I'm asking here is because I think maybe I'm not the first one who wants to replace both the processor AND the GPU and this thread is by far the most complete revolving around the issues one would face after replacing the GPU. If so, does anyone here know if the 21.5" 12,1 iMac can work out of a 27" 12,2 iMac PSU?
TIA
Cesar