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

[searge]

Hello community, I am facing a kernel panic problem after a few minutes of screensaver (standard screensaver Big Sur) activity (panic report attached). System is running on Big Sur 11.2 iMac 27" 2011 i5 32 GB with K3100M (nikey22). Temperature (ODD-fix) is pretty low (approx. 42°C). Unfortunately I am not able to understand this panic report ... seems to be a problem with com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily ... Any clue/advise despite deactivating screensaver ? Thanks in advance.

Spoiler: panic report screen saver issue

panic(cpu 0 caller 0xffffff80039ee1e6): Kernel trap at 0xffffff7fa3cc1f61, type 14=page fault, registers:
CR0: 0x000000008001003b, CR2: 0x00000000000001c0, CR3: 0x00000000080eb000, CR4: 0x00000000000626e0
RAX: 0x0000000000000000, RBX: 0xffffff937a4fac00, RCX: 0x00000000ffffffef, RDX: 0x0000000000000000
RSP: 0xffffffa0fe09bc80, RBP: 0xffffffa0fe09bca0, RSI: 0x00000000ffffffef, RDI: 0x0000000000000001
R8: 0x0000000000000013, R9: 0x0000000000989680, R10: 0xffffff80046bfe58, R11: 0xffffff86bd9b8d10
R12: 0xffffff937a3ea001, R13: 0xffffff937a4fa000, R14: 0x0000000000000000, R15: 0x0000001ffffffde0
RFL: 0x0000000000010202, RIP: 0xffffff7fa3cc1f61, CS: 0x0000000000000008, SS: 0x0000000000000010
Fault CR2: 0x00000000000001c0, Error code: 0x0000000000000000, Fault CPU: 0x0, PL: 0, VF: 1

Backtrace (CPU 0), Frame : Return Address
0xffffffa0fe09b6a0 : 0xffffff80038bab4d
0xffffffa0fe09b6f0 : 0xffffff80039fd7e3
0xffffffa0fe09b730 : 0xffffff80039ede1a
0xffffffa0fe09b780 : 0xffffff800385fa2f
0xffffffa0fe09b7a0 : 0xffffff80038ba3ed
0xffffffa0fe09b8c0 : 0xffffff80038ba6d8
0xffffffa0fe09b930 : 0xffffff80040bef9a
0xffffffa0fe09b9a0 : 0xffffff80039ee1e6
0xffffffa0fe09bb20 : 0xffffff80039edecd
0xffffffa0fe09bb70 : 0xffffff800385fa2f
0xffffffa0fe09bb90 : 0xffffff7fa3cc1f61
0xffffffa0fe09bca0 : 0xffffff7fa3ca5df8
0xffffffa0fe09bce0 : 0xffffff7fa3cb48d6
0xffffffa0fe09bd30 : 0xffffff7fa3ca51de
0xffffffa0fe09bd70 : 0xffffff7fa410ad52
0xffffffa0fe09be10 : 0xffffff7fa410aab0
0xffffffa0fe09be40 : 0xffffff7fa4111b0d
0xffffffa0fe09bee0 : 0xffffff80040181b0
0xffffffa0fe09bf30 : 0xffffff800401691e
0xffffffa0fe09bf70 : 0xffffff8004015f06
0xffffffa0fe09bfa0 : 0xffffff800385f13e
Kernel Extensions in backtrace:
com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(585.0)[EF8876FC-C6D6-3D53-9915-762EF4F12870]@0xffffff7fa40ff000->0xffffff7fa412dfff
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.9)[BF2C5E86-1E8F-3FD4-9874-7738178FA73B]@0xffffff8006a34000->0xffffff8006a5bfff
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelSNBGraphicsFB(10.0.4)[628D2F1C-66EC-340F-AB0A-576401250CCC]@0xffffff7fa3c9f000->0xffffff7fa3cc4fff
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily(1.4)[B41AA072-8BB9-3493-9796-6FF849CDABB8]@0xffffff80064ef000->0xffffff80064f0fff
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(585)[EF8876FC-C6D6-3D53-9915-762EF4F12870]@0xffffff7fa40ff000->0xffffff7fa412dfff
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.9)[BF2C5E86-1E8F-3FD4-9874-7738178FA73B]@0xffffff8006a34000->0xffffff8006a5bfff

Process name corresponding to current thread: kernel_task
Boot args: -no_compat_check

Mac OS version:
20D64

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 20.3.0: Thu Jan 21 00:07:06 PST 2021; root:xnu-7195.81.3~1/RELEASE_X86_64
Kernel UUID: C86236B2-4976-3542-80CA-74A6B8B4BA03
KernelCache slide: 0x0000000003600000
KernelCache base: 0xffffff8003800000
Kernel slide: 0x0000000003610000
Kernel text base: 0xffffff8003810000
__HIB text base: 0xffffff8003700000
System model name: iMac12,2 (Mac-942B59F58194171B)
System shutdown begun: NO
Panic diags file available: YES (0x0)
Hibernation exit count: 0

System uptime in nanoseconds: 5472572262942
Last Sleep: absolute base_tsc base_nano
Uptime : 0x000004fa2eb9d1b4
Sleep : 0x000004fa19426cdc 0x00000008660ba863 0x0000000000000000
Wake : 0x000004fa29ebcb9c 0x00000000360ba352 0x000004fa29186834
last started kext at 95282214945: @filesystems.smbfs 3.4.1 (addr 0xffffff7fa4afd000, size 434176)
last stopped kext at 200040310759: >usb.!UUHCI 1.2 (addr 0xffffff8006ec1000, size 90112)
loaded kexts:
com.rim.driver.BlackBerryVirtualPrivateNetwork 1.0.18
@filesystems.smbfs 3.4.1
>!A!BMultitouch 99
>AudioAUUC 1.70
@filesystems.autofs 3.0
@fileutil 20.036.15
>AGPM 119
@AGDCPluginDisplayMetrics 6.2.2
>!AMikeyHIDDriver 131
>pmtelemetry 1
|IOUserEthernet 1.0.1
>usb.!UUserHCI 1
|IO!BSerialManager 8.0.3d9
>!AHDA 281.52
>!AUpstreamUserClient 3.6.8
>!AMikeyDriver 281.52
@Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X 7.0.0
@GeForce 16.0.0
>!AHV 1
>!ADiskImages2 1
>!A!ISlowAdaptiveClocking 4.0.0
>!ABacklight 180.3
>ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin 1.0.0
>!AThunderboltIP 4.0.3
>!A!IHD3000Graphics 10.0.4
>eficheck 1
>!AFWOHCI 5.7.4
>!ALPC 3.1
>!ASMCPDRC 1.0.0
>!ASMCLMU 212
>!A!ISNBGraphicsFB 10.0.4
>!AMCCSControl 1.5.9
>!AIR!C 360
>!UCardReader 511.60.2
@filesystems.tmpfs 1
@filesystems.hfs.kext 556.60.1
@BootCache 40
@!AFSCompression.!AFSCompressionTypeZlib 1.0.0
@!AFSCompression.!AFSCompressionTypeDataless 1.0.0d1
|SCSITaskUserClient 436.40.6
@filesystems.apfs 1677.81.1
|!ABCM5701Ethernet 10.3.5
>AirPort.Atheros40 700.74.5
@private.KextAudit 1.0
>!AAHCIPort 346
>!ARTC 2.0
>!AACPIButtons 6.1
>!AHPET 1.8
>!ASMBIOS 2.1
>!AACPIEC 6.1
>!AAPIC 1.7
>!A!ICPUPowerManagementClient 222.0.0
@!ASystemPolicy 2.0.0
@nke.applicationfirewall 310
|IOKitRegistryCompatibility 1
|EndpointSecurity 1
>!A!ICPUPowerManagement 222.0.0
>!AMultitouchDriver 4400.28
>!AInputDeviceSupport 4400.35
>!A!BHIDKeyboard 223
>IO!BHIDDriver 8.0.3d9
>!AHIDKeyboard 223
@kext.triggers 1.0
|IOSerial!F 11
|IOAVB!F 930.1
>DspFuncLib 281.52
@kext.OSvKernDSPLib 529
@nvidia.driver.NVDAGK100Hal 16.0.0
@nvidia.driver.NVDAResman 16.0.0
|IOAccelerator!F2 439.52
@!AGPUWrangler 6.2.2
|IOSlowAdaptiveClocking!F 1.0.0
@!AGraphicsDeviceControl 6.2.2
>!ABacklightExpert 1.1.0
>IOPlatformPluginLegacy 1.0.0
|IOFireWire!F 4.8.3
>!ASMBusPCI 1.0.14d1
|IONDRVSupport 585
>!AThunderboltEDMSink 5.0.3
>!AHDA!C 281.52
|IOHDA!F 281.52
|IOAudio!F 300.6.1
@vecLib.kext 1.2.0
>IOPlatformPlugin!F 6.0.0d8
@plugin.IOgPTPPlugin 900.11
|IOGraphics!F 585
>!ASMBus!C 1.0.18d1
|Broadcom!BHost!CUSBTransport 8.0.3d9
|IO!BHost!CUSBTransport 8.0.3d9
|IO!BHost!CTransport 8.0.3d9
>usb.IOUSBHostHIDDevice 1.2
>usb.networking 5.0.0
>usb.!UHostCompositeDevice 1.2
>usb.!UHub 1.2
>!AThunderboltDPOutAdapter 8.1.4
>!AThunderboltDPInAdapter 8.1.4
>!AThunderboltDPAdapter!F 8.1.4
>!AThunderboltPCIDownAdapter 4.1.1
>!ABSDKextStarter 3
|IOSurface 289.3
|IOSkywalk!F 1
@filesystems.hfs.encodings.kext 1
|IOSCSIMultimediaCommandsDevice 436.40.6
|IOBD!S!F 1.8
|IODVD!S!F 1.8
|IOCD!S!F 1.8
|IOAHCISerialATAPI 268
|IOAHCIBlock!S 332
>!AThunderboltNHI 7.2.8
|IOThunderbolt!F 9.3.2
|IOEthernetAVB!C 1.1.0
>mDNSOffloadUserClient 1.0.1b8
>usb.!UHostPacketFilter 1.0
|IOUSB!F 900.4.2
|IO80211!F 1200.12.2
>corecapture 1.0.4
>usb.!UEHCIPCI 1.2
|IOAHCI!F 294
>usb.!UEHCI 1.2
>!AEFINVRAM 2.1
>!AEFIRuntime 2.1
|IOSMBus!F 1.1
|IOHID!F 2.0.0
$!AImage4 3.0.0
|IOTimeSync!F 900.11
|IONetworking!F 3.4
>DiskImages 493.0.0
|IO!B!F 8.0.3d9
|IOReport!F 47
|IO!BPacketLogger 8.0.3d9
$quarantine 4
$sandbox 300.0
@Kext.!AMatch 1.0.0d1
|CoreAnalytics!F 1
>!ASSE 1.0
>!AKeyStore 2
>!UTDM 511.60.2
|IOUSBMass!SDriver 184.40.6
|IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice 436.40.6
|IO!S!F 2.1
|IOSCSIArchitectureModel!F 436.40.6
>!AMobileFileIntegrity 1.0.5
@kext.CoreTrust 1
>!AFDEKeyStore 28.30
>!AEffaceable!S 1.0
>!ACredentialManager 1.0
>KernelRelayHost 1
|IOUSBHost!F 1.2
>!UHostMergeProperties 1.2
>usb.!UCommon 1.0
>!ABusPower!C 1.0
>!ASEPManager 1.0.1
>IOSlaveProcessor 1
>!AACPIPlatform 6.1
>!ASMC 3.1.9
|IOPCI!F 2.9
|IOACPI!F 1.4
>watchdog 1
@kec.pthread 1
@kec.corecrypto 11.1
@kec.Libm 1

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Hello community, I am facing a kernel panic problem after a few minutes of screensaver (standard screensaver Big Sur) activity (panic report attached). System is running on Big Sur 11.2 iMac 27" 2011 i5 32 GB with K3100M (nikey22). Temperature (ODD-fix) is pretty low (approx. 42°C). Unfortunately I am not able to understand this panic report ... seems to be a problem with com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily ... Any clue/advise despite deactivating screensaver ? Thanks in advance.

Spoiler: panic report screen saver issue

panic(cpu 0 caller 0xffffff80039ee1e6): Kernel trap at 0xffffff7fa3cc1f61, type 14=page fault, registers:
CR0: 0x000000008001003b, CR2: 0x00000000000001c0, CR3: 0x00000000080eb000, CR4: 0x00000000000626e0
RAX: 0x0000000000000000, RBX: 0xffffff937a4fac00, RCX: 0x00000000ffffffef, RDX: 0x0000000000000000
RSP: 0xffffffa0fe09bc80, RBP: 0xffffffa0fe09bca0, RSI: 0x00000000ffffffef, RDI: 0x0000000000000001
R8: 0x0000000000000013, R9: 0x0000000000989680, R10: 0xffffff80046bfe58, R11: 0xffffff86bd9b8d10
R12: 0xffffff937a3ea001, R13: 0xffffff937a4fa000, R14: 0x0000000000000000, R15: 0x0000001ffffffde0
RFL: 0x0000000000010202, RIP: 0xffffff7fa3cc1f61, CS: 0x0000000000000008, SS: 0x0000000000000010
Fault CR2: 0x00000000000001c0, Error code: 0x0000000000000000, Fault CPU: 0x0, PL: 0, VF: 1

Backtrace (CPU 0), Frame : Return Address
0xffffffa0fe09b6a0 : 0xffffff80038bab4d
0xffffffa0fe09b6f0 : 0xffffff80039fd7e3
0xffffffa0fe09b730 : 0xffffff80039ede1a
0xffffffa0fe09b780 : 0xffffff800385fa2f
0xffffffa0fe09b7a0 : 0xffffff80038ba3ed
0xffffffa0fe09b8c0 : 0xffffff80038ba6d8
0xffffffa0fe09b930 : 0xffffff80040bef9a
0xffffffa0fe09b9a0 : 0xffffff80039ee1e6
0xffffffa0fe09bb20 : 0xffffff80039edecd
0xffffffa0fe09bb70 : 0xffffff800385fa2f
0xffffffa0fe09bb90 : 0xffffff7fa3cc1f61
0xffffffa0fe09bca0 : 0xffffff7fa3ca5df8
0xffffffa0fe09bce0 : 0xffffff7fa3cb48d6
0xffffffa0fe09bd30 : 0xffffff7fa3ca51de
0xffffffa0fe09bd70 : 0xffffff7fa410ad52
0xffffffa0fe09be10 : 0xffffff7fa410aab0
0xffffffa0fe09be40 : 0xffffff7fa4111b0d
0xffffffa0fe09bee0 : 0xffffff80040181b0
0xffffffa0fe09bf30 : 0xffffff800401691e
0xffffffa0fe09bf70 : 0xffffff8004015f06
0xffffffa0fe09bfa0 : 0xffffff800385f13e
Kernel Extensions in backtrace:
com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(585.0)[EF8876FC-C6D6-3D53-9915-762EF4F12870]@0xffffff7fa40ff000->0xffffff7fa412dfff
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.9)[BF2C5E86-1E8F-3FD4-9874-7738178FA73B]@0xffffff8006a34000->0xffffff8006a5bfff
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelSNBGraphicsFB(10.0.4)[628D2F1C-66EC-340F-AB0A-576401250CCC]@0xffffff7fa3c9f000->0xffffff7fa3cc4fff
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily(1.4)[B41AA072-8BB9-3493-9796-6FF849CDABB8]@0xffffff80064ef000->0xffffff80064f0fff
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(585)[EF8876FC-C6D6-3D53-9915-762EF4F12870]@0xffffff7fa40ff000->0xffffff7fa412dfff
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.9)[BF2C5E86-1E8F-3FD4-9874-7738178FA73B]@0xffffff8006a34000->0xffffff8006a5bfff

Process name corresponding to current thread: kernel_task
Boot args: -no_compat_check

Mac OS version:
20D64

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 20.3.0: Thu Jan 21 00:07:06 PST 2021; root:xnu-7195.81.3~1/RELEASE_X86_64
Kernel UUID: C86236B2-4976-3542-80CA-74A6B8B4BA03
KernelCache slide: 0x0000000003600000
KernelCache base: 0xffffff8003800000
Kernel slide: 0x0000000003610000
Kernel text base: 0xffffff8003810000
__HIB text base: 0xffffff8003700000
System model name: iMac12,2 (Mac-942B59F58194171B)
System shutdown begun: NO
Panic diags file available: YES (0x0)
Hibernation exit count: 0

System uptime in nanoseconds: 5472572262942
Last Sleep: absolute base_tsc base_nano
Uptime : 0x000004fa2eb9d1b4
Sleep : 0x000004fa19426cdc 0x00000008660ba863 0x0000000000000000
Wake : 0x000004fa29ebcb9c 0x00000000360ba352 0x000004fa29186834
last started kext at 95282214945: @filesystems.smbfs 3.4.1 (addr 0xffffff7fa4afd000, size 434176)
last stopped kext at 200040310759: >usb.!UUHCI 1.2 (addr 0xffffff8006ec1000, size 90112)
loaded kexts:
com.rim.driver.BlackBerryVirtualPrivateNetwork 1.0.18
@filesystems.smbfs 3.4.1
>!A!BMultitouch 99
>AudioAUUC 1.70
@filesystems.autofs 3.0
@fileutil 20.036.15
>AGPM 119
@AGDCPluginDisplayMetrics 6.2.2
>!AMikeyHIDDriver 131
>pmtelemetry 1
|IOUserEthernet 1.0.1
>usb.!UUserHCI 1
|IO!BSerialManager 8.0.3d9
>!AHDA 281.52
>!AUpstreamUserClient 3.6.8
>!AMikeyDriver 281.52
@Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X 7.0.0
@GeForce 16.0.0
>!AHV 1
>!ADiskImages2 1
>!A!ISlowAdaptiveClocking 4.0.0
>!ABacklight 180.3
>ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin 1.0.0
>!AThunderboltIP 4.0.3
>!A!IHD3000Graphics 10.0.4
>eficheck 1
>!AFWOHCI 5.7.4
>!ALPC 3.1
>!ASMCPDRC 1.0.0
>!ASMCLMU 212
>!A!ISNBGraphicsFB 10.0.4
>!AMCCSControl 1.5.9
>!AIR!C 360
>!UCardReader 511.60.2
@filesystems.tmpfs 1
@filesystems.hfs.kext 556.60.1
@BootCache 40
@!AFSCompression.!AFSCompressionTypeZlib 1.0.0
@!AFSCompression.!AFSCompressionTypeDataless 1.0.0d1
|SCSITaskUserClient 436.40.6
@filesystems.apfs 1677.81.1
|!ABCM5701Ethernet 10.3.5
>AirPort.Atheros40 700.74.5
@private.KextAudit 1.0
>!AAHCIPort 346
>!ARTC 2.0
>!AACPIButtons 6.1
>!AHPET 1.8
>!ASMBIOS 2.1
>!AACPIEC 6.1
>!AAPIC 1.7
>!A!ICPUPowerManagementClient 222.0.0
@!ASystemPolicy 2.0.0
@nke.applicationfirewall 310
|IOKitRegistryCompatibility 1
|EndpointSecurity 1
>!A!ICPUPowerManagement 222.0.0
>!AMultitouchDriver 4400.28
>!AInputDeviceSupport 4400.35
>!A!BHIDKeyboard 223
>IO!BHIDDriver 8.0.3d9
>!AHIDKeyboard 223
@kext.triggers 1.0
|IOSerial!F 11
|IOAVB!F 930.1
>DspFuncLib 281.52
@kext.OSvKernDSPLib 529
@nvidia.driver.NVDAGK100Hal 16.0.0
@nvidia.driver.NVDAResman 16.0.0
|IOAccelerator!F2 439.52
@!AGPUWrangler 6.2.2
|IOSlowAdaptiveClocking!F 1.0.0
@!AGraphicsDeviceControl 6.2.2
>!ABacklightExpert 1.1.0
>IOPlatformPluginLegacy 1.0.0
|IOFireWire!F 4.8.3
>!ASMBusPCI 1.0.14d1
|IONDRVSupport 585
>!AThunderboltEDMSink 5.0.3
>!AHDA!C 281.52
|IOHDA!F 281.52
|IOAudio!F 300.6.1
@vecLib.kext 1.2.0
>IOPlatformPlugin!F 6.0.0d8
@plugin.IOgPTPPlugin 900.11
|IOGraphics!F 585
>!ASMBus!C 1.0.18d1
|Broadcom!BHost!CUSBTransport 8.0.3d9
|IO!BHost!CUSBTransport 8.0.3d9
|IO!BHost!CTransport 8.0.3d9
>usb.IOUSBHostHIDDevice 1.2
>usb.networking 5.0.0
>usb.!UHostCompositeDevice 1.2
>usb.!UHub 1.2
>!AThunderboltDPOutAdapter 8.1.4
>!AThunderboltDPInAdapter 8.1.4
>!AThunderboltDPAdapter!F 8.1.4
>!AThunderboltPCIDownAdapter 4.1.1
>!ABSDKextStarter 3
|IOSurface 289.3
|IOSkywalk!F 1
@filesystems.hfs.encodings.kext 1
|IOSCSIMultimediaCommandsDevice 436.40.6
|IOBD!S!F 1.8
|IODVD!S!F 1.8
|IOCD!S!F 1.8
|IOAHCISerialATAPI 268
|IOAHCIBlock!S 332
>!AThunderboltNHI 7.2.8
|IOThunderbolt!F 9.3.2
|IOEthernetAVB!C 1.1.0
>mDNSOffloadUserClient 1.0.1b8
>usb.!UHostPacketFilter 1.0
|IOUSB!F 900.4.2
|IO80211!F 1200.12.2
>corecapture 1.0.4
>usb.!UEHCIPCI 1.2
|IOAHCI!F 294
>usb.!UEHCI 1.2
>!AEFINVRAM 2.1
>!AEFIRuntime 2.1
|IOSMBus!F 1.1
|IOHID!F 2.0.0
$!AImage4 3.0.0
|IOTimeSync!F 900.11
|IONetworking!F 3.4
>DiskImages 493.0.0
|IO!B!F 8.0.3d9
|IOReport!F 47
|IO!BPacketLogger 8.0.3d9
$quarantine 4
$sandbox 300.0
@Kext.!AMatch 1.0.0d1
|CoreAnalytics!F 1
>!ASSE 1.0
>!AKeyStore 2
>!UTDM 511.60.2
|IOUSBMass!SDriver 184.40.6
|IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice 436.40.6
|IO!S!F 2.1
|IOSCSIArchitectureModel!F 436.40.6
>!AMobileFileIntegrity 1.0.5
@kext.CoreTrust 1
>!AFDEKeyStore 28.30
>!AEffaceable!S 1.0
>!ACredentialManager 1.0
>KernelRelayHost 1
|IOUSBHost!F 1.2
>!UHostMergeProperties 1.2
>usb.!UCommon 1.0
>!ABusPower!C 1.0
>!ASEPManager 1.0.1
>IOSlaveProcessor 1
>!AACPIPlatform 6.1
>!ASMC 3.1.9
|IOPCI!F 2.9
|IOACPI!F 1.4
>watchdog 1
@kec.pthread 1
@kec.corecrypto 11.1
@kec.Libm 1

It would be nice to know how you installed Big Sur on your iMac. I left so many hints on the first post for methods known to work....

 

[searge]

Hello Ausdauersportler, I am not sure what you mean. System is up and running. I followed the instructions described in "Installing macOS Big Sur (unsupported)" using one of your latest micropatcher (v0.55) to switch directly from HS to BS. Kernel panic shut down occurs while screen saver is running (reconstructable). It is not a big issue (I can switch this off), but maybe it is easy to solve and is useful for others...

It would be nice to know how you installed Big Sur on your iMac. I left so many hints on the first post for methods known to work....

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Hello Ausdauersportler, I am not sure what you mean. System is up and running. I followed the instructions described in "Installing macOS Big Sur (unsupported)" using one of your latest micropatcher (v0.55) to switch directly from HS to BS. Kernel panic shut down occurs while screen saver is running (reconstructable). It is not a big issue (I can switch this off), but maybe it is easy to solve and is useful for others...

There are three options to install Big Sur - how should I be able to track down an installation error if YOU DO NOT REPORT on your first post how you got there? I asked for specific details.

Using 0.5.4 and later needs the --nikey22 command line flag with 2011 systems using NVIDIA ++ cards when calling the patch-kext.sh - otherwise you will have to use OpenCore and spoofing a iMacPro1,1 ID to get this OTA upgrades. I assume you missed this point.

There is only a single known problem not related to the screen saver but related to the sleep state reached after a while being in the screen saver. Sleep is broken with 2011 systems unless properly patched.

 

[The_Croupier]

Firstly I want to say what I awesome thread this is, the information contained within is great and i guess im through about 250 pages but i admit i skip and jump around sniffing out the finer details.

To all the devs, coders and main contributors thanks so much for continuing to share you knowledge with us fledgling modding enthusiasts.

After 11 years my 2010 iMac is still going strong with original GPU, how lucky am I, but recently I picked up 2 cheap 2011 27"ers with display/gpu and logic board issues. To restore for my son and mum. Really they weren't that bad, 1 bake and a badly bent lcd thermal connector pin repair on the other board and I had them up and running no problems albeit with a heap of missing screws, HDDs and stripped threads all over.

Anyway curiosity and a love of modding/tinkering (its been a few years since my 2010 SSD upgrade) got the better of me and I won a 770m for $80 AUD that arrived today.

With no Dremel tool or paste I couldn't resist chucking it in if even for a minute to see if I could get external screen to post on the bare bones rig.

And there it is in all its 3071mb glory
We did it )) I can rest well and am excited to finish the mod correctly with the right tools, Nick [D]vB's rom and the linux bootable drive.

Interestingly only LED diagnostic lights 1 and 2 are lit, when i was troubleshooting the 2011 that needed the bake 1,2 and 3 were lit with LCD panel out?

Cheers all
Croupier.....

 

[searge]

Thank you ... I really missed --nikey22 command flag. I patched system again and noticed some differences (i.e. login menu). Screen saver run for about 15 Minutes without issues.

 

[herrdude]

Firstly I want to say what I awesome thread this is, the information contained within is great and i guess im through about 250 pages but i admit i skip and jump around sniffing out the finer details.

To all the devs, coders and main contributors thanks so much for continuing to share you knowledge with us fledgling modding enthusiasts.

After 11 years my 2010 iMac is still going strong with original GPU, how lucky am I, but recently I picked up 2 cheap 2011 27"ers with display/gpu and logic board issues. To restore for my son and mum. Really they weren't that bad, 1 bake and a badly bent lcd thermal connector pin repair on the other board and I had them up and running no problems albeit with a heap of missing screws, HDDs and stripped threads all over.

Anyway curiosity and a love of modding/tinkering (its been a few years since my 2010 SSD upgrade) got the better of me and I won a 770m for $80 AUD that arrived today.

With no Dremel tool or paste I couldn't resist chucking it in if even for a minute to see if I could get external screen to post on the bare bones rig.

And there it is in all its 3071mb glory
We did it )) I can rest well and am excited to finish the mod correctly with the right tools, Nick [D]vB's rom and the linux bootable drive.

Interestingly only LED diagnostic lights 1 and 2 are lit, when i was troubleshooting the 2011 that needed the bake 1,2 and 3 were lit with LCD panel out?

Cheers all
Croupier.....
View attachment 1730968
View attachment 1730970

This is normal until you flash the Vbios.

 

[scimable]

New Catalina Loader based on OpenCore 0.6.6

Important: Upload of image is encrypted now just to please Google, password is NICK​

Latest version of OpenCore and latest version of the Lilu and Whatevergreen extensions already configured. We have for each card type a special preconfigured config. Just pick yours from the list below and rename it to config.plist.

Whenever you change OC or your config.plist you need a PRAM reset. Otherwise old settings will remain in the NVRAM.

Support matrix: (I will not spent time in supporting High Sierra with new versions!)

OC Version	High Sierra, Sierra, Snow Leopard	Mojave	Catalina	Big Sur
0.5.9	yes	yes	yes	no
0.6.0	yes	yes	yes	no
0.6.3	yes ?	yes	yes	no
0.6.4	TBT (to be tested)	yes ?	yes ?	yes
0.6.5pre	yes (AMD)	yes (AMD)	yes (AMD)	yes
0.6.5	yes (AMD)	yes (AMD)	yes (AMD)	yes
0.6.5 DRM	most likely	yes	yes	yes
0.6.6 DRM	most likely	yes	yes	yes

(all tests with AMD cards using 2010 and 2011 systems)

Big Sur installation:

config_INSTALL_BigSur - all systems using OpenCore to install Big Sur especially with AMD cards

(rename to config.plist and use to install Big Sur only)

Big Sur:

config_AMD_BigSur - all systems running Big Sur and all other macOS versions with an AMD card
config_NVIDIA_BigSur - all systems running Big Sur and all other macOS versions with an NVIDIA card

(use after installation and patching of Big Sur, including settings for NightShift on Big Sur and for booting Big Sur on 2009/2010 systems, there are verbose boot versions of the same files. Use for debugging!)

Sierra or High Sierra with AMD cards on 2011:

Using an AMD config file causes a kernel panics on sleep on 2011 system. To avoid this you may manually install the (AMD) patched AppleIntelGraphicsSNB.kext extension from this post or delete the iMacPro ID from the config.plist->SMBIOS section.

Important:

1. To do the Big Sur installation and patching on an iMac Late 2009 to Mid 2011 use this version of the micro patcher.
2. Please try to use the most recent versions (0.6.6 minimum)

Spoiler: Frequently Asked Questions and known Issues

Q0: What is the single - important - need to be done in advance prerequisite?
Backup your iMacs firmware using @dosdude1 program named romtool (link on first post)!

Q1: How to install the image on an SD/USB?
Installation on an SD card or USB flash drive is simple: Use the disk utility to restore the card/drive from the image you downloaded and unpacked before. The Catalina Loader is now an empty stack. It will need to have an EFI folder you get from the additional packages (currently 0.6.4). Make sure that partitions of the card have been deactivated.

Q2: Where to find these config files you are talking about?
You will find the config files on the image in the EFI/OC folder. Please check my previous post for more a documentation and more detailed info.

Q3: How to use a specific config file provided here?
Delete the existing config.plist file, make a copy of your target file and rename this to config.plist. Do a PRAM reset on reboot and choose the Catalina Loader either on boot with alt/option or using the system preferences and the start object selection (AMD GOP BIOS users):

Q4: How to use the different versions of OC EFI folders?
First download the additional archive, unzip it and move the folder named EFI directly onto the Catalina Loader image (picture attached). PRAM reset!

Q5: Why separate only an EFI folder and no complete Catalina Loader image?
6 times the space needed and 10 times the time needed for me to maintain and upload such a new image.

Q6: So I really need the SD/USB card all the time?
Yes, there is no way around booting OpenCore to get the enhancements wanted. Users of NVIDIA cards or EG modded AMD BIOS may install the EFI folder into the EFI partition if their boot drive. Users of AMD GOP BIOS versions not having a native boot picker should stick with the external SD/USB version. If things to wild changing the config you can always just plug the USB/SD. Otherwise you will need to reopen your iMac to force a boot selection by plugging HD cables. Not a real option, right?

Q7: Will my iMac Late 2009 or iMac Mid 2010 boot Big Sur using this?
Yes, using the OC 0.6.4 and the config files for BS will install and run Big Sur. For an unknown reason you will have to use a special config.BSINSTALL.plist only while installing (grey screen). After installing you should change the config file according to your GPU (NVIDIA or AMD). Choose the file and rename it to config.plist to make it active on the next reboot.

Q8: Where is PolarisBoostMAX?
@Pascal Baillargeau released a new version of the stock PolarisBoost. It has the same features and is save to use with the WX7100, too.

Q9: How can I get Windows 10 UEFI sound back on my iMac Mid 2011 (model 12,x)?
Open the config.plist you currently use and go to the ACPI section and enable the fitting DSDT patch.

Q10: I cannot make the CL the start object! How to solve this?
Just have a single Catalina Loader installed on your iMac and eject and remount the image once. The mount point needs to be /Volumes/Catalina Loader - use mount or diskutil list to check this.

Q11: I cannot select the CL image in Big Sur (not included in selection)?
Boot another older macOS version and select it there. Known (currently unsolved) issue. if you have an EFI Boot screen select the Catalina Loader pressing the CRTL key - this makes it the default boot partitions, too.

Q12: Cannot use this with High Sierra, what to do?
Use the 0.5.9 folder - the functionality is the same. Somewhere on the road a fork has been used to make newer version not booting into High Sierra.

Q13: Where are the Big Sur files in the 0.6.3 version gone?
I pulled them back to make sure you are using the 0.6.4 and newer - this is the Big Sur version of OpenCore.

Q14: Can I just using the Apple OTA upgrades visible within the system preferences?
Dangerous game: Although there are heavy efforts made to block unwanted firmware upgrades to your (old) iMac it may come through creating a nice big brick on your real desktop. With 0.6.6 (as of now) you can use a config similar to OCLP to enable it. The config files provided here do not offer this choice as of now.

Q15: How to decrypt the encrypted Catalina Loader image file attached here in advance?
Just download the image and use this command in terminal hdiutil convert -format ULMO -o CL.dmg Catalina\ Loader.dmg. You will be asked for your password and the encryption password, too. The decrypted file is named CL.dmg

Q16: How to enable Windows 10 sound support with ÙEFI installations on iMac 2011?
Please download a proper configurations tool and an XML editor and enable within the ACPI section the DSDT patches. Only enable the proper version for your iMac model - system will not boot if you hit the wrong one.

Q17: Why is the image file encrypted at all?
Google marked this file as "dangerous" and so all modern browsers block the download. The only solution is to encrypt the file making int impossible for google robot analysis to look into the file and inspect it. Be patient while decrypting the file using Apple disk utility!

Q18: Brightness level seems to be low! How to fix this?
Please use the most recent version of OC. If this does not help: Attached you will find another version of the AppleBacklightFixup.kext. Replace it in the EFI/OC/Kexts folder. If this does not work you may own a yet unknown display type.

Q19: Netflix streaming does not work in Safari. How to fix this?
Just use Firefox or Chrome, even in Big Sur with AMD cards there is an error message S7336 shown. The movie starts to play and then a Netflix user agent check kicks in and stops streaming on Safari.

EDIT:

Spoiler: older changes:

08/23/2020: Upgraded all config.plist version with "run-efi-updater" "No" in the NVRAM section to avoid firmware updates. added back the older version of the GPU_Monitor_ORIG script to watch the temp data for AMD cards.
08/24/2020: attached former version AppleBacklightFixup.kext more suitable for K1100M, K2100M, K610M ?

10/08/2020: uploaded OC 0.6.2 image, possibly Nvidia users should replace AppleBacklightFixup on the image with the separate attached one, changed csr-active-config in the light of upcoming Big Sur, latest Whatevergreen and Lilu, SystemAudioVolume=25, different files for different AMD cards, added display ID F10T9cde to AppleBacklightFixup on image
10/09/2020: uploaded compressed image to fit on 1GB USB drives or SD cards, added display ID F10T9cde to attached separate file AppleBacklightFixup
11/01/2020. Uploaded new image 0.6.2 containing just new plist files. Check it out an report back. You can edit the plist files yourself using the Open Core Configurator.
11/13/2020: Uploaded disk image only containing the EFI folder of 0.6.3. This includes the config.plist versions to be used to install and run Big Sur on iMac Late 2009 and Mid 2010.
11/13/2020: Uploaded EFI folder of OC version 0.6.0 and 0.6.3.
11/20/2020: Replaced the old complete 0.6.0 CL image with an encrypted empty one and two archives with EFI folders.
12/08/2020: Added 0.5.9 EFI folder back for High Sierra users.
12/09/2020: Added to 0.6.3 EFI folder a config.NVIDIA.HS.plist for High Sierra users.
12/23/2020: Added 0.6.5pre EFI folder upgrade (based on development release)
01/05/2021: Added 0.6.5 EFI folder upgrade
12/14/2020: Added 0.6.4 EFI folder upgrade01/08/2021: Added 0.6.5 EFI DRM upgrade (Apple TV+ streaming for AMD GPU on Big Sur)

02/05/2021: Added 0.6.6 EFI DRM upgrade (Apple TV+ Netflix Amazone streaming for AMD GPU on Big Sur)
Many thanks to @Nick [D]vB, @highvoltage12v, @jborko, and @Pascal Baillargeau for creating the contents.

Disclaimer: You just made a Hackintosh out of your iMac. There are some risks related to this method. You take all this risks on your own!

Important: Upload of image is encrypted now just to please Google, password is NICK​

The OpenCore

New Catalina Loader based on OpenCore 0.6.6

Important: Upload of image is encrypted now just to please Google, password is NICK​

Latest version of OpenCore and latest version of the Lilu and Whatevergreen extensions already configured. We have for each card type a special preconfigured config. Just pick yours from the list below and rename it to config.plist.

Whenever you change OC or your config.plist you need a PRAM reset. Otherwise old settings will remain in the NVRAM.

Support matrix: (I will not spent time in supporting High Sierra with new versions!)

OC Version	High Sierra, Sierra, Snow Leopard	Mojave	Catalina	Big Sur
0.5.9	yes	yes	yes	no
0.6.0	yes	yes	yes	no
0.6.3	yes ?	yes	yes	no
0.6.4	TBT (to be tested)	yes ?	yes ?	yes
0.6.5pre	yes (AMD)	yes (AMD)	yes (AMD)	yes
0.6.5	yes (AMD)	yes (AMD)	yes (AMD)	yes
0.6.5 DRM	most likely	yes	yes	yes
0.6.6 DRM	most likely	yes	yes	yes

(all tests with AMD cards using 2010 and 2011 systems)

Big Sur installation:

config_INSTALL_BigSur - all systems using OpenCore to install Big Sur especially with AMD cards

(rename to config.plist and use to install Big Sur only)

Big Sur:

config_AMD_BigSur - all systems running Big Sur and all other macOS versions with an AMD card
config_NVIDIA_BigSur - all systems running Big Sur and all other macOS versions with an NVIDIA card

(use after installation and patching of Big Sur, including settings for NightShift on Big Sur and for booting Big Sur on 2009/2010 systems, there are verbose boot versions of the same files. Use for debugging!)

Sierra or High Sierra with AMD cards on 2011:

Using an AMD config file causes a kernel panics on sleep on 2011 system. To avoid this you may manually install the (AMD) patched AppleIntelGraphicsSNB.kext extension from this post or delete the iMacPro ID from the config.plist->SMBIOS section.

Important:

1. To do the Big Sur installation and patching on an iMac Late 2009 to Mid 2011 use this version of the micro patcher.
2. Please try to use the most recent versions (0.6.6 minimum)

Spoiler: Frequently Asked Questions and known Issues

Q0: What is the single - important - need to be done in advance prerequisite?
Backup your iMacs firmware using @dosdude1 program named romtool (link on first post)!

Q1: How to install the image on an SD/USB?
Installation on an SD card or USB flash drive is simple: Use the disk utility to restore the card/drive from the image you downloaded and unpacked before. The Catalina Loader is now an empty stack. It will need to have an EFI folder you get from the additional packages (currently 0.6.4). Make sure that partitions of the card have been deactivated.

Q2: Where to find these config files you are talking about?
You will find the config files on the image in the EFI/OC folder. Please check my previous post for more a documentation and more detailed info.

Q3: How to use a specific config file provided here?
Delete the existing config.plist file, make a copy of your target file and rename this to config.plist. Do a PRAM reset on reboot and choose the Catalina Loader either on boot with alt/option or using the system preferences and the start object selection (AMD GOP BIOS users):

Q4: How to use the different versions of OC EFI folders?
First download the additional archive, unzip it and move the folder named EFI directly onto the Catalina Loader image (picture attached). PRAM reset!

Q5: Why separate only an EFI folder and no complete Catalina Loader image?
6 times the space needed and 10 times the time needed for me to maintain and upload such a new image.

Q6: So I really need the SD/USB card all the time?
Yes, there is no way around booting OpenCore to get the enhancements wanted. Users of NVIDIA cards or EG modded AMD BIOS may install the EFI folder into the EFI partition if their boot drive. Users of AMD GOP BIOS versions not having a native boot picker should stick with the external SD/USB version. If things to wild changing the config you can always just plug the USB/SD. Otherwise you will need to reopen your iMac to force a boot selection by plugging HD cables. Not a real option, right?

Q7: Will my iMac Late 2009 or iMac Mid 2010 boot Big Sur using this?
Yes, using the OC 0.6.4 and the config files for BS will install and run Big Sur. For an unknown reason you will have to use a special config.BSINSTALL.plist only while installing (grey screen). After installing you should change the config file according to your GPU (NVIDIA or AMD). Choose the file and rename it to config.plist to make it active on the next reboot.

Q8: Where is PolarisBoostMAX?
@Pascal Baillargeau released a new version of the stock PolarisBoost. It has the same features and is save to use with the WX7100, too.

Q9: How can I get Windows 10 UEFI sound back on my iMac Mid 2011 (model 12,x)?
Open the config.plist you currently use and go to the ACPI section and enable the fitting DSDT patch.

Q10: I cannot make the CL the start object! How to solve this?
Just have a single Catalina Loader installed on your iMac and eject and remount the image once. The mount point needs to be /Volumes/Catalina Loader - use mount or diskutil list to check this.

Q11: I cannot select the CL image in Big Sur (not included in selection)?
Boot another older macOS version and select it there. Known (currently unsolved) issue. if you have an EFI Boot screen select the Catalina Loader pressing the CRTL key - this makes it the default boot partitions, too.

Q12: Cannot use this with High Sierra, what to do?
Use the 0.5.9 folder - the functionality is the same. Somewhere on the road a fork has been used to make newer version not booting into High Sierra.

Q13: Where are the Big Sur files in the 0.6.3 version gone?
I pulled them back to make sure you are using the 0.6.4 and newer - this is the Big Sur version of OpenCore.

Q14: Can I just using the Apple OTA upgrades visible within the system preferences?
Dangerous game: Although there are heavy efforts made to block unwanted firmware upgrades to your (old) iMac it may come through creating a nice big brick on your real desktop. With 0.6.6 (as of now) you can use a config similar to OCLP to enable it. The config files provided here do not offer this choice as of now.

Q15: How to decrypt the encrypted Catalina Loader image file attached here in advance?
Just download the image and use this command in terminal hdiutil convert -format ULMO -o CL.dmg Catalina\ Loader.dmg. You will be asked for your password and the encryption password, too. The decrypted file is named CL.dmg

Q16: How to enable Windows 10 sound support with ÙEFI installations on iMac 2011?
Please download a proper configurations tool and an XML editor and enable within the ACPI section the DSDT patches. Only enable the proper version for your iMac model - system will not boot if you hit the wrong one.

Q17: Why is the image file encrypted at all?
Google marked this file as "dangerous" and so all modern browsers block the download. The only solution is to encrypt the file making int impossible for google robot analysis to look into the file and inspect it. Be patient while decrypting the file using Apple disk utility!

Q18: Brightness level seems to be low! How to fix this?
Please use the most recent version of OC. If this does not help: Attached you will find another version of the AppleBacklightFixup.kext. Replace it in the EFI/OC/Kexts folder. If this does not work you may own a yet unknown display type.

Q19: Netflix streaming does not work in Safari. How to fix this?
Just use Firefox or Chrome, even in Big Sur with AMD cards there is an error message S7336 shown. The movie starts to play and then a Netflix user agent check kicks in and stops streaming on Safari.

EDIT:

Spoiler: older changes:

08/23/2020: Upgraded all config.plist version with "run-efi-updater" "No" in the NVRAM section to avoid firmware updates. added back the older version of the GPU_Monitor_ORIG script to watch the temp data for AMD cards.
08/24/2020: attached former version AppleBacklightFixup.kext more suitable for K1100M, K2100M, K610M ?

10/08/2020: uploaded OC 0.6.2 image, possibly Nvidia users should replace AppleBacklightFixup on the image with the separate attached one, changed csr-active-config in the light of upcoming Big Sur, latest Whatevergreen and Lilu, SystemAudioVolume=25, different files for different AMD cards, added display ID F10T9cde to AppleBacklightFixup on image
10/09/2020: uploaded compressed image to fit on 1GB USB drives or SD cards, added display ID F10T9cde to attached separate file AppleBacklightFixup
11/01/2020. Uploaded new image 0.6.2 containing just new plist files. Check it out an report back. You can edit the plist files yourself using the Open Core Configurator.
11/13/2020: Uploaded disk image only containing the EFI folder of 0.6.3. This includes the config.plist versions to be used to install and run Big Sur on iMac Late 2009 and Mid 2010.
11/13/2020: Uploaded EFI folder of OC version 0.6.0 and 0.6.3.
11/20/2020: Replaced the old complete 0.6.0 CL image with an encrypted empty one and two archives with EFI folders.
12/08/2020: Added 0.5.9 EFI folder back for High Sierra users.
12/09/2020: Added to 0.6.3 EFI folder a config.NVIDIA.HS.plist for High Sierra users.
12/23/2020: Added 0.6.5pre EFI folder upgrade (based on development release)
01/05/2021: Added 0.6.5 EFI folder upgrade
12/14/2020: Added 0.6.4 EFI folder upgrade01/08/2021: Added 0.6.5 EFI DRM upgrade (Apple TV+ streaming for AMD GPU on Big Sur)

02/05/2021: Added 0.6.6 EFI DRM upgrade (Apple TV+ Netflix Amazone streaming for AMD GPU on Big Sur)
Many thanks to @Nick [D]vB, @highvoltage12v, @jborko, and @Pascal Baillargeau for creating the contents.

Disclaimer: You just made a Hackintosh out of your iMac. There are some risks related to this method. You take all this risks on your own!

Important: Upload of image is encrypted now just to please Google, password is NICK​

The OpenCore 0.6.6.zip download link is broken.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

The OpenCore

The OpenCore 0.6.6.zip download link is broken.

No, it is not broken! Your browser, your net, your system, your upload link, the caches, the cache servers may be broken. But downloading works for me right now.

 

[spongedoor]

Hello Macrumors, I had to post a question specific as I am somewhat confused!

I have a 2011 iMac 27" 3.4ghz quadcore, 6970M 2gb card and 2x8gb RAM. I have windows 7 installed with MacOS El Capitan (I don't think it was updated to the one after but unsure). The 2 OSes share same 1tb SSD in a partition each.

I had the iMac from new in 2011, I was noticing video issues most of the time with windows, until 2017 it finally went. when I turned the machine on it would turn the fans on full and nothing on the screen. I tried the bake card trick but it didn't work, not sure why not but nothing happened. I found this forum and have been wanting to reignite my iMac again. I have found a K4100m on eBay and ready to proceed...

however... I need to know exactly what I need to do. I am unable to access the iMac as stated above. I have a laptop running Windows 10 pro to do the SSH, I have USB sticks to use.

If I understand correctly:

1) I download the ROM here for the K4100m (not the overclocked one as appealing as that is but tell me if its safe)
2) I get Linux on a USB drive and add that rom to the drive? or does that rom have Linux too?? this stage I need to know what exactly I do with the downloaded rom.
3) insert the stick into iMac and turn it on with no hard drives connected so that it only boots to the USB.
4) SSH with putty on laptop and load the flash file

5) My goal is to use windows 10 and whatever is the most recommended version of MacOS.. I primarily want to be using Windows 10. What drivers do I need for windows? what version of macos should I use and how do i mod it if I have to? Is windows 10 even doable? it wasnt back then really, only by upgrading win 7.

6) Are there any mods need doing to the heatsink etc during all this? I assume at this point I have the 3 pipe heatsink as I got the best I could at the time. I will know for sure when open it all up.

I have been reading through the posts and am just finding the wording either confusing or non specific so sorry if it has been explained a million times already, I just need to be sure as Im a bit of a noob but willing to give it a go! Thanks for any help!!

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Hello Macrumors, I had to post a question specific as I am somewhat confused!

I have a 2011 iMac 27" 3.4ghz quadcore, 6970M 2gb card and 2x8gb RAM. I have windows 7 installed with MacOS El Capitan (I don't think it was updated to the one after but unsure). The 2 OSes share same 1tb SSD in a partition each.

I had the iMac from new in 2011, I was noticing video issues most of the time with windows, until 2017 it finally went. when I turned the machine on it would turn the fans on full and nothing on the screen. I tried the bake card trick but it didn't work, not sure why not but nothing happened. I found this forum and have been wanting to reignite my iMac again. I have found a K4100m on eBay and ready to proceed...

however... I need to know exactly what I need to do. I am unable to access the iMac as stated above. I have a laptop running Windows 10 pro to do the SSH, I have USB sticks to use.

If I understand correctly:

1) I download the ROM here for the K4100m (not the overclocked one as appealing as that is but tell me if its safe)
2) I get Linux on a USB drive and add that rom to the drive? or does that rom have Linux too?? this stage I need to know what exactly I do with the downloaded rom.
3) insert the stick into iMac and turn it on with no hard drives connected so that it only boots to the USB.
4) SSH with putty on laptop and load the flash file

5) My goal is to use windows 10 and whatever is the most recommended version of MacOS.. I primarily want to be using Windows 10. What drivers do I need for windows? what version of macos should I use and how do i mod it if I have to? Is windows 10 even doable? it wasnt back then really, only by upgrading win 7.

6) Are there any mods need doing to the heatsink etc during all this? I assume at this point I have the 3 pipe heatsink as I got the best I could at the time. I will know for sure when open it all up.

I have been reading through the posts and am just finding the wording either confusing or non specific so sorry if it has been explained a million times already, I just need to be sure as Im a bit of a noob but willing to give it a go! Thanks for any help!!

Put the vBIOS in the folder named flash on the USB utility and about all other questions you need to read the first post on the first page.

There are other threads about installing Windows 10 in these iMac and asking questions about Windows drivers - you are kidding me

There has been a post here about how to install UEFI windows somewhere in the near past - check the search function on top of the page.

 

[Kranny36]

Hi Everyone, I bought a 870m and am trying to get it to work on my Imac 12.2. When I installed it and tried to run MacOS I get a black screen and no boot (3rd indicator light doesn't illuminate). I created a bootable ubuntu usb and can boot into ubuntu no problems. I go to flash the bios with the 870_Clevo_BR but when I go to ssh root@IP Address is says connected refused.
I installed SSH and when I go to enter the password it just says permission denied (publickey). Any suggestions?

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Hi Everyone, I bought a 870m and am trying to get it to work on my Imac 12.2. When I installed it and tried to run MacOS I get a black screen and no boot (3rd indicator light doesn't illuminate). I created a bootable ubuntu usb and can boot into ubuntu no problems. I go to flash the bios with the 870_Clevo_BR but when I go to ssh root@IP Address is says connected refused.
I installed SSH and when I go to enter the password it just says permission denied (publickey). Any suggestions?

In 99% of the cases a new MXM card does not work in your iMac unless flashed!

Can you explain why you did not use the GRML Linux flash utility prepared and ready for download and instead tried an Ubuntu version?

You need a second Mac/PC/iPad with an SSH client. I am sure I wrote exactly this some hours before.

 

[Kranny36]

In 99% of the cases a new MXM card does not work in your iMac unless flashed!

Can you explain why you did not use the GRML Linux flash utility prepared and ready for download and instead tried an Ubuntu version?

You need a second Mac/PC/iPad with an SSH client. I am sure I wrote exactly this some hours before.

I used ubuntu version because I'm incompetent at reading your previous posts... (i.e. I should have looked through the posts better) and I've worked in Ubuntu before. I will try the GRML Linux flash!

Thank you for the quick reply!

 

[Ausdauersportler]

I used ubuntu version because I'm incompetent at reading your previous posts... (i.e. I should have looked through the posts better) and I've worked in Ubuntu before. I will try the GRML Linux flash!

Thank you for the quick reply!

Start with the first post - from there you should find everything and people working with the command line will be hardly incompetent.

Most new users are posting at the end instead of reading at the beginning - which is I must admin - somewhat unexpected. But most of these longer threads here have for technical reasons the readme at the first post, always a good start to read.

 

[Kranny36]

Start with the first post - from there you should find everything and people working in the command line will be hardly incompetent.

Most new users are posting at the end instead of reading at the beginning - which is I must admin - somewhat unexpected. But most of these longer threads here have for technical reasons the readme at the first post, always a good start to read.

As I am trying to connect (from a separate window computer) I keep getting "Connection timed out". I booted my working computer from the GRML linux flash to make sure that the usb was created properly.

Disconnected the SSD in the IMAC and plugged in the USB. The computer turns on (screen is black as expected).
I enabled client and server SSH through powershell and still doesn't connect to the IMAC

 

[Pacific1972]

Update - Nvidia GeForce GTX880M:

After an Unigine Valley Stress Test it seems that my GTX 880M
Video Card generates fallouts (green / light blue / black Display)
under native resolution 2560x1440 (broken Unigine Valley Test).

I know the video card was used and not new

After heating up above 65° Celsius (it might be 72° or more), this
Video card generates solid coloured screens, partially with reboot
under macOS 10.13.6.

I've checked this several times with NVIDIA Web Driver or original
macOS Driver, AGC.KEXT and AppleBackLightFixUp.KEXT.

After reading about GTX8xxM optimized Power Management
(Battery Boost / Optimus ) I've hoped that the card found the
best possible frequency stepping and check maximum possible
wattage - but perhaps I hope too much...

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M - Notebookcheck.com Technik/FAQ

For daily use I install back my K2100M the next days, with less power
consumption, more LED brightness and stability. The GTX 880M with
Peak 122watts ? I can say: don't try to check out what is possible,
perhaps the power or heat development was to much at peak, or the
internal frequency steppings (954Mhz + Boost) are too aggressive ?

Somebody surely can optimize frequencies for that kind of video cards
under WINDOWS with Kepler BIOS Tweaker

! INFO ONLY !

 

[ChrisCaro]

Update - Nvidia GeForce GTX880M:

After an Unigine Valley Stress Test it seems that my GTX 880M
Video Card generates fallouts (green / light blue / black Display)
under native resolution 2560x1440 (broken Unigine Valley Test).

I know the video card was used and not new

After heating up above 65° Celsius (it might be 72° or more), this
Video card generates solid coloured screens, partially with reboot
under macOS 10.13.6.

I've checked this several times with NVIDIA Web Driver or original
macOS Driver, AGC.KEXT and AppleBackLightFixUp.KEXT.

After reading about GTX8xxM optimized Power Management
(Battery Boost / Optimus ) I've hoped that the card found the
best possible frequency stepping and check maximum possible
wattage - but perhaps I hope too much...

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M - Notebookcheck.com Technik/FAQ

For daily use I install back my K2100M the next days, with less power
consumption, more LED brightness and stability. The GTX 880M with
Peak 122watts ? I can say: don't try to check out what is possible,
perhaps the power or heat development was to much at peak, or the
internal frequency steppings (954Mhz + Boost) are too aggressive ?

Somebody surely can optimize frequencies for that kind of video cards
under WINDOWS with Kepler BIOS Tweaker

! INFO ONLY

Hitting the limit!! Cool.

Did you manually control the fans at maximum speed?

It's winter outside, plug it in on your back porch and run more benchmarks

 

[peekpt]

@Pacific1972 if it works with thermal expansion can be a simple solder ball under the GPU that is cracked. Or the most likely the die from the chip is damage.

 

[Ewen12]

Hello!
I have upgraded the gpu on my 2011 iMac 27 inch to a k4100m. But I’m stuck. I can’t get windows. I’ve tried the usb Linux, I’ve tried making windows hard drives using old windows computers and none of it works. I was able to get into Mac OS but then suddenly the screen went yellow and when using the ssd with Mac OS the iMac boot loops. I don’t have my old gpu. In addition, I can’t access recovery to redownload Mac OS. What can I do?

 

[peekpt]

Hello!
I have upgraded the gpu on my 2011 iMac 27 inch to a k4100m. But I’m stuck. I can’t get windows. I’ve tried the usb Linux, I’ve tried making windows hard drives using old windows computers and none of it works. I was able to get into Mac OS but then suddenly the screen went yellow and when using the ssd with Mac OS the iMac boot loops. I don’t have my old gpu. In addition, I can’t access recovery to redownload Mac OS. What can I do?

Did you try pram reset?

 

[Ewen12]

Did you try pram reset?

Yes.

 

[ChrisCaro]

Hello!
I have upgraded the gpu on my 2011 iMac 27 inch to a k4100m. But I’m stuck. I can’t get windows. I’ve tried the usb Linux, I’ve tried making windows hard drives using old windows computers and none of it works. I was able to get into Mac OS but then suddenly the screen went yellow and when using the ssd with Mac OS the iMac boot loops. I don’t have my old gpu. In addition, I can’t access recovery to redownload Mac OS. What can I do?

Maybe some more detail?

You have a boot loop when booting from ssd. But then you also speak of some yellow screen? So everything was working, then you saw a yellow screen, and now your Mac loops when booting?

Check for a short somewhere on the gpu. I have a k4100m and I was able to boot into high Sierra without flashing.

The diagnostic LEDs on the logic board can tell you alot.

 

[peekpt]

Yes.

My card is K610m I have to reboot with option key to get the GPU in legacy mode.

 

[Ewen12]

Maybe some more detail?

You have a boot loop when booting from ssd. But then you also speak of some yellow screen? So everything was working, then you saw a yellow screen, and now your Mac loops when booting?

Check for a short somewhere on the gpu. I have a k4100m and I was able to boot into high Sierra without flashing.

The diagnostic LEDs on the logic board can tell you alot.

Yes, it only bootloops with the ssd in the machine. And yes I was using the machine, it displayed a yellow screen for a second then started to boot loop.