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

[SPNarwhal]

Just got myself a K3100M, but while researching this whole process I did come across early on someone that got an AMD card and flashed the card itself with the Apple GPU firmware and it worked. Just wondering if anyone did the same? I'd imagine it would work natively with this method instead of a VBIOS, but haven't really seen it mentioned anywhere.

SOLVED: What GPU's are compatible with iMac 27" 2011? - iMac Intel 27" EMC 2429

I used one of the Dell / Alienware 2GB cards. These can still be got for under $200 on eBay. The Apple card is identical in every way except for the firmware. This is the Dell / Alienware card here Grab the Apple ROM file from here: https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/?arc... Pay attention to...

www.ifixit.com

Also wondering if there's any benefit of AMD vs NVIDEA? I see majority (if not all) of the ones here (VBIOS) are for NVidea even though the one originally with the iMac is an AMD. Not sure if there's a reason for that?

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Just got myself a K3100M, but while researching this whole process I did come across early on someone that got an AMD card and flashed the card itself with the Apple GPU firmware and it worked. Just wondering if anyone did the same? I'd imagine it would work natively with this method instead of a VBIOS, but haven't really seen it mentioned anywhere.

SOLVED: What GPU's are compatible with iMac 27" 2011? - iMac Intel 27" EMC 2429

I used one of the Dell / Alienware 2GB cards. These can still be got for under $200 on eBay. The Apple card is identical in every way except for the firmware. This is the Dell / Alienware card here Grab the Apple ROM file from here: https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/?arc... Pay attention to...

www.ifixit.com

Because we are literally not interested in buying these crappy old ATI/AMD GPU and sticking with High Sierra for all the time.

In case you did not read the (original) first post - this thread is about using (other) NVIDIA or newer AMD MXM PC cards to be able to install Mojave, Catalina, and Big Sur.

All this is impossible with the AMD Radeon 5xxx/6xxx series GPU - you get no acceleration and cannot even watch a video.

 

[Schprecher]

This is a problem of the iMac 2009 firmware - you can fix this only by installing the 2010 firmware, which is a real adventure.

after put firmware from mid 2010 in late 2009, lost sound card.

 

[herrdude]

Just got myself a K3100M, but while researching this whole process I did come across early on someone that got an AMD card and flashed the card itself with the Apple GPU firmware and it worked. Just wondering if anyone did the same? I'd imagine it would work natively with this method instead of a VBIOS, but haven't really seen it mentioned anywhere.

SOLVED: What GPU's are compatible with iMac 27" 2011? - iMac Intel 27" EMC 2429

I used one of the Dell / Alienware 2GB cards. These can still be got for under $200 on eBay. The Apple card is identical in every way except for the firmware. This is the Dell / Alienware card here Grab the Apple ROM file from here: https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/?arc... Pay attention to...

www.ifixit.com

Also wondering if there's any benefit of AMD vs NVIDEA? I see majority (if not all) of the ones here (VBIOS) are for NVidea even though the one originally with the iMac is an AMD. Not sure if there's a reason for that?

That post on iFixit is exactly 4 years old. This thread, on the other hand, is up to date. We just got three new BIOS this week thanks to @Ausdauersportler and @nikey22!

In addition to what @Ausdauersportler said about getting the latest OS, it is not much more work to install a newer card (programming the BIOS and patching the OS). Finally, that series of cards has been a problem since the beginning. Even when people replace them they eventually die. The internet is flooded with threads about those cards (and even more about baking them).

 

[wilma127]

You got a card with a new SOIC chip of correct size (2Mbit == 262KByte) and you may be able to flash it using a clip programmer and flashrom.

Since no one had the very same issue before you are likely on you own buying such a programmer, installing flashrom and experience success or failure.

I ordered the CH341A and will keep you posted. Any tips for a good read about flash programming with that device?

 

[BadBiscuit]

** NVIDIA Quadro K3000M Mac Edition ROM by @stephle**
Genuine Native Boot Screen & Brightness Control
​

View attachment 1740925

@stephle put together the following ROM for the NVIDIA Quadro K3000M which will allow:
Genuine native brightness control
Genuine ‘gray’ early-boot screen

Pre-installation Requirements:

iMac12,2 - (27-inch Mid 2011) Mac-942B59F58194171B (Tested machine)
- BootROM: 87.0.0.0.0. Please use High Sierra to update your BootROM to latest version.
or
iMac11,3 - (27-inch Mid 2010) Mac-F2238BAE (Tested machine)
- BootROM: 99.0.0.0.0. Please use High Sierra to update your BootROM to latest version.
or
iMac 11,1 - (27-inch Late 2009, core i CPU, only) Mac-F2268DAE (Tested machine)
- BootROM: 63.0.0.0.0. Please use High Sierra to update your BootROM to latest version.

- GPU variant: N14E-Q1-A2
- VRAM type: Hynix H5GQ1H24BFR T2C 322A

@stephle made sure that the rom will report the correct size of vram this time: 2048MB.

View attachment 1740926​

I've tested several cards on my iMac Late 2009 and Mid 2010 and iMac 2011 systems since November 2020. But there have been cards not running well on 2011 systems and other cards with different memory types not running at all. This sounds familiar, right?

You need to install the latest version of the AppleBacklightFixup.kext provided on the first post and the OpenCore distributions. If this does not work you might have a different machine, your panel ID can be found by going to System Preferences > Displays > Color > Open Profile > mmod

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 before rebooting.

View attachment 1740927
​

"insanely great!"
-Steve Jobs

CELEBRATION!!!!

On the same day I got a first dose of Moderna vaccine, this posts; the stars must be aligning. Many thanks to @stephle and @Ausdauersportler . I had planned on going back to the K2100M in VELMA this week, so she could go into normal use, so very glad the K3000M can stay.

Spoiler: Linux Flash went as expected ...

Current - Version:80.04.6B.00.03 ID:10DE:11BE:1028:15CD
NVIDIA Quadro K3000M by nikey22 (Normal Board)
Replace with - Version:80.04.5A.00.01 ID:10DE:11BE:1028:153F
NVIDIA Quadro K3000M by ST3PHL3 (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 80.04.6B.00.03 to 80.04.5A.00.01.

 

[Roman78]

Just testing the K3000 ROM. Looks great. Even Brightness control works out of the box. Only the color-depth problem is still there.

Benchmark is a little slower compared to the previous ROM. Only 28.5 instead of 33.9. But i preference a slower and cooler GPU anyway.

/Edit: The color-depth problem somehow is less on Mojave.

 

[passatgt]

How do i run that imac-color-depth-fix? It just opens TextEdit on Double Click .

On github, click Code and Download ZIP. Extract and that way you should be able to run. (it will say the unidentified developer error, so go to system settings / security & privacy and click open anyway)

 

[SPNarwhal]

That post on iFixit is exactly 4 years old. This thread, on the other hand, is up to date. We just got three new BIOS this week thanks to @Ausdauersportler and @nikey22!

In addition to what @Ausdauersportler said about getting the latest OS, it is not much more work to install a newer card (programming the BIOS and patching the OS). Finally, that series of cards has been a problem since the beginning. Even when people replace them they eventually die. The internet is flooded with threads about those cards (and even more about baking them).

When you say "that series of cards has been a problem" do you mean the K3100 I mentioned ordering or the AMD? The link I gave was just a method, not really addressing that person's specific card. The question about AMD vs NVidea was just a general one, but I suppose AMD as a whole is/was an issue for these iMacs hey?

 

[Ausdauersportler]

When you say "that series of cards has been a problem" do you mean the K3100 I mentioned ordering or the AMD? The link I gave was just a method, not really addressing that person's specific card. The question about AMD vs NVidea was just a general one, but I suppose AMD as a whole is/was an issue for these iMacs hey?

It will be more easy if you start to read instead of le us writing it all again. Some NVIDIA and AMD card may work with the PC vBIOS, but mostly showing the seven problems. Check the first post, please! It is not that long.

 

[The_Croupier]

When you say "that series of cards has been a problem" do you mean the K3100 I mentioned ordering or the AMD? The link I gave was just a method, not really addressing that person's specific card. The question about AMD vs NVidea was just a general one, but I suppose AMD as a whole is/was an issue for these iMacs hey?

The AMD cards apple used were problematic hence Apples replacement program was introduced.

Apple Initiates Graphic Card Replacement Program for Mid-2011 27-inch iMac

Apple has launched a replacement program for the graphics card in some mid–2011 iMac configurations, reports 9to5Mac. According to a note sent to...

www.google.com

 

[ChrisCaro]

Hi all

I want to upgrade the 6970m in my 2011 27' imac. I am using my imac mostly for video editing using final cut pro x and I often notice frame drops in the live preview with higher frame rate videos like 240fps.

Anyone who can recommend a good final cut pro GPU that is around 150$ and that is good compatible with a 2011 27' imac?

I was thinking of the 770m since it is around 150$ and has good performance. Anyone who used this card with final cut pro and who can share his experience? Or maybe the k4100m?

The AMD WX cards are also looking like a good option but I am worried that they wont work in my 2011 imac since I read there are a lot of problems with these.

Thanks

Sieuwe

Video editing. I would go with a pro card such as the new and WX or Quadro cards. As you can tell by my signature, I'm baised to the k4100m. Ultimately you need to find your intersection of the cost, required/desired performance, and risk of hardware/software challenges!

For me, $200usd and direct x12 was my requirement. I entered the game when the AMD cards were just being explored. We know a little more since then. They are more modern, and worth more reading to see if you can gain confidence to attempt and install. The first post and search tool are powerful!

Best luck and keep the thread posted with your progress

 

[Roman78]

On github, click Code and Download ZIP. Extract and that way you should be able to run. (it will say the unidentified developer error, so go to system settings / security & privacy and click open anyway)

Thanks for the reply. But somehow it is not working. First I downloaded the file itself instead of the zip-file, so the file was not executable. So i did a chmod a+x, but it didnt worked. But even with the zip-file it is not working. When I double-click the imaccolordepthfix file a console opens but the depth problems are still there. This is the output of the file.

On what OS is this working? I"m running Sierra on this Test-iMac. Somehow it cannot find the ColorSync Library.

 

[eablokker]

The most prominent changes during the last months came with the boot-args and the csr-active-config. I reset them in the latest version within the NVIDIA plist (not Big Sur).

Sorry for the late reply. Finally got a chance to try the High Sierra config.plist you attached. It didn't work for me. It did get further in the boot, to about 80%. It did get past the part where the screen starts to dim but then got stuck there. So I'm going back to OC 0.6.0 for now. I guess there's not really any reason for me to use 0.6.6 anyways if I still want to use High Sierra.

 

[passatgt]

Thanks for the reply. But somehow it is not working. First I downloaded the file itself instead of the zip-file, so the file was not executable. So i did a chmod a+x, but it didnt worked. But even with the zip-file it is not working. When I double-click the imaccolordepthfix file a console opens but the depth problems are still there. This is the output of the file.

On what OS is this working? I"m running Sierra on this Test-iMac. Somehow it cannot find the ColorSync Library.

View attachment 1741498

I only tested on Big Sur, so i guess thats why its not working

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Sorry for the late reply. Finally got a chance to try the High Sierra config.plist you attached. It didn't work for me. It did get further in the boot, to about 80%. It did get past the part where the screen starts to dim but then got stuck there. So I'm going back to OC 0.6.0 for now. I guess there's not really any reason for me to use 0.6.6 anyways if I still want to use High Sierra.

You really use the Radeon 6770M? Okay, there is no way for me to test it with this card and honestly it is not meant to use it with it.

 

[Martin Sanz]

Hi, I have a question, why K3100M is not compatible with imac 21.5 2011 ???
cause of tdp?
what if i use a less power cpu like xeon 1260L (45W) and a k3100m (75W) ???

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Hi, I have a question, why K3100M is not compatible with imac 21.5 2011 ???
cause of tdp?
what if i use a less power cpu like xeon 1260L (45W) and a k3100m (75W) ???

Somewhere on the first post you may find a story about stability issues with 75W MXM-B cards in 21.5" systems. The power supply cannot deliver on load. And I do not want to start a discussion what might run under rare circumstances with special CPU type and what you can break if you use a XEON (e.g. sleep).

You are the owner of your iMac and you are free to ignore all warnings !!!

 

[Roman78]

I only tested on Big Sur, so i guess thats why its not working

Aha. Hmmmm I'll test the patch on other versions of macOS later on.

 

[spacebiscuit]

I finally took the plunge and bought myself a K2100 card which was sold as new - it certainly looks pristine...

I'm not rushing into this upgrade without a lot pf prep since it is my current working machine so will attempt the upgrade over the Easter holiday.

A quick question though, I have thermal paste for the main chip, I recall reading that thermal pads are for the VRAM, can the paste not be used?

 

[ChrisCaro]

I finally took the plunge and bought myself a K2100 card which was sold as new - it certainly looks pristine...

I'm not rushing into this upgrade without a lot pf prep since it is my current working machine so will attempt the upgrade over the Easter holiday.

A quick question though, I have thermal paste for the main chip, I recall reading that thermal pads are for the VRAM, can the paste not be used?

The popular choice here is k5pro on the vram and kryonaut on the gpu die

 

[Martin Sanz]

I finally took the plunge and bought myself a K2100 card which was sold as new - it certainly looks pristine...

I'm not rushing into this upgrade without a lot pf prep since it is my current working machine so will attempt the upgrade over the Easter holiday.

A quick question though, I have thermal paste for the main chip, I recall reading that thermal pads are for the VRAM, can the paste not be used?

will you be able to flash rom ???? the rom file is complatible with hynix ??

 

[The_Croupier]

If you read post 1 you will clearly see there is a Rom available for this card. If there is Rom you can flash it.

 

[ChrizLoud]

Yesterday was D-day!

After waiting a long time for my K4100M arrived its finally here.
What did worry me was the RAM-type that was not the same as Nikey22 wrote the rom for.

Installed GPU and booted right up into High Sierra.

Time to flash... I decided to go with the USB-boot method and flash logging in remotely via SSH.
Backup and flash went ok but verification shows there were different ROM-size, got a bit scared but nikey22 told me I should not worry about that.

After reboot I got boot screen and every thing worked as expected. Using the UGA (overclocked rom)
everything is super stable on benchmarks and YouTube 8K video.


I haven't had time to test any games yet but my guess it will be alright there to.



Screen Brightness in High Sierra was fixed by installing AppleBacklightFixup.kext but I can not get it to work in Big Sur. I tried both AppleBacklightFixup.kext and modding the already installed AppleBacklight.kext.

I guess it some sort of security problem?

Anyhow the computer feels much more snappier with Metal Support and a good GPU that can take stress away from the CPU.

Did some Benchmarks for you.

Valley - Antialiasing off

All Benchmarks are made under Big Sur 11.2.3

Big thank you to Nikey22 for making this possible and also for assisting when making the flash!
When I manage to fix the backlight issue under Big Sur I will totally leave High Sierra behind forever.

 

[spacebiscuit]

If you read post 1 you will clearly see there is a Rom available for this card. If there is Rom you can flash it.

Thanks for putting that straight, started to panic that I had made a bad purchase there. Looks like the link to first rom will work for the Hynix chip, the 2nd link being for the rarer Elpida chips.

I guess I will continue with my plans to remove the x-clamp today after all