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

[FlorisVN]

Thanks! Since I never heard of "pads that are like paste" I will give it a try.
My question was more like for other users if they have tested different (real) pad thicknesses.
Also the Kryonaut seems to have better thermal capabilities as my Arctic MX4.

the original Apple "pads" are also kind of paste.
K5 Pro is the best stuff to put on your vram and power capacitors for cooling, if you ask me.
You can combine this with k4 or any other prefered thermal paste for the GPU Die.
I would reccommend using non conductie paste, like K4 , MX4,MX2 etc.

 

[chrisx78]

Hello again,
i have now two different K2001m graphic cards tested and no one will work. Also with the patched BIOS flashed externally with an USB flasher. So i have ordered a K1000m, this card works directly. So I have check some reports in the Internet and there was an hint that only the Alienware cards works in an iMAC safe. My Question is: How I can findout the right card for the iMACs? Is there a special Serial Number or Part Number to get the right card?

 

[theRockstarz]

Hi everyone. Tell me how to make the screen brightness adjusted to the maximum, at the moment when setting the maximum value, the screen brightness is about 40-50%. GTX 870M video card. Thank you in advance!

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Hi everyone. Tell me how to make the screen brightness adjusted to the maximum, at the moment when setting the maximum value, the screen brightness is about 40-50%. GTX 870M video card. Thank you in advance!

Read the first post, read the particular post where you got the BIOS from!

 

[IMAC MID 2010]

Greetings 🖐
Upgraded my iMac with i7 2,53 and K2100M, High Sierra 10.13.6 with last update (AFPS formatted)
Now I need to know what I'm missing to complete this upgrade because I didn't understand if I need to install patches, kext to get backlight control, temperatures of GPU, boot screen.
Also I would like to know the easy way to install Catalina, I've got Balenaetcher, OpenCore, Catalina Loader, macOS Catalina Patcher.
I've tried to install Catalina Patcher but always around 50% the screen goes black keeping the iMac on.
I know isn't easy if you don't have knowledge about but I wanna try at my risk anyway

Thanks to everyone ! 🙏

 

[theRockstarz]

Read the first post, read the particular post where you got the BIOS from!

I do not understand what needs to be done, because it is written that it works natively, without Openkore. kext downloaded and threw in the specified directory, nothing works, still the brightness is not 100%

 

[Jazzandmac]

For your 780M, you can switch to Nick [D]vB's vbios rom for example, this does not have this bug as far as I know.
You will lose the backlight controll options from Nikey22's rom as far as I know..

Yeah, but i really like the backlight compatibillity of the Nikey rom. There's a lot of compromises to consider with this operation .

Overall happy with the results so far!

 

[astuermer]

Thanks! Installation of Catalina somehow worked after a few tries.

Currently my problem is system stability.
I installed the mentioned kexts from the two posts mentioned in the first post.
But sometimes when opening a .dmg or when launching a program or just recently when syncing Apple Music.... the screen turns black and iMac turns off and I can hear the chime sound 2 times. Like I did a PRAM reset, but I didnt. Then it reboots.

Then for a short time I can see a small black console area over the Apple logo, then it boots again.
From what I've filmed (because it's quite fast) it shows a kernel panic.

1. I am on Catalina 10.15.7
2. 16 GB RAM (4x 4GB and already tried only with one)
3. I already installed the Kexts attached with KextUtility as well as current versions of LiLu and WhateverGreen (screenshot)
4. MacsFanControl keeps the GPU Heatsink below 55 degrees, usually around 44
5. Already did a PRAM reset
6. After the 8th kernel panic now the system refuses to start (gray crossed out circle)
7. It also seems the permanent panics have killed my SSD. It freezes even my working High Sierra partition and shows many inode_val errors 🙁

Did I missed something?

IOSurface and AppleMCCSControl quits "successfully" with this message:

Updating the system cache files .....................KernelCache ID: 2C332994420727364B257CFF463F42F0
........................................ False
-- Timeout 120 sec.
-- Unknown error --
Syncing disk cache ... Done.

Even when installing High Sierra now on my iMac I get random reboots during installation...
Is it possible, that the GPU gets too hot during the installation process so the iMac shuts down and panics?

 

[Pascal Baillargeau]

Even when installing High Sierra now on my iMac I get random reboots during installation...
Is it possible, that the GPU gets too hot during the installation process so the iMac shuts down and panics?

Describe precisely your faulty hardware and software configuration, it's impossible to help you without these informations.

 

[Pacific1972]

I got a nice comparison between my iMac 2011, with a Gforce GTX880M with 8 GB, and my new iMac 2012 with a 2GB Gforce GTX 680MX.

Thank you,

That is exactly what I think today about video card upgrade !

...take a price comparison on ebay for iMac + Nvidia video card
or a metal compatible iMac from 2012 or above...

Surely we need a machine to put an SSD in, but in newer iMacs
you have also USB 3.0

If people ask here since 50 pages the same questions, more than
80% cannot read the first page of this threat - and the other 20%
should help...

"Das ist doch schwachsinnig !"

 

[astuermer]

Describe precisely your faulty hardware and software configuration, it's impossible to help you without these informations.

My configuration is posted above.

Currently there is no faulty hardware as I know... there are just many kernel panics. When a kernel panic happens during a writing process the SSD will be gone soon. So it happened that my SSD got errors and I had to reformat it - it got stuck at 100% when loading High Sierra and refused to load Catalina after another kernel panic (crossed out ring symbol).

From what I read through this thread, Mojave and Catalina usually have kernel panics from time to time using a „new“ graphics card. I haven‘t found a working solution to kill those kernel panics so far.

I posted as much information I have and can get from my iMac (see screenshots and posting).
Thanks.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

My configuration is posted above.

Currently there is no faulty hardware as I know... there are just many kernel panics. When a kernel panic happens during a writing process the SSD will be gone soon. So it happened that my SSD got errors and I had to reformat it - it got stuck at 100% when loading High Sierra and refused to load Catalina after another kernel panic (crossed out ring symbol).

From what I read through this thread, Mojave and Catalina usually have kernel panics from time to time using a „new“ graphics card. I haven‘t found a working solution to kill those kernel panics so far.

I posted as much information I have and can get from my iMac (see screenshots and posting).
Thanks.

We want your config to be seen in your signature added to each of your post. I do not waste my time searching your config and solving your problem if you do not spend your time and accurately describe your problem and read all available docs linked from post #1 in advance.

You made it to my ignore list, too.

 

[astuermer]

We want your config to be seen in your signature added to each of your post. I do not waste my time searching your config and solving your problem if you do not spend your time and accurately describe your problem and read all available docs linked from post #1 in advance.

You made it to my ignore list, too.

Changed the signature now. Is that right for you? 😀

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Thank you,

That is exactly what I think today about video card upgrade !

...take a price comparison on ebay for iMac + Nvidia video card
or a metal compatible iMac from 2012 or above...

Surely we need a machine to put an SSD in, but in newer iMacs
you have also USB 3.0

If people ask here since 50 pages the same questions, more than
80% cannot read the first page of this threat - and the other 20%
should help...

"Das ist doch schwachsinnig !"

You are 50% right. You cannot get a new AMD card into the 2012/2013 and you cannot repair it in the same way as the 2011.
But then you have USB3 with a dead 2012/2013.
The pricing of MXM card is weird, but we all drove it in that way. Putting a card into the table on page #1 makes it basically unaffordable.

 

[lee5434]

Thanks for hard work @nikey22 after flashing the ROM you may notice Brightness control may not be at the 100% it should be, as a fix you can extract the Kext from the OpenCore/Kexts folder called AppleBacklightFixup.kext, unlock your System partition (Catalina) and install the Kext using a Kext utility application.

A proper how too guide on patching AppleBacklight.kext will be released shortly if you desire to create your own Kext.

I have the problem that the Brightness control can not be at 100% it should be. The screen is a little bit dim even I move the Brightness slide all the way up to 100%. Is there any instruction on how to do the patch? Thanks.

 

[herrdude]

Hello again,
i have now two different K2001m graphic cards tested and no one will work. Also with the patched BIOS flashed externally with an USB flasher. So i have ordered a K1000m, this card works directly. So I have check some reports in the Internet and there was an hint that only the Alienware cards works in an iMAC safe. My Question is: How I can findout the right card for the iMACs? Is there a special Serial Number or Part Number to get the right card?

What is exactly the problem with your K2100m?

 

[brkr1]

Just pick yours from the list below and rename it to config.plist

How do I edit it since the image doesn’t let me rename the file? Do I have to copy all the content to my Mac, rename the file and then create another image from it?

 

[Ed Hartouni]

there seem to be many different heat sinks used in iMac models. These are the dimensions taken from my 21.5" iMac mid 2011...

It is important that whatever you use on the components should not keep the copper heat sink from directly contacting the GPU. I have used the K5 on the components which avoids any mechanical restrictions.

Part of the project was to make some measurements of the iMac mid 2011 21.5" heat sink.... this is a summary drawing showing the height off the board:

Is there any recommendation for thermal pads thickness for a K1100M with the default heatsink to "optimize" the temperature?

 

[ezugaru]

Bro, what do you mean by that? The other components have to touch the heatsink trought the pads or k5?

 

[Pascal Baillargeau]

Thanks! Installation of Catalina somehow worked after a few tries.

Currently my problem is system stability.
I installed the mentioned kexts from the two posts mentioned in the first post.
But sometimes when opening a .dmg or when launching a program or just recently when syncing Apple Music.... the screen turns black and iMac turns off and I can hear the chime sound 2 times. Like I did a PRAM reset, but I didnt. Then it reboots.

Then for a short time I can see a small black console area over the Apple logo, then it boots again.
From what I've filmed (because it's quite fast) it shows a kernel panic.

1. I am on Catalina 10.15.7
2. 16 GB RAM (4x 4GB and already tried only with one)
3. I already installed the Kexts attached with KextUtility as well as current versions of LiLu and WhateverGreen (screenshot)
4. MacsFanControl keeps the GPU Heatsink below 55 degrees, usually around 44
5. Already did a PRAM reset
6. After the 8th kernel panic now the system refuses to start (gray crossed out circle)
7. It also seems the permanent panics have killed my SSD. It freezes even my working High Sierra partition and shows many inode_val errors 🙁

Did I missed something?

IOSurface and AppleMCCSControl quits "successfully" with this message:

Updating the system cache files .....................KernelCache ID: 2C332994420727364B257CFF463F42F0
........................................ False
-- Timeout 120 sec.
-- Unknown error --
Syncing disk cache ... Done.

When there is too much inodes problems, the system is unrecoverable. The best thing to do is to wipe this system and reinstall. And make a bootable clone of your newly installed system as soon as you can after installing patches and kexts. Do you have only one SSD, no HDD?

 

[Ed Hartouni]

@ezugaru asks: "Bro, what do you mean by that? The other components have to touch the heatsink trought the pads or k5?"

the way the heat sink maintains contact with the GPU is through the springs on the screws which bolt the card to the heat sink. The springs allow the assembly to expand and contract with temperature while maintaining contact.

However, it is critical that there are no gaps between the GPU chip and the heat sink. The role of the thermal compound (I use Arctic Silver 5) is to eliminate any gaps, even tiny gaps. The Arctic Silver site

Arctic Silver, Inc. - Intel® Application Methods

www.arcticsilver.com

which describes the "surface spread" method that I use... but the caution to completely clean the surface, don't apply with your fingers, and keep dust and hair off the application, all these things greatly reduce the heat conductivity.

If you put something on the other components on the board as a contact to the heat sink, what ever it is should NOT resist against the heat sink. For instance, if there is a nominal 0.4mm clearance and you put an 0.6mm thermal pad that resists the heat sink spring, the heat sink may not contact the GPU.

That is why the K5 thermal compound is preferred for these other components, it has no mechanical strength and will not resist the heat sink spring.

Finally, when using some compounds like Arctic Silver 5 care must be taken not to put too much on, as the material can act as a capacitive short if it contacts chip leads and/or circuit board traces.

The heat management on these machines (and most Apple products) is very sophisticated and care must be taken when re-assembling the components in order to realize the optimum thermal performance.

 

[jay508]

Hi nikey22
Test model iMac 2011 A1312 27 inch i5 2500s
About gtx780m @Nick [D]vB The vbios of vB can be used in the window7 macOS system. There is no system brightness adjustment to start. There is no early gray startup screen and black screen. @nikey22 Your vbios has a gray early startup screen. Like the original 6970m, it also has brightness adjustment. Cannot use windows7. I can only install and use the windows10 sound card but it doesn't work. How to solve it, gtx870m 880m test macOS windows7 can be installed and used normally.

In recent days, I tested the Dell M5950 1G original card vbios chip with only 64kb capacity. Replaced winbond 256kb can be normally written to the forum sharing 128kb vbios test macOS is the same as the original 6770M, there is no difference. Video memory 1GB, windows10 sound card can not work, window7 can be installed and booted into the system How to solve the black screen can you fix it and use the window7 system?
jay508
Thank you

 

[Pascal Baillargeau]

Hi nikey22
Test model iMac 2011 A1312 27 inch i5 2500s
About gtx780m @Nick [D]vB The vbios of vB can be used in the window7 macOS system. There is no system brightness adjustment to start. There is no early gray startup screen and black screen. @nikey22 Your vbios has a gray early startup screen. Like the original 6970m, it also has brightness adjustment. Cannot use windows7. I can only install and use the windows10 sound card but it doesn't work. How to solve it, gtx870m 880m test macOS windows7 can be installed and used normally.

In recent days, I tested the Dell M5950 1G original card vbios chip with only 64kb capacity. Replaced winbond 256kb can be normally written to the forum sharing 128kb vbios test macOS is the same as the original 6770M, there is no difference. Video memory 1GB, windows10 sound card can not work, window7 can be installed and booted into the system How to solve the black screen can you fix it and use the window7 system?
jay508
Thank you

For sound to work in windows 10 UEFI, you have to modify DSDT directly in windows if you don't want to use opencore or via DSDT injection in Opencore.

 

[jay508]

For sound to work in windows 10 UEFI, you have to modify DSDT directly in windows if you don't want to use opencore or via DSDT injection in Opencore.

@Nick [D]vB's gtx780m vbios supports MBR boot installation window7 startup. @nikey22's gtx 780m vbios does not support mbr boot installation window7 only supports gpt uefi boot installation windows10 @nikey22 gtx870m gtx880m vbios supports mbr gpt uefi installation boot windows7 windows10.

I mean @nikey22 can patch gtx780m vbios to support mbr boot installation window7? Like @nikey22 gtx870m gtx880m, does it support mbr boot installation of windows7 and windows10?
Thank you

 

[ezugaru]

@ezugaru asks: "Bro, what do you mean by that? The other components have to touch the heatsink trought the pads or k5?"

the way the heat sink maintains contact with the GPU is through the springs on the screws which bolt the card to the heat sink. The springs allow the assembly to expand and contract with temperature while maintaining contact.

However, it is critical that there are no gaps between the GPU chip and the heat sink. The role of the thermal compound (I use Arctic Silver 5) is to eliminate any gaps, even tiny gaps. The Arctic Silver site

Arctic Silver, Inc. - Intel® Application Methods

www.arcticsilver.com

which describes the "surface spread" method that I use... but the caution to completely clean the surface, don't apply with your fingers, and keep dust and hair off the application, all these things greatly reduce the heat conductivity.

If you put something on the other components on the board as a contact to the heat sink, what ever it is should NOT resist against the heat sink. For instance, if there is a nominal 0.4mm clearance and you put an 0.6mm thermal pad that resists the heat sink spring, the heat sink may not contact the GPU.

That is why the K5 thermal compound is preferred for these other components, it has no mechanical strength and will not resist the heat sink spring.

Finally, when using some compounds like Arctic Silver 5 care must be taken not to put too much on, as the material can act as a capacitive short if it contacts chip leads and/or circuit board traces.

The heat management on these machines (and most Apple products) is very sophisticated and care must be taken when re-assembling the components in order to realize the optimum thermal performance.

Wow thanks a lot for the enlightment.