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iM 4,1-14,4 2011 iMac Graphics Card Upgrade
- Thread starter MichaelDT
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Hello again! And yet another huge thanks for all the work you guys have put into making this possible. While I haven't had much success so far, iMac tinkering sure is a lot of fun 
.
So to my problem: I'm trying to get a K4100M to work in my 2011 27". Ordered a card from China on Ebay labelled "Nvidia Quadro K4100M 4GB DDR5 MXM B For Zbook 17 8770W M6700 M6800". I got it and installed it but the second LED would not turn on. Returned it and got a new one from the seller and now the second led turns on. So I proceeded with booting to flash with @xanderon 's Linux USB (that I had tested successfully before, did not need to press any buttons then) but here is where I got stuck. While the computer seemed to have managed to get an IP (it showed up in the router's network table) it never responded to ping nor ssh, tried with keyboard pressing "n" and "enter". Nothing. Bummer.
So I tried with the old card without the screen and now I'm not getting any boot chime at all and the third LED is not lighting up. Put the imac back together, disks, screen, and all to try to boot normally and still no chime. Tried resetting PRAM and SMC, nothing. Tried different memory stick combinations, no chime, but without memory I get the three beeps. Also you can hear the disk drive when booting. Is my logic board fried? Or could it be that I accidentally fried the old GPU testing to boot without properly installing the heatsink? Anything I can do to find out? Should I get a CH341A to try to flash the new card that way and see if it helps, or is it not worth the trouble?
.So to my problem: I'm trying to get a K4100M to work in my 2011 27". Ordered a card from China on Ebay labelled "Nvidia Quadro K4100M 4GB DDR5 MXM B For Zbook 17 8770W M6700 M6800". I got it and installed it but the second LED would not turn on. Returned it and got a new one from the seller and now the second led turns on. So I proceeded with booting to flash with @xanderon 's Linux USB (that I had tested successfully before, did not need to press any buttons then) but here is where I got stuck. While the computer seemed to have managed to get an IP (it showed up in the router's network table) it never responded to ping nor ssh, tried with keyboard pressing "n" and "enter". Nothing. Bummer.
So I tried with the old card without the screen and now I'm not getting any boot chime at all and the third LED is not lighting up. Put the imac back together, disks, screen, and all to try to boot normally and still no chime. Tried resetting PRAM and SMC, nothing. Tried different memory stick combinations, no chime, but without memory I get the three beeps. Also you can hear the disk drive when booting. Is my logic board fried? Or could it be that I accidentally fried the old GPU testing to boot without properly installing the heatsink? Anything I can do to find out? Should I get a CH341A to try to flash the new card that way and see if it helps, or is it not worth the trouble?
Read the announcement of the K4100M card and the first post about flashing options and common hardware problems. Buying a CH341A will be a nice experience but of no use with your particular project.Hello again! And yet another huge thanks for all the work you guys have put into making this possible. While I haven't had much success so far, iMac tinkering sure is a lot of fun
So to my problem: I'm trying to get a K4100M to work in my 2011 27". Ordered a card from China on Ebay labelled "Nvidia Quadro K4100M 4GB DDR5 MXM B For Zbook 17 8770W M6700 M6800". I got it and installed it but the second LED would not turn on. Returned it and got a new one from the seller and now the second led turns on. So I proceeded with booting to flash with @xanderon 's Linux USB (that I had tested successfully before, did not need to press any buttons then) but here is where I got stuck. While the computer seemed to have managed to get an IP (it showed up in the router's network table) it never responded to ping nor ssh, tried with keyboard pressing "n" and "enter". Nothing. Bummer.
So I tried with the old card without the screen and now I'm not getting any boot chime at all and the third LED is not lighting up. Put the imac back together, disks, screen, and all to try to boot normally and still no chime. Tried resetting PRAM and SMC, nothing. Tried different memory stick combinations, no chime, but without memory I get the three beeps. Also you can hear the disk drive when booting. Is my logic board fried? Or could it be that I accidentally fried the old GPU testing to boot without properly installing the heatsink? Anything I can do to find out? Should I get a CH341A to try to flash the new card that way and see if it helps, or is it not worth the trouble?
I've obviously already done that multiple times over the last few weeks. But I have to admit its quite hard to navigate and a lot of information on different parts of the forum so could very well have missed something. Is that what you are implying?
I was not suggesting that your excellent script package was deficient. It works great.
I need OC for brightness control but it does not follow that I need brightness control. I am not going to bother with it because the VBIOS is spot on and the temps are cool.
@adamnski, If putting everything back together as it was (except the screen) does not have it working as before, then you could have damaged the logic board, but it could also be the power supply, broken wire or something misconnected during re-assembly. I can certainly relate to your frustration, and it sounds like you have made logical attempts to troubleshoot (i.e. watching LED, and trying memory removal and swaps). I find attaching an external monitor and/or hardwired keyboard to help in troubleshooting. Good luck.
I once replaced a logic board in a machine that would not boot, to find it still had boot issues. Ultimately it needed a new power supply (leaving me to wonder if the logic board had been fine). The machine came from someone like you that attempted a GPU replacement on a working machine and either shorted the PS, or had the misfortune of just having it fail during the process. Having a spare donor machine to swap with can help in such situations.
You cannot clip a WSON style BIOS on the K4100M! And you had weeks of time to check the Linux utility with your GPU less iMac.
I uploaded new versions for Mojave and Catalina created on Catalina hoping that the AppleGVA.framework installation will properly work now.
My LCD heated up to 65C all the time without brightness control with an K2100M... It is really a bad idea to ignore this piece of work. But it is your hardware
P.S.: Using the WX4170 it is at 21C right now.
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DUDE If you are not getting the 3rd led you damaged the 6970M > not hard to do & they are crapy to start with..Hello again! And yet another huge thanks for all the work you guys have put into making this possible. While I haven't had much success so far, iMac tinkering sure is a lot of fun
So to my problem: I'm trying to get a K4100M to work in my 2011 27". Ordered a card from China on Ebay labelled "Nvidia Quadro K4100M 4GB DDR5 MXM B For Zbook 17 8770W M6700 M6800". I got it and installed it but the second LED would not turn on. Returned it and got a new one from the seller and now the second led turns on. So I proceeded with booting to flash with @xanderon 's Linux USB (that I had tested successfully before, did not need to press any buttons then) but here is where I got stuck. While the computer seemed to have managed to get an IP (it showed up in the router's network table) it never responded to ping nor ssh, tried with keyboard pressing "n" and "enter". Nothing. Bummer.
So I tried with the old card without the screen and now I'm not getting any boot chime at all and the third LED is not lighting up. Put the imac back together, disks, screen, and all to try to boot normally and still no chime. Tried resetting PRAM and SMC, nothing. Tried different memory stick combinations, no chime, but without memory I get the three beeps. Also you can hear the disk drive when booting. Is my logic board fried? Or could it be that I accidentally fried the old GPU testing to boot without properly installing the heatsink? Anything I can do to find out? Should I get a CH341A to try to flash the new card that way and see if it helps, or is it not worth the trouble?
Your MB & PS are fine if you are getting the first 2 leds . Download Angry IP Scanner > https://sourceforge.net/projects/ipscan/files/ipscan3-binary/3.4.2/ This version works well in Sierra & HS>
This allows you to find the CORRECT IP address for you blind iMAC which is imperative in this process
ALSO once you get the right IP address you should be able to SSH & Flash the K4100M... This is a trickey method
NOT as easy as it looks. You do have to make sure the heatsink is attached & several of the MB screws are in BUT you can leave the AP card loose & put in a couple RAM chips ... When you boot the Blind iMAC with the USB card in > You should get the BONG & 2 leds > Then run ANGRY IP SCANNER > GET THE RIGHT IP ADDRESS !!! > IT WILL NOT HAVE A HOST NAME BTW >Then proceed to Terminal on you Main MAC & do the ssh & proceed to flash > Good luck
I uploaded new versions for Mojave and Catalina created on Catalina hoping that the AppleGVA.frameworkj installation will properly work now.
My LCD heated up to 65C all the time without brightness control with an K2100M... It is really a bad idea to ignore this piece of work. But it is your hardware
P.S.: Using the WX4170 it is at 21C right now.
IIRC I read that the K1100M VBIOS wasn’t set for full brightness. Plus it doesn’t have much wattage to start with and I have it in a 27”.
There is big improvement on Valley. The FPS nearly doubled. Does that show the AppleVGA is working?
Perhaps. I believe it was stated the LCD was not reinstalled, so a 3rd LED won't be obtained. Also not stated, was if the USB linux boot stick has a LED to indicate activity. If that is flashing in a normal fashion during boot with the K4100M in it would be easier to conclude it is a network/IP issue. I think you are making too many assumptions, but I hope you are right. Educated guesses are all that can be made; which could easily lead one in the wrong direction.
Thanks! Very useful to know, it doesn't say anywhere in post #1 or the post about the K4100 vbios. So if I don't get flashing on the mb to work my only option is getting a HP laptop? Thats probably an amount of money I'm not willing to spend on this...
Of course not:
(from the K4100M post)
warning: as stated previously these cards are based on a WSON flash package and therefore are much more difficult to recover from a bad flash. Please take precautions and verify flashing.
Read the flashing options!
Thanks for all the great input all! Lots of new things to try. Didn't think of using an external monitor.
I did triple check wiring and tried booting without display with old card inserted several times. But no chime or third LED which I was getting before attempting the flashing. So the reason I was asking is that now I'm trying to figure out if I somehow damaged the logic board (==give up on the imac) or just the old GPU (==attempt to get flashing to work somehow). But since I'm not getting a chime with neither the old or the new GPU anymore I'm starting to think its the LB. The strange part is that I'm still seeing both LED #1 and #2.
Regarding your idea about @MACGENUISDUDE of using "Angry Ip scanner", I'm pretty sure that was not the problem. I had tested the Linux USB booter with the old card inserted before I started this attempt and then everything seemed to work like it should. I saw the IP of the iMac on the router, and also a MAC adress. The same MAC adress showed up on the router when I tried to boot from the USB with the K4100M inserted, its just that then nothing worked. No ping or ssh. I'm thinking something was failing at boot, after the network interface had loaded perhaps. Thats why I was asking for alternative flashing methods, too bad a clip programmer is a no go.
@BadBiscuit you're saying the Linux boot stick "has a LED to indicate activity" you mean if the actual USB stick was flashing or not, not the iMac status LEDs right? That is something forgot to check. Good idea for next attempt, thanks!
I had no idea that meant you cannot use a clip programmer. Googling "WSON flash" and similar doesn't tell me that and post #1 only lists the different options available for flashing. But now i know
, glad I asked rather than buying one, thanks!
Yes. Assuming your USB stick has an activity LED, that should let you know if the boot is working. Although too late to mention now, but taking lots of pictures of cable routing and attachments during initial disassembly is also very usefully in assuring everything is buttoned down correctly.
@NOTNICE, we need a new performance chart and webform
...and the standard is : Mac Mini M1 (2020) = 100% = 699$.
It should be possible to get some unigine valley and metal benchmarks
from that forum, but a downgrade to HS, Mojave or Catalina should not be
possible - I don't yet have one and buyers need a good monitor with low
latency, too - means 900$ all together (at minimum) !
Apple Mac mini M1 - Z12P Mac Mini (Apple Apple M1 M1, 8 GB RAM, 2000 GB SSD, Luftkühlung)
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Cinebench R23 (Single Core): 1498
CineBench R23 (Multi Core): 7508
Intel And AMD x86 Mobility CPUs Destroy Apple's M1 In Cinebench R23 Benchmark Results
Apple recently made some marketing claims using a 5nm processor against a 4-year old architecture and we were waiting for benchmarks to appear that we can use to do some solid comparisons. Earlier today, the single-core and multi-core scores in the latest Cinebench R23 have leaked out and boy is...
wccftech.com
Cinebench R23:
- my 27" iMac 2011 (i5-2400 3.1Ghz) with K2100M = no chance !!!
😄 😄 😄
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