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

[The_Croupier]

I will try to install it this week-end. It would have be nice to know if I understood everything correctly, but I haven'd had any confirmation of my summary below.

1. Yes
2. Yes, if you HS is up to date you should be on the correct boot loader version for OC but doesn't hurt to check
3. Yes
4. Yes
5. Yes
6. Yes
7. Yes, it should run fine

 

[BadBiscuit]

@ChrisCaro (and any other inquiring minds):

I was also hoping for confirmation of that WX7100, to remove some of our risk in ordering out of that batch. I suspect @splifingate 's return period has past, so hopefully not "right-miffed". That seller only had four left, so I decided to take the leap. As stated it arrived sealed and appears to be new. The build date on its static bag is "03/14/2017", with a "D P/N" (Dell?) of 308VY.

I should have it installed and (hopefully) working in my newest 27" 2011 machine ("SCOOBERT") soon. Cosmetically the card looks identically to the WX7100 I got from China a few months back, which has been rocking another 2011 iMac without issue. Shall report back with results by this weekend at the latest. I've already flashed it, and mounted it to a 3-pipe sink using K5 PRO (vram) and GELID GC3 paste (cpu). Just waiting on a BCM943602CDP card due to arrive tomorrow, so I can install both at once.

As promised ( @ChrisCaro ) ...

A second (for me) working WX7100 card installed; within a 27" iMac mid-2011 named "SCOOBERT". It boots with OpenCore v0.6.6 to Big Sur, High Sierra and Win10, and will soon reside on my wife's desk. Pics and benchmarks (results also posted) follow. The source was eBay using the same seller that @splifingate posted earlier.

As always, thanks to @wa9im, @Pascal Baillargeau, @Nick [D]vB, @Ausdauersportler, @Emilio306 and @jborko for their contributions in making this possible.

 

[dksp]

1. Yes
2. Yes, if you HS is up to date you should be on the correct boot loader version for OC but doesn't hurt to check
3. Yes
4. Yes
5. Yes
6. Yes
7. Yes, it should run fine

Thank you

High Sierra is up to date, so everything is ready. The USB stick is also ready and working.

 

[MrZupp]

Hey guys, I recently bought a K3100M and flashed it with the correct rom, but I'm getting the boot-chime loop and a black screen. I've tried smc/pram reset and even with the gpu out of the system ( reseted the pram 3 times, as said in the troubleshooting guide ) but I've had no succes. Any suggestions?

 

[boombari]

Questo è sicuramente un problema se i chip ram sulla GPU non disperdono il calore attraverso il dissipatore di calore a causa dello scarso contatto termico.

Hai letto a fondo il wiki?
View attachment 1745948
Modifica del dissipatore di calore = SÌ
Non abbiamo ancora idea della tua configurazione per quanto so che potresti essere su un iMac da 21 "?

A little update. I took everything apart and reassembled just to be safe. The first start from disconnected power takes place. I also installed HighSierra, rebooted, benchmarked with UNIGINE Benchmarks, the card works.
Holds heat even without the thermal pads on the rams. Unfortunately, however, when the machine is turned off, it no longer turns on. You have to make several attempts to be lucky enough to turn it back on. When I push the power button I see the infrared of the mouse light up for half a second and then it dies ... what can it be?
Do I try to put the original card back in place?

 

[Ausdauersportler]

A little update. I took everything apart and reassembled just to be safe. The first start from disconnected power takes place. I also installed HighSierra, rebooted, benchmarked with UNIGINE Benchmarks, the card works.
Holds heat even without the thermal pads on the rams. Unfortunately, however, when the machine is turned off, it no longer turns on. You have to make several attempts to be lucky enough to turn it back on. When I push the power button I see the infrared of the mouse light up for half a second and then it dies ... what can it be?
Do I try to put the original card back in place?

about what machine and what card our are writing? add a signature as recommended on the first post. we are not good at guessing and nobody wants to waste his time scrolling up several pages until he found all information he needs to find an answer.

 

[boombari]

about what machine and what card our are writing? add a signature as recommended on the first post. we are not good at guessing and nobody wants to waste his time scrolling up several pages until he found all information he needs to find an answer.

Sorry, done! Of course I've already done my research and read the guide on page 1 ...Do you advise me to put the ATI back in place? Thanks

 

[internetzel]

Sorry, done! Of course I've already done my research and read the guide on page 1 ...Do you advise me to put the ATI back in place? Thanks

Your memory configuration is not recommendable; you should install pairs of equal memory modules only.
16 GB of identical memory modules would result in better performance and more stability compared to having some more memory module of different sizes/speed/timings installed additionally.
And honestly you'll rarely need more than 8 GB of RAM and very rarely need more than 16 GB.

 

[boombari]

Your memory configuration is not recommendable; you should install pairs of equal memory modules only.
16 GB of identical memory modules would result in better performance and more stability compared to having some more memory module of different sizes/speed/timings installed additionally.
And honestly you'll rarely need more than 8 GB of RAM and very rarely need more than 16 GB.

I also tried with only the 2 4GB installed, the problem remains.

 

[splifingate]

As promised ( @ChrisCaro ) ...

A second (for me) working WX7100 card installed; within a 27" iMac mid-2011 named "SCOOBERT". It boots with OpenCore v0.6.6 to Big Sur, High Sierra and Win10, and will soon reside on my wife's desk. Pics and benchmarks (results also posted) follow. The source was eBay using the same seller that @splifingate posted earlier.

Coolio . . . that was a rapid build.

Good to know it will do the trick when I get to it.

Regards, splifingate

 

[The_Croupier]

So I've got a bit if an issue on my latest upgrade to a GTX 880m. The install and flashing went well via ssh to linux usb boit method.

The problem is my iMac will refuse to boot with the panel connected.

Remove the panel and plug in external display and it starts right up. Remove the 880m and reinstall my 770m connect the panel it starts straight up.

The power supply is the stock 310w for the 2011 27"

Its like the system just doesn't have enough juice to start it up with the 880 connected?

I tried disconnecting all the drives but that made no difference.

I have tried this card in 3 x 2011's (i5 and i7) 27" iMacs and it exhibits the exact same problem in each if them.

If I hot swap the LVDS flex cable while the mac is booting, then once booted to external display, initiative a restart the internal panel will work however if i shutdown and try to power up nothing, just led 1 led, then disconnecting the internal display and trying to boot results in a bricked system state with continuous boot chime loop. I have now bricked 2 imacs to this card by trying the hot swap LVDS, even 3 PRAM resets with the card removed doesn't fix the boot loop, thank god the bricked iMacs will boot with my 770m and stock card, the bricking seems to only be with the 880m that was running while connecting the LVDS.

So its a strange one, im confident the card runs as it works as its fine in external display and also fine after hot swap restart but I'm all out of ideas?

I guess this particular card is just not compatible.

Judging by the benchmark statistics not many people have installed a 880m as there are only 3 entries in the tables.

Maybe I was to ambitious that i could get it to work.

What I've tried:

- Multiple memory swap outs and configs
- Replaced CR2032 batteries in all 3 iMacs
- swapped card between 3 iMacs
- PRAM/SMC reset
- External monitor (working)
- Internal monitor working on hot swap LVDS and restart, only before boot chime loop
- Reapplied thermal paste's and reseated card to mxm slots on 3 machines
- Reinstalled 770m and ATI stock card to check everything works as it should and it does.

So looks like im up sxhit creek without a paddle on this card.

But if anyone has any last chance suggestions im all ears.

Cheers.

 

[tckoo1411]

Hi all, follow up to my successful upgrade to WX4130. I am trying to use Windows 10 but whenever I install drivers, I get the rainbow display as attached.

My spec:
iMac 2011 27inch
i7 2600
24gb ram
256gb add samsung evo 850
WX4130
Secondary HDD - 1tb Hitachi HDD
Big sur using opencore 0.66 from post #1 link

Big sur graphics working perfectly.

 

[MrZupp]

Hey guys, I recently bought a K3100M and flashed it with the correct rom, but I'm getting the boot-chime loop and a black screen. I've tried smc/pram reset and even with the gpu out of the system ( reseted the pram 3 times, as said in the troubleshooting guide ) but I've had no succes. Any suggestions?

Also, here are the logs:

 

[Afro_]

So I've got a bit if an issue on my latest upgrade to a GTX 880m. The install and flashing went well via ssh to linux usb boit method.

The problem is my iMac will refuse to boot with the panel connected.

Remove the panel and plug in external display and it starts right up. Remove the 880m and reinstall my 770m connect the panel it starts straight up.

The power supply is the stock 310w for the 2011 27"

Its like the system just doesn't have enough juice to start it up with the 880 connected?

I tried disconnecting all the drives but that made no difference.

I have tried this card in 3 x 2011's (i5 and i7) 27" iMacs and it exhibits the exact same problem in each if them.

If I hot swap the LVDS flex cable while the mac is booting, then once booted to external display, initiative a restart the internal panel will work however if i shutdown and try to power up nothing, just led 1 led, then disconnecting the internal display and trying to boot results in a bricked system state with continuous boot chime loop. I have now bricked 2 imacs to this card by trying the hot swap LVDS, even 3 PRAM resets with the card removed doesn't fix the boot loop, thank god the bricked iMacs will boot with my 770m and stock card, the bricking seems to only be with the 880m that was running while connecting the LVDS.

So its a strange one, im confident the card runs as it works as its fine in external display and also fine after hot swap restart but I'm all out of ideas?

I guess this particular card is just not compatible.

Judging by the benchmark statistics not many people have installed a 880m as there are only 3 entries in the tables.

Maybe I was to ambitious that i could get it to work.

What I've tried:

- Multiple memory swap outs and configs
- Replaced CR2032 batteries in all 3 iMacs
- swapped card between 3 iMacs
- PRAM/SMC reset
- External monitor (working)
- Internal monitor working on hot swap LVDS and restart, only before boot chime loop
- Reapplied thermal paste's and reseated card to mxm slots on 3 machines
- Reinstalled 770m and ATI stock card to check everything works as it should and it does.

So looks like im up sxhit creek without a paddle on this card.

But if anyone has any last chance suggestions im all ears.

Cheers.
View attachment 1746423View attachment 1746424View attachment 1746425View attachment 1746426View attachment 1746427

How many LEDs are on when the internal LCD is connected? Which X-bracket did you use? the original smaller AMD one or the NVIDIA one you showed in the image? If it is the NVIDIA one you need to make those holes larger so you can use the original screws.

I have a similar problem (but not identical) with K4100M. All four LEDs are on but the internal LCD is always black while connecting a thunderbolt display works. What I did is to perform a PRAM reset, disable SIP and put a lot of insulation tapes around the GPU to avoid any possible short circuit.

 

[djarvis303]

Hey All, I am going to bite the bullet and upgrade my 27" 2011 iMac , i have a 2600 in the post and am wondering the best less hassle (if possible) card that gives me Metal support - I use this iMac for Music and alot of plugins now require Metal support - i have an old laptop with a 680m so i think i can update the firmware from this machine, im thinking a 780m or 765m - one think i am not sure on is the heatsink mod, is it all heatsinks require a mod or do certain cards require a modded 3 pipe ? i have read alot - just hoping for a quick Yay/Nay type answer

thanks in Advance!

 

[davidg5678]

is it all heatsinks require a mod or do certain cards require a modded 3 pipe ?

This depends on the GPU you choose to purchase. Some GPUs fit without a problem and others need the heatsink to be modified in order to fit properly. There is a diagram somewhere on the first post that describes what modifications are necessary. It is under the "Heat Sink Mod" column in the spoilers for both the AMD and NVIDIA cards. As you have a 27" 2011 iMac, you'll have to check and see what kind of heatsink is already inside your computer. You might already have a 3-pipe heatsink which is large enough for all of the GPUs. There is additional information about this available in the Q&A section of the first post. Check Q9 and Q10 for more details.

 

[djarvis303]

Thank you so much! I think I might buy a spare 3 pipe from eBay and modify incase I mess it up!

 

[Umarx]

Dear all, I need some guidance.

I made the catalina loader USB as stated on page 1 with disk utility and copied the opencore EFI 0.5.9 (as I have HS)

Testing with stock HD6970, I am not able to pass boot with CL USB.
- upon restart holding option to choose CL, hit control enter
- choosing internal drive on the second 'option' boot freezes at nearly 90% bar
- choosing CL on the second option says, it is already running with BootEFI mention

don't know what I am doing wrong.

Also when I see the content of CL on 1st page link, it mentions system and other hidden files, which I have been searching to get some instructions of how and which system to be installed on CL USB.

I am trying to learn but there is so much confusion due to revisions, but I am sticking to 1st page as it has been updated.

Please let me know if I am totally off it and I am crossing the rules line of the forum.

 

[MirComputers]

** NVIDIA Quadro K3100M Mac Edition ROM **
Genuine Native Boot Screen & Brightness Control​

View attachment 942193


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.

- GPU Variant: N15E-Q1-A2

- Hynix GDDR5 Die Generation variants
View attachment 1687878
H5GQ2H24AFR - Hynix 1st Generation die - VDD 1.5V, use K3100M_AFR.rom
H5GC2H24BFR - Hynix 2nd Generation die - VDD 1.35V, use K3100M_BFR.rom
H5GQ2H24BFR - Hynix 2nd Generation die - VDD 1.5V, use K3100M_BFR.rom

known working cards:
Dell K3100M vbios: 80.04.B0.00.0A
HP K3100M vbios: 80.04.CD.00.0A. PN: 744354-001

This ROM does not require a 3rd party bootloader like OpenCore.
This ROM is build on the same principles as my K4100M. Unfortunately, the color-pixel bug is still present. But I am working on it. The brightness will need to be adjusted via a kext as previous. I have a feeling that the native brightness dimness is also inline with the same generic driver bug previously mentioned. The rom has a modest clock table boost as well.

Post-installation Requirements:
Brightness Control Stepping Mod:
-Turn computer on, hold down Command(⌘)-R
-Choose Utilities > Terminal
-Enter:csrutil disable
-MacOS Catalina: requires you to make root writeable: sudo mount -uw /
-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:
-16bit resolution glitch of UGA_DRAW_PROTOCOL - temporary solution: activate a sleep cycle and return, this should now clear the issue.

warning: please remember this is a WSON based card. You will be unable to recover from a bad flash with clip.



View attachment 939736 View attachment 939740

"insanely great!"
-Steve Jobs

**update**
01-27-2021 BFR-mem:1800Mhz; TDP:849.5Mhz, Rom Ver:31.6B.32.37.B1
12-07-2020 TDP/3D/Boost adjusted for both ROMs
12-06-2020 new roms for Hynix AFR and Hynix BFR based vRAMs should fix white/black screen issue
10-04-2020 working on Catalina 10.15.7, HP PN:744354-001 @GButorin
08-04-2020 working on Sierra 10.12.6 @Ausdauersportler

Updated finding: Dell m6800 came with AFR chip

 

[boombari]

** 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, Samsung

@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

Another update.
Premise: my card differs from yours only for an abbreviation on the RAM, that is: Hynix H5GQ1H24BFR T2C 321A
I flashed the bios via LINUX USB, everything ok.
When the car is cold, I can only turn it on once. If I turn it off, it won't turn on anymore. When I push the power button I only get a half second flash but it doesn't start. Once started, however, the card works correctly, I also did a UNIGINE Benchmarks and no problem. What can this be due to?
PS: replacing the original ATI card the machine turns on and off correctly every time.

 

[internetzel]

Dear all, I need some guidance.

I made the catalina loader USB as stated on page 1 with disk utility and copied the opencore EFI 0.5.9 (as I have HS)

Testing with stock HD6970, I am not able to pass boot with CL USB.
- upon restart holding option to choose CL, hit control enter
- choosing internal drive on the second 'option' boot freezes at nearly 90% bar
- choosing CL on the second option says, it is already running with BootEFI mention

don't know what I am doing wrong.

Also when I see the content of CL on 1st page link, it mentions system and other hidden files, which I have been searching to get some instructions of how and which system to be installed on CL USB.

I am trying to learn but there is so much confusion due to revisions, but I am sticking to 1st page as it has been updated.

Please let me know if I am totally off it and I am crossing the rules line of the forum.

Well, no need to worry why you can't boot the OS. That's a different question.

First please check that your boot rom (or EFI) version is reported as "87.0.0.0.0" - using your original graphics card and without OpenCore.

After having hit control enter once upon choosing the Catalina Loader as boot volume, the Mac should launch OpenCore automatically when booting - verify that it does so.
In case it does indeed launch OpenCore without holding the option key, you can install your WX4130 and see whether OpenCore does actually display on your internal screen.
Having an LED on your USB drive would help in order to know whether OpenCore has actually been launched - just remember how the LED flashes until the OpenCore screen comes up when using your original graphics card.

In case OpenCore is able to show on the internal screen using your WX4130, you can go on to the next problem of being able to boot or reinstall an OS.

 

[dksp]

So, everything went fine! I managed to install and flash the Quadro K2100M in my iMac 21.5" mid-2010. And I also reconnected the CPU Temp sensor connector I forgot when swapping the CPU. I haven't installed OpenCore yet, I will wait a couple of days to see if everything is OK first.

Thanks to everyone involved Nick[D]vB for the rom and xanderon for the easy GRML flashing zip. And especially The_Croupier who answered my last remaining questions.

The K2100M finally arrived… … after a Tour de France. I ordered one from my country in order to get it quickly, but this was a fail (15 days of shipping). I am still glad it didn't get lost.

I will try to install it this week-end. It would have be nice to know if I understood everything correctly, but I haven'd had any confirmation of my summary below.

View attachment 1746126

 

[Ausdauersportler]

So I've got a bit if an issue on my latest upgrade to a GTX 880m. The install and flashing went well via ssh to linux usb boit method.

The problem is my iMac will refuse to boot with the panel connected.

Remove the panel and plug in external display and it starts right up. Remove the 880m and reinstall my 770m connect the panel it starts straight up.

The power supply is the stock 310w for the 2011 27"

Its like the system just doesn't have enough juice to start it up with the 880 connected?

I tried disconnecting all the drives but that made no difference.

I have tried this card in 3 x 2011's (i5 and i7) 27" iMacs and it exhibits the exact same problem in each if them.

If I hot swap the LVDS flex cable while the mac is booting, then once booted to external display, initiative a restart the internal panel will work however if i shutdown and try to power up nothing, just led 1 led, then disconnecting the internal display and trying to boot results in a bricked system state with continuous boot chime loop. I have now bricked 2 imacs to this card by trying the hot swap LVDS, even 3 PRAM resets with the card removed doesn't fix the boot loop, thank god the bricked iMacs will boot with my 770m and stock card, the bricking seems to only be with the 880m that was running while connecting the LVDS.

So its a strange one, im confident the card runs as it works as its fine in external display and also fine after hot swap restart but I'm all out of ideas?

I guess this particular card is just not compatible.

Judging by the benchmark statistics not many people have installed a 880m as there are only 3 entries in the tables.

Maybe I was to ambitious that i could get it to work.

What I've tried:

- Multiple memory swap outs and configs
- Replaced CR2032 batteries in all 3 iMacs
- swapped card between 3 iMacs
- PRAM/SMC reset
- External monitor (working)
- Internal monitor working on hot swap LVDS and restart, only before boot chime loop
- Reapplied thermal paste's and reseated card to mxm slots on 3 machines
- Reinstalled 770m and ATI stock card to check everything works as it should and it does.

So looks like im up sxhit creek without a paddle on this card.

But if anyone has any last chance suggestions im all ears.

Cheers.

I have the same feature with one K5000M and one K3000M only in iMac Mid 2011 systems. In all other systems these cards are running perfectly.

The same applies to a 880M of a friend living nearby which I had for a short time to flash the BIOS. It worked only in the Late 2009 test system I had, not in the 2011 systems showing exactly the same problem.

The main problem: It does not happen with all of these cards.

So I cannot help finding a solution but if I were in your shoes I would give up this card for the use in an 2011 system. It is not worth the trouble and time you already wasted into this project.

On the other hand it would be nice to find the root cause, but I am sure it is not the physics or the card installation, it is likely the iMac 2011 firmware which does not like some of the AMD cards, too.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Another update.
Premise: my card differs from yours only for an abbreviation on the RAM, that is: Hynix H5GQ1H24BFR T2C 321A
I flashed the bios via LINUX USB, everything ok.
When the car is cold, I can only turn it on once. If I turn it off, it won't turn on anymore. When I push the power button I only get a half second flash but it doesn't start. Once started, however, the card works correctly, I also did a UNIGINE Benchmarks and no problem. What can this be due to?
PS: replacing the original ATI card the machine turns on and off correctly every time.

If you would spend some time and more importantly some attention on reading things posted you would have seen:

1. But there have been (K3000) cards not running well on 2011 systems (from the BIOS announcement)

2. The 2011 system is really the least compatible system (or in other words the one with the lowest number of running cards)

 

[louisb60]

Hi,
I'm also having issues with the 880m on my 2011 27"
After flashing the vbios, the card is working great but is only showing 4gb of vram, but i bought it as a 8gb and the chips are 8gb in total.
It's slighty different than the 880m that are working in this thread (but it's the only version i could find online), is it possible to modify the card ( maybe some resistors are different?? ) or the vbios to make it recognize the 8gb?
thanks to nick for his amazing work