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

[vep]

From the First Post, you can get there.

hello
I forgot to mention that I tried to put ApplebacklightFixup.kext into System/Library/Extensions, but nothing happend.
my Mac runs Hight Sierra
probably there is a trick how to install ApplebacklightFixup.kext?

Update: oups, looks like kext is just was not properly installed. reinstalled it using KextBeast and not there is red minus sign against kext. Is it right?
thanks

 

[BadBiscuit]

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?

@Ausdauersportler , Good Morning, and thanks for looking over my details. I must admit the "error" worried me at first and caused me to flash again, but my searches had found past post stating this normal. Your fuller explanation was informative none the less. I see that @Schprecher has made some further remarks about the latest K3000M bios being bad, though admittedly some of the details are outside my realm (meant for ROM developers).

Although I did not have success, it was a good learning experience. The main issue for my card and this bios was with the internal display (no output or backlight) by macOS or linux (only Win10 lights it); via screen sharing or with an external display it boots to both HS and Mojave without issue, though I don't see a native boot screen, nor one with OC.

---

UPDATE: Success!!! Black screen issue was totally my fault. I assumed that since this machine was patched for working "+" K2100M, that nothing was needed to go with "++" K3000M card, but I was wrong. This link explains what was needed better that I can for my 2009 machine:

2011 iMac Graphics Card Upgrade

Chicken or Egg Dilemma with Nvidia cards and late iMac 27 2009 Yesterday I tried to install a K4100M in my late 2009 and made the following experience. On boot system came up with working internal LCD, however after a PRAM reset the internal LCD remained dark and only three LED came up...

forums.macrumors.com

Backlight on Boot, with [option] key and no need for OC with brightness keys working too. If a fix for the known 4GB report bug arrives, I will flash again, but for now extremely happy.

My thanks to @Ausdauersportler for the push in the right direction.

---

I'll leave the K3000M installed for a few more days on the outside chance there is a newer ROM I can try. Adding master heatsink dremeller and linux flasher to my resumé ; maybe some day I can add the dark art of ROM hacker.

Below is what I see through screen sharing with only the internal display attached. I did note that it runs considerably cooler than the K2100M did. Not sure if that is because of the 3 pipe heatsink, the card, or just a better install on my part. I like to think it is the later.

 

[b4db0y]

I tried to put the old GPU back and I have the black screen with that too, I'm on the high seas, can someone tell me how to fix?

 

[herrdude]

I tried to put the old GPU back and I have the black screen with that too, I'm on the high seas, can someone tell me how to fix?

As I previously suggested, did you reset your PRAM?

 

[b4db0y]

As I previously suggested, did you reset your PRAM?

yes

 

[herrdude]

yes

Then you have a hardware problem. There is a section in the first post with troubleshooting tips.

 

[velvet_man]

Can someone post a download link for OpenCore that isn't on Google Drive? I've tried a couple of links from this thread that all go through Google Drive, and Google keeps saying it has a virus and won't let me download it. The OpenCore post that is linked from the main post on page 1 just has a zip file for OpenCore and I have no idea how I can mount that since it's not a disk image file. I tried restoring the Catalina Loader DMG file, but even after mounting it and putting in the password (NICK), Disk Utility still says it can't restore it because it's an encrypted file.

I've got everything else done. New i7 2600 and K2100m installed and everything working, but it's full brightness all the time. I just need OpenCore sorted and I'll be good to go. Thanks!

 

[BadBiscuit]

Can someone post a download link for OpenCore that isn't on Google Drive? I've tried a couple of links from this thread that all go through Google Drive, and Google keeps saying it has a virus and won't let me download it. The OpenCore post that is linked from the main post on page 1 just has a zip file for OpenCore and I have no idea how I can mount that since it's not a disk image file. I tried restoring the Catalina Loader DMG file, but even after mounting it and putting in the password (NICK), Disk Utility still says it can't restore it because it's an encrypted file.

I've got everything else done. New i7 2600 and K2100m installed and everything working, but it's full brightness all the time. I just need OpenCore sorted and I'll be good to go. Thanks!

Did you try to pull from here?
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/2011-imac-graphics-card-upgrade.1596614/post-28769981

I just pulled the dmg file from that link without issue. Assuming you are able to get/unzip the Catalina Loader.dmg file. Try using the app balena etcher to create the SD card, that has always worked for me.

 

[KennyW]

An observation of the WX7100 4G vBIOS for RX480.

In booting Catalina, the internal LCD panel is switched on at either the OC Bootpicker screen (with OC as the Startup Disk) or much later when the graphic driver is loaded by the OS (with the Catalina Disk chosen as Startup Disk without OC). Patched AGC is applied to the Catalina volume to avoid black screen on loading the OS login page.

However, the behaviour is a little different for High Sierra. When booting into High Sierra via OC chosen as Startup Disk, the internal display works flawlessly from the OC Bootpicker. But when booting directly into High Sierra as Startup Disk from System Preferences without OC, a black screen is displayed. The internal LCD panel will light up only when the mini-Displayport is connected to an external display which does NOT necessarily have to be switched on. Even just a mini-DisplayPort to DVI/HDMI dongle won't work. The patched AGC specifically for High Sierra has been applied but it is aiming to address the other black screen problem as far as I know.

So, is that a known issue for the WX7100, or just related to the RX480 ?

 

[1216717]

Hi you all! I bought a K2100M for my iMac 21.5" with Nick BIOS already flashed in and tried to swap with my Radeon GPU.
Well, everything was okay until I switched on the computer and screen didn't work with no boot chime but only 3 beeps intermittently and no third LED. Sadly I decided to swap back the GPUs and send back the new one to get a refund.
After swapping the cards and tried to boot on my computer, same problem: no screen, 3 beeps sound, no third LED. I tried to change RAM modules and use them in different settings, but nothing changes.
Yes, I already checked all the posts inside here regarding mechanical and software troubleshooting, I know I did something wrong but I'm not a total idiot.

what do you think?

 

[Pascal Baillargeau]

Hi you all! I bought a K2100M for my iMac 21.5" with Nick BIOS already flashed in and tried to swap with my Radeon GPU.
Well, everything was okay until I switched on the computer and screen didn't work with no boot chime but only 3 beeps intermittently and no third LED. Sadly I decided to swap back the GPUs and send back the new one to get a refund.
After swapping the cards and tried to boot on my computer, same problem: no screen, 3 beeps sound, no third LED. I tried to change RAM modules and use them in different settings, but nothing changes.
Yes, I already checked all the posts inside here regarding mechanical and software troubleshooting, I know I did something wrong but I'm not a total idiot.

what do you think?

I think you send back your k2100M too fast. Your problem is not related to the graphic card as you have the same problem with the original card. How long between bips? Check your cables connections. Check graphic card cables and pins on the data cable.

 

[1216717]

I think you send back your k2100M too fast. Your problem is not related to the graphic card as you have the same problem with the original card. How long between bips? Check your cables connections. Check graphic card cables and pins on the data cable.

Fortunately I haven't already sent it back, I've just swapped the GPUs back! Around 5 seconds between beeps. I've send the computer to a technician and I'm waiting to a response. Sorry for my English, I'm writing from Italy 🙃

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Fortunately I haven't already sent it back, I've just swapped the GPUs back! Around 5 seconds between beeps. I've send the computer to a technician and I'm waiting to a response. Sorry for my English, I'm writing from Italy 🙃

This is (most likely) the boot-chime-loop - solution linked on post #1.

 

[1216717]

This is (most likely) the boot-chime-loop - solution linked on post #1.

Hey, thanks for replying! The problem is that I don't have any chime. Just the 3 beeps.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Hey, thanks for replying! The problem is that I don't have any chime. Just the 3 beeps.

Try the solution and do three PRAM reset without any GPU installed. And possibly read the part about the hardware problems and the guides linked in the particular post I made yourself.

 

[NOTNlCE]

New form created for MetalBench. I'll let someone else add to page 1 where appropriate, it seems I've been gone for a while. Fantastic work!

FORM

RESULTS

 

[Schprecher]

Caveats post-install/Bugs:
- 4096MB? displayed instead of 2048MB reported by memvendorID {00 10 00 00}. Crashes when more than 2048MB is called upon by applications, full screen video playback. Looking into it, must set bios to read out Hex: 0800h instead of 1000h.

Nikey22, can u show step by step what u mean, and what we need to do. for fix that.

K3000M, question.

 

[ezugaru]

Nikey22, can u show step by step what u mean, and what we need to do. for fix that.

K3000M, question.

If You take a break, breath and read, it says he is already looking into the matter for the first bug, and giving workarounds for the others. He is working in more gpu's, not only in the one You have, so be calm and wait, he will eventually release a fixed version.

 

[herrdude]

Nikey22, can u show step by step what u mean, and what we need to do. for fix that.

K3000M, question.

I am just curious, how much money did you pay him to find a solution for you?

 

[Pacific1972]

I am just curious, how much money did you pay him to find a solution for you?

Is the K3000M (1st Gen. Kepler) not as fast as the K2100M (2nd Gen. Kepler) ?
So it need surely more than 55W...

 

[velvet_man]

Did you try to pull from here?
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/2011-imac-graphics-card-upgrade.1596614/post-28769981

I just pulled the dmg file from that link without issue. Assuming you are able to get/unzip the Catalina Loader.dmg file. Try using the app balena etcher to create the SD card, that has always worked for me.

Yes, that's one of the ones I've tried. I just tried it again, even using Balena Etcher this time, and it still doesn't work. I've attached screenshots of the error messages I'm getting:

 

[ezugaru]

Is the K3000M (1st Gen. Kepler) not as fast as the K2100M (2nd Gen. Kepler) ?
So it need surely more than 55W...

They are close: https://www.notebookcheck.net/Quadro-K2100M-vs-Quadro-K3000M_4832_3242.247598.0.html

 

[velvet_man]

OK, after watching Curtis Gross's video (

), I thought I'd try restoring Catalina Loader with SuperDuper! like he did in the video, and it worked! Or at least it looked like it did. It restored the DMG file to the SD card, and the SD card has two folders on it now, Docs and Tools. But it doesn't show up in the system preferences as a selectable boot disc.

 

[motorm3]

** NVIDIA Quadro K3000M Mac Edition ROM **
Genuine Native Boot Screen & Brightness Control


View attachment 1666544
​

Preamble:
These cards are designed with a PCI legacy 2.3 architecture (2002). This is reflected in their roms which has led to some trouble developing a compatible rom for the iMac. My rom has a modest clock table boost as well. These workstation Quadro cards really boost well.

Pre-installation Requirements:
- iMac (27-inch, Mid 2011) , model: A1312 (EMC 2429) Mac-942B59F58194171B (Test machine)
- BootROM: 87.0.0.0.0. Please use High Sierra to update your BootROM to latest version.
- Nvidia Quadro K3000M, GPU Variant: N14E-Q1-A2 Dell or HP
- Heatsink 3-pipe with appropriate clearance mods for the inductors

Known working GPUs:
-Dell K3100M vbios: 80.04.5A.00.01
-HP K3100M vbios: 80.04.33.00.2E

Post-installation Requirements:
Brightness Control Stepping Mod:
-Turn computer on, hold down Command(⌘)-R
-Choose Utilities > Terminal
-Enter:csrutil disable
-Reboot
-Download and open 'Kext Utility v2.6.6'
-Navigate to S/L/E (System/Library/Extensions)
-Copy "AppleBacklight.kext" to Desktop
-Edit: AppleBacklight.kext/Contents/Info.plist
-Scroll down to: IOKitPersonalities > AppleIntelPanelA > ApplePanels
-There you find several Apple LCD profiles.
-For the iMac 2011 27" machine locate:

<key>F10Ta007</key>
<data>
ABEABgALABQAHAAnADMAPwBOAFwAZwBzAIEAkQClAL8A2wD/
</data>

-Change the <data> section to:
ABEAAgA3AF8AigCzAOsBJAFnAakB1AIJAlQCogL4A00DlgRpBGk=
-Drag your modded kext into Kext Utility, allow it correct permissions
-Applebacklight.kext.bak folder will be created
-Reboot

The above data pattern will allow for a wider span of steppings for the brightness control and utilizes more of the capacity of the HD3000. If you have a different machine, your panel ID can be found by going to System Preferences > Displays > Color > Open Profile > mmod

Caveats post-install/Bugs:
- 4096MB? displayed instead of 2048MB reported by memvendorID {00 10 00 00}. Crashes when more than 2048MB is called upon by applications, full screen video playback. Looking into it, must set bios to read out Hex: 0800h instead of 1000h.
-16bit resolution glitch of UGA_DRAW_PROTOCOL - temporary solution: activate a sleep cycle
- WSON based bios chip. Clip rescue is not possible



Insanely Great!

View attachment 1665339 View attachment 1665498View attachment 1665499​

hi

Anybody know what I need to do on my iMac to fix the backlight leveling? After update to the current build of Big Sur I have lost a maximum level. Leveling works...

I'm having the same issue in Big Sur in Catalina was all good quadro k3100m in Catalina I could change the info plist for backlight in Big Sur I can't change the file because its locked it say I don't have permissions to change this .if someone could help get this unlocked.

 

[motorm3]

** NVIDIA Quadro K3000M Mac Edition ROM **
Genuine Native Boot Screen & Brightness Control


View attachment 1666544
​

Preamble:
These cards are designed with a PCI legacy 2.3 architecture (2002). This is reflected in their roms which has led to some trouble developing a compatible rom for the iMac. My rom has a modest clock table boost as well. These workstation Quadro cards really boost well.

Pre-installation Requirements:
- iMac (27-inch, Mid 2011) , model: A1312 (EMC 2429) Mac-942B59F58194171B (Test machine)
- BootROM: 87.0.0.0.0. Please use High Sierra to update your BootROM to latest version.
- Nvidia Quadro K3000M, GPU Variant: N14E-Q1-A2 Dell or HP
- Heatsink 3-pipe with appropriate clearance mods for the inductors

Known working GPUs:
-Dell K3100M vbios: 80.04.5A.00.01
-HP K3100M vbios: 80.04.33.00.2E

Post-installation Requirements:
Brightness Control Stepping Mod:
-Turn computer on, hold down Command(⌘)-R
-Choose Utilities > Terminal
-Enter:csrutil disable
-Reboot
-Download and open 'Kext Utility v2.6.6'
-Navigate to S/L/E (System/Library/Extensions)
-Copy "AppleBacklight.kext" to Desktop
-Edit: AppleBacklight.kext/Contents/Info.plist
-Scroll down to: IOKitPersonalities > AppleIntelPanelA > ApplePanels
-There you find several Apple LCD profiles.
-For the iMac 2011 27" machine locate:

<key>F10Ta007</key>
<data>
ABEABgALABQAHAAnADMAPwBOAFwAZwBzAIEAkQClAL8A2wD/
</data>

-Change the <data> section to:
ABEAAgA3AF8AigCzAOsBJAFnAakB1AIJAlQCogL4A00DlgRpBGk=
-Drag your modded kext into Kext Utility, allow it correct permissions
-Applebacklight.kext.bak folder will be created
-Reboot

The above data pattern will allow for a wider span of steppings for the brightness control and utilizes more of the capacity of the HD3000. If you have a different machine, your panel ID can be found by going to System Preferences > Displays > Color > Open Profile > mmod

Caveats post-install/Bugs:
- 4096MB? displayed instead of 2048MB reported by memvendorID {00 10 00 00}. Crashes when more than 2048MB is called upon by applications, full screen video playback. Looking into it, must set bios to read out Hex: 0800h instead of 1000h.
-16bit resolution glitch of UGA_DRAW_PROTOCOL - temporary solution: activate a sleep cycle
- WSON based bios chip. Clip rescue is not possible



Insanely Great!

View attachment 1665339 View attachment 1665498View attachment 1665499​

hi I have te quadro k3100m in catalina I could change this and I had full brightness but in Big Sur It won't let me change this info plist it say I don't have permission no matter what I try it won't let me change this please help I would like to have full brightness.