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

[MACGENUISDUDE]

I did & I found then Kenny

 

[Pascal Baillargeau]

Thanks Ausdauersportler for reformating first post. It will be easier for people to find needed informations.

 

[Curtis Gross]

If anyone is in Portland, Oregon I have a 21.5 with the k610m and an i5 I am selling. Its all updated. Just throw me a DM.

 

[decat]

good to know, crap that my 10.15.7 is not sleeping at all… will wait for Big Sur switch and to fix that also

Maybe this information was already given, still need to read all the posts since 1/11.
You can also try to solve the issue by going to settings > screen > scale > choose something else than original > revert back to original. Image should be normal now.

 

[StephN999]

Bonjour,

After thinking about it, I just ordered the AMD WX4150 4GB (a Dell at ~105€), I just read that it was a bit of a lottery to make it work in a 2011 iMac (or I misunderstood) and it scares me a bit...

If it works, I could more easily continue my Ivy Bridge Processor hacks, even if I'm under no illusion today, I probably could never make it (but who knows with an expert), but there will be at least an update of the IME and Microcodes for the Sandy Bridge (see a post-Spectrum Microcodes downgrade if it allows to regain a lot of power).

I've read all the FAQ and there are inconsistencies like 4K HEVC decoding, it says it doesn't work on one side and works on the other.

It's been a very difficult year (between COVID 19 and family deaths), but I'm still here, can't wait to see you with good news about the compatibility with the card I ordered and my machine.

And I almost forgot and I will be back on Big Sur, I can't wait.

Anyway while keeping this iMac (it will be my museum piece) I'm waiting for next year to get a new generation Apple ARM machine, it tempts me terribly (probably a laptop with a "big" thunderbolt hub + 27 or 32", 4 or 5K external screen).

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator

Bonne journée.

Edit: I almost forgot, ECC memory test too and boot wifi hack with the Broadcom BCM94360CD wifi card...

 

[Fran Frin]

hello everyone, a question, can you install catalina loader in an internal ssd partition, instead of always having a usb connected?

 

[b4db0y]

Hi I have a problem, I followed everything, I flashed with the usbstick, it gave me the all ok, but my screen continues to remain black after putting the ssd back, imac 2011 21.5 with k2100m and catalina patch installed before changing GPU, did I do something wrong?

 

[herrdude]

The first post is your friend!

 

[b4db0y]

i read everything but i did not find an answer for this i wrote add that my mac starts up and i hear the startup sound too

 

[herrdude]

i read everything but i did not find an answer for this i wrote add that my mac starts up and i hear the startup sound too

You couldn't have read everything. This is a very common problem. Read again carefully. Cheers!

 

[BadBiscuit]

Not tested in any other machine and the data will be the same, the display different.

A fair warning:

I own two brand new Dell labeled K3000M cards not posting in any iMac 2011. We will likely experience issues exactly as with the AMD cards. Have not tested this new BIOS, but the first one published in May or June within an iMac 2009. Have fun on eBay

@Ausdauersportler, You were correct about "fun on eBay". Got around to installing one of the two K3000M cards today into VELMA (2009 iMac). Based on labels both are HP cards ("vbios: 80.04.33.00.2E") It was my first time needing to dremel a heatsink, or to flash over SSH using linux USB method; both those steps went smooth. I used @nikey22 's latest ROM. Unfortunately, after reboot the machine's internal display did not light, nor did an external monitor. Both had worked prior with a K2100M. Was that the same results you ran into?

UPDATE: Perhaps I spoke too soon. I had not attached the SSD for I thought I would see a boot screen, or the linux USB generate a display. I put in a Win10 DVD and the internal display sprang to life. Looks like I should be able to attach the SSD, boot to Mojave and perform Nikey22's post install steps. I must have mis-understood; had though I would see a boot screen by just holding [Option] and/or booting on OC during start regardless of the HD being present. Perhaps this is a success story, and I was too quick to accept failure. .

Got it to boot my pre-installed Mojave partition off the SSD, and show on the external display, so will proceeding with post-install brightness control change, and keep playing to see if I can get the internal display to work. Also the known "4GB bug" remains a concern (my card is 2GB). I will have to see if that actually presents an issue during use, while awaiting an update (fingers crossed):

................................................................
I saved off the original bios, ran diffs, then flashed and ran verify. After reboot, I can still boot back to linux and see the K3000M in SSH, so should be able to flash again, or flash back. I'll wait a bit before re-installing the K2100M, incase you or others have a suggestion. Below is the transcript of the flash and verify:

Spoiler: nvflash_linux -6 Quadro_Beta1.2/K3000M_UGA.rom

ssh root@192.168.2.63
root@192.168.2.63's password:
Linux grml 4.19.0-1-grml-amd64 #1 SMP Debian 4.19.8-1+grml.1 (2018-12-11) x86_64
Grml - Linux for geeks

root@grml ~ # cd /lib/live/mount/medium/flash

root@grml /lib/live/mount/medium/flash # ./nvflash_linux --protectoff

NVIDIA Firmware Update Utility (Version 5.414.0)
Simplified Version For OEM Only
Adapter: Quadro K3000M (10DE,11BE,103C,176C) H:--:NRM S:00,B:01,D:00,F:00

Identifying EEPROM...
EEPROM ID (C2,2012) : MX MX25L2005 2.7-3.6V 2048Kx1S, page
Setting EEPROM software protect setting...
Remove EEPROM write protect complete.
root@grml /lib/live/mount/medium/flash # ./nvflash_linux -6 Quadro_Beta1.2/K3000M_UGA.rom

NVIDIA Firmware Update Utility (Version 5.414.0)
Simplified Version For OEM Only
Checking for matches between display adapter(s) and image(s)...

Adapter: Quadro K3000M (10DE,11BE,103C,176C) H:--:NRM S:00,B:01,D:00,F:00

WARNING: Firmware image PCI Subsystem ID (1028.15CD)
does not match adapter PCI Subsystem ID (103C.176C).

Please press 'y' to confirm override of PCI Subsystem ID's: y
Overriding PCI subsystem ID mismatch
Current - Version:80.04.33.00.2E ID:10DE:11BE:103C:176C
GK104 Board - 2051b501 (Normal Board)
Replace with - Version:80.04.6B.00.03 ID:10DE:11BE:1028:15CD
NVIDIA Quadro K3000M by nikey22 (Normal Board)

Update display adapter firmware?
Press 'y' to confirm (any other key to abort): y
Identifying EEPROM...
EEPROM ID (C2,2012) : MX MX25L2005 2.7-3.6V 2048Kx1S, page
Storing updated firmware image...
................................................................
Verifying update...
Update successful.

Firmware image has been updated from version 80.04.33.00.2E to 80.04.6B.00.03.


A reboot is required for the update to take effect.

root@grml /lib/live/mount/medium/flash # ./nvflash_linux --verify Quadro_Beta1.2/K3000M_UGA.rom

NVIDIA Firmware Update Utility (Version 5.414.0)
Simplified Version For OEM Only
Adapter: Quadro K3000M (10DE,11BE,103C,176C) H:--:NRM S:00,B:01,D:00,F:00

Identifying EEPROM...
EEPROM ID (C2,2012) : MX MX25L2005 2.7-3.6V 2048Kx1S, page
Reading adapter firmware image...
Current - Version:80.04.6B.00.03 ID:10DE:11BE:1028:15CD
NVIDIA Quadro K3000M by nikey22 (Normal Board)
Compare with - Version:80.04.6B.00.03 ID:10DE:11BE:1028:15CD
NVIDIA Quadro K3000M by nikey22 (Normal Board)

ERROR: Size difference between file(262144) and adapter firmware (216064)

 

[b4db0y]

You couldn't have read everything. This is a very common problem. Read again carefully. Cheers!

could you help me find the point where I have to read and understand where I went wrong? because I can't find it

 

[Pascal Baillargeau]

hello everyone, a question, can you install catalina loader in an internal ssd partition, instead of always having a usb connected?

Yes, sure. Just make a few GB (4GB) partition (NOT the first partition on main drive) and restore Catalina Loader dmg onto it. Then select this partition as boot disk.

 

[herrdude]

could you help me find the point where I have to read and understand where I went wrong? because I can't find it

It seems to me you are having a black screen problem. I just checked and the information is still there. Good luck!

 

[Pascal Baillargeau]

i read everything but i did not find an answer for this i wrote add that my mac starts up and i hear the startup sound too

You have not read that you need to add your hardware configuration in your signature.

 

[herrdude]

Yes, sure. Just make a few GB (4GB) partition and restore Catalina Loader dmg onto it. Then select this partition as boot disk.

A few posts back @Ausdauersportler said that this could only be done for Nvidia cards and that AMD cards would cause big problems.

 

[Pascal Baillargeau]

A few post back @Ausdauersportler said that this could only be done for Nvidia cards and that AMD cards would cause big problems.

@Ausdauersportler is right, it can cause problems if you do not take some precautions.

It can be only dangerous (but reversible, physically disconnecting SSD or HDD) for AMD cards users putting Opencore on the default EFI partition of the main drive or the first partition of the main drive, (the default one after a PRAM reset), because if you misconfigure Opencore and the iMac doesn't boot anymore, you surely will end doing a PRAM reset and after the PRAM reset your iMac will default booting on ........ Opencore, which is not booting. Then you're stuck and have to play with screwdrivers and others tools to disconnect your main drive.

I and @Ausdauersportler learned it doing this mistake.

Having Opencore on a normal partition on main drive, but not the first one, is safe for AMD and NVIDIA users.
Having Opencore on any partition on a secondary drive, is safe too.
In these cases, after a PRAM reset, the iMac will default boot on main EFI partition or first partition of the main drive, places where Opencore isn't present.
NVIDIA users will then have a native Apple bootscreen ( if vbios permits it). AMD users will have a black screen during EFI boot and display will show when MacOS take control.

 

[NOTNlCE]

I'll get a new form and chart up tomorrow morning and test my machines as well. I'll update post 1 and link it here when they're ready.

 

[vep]

hello everybody
I was ably to install and flash GTX780M on my iMac 27 2011
the only problem I faced - the top brightness level became too low. I put imac 21.5 on the same table and LCD on my 27 iMac with brightness on the top looks like brightness of 1/2 grade on the standard 21.5 iMac
any ideas?

 

[Pascal Baillargeau]

hello everybody
I was ably to install and flash GTX780M on my iMac 27 2011
the only problem I faced - the top brightness level became too low. I put imac 21.5 on the same table and LCD on my 27 iMac with brightness on the top looks like brightness of 1/2 grade on the standard 21.5 iMac
any ideas?

From the First Post, you can get there.

For Nvidia Users booting with OpenCore(k1100M/k2100M/ETC)/ native booting K3100M/K4100M & 780M

I have Updated the ApplebacklightFixup.kext to include the proper Backlight stepping-levels for the 2009-2011 27" iMac. You can replace the one in your OpenCore loader with this or install it Natively to System/Library/Extensions. This actually makes my Previous guide irrelevant unless you really like the Native Kext feeling.

Lilu.kext will be needed for the kext to be listed as 'loaded' but it's still working for me without it.
Usual Verbiage below....
If installing to System/Library/Extensions. Catalina users need to Unlock their System Partition using Hackintool first. Then install with Kext Utility. Finally Open Terminal and enter "sudo reboot" as sometimes Catalina will hang on the Desktop.

 

[b4db0y]

i can't figure out how to apply AGC with my signature if i have my mac with black screen?

 

[herrdude]

i can't figure out how to apply AGC with my signature if i have my mac with black screen?

Two things:
1. Add the specs from your computer into your signature. Nobody is going to search your posts to find information about your computer.
2. Reset your PRAM. Then follow the instructions to update the kexts as per the first post.

 

[Schprecher]

K3000M new bios bad again!

no support real vram size, and with new bios not working strap change.
its resistor default 24,5Khom

with change strap, memory id not changed.

well, i think its dark theme for Nick,
i hope if they can unhide his work, how his made this bios
maybe someone can fix some bugs.

K3000M still good armor for u guys bios makers.

 

[Schprecher]

Nick this message for u!

First bios for K3000M with slow fps, memory ID can possibility changed with strap resistor to normal size.
.
New bios for K3000M with normal fps, memory ID not possibility change with strap resistor ro normal size.
.
i dont know from what card u use bios and how u made it, but K3000M have 2 card version
with VRAM chip model, for one its H5GQ2H24BFR, and another H5GQ2H24AFR
.
please made 2 bios for 2 diffirent card, one for (BFR) memory and other for (AFR)
.
a lot cards K3000M have H5GQ2H24BFR card, i`ll checked it few times.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Verifying update...
Update successful.

Firmware image has been updated from version 80.04.33.00.2E to 80.04.6B.00.03.


A reboot is required for the update to take effect.
root@grml /lib/live/mount/medium/flash # ./nvflash_linux --verify Quadro_Beta1.2/K3000M_UGA.rom

NVIDIA Firmware Update Utility (Version 5.414.0)
Simplified Version For OEM Only
Adapter: Quadro K3000M (10DE,11BE,103C,176C) H:--:NRM S:00,B:01,D:00,F:00

Identifying EEPROM...
EEPROM ID (C2,2012) : MX MX25L2005 2.7-3.6V 2048Kx1S, page
Reading adapter firmware image...
Current - Version:80.04.6B.00.03 ID:10DE:11BE:1028:15CD
NVIDIA Quadro K3000M by nikey22 (Normal Board)
Compare with - Version:80.04.6B.00.03 ID:10DE:11BE:1028:15CD
NVIDIA Quadro K3000M by nikey22 (Normal Board)

ERROR: Size difference between file(262144) and adapter firmware (216064)[/SPOILER]

This is not new and it is no issue at all. @nikey22 provides BIOS files in full chip size (262144) to be used with a CH341A clip programmer, but in fact the used size is smaller and the remaining part of the file is just padded with empty bytes (zero).

During the flash the nvflash software recognizes these empty bytes and stores only the used non zero bytes until the EOF marker.

Comparing with the original full sized file will always fail with nvflash. Have you checked you own log file before posting?