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

[Ausdauersportler]

I didn't. I just did it now and then reset the PRAM. Everything looks good until the OS finally loads and then it is dim. So, it is probably AppleBacklightFixup. I am heading over to the the first page to check this out.

Please just check if the AppleBacklightFixup has been included in the OCLP EFI you created yourself.

Just ran OCLP myself

Spoiler: OCLP NVIDIA

Created build folder

- Adding OpenCore v0.6.8 RELEASE
- Adding config.plist for OpenCore
- Adding Lilu.kext 1.5.2
- Adding WhateverGreen.kext 1.4.9
- Adding NightShiftEnabler.kext 1.1.0
- Adding SMC-Spoof.kext 1.0.0
- Adding CPUFriend.kext 1.2.3
- Adding CatalinaBCM5701Ethernet.kext 1.0.1
- Adding AppleALC.kext 1.6.0
- Adding IO80211HighSierra.kext 1.0.0
- Adding SSDT-CPBG.aml
- Adding USB-Map.kext
- Adding audio properties
- Adding Metal GPU patches on request
- Adding Nvidia Brightness Control patches
- Adding OpenCanopy GUI
- Adding SATA Hibernation Patch
- Enabling ShowPicker
- Spoofing to iMacPro1,1
- Using Minimal SMBIOS patching
- Cleaning up files

I am quite sure that my published 0.6.8 EFI had no the AppleBacklightFixup.kext included (it was an AMD test version) .

 

[herrdude]

Please just check if the AppleBacklightFixup has been included in the OCLP EFI you created yourself.

Just ran OCLP myself

Spoiler: OCLP NVIDIA

Created build folder

- Adding OpenCore v0.6.8 RELEASE
- Adding config.plist for OpenCore
- Adding Lilu.kext 1.5.2
- Adding WhateverGreen.kext 1.4.9
- Adding NightShiftEnabler.kext 1.1.0
- Adding SMC-Spoof.kext 1.0.0
- Adding CPUFriend.kext 1.2.3
- Adding CatalinaBCM5701Ethernet.kext 1.0.1
- Adding AppleALC.kext 1.6.0
- Adding IO80211HighSierra.kext 1.0.0
- Adding SSDT-CPBG.aml
- Adding USB-Map.kext
- Adding audio properties
- Adding Metal GPU patches on request
- Adding Nvidia Brightness Control patches
- Adding OpenCanopy GUI
- Adding SATA Hibernation Patch
- Enabling ShowPicker
- Spoofing to iMacPro1,1
- Using Minimal SMBIOS patching
- Cleaning up files

I am quite sure that my published 0.6.8 EFI had no the AppleBacklightFixup.kext included (it was an AMD test version) - you may disable it in the OCLP and check this!!

So, I forced the metal card but I forgot to build OpenCore after.

It works now. Thanks @Ausdauersportler !

 

[KennyW]

Tks Guys for this Awesome development. A dream comes true !
I am currently running BS 11.2.3 on my iMac 12,2 installed with the micropatcher. Should I wait 11.3 to play with OCLP or could I install 11.2.3 OCLP over 11.2.3 micropatcher ? I mean, is this technically an upgrade and would the system accept it ?

I wrote my experience in installing OCLP Big Sur 11.2.3 over iMac Micropatcher Big Sur 11.2.3 in the previous page.

It is doable with no problem.

 

[panwato]

A little update:

- When I boot WITHOUT applebacklightfixup enabled, I have backlight control but with a dimmed screen.

- When I boot WITH applebacklightfixup enabled, I have full brightness, no control.

So, my panel model is not in the kext.

I search my panel model in terminal, and this is the output:

and in ColorSync:

I searched in the thread, and only found a post of @BadBiscuit with the same problem, but I don’t see, (or I don’t understand), any solution.

Any advice @Ausdauersportler?

 

[Ausdauersportler]

I wrote my experience in installing OCLP Big Sur 11.2.3 over iMac Micropatcher Big Sur 11.2.3 in the previous page.

It is doable with no problem.

I was testing only starting the installer directly from the Finder. So the USB installer does the trick.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

A little update:

- When I boot WITHOUT applebacklightfixup enabled, I have backlight control but with a dimmed screen.

- When I boot WITH applebacklightfixup enabled, I have full brightness, no control.

So, my panel model is not in the kext.

I search my panel model in terminal, and this is the output:
View attachment 1756623
and in ColorSync:
View attachment 1756624
I searched in the thread, and only found a post of @BadBiscuit with the same problem, but I don’t see, (or I don’t understand), any solution.

Any advice @Ausdauersportler?

EDIT:

Please check if you chose the NVIDIA metal patch option when creating the custom EFI for your system. @herrdude yesterday did but forgot to install it (it will contain the AppleBacklightFixup.kext enabled while my 0.6.8 folder does it either not have included at all or it is disabled).

So before searching again please check IF YOUR EFI FOLDER has included the AppleBacklightFixup.kext and enabled it through the config.plist.

If not, redo the creating of an EFI folder using OCLP and install it and reboot and test, again.

-

We can both make a search race!

There is at least another single post not made by @BadBiscuit about how to add the missing panel ID to the AppleBacklightFixup.kext Info.plist text file. You have to find this, right click the Extension (show package contents, enter Resources folder, open Info.plist and add the panel there in the same way as the others are listed. I am at the breakfast table writing from my iPad and somewhat limited to help right now.

If you find this particular post do not just link in the author, link the post number or link of the post directly into here....so I would not make to have the same search, again

 

[panwato]

EDIT:

Please check if you chose the NVIDIA metal patch option when creating the custom EFI for your system. @herrdude yesterday did but forgot to install it (it will contain the AppleBacklightFixup.kext enabled while my 0.6.8 folder does it either not have included at all or it is disabled).

So before searching again please check IF YOUR EFI FOLDER has included the AppleBacklightFixup.kext and enabled it through the config.plist.

If not, redo the creating of an EFI folder using OCLP and install it and reboot and test, again.

-

We can both make a search race!

There is at least another single post not made by @BadBiscuit about how to add the missing panel ID to the AppleBacklightFixup.kext Info.plist text file. You have to find this, right click the Extension (show package contents, enter Resources folder, open Info.plist and add the panel there in the same way as the others are listed. I am at the breakfast table writing from my iPad and somewhat limited to help right now.

If you find this particular post do not just link in the author, link the post number or link of the post directly into here....so I would not make to have the same search, again

Sorry.

The post I referred is #13573

Yes, I have applebacklightfixup.kext in EFI. (I “forced” Nvidia in OCLP)

Later I will do another test, now I understand how to put my panel ID in the plist. With the info in ColorSync, (4 last digits), my panel is

<key>F10T9cde</key>

Only one last question, the data string is the same in all Nvidia cards? Or change with the panel type/size?

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Sorry.

The post I referred is #13.572

Yes, I have applebacklightfixup.kext in EFI. (I “forced” Nvidia in OCLP)

Later I will do another test, now I understand how to put my panel ID in the plist. With the info in ColorSync, (4 last digits), my panel is

<key>F10T9cde</key>

Only one last question, the data string is the same in all Nvidia cards? Or change with the panel type/size?

It is always the same as you see. The last entry in the plist F10Txxxx has been prepared to add a new one. Copy, paste, replace xxxx with 9cde.

Here you find the updated one

P.S.: Already opened an issue with OCLP.

 

[panwato]

It is always the same as you see. The last entry in the plist F10Txxxx has been prepared to add a new one. Copy, paste, replace xxxx with 9cde.

Here you find the updated one

P.S.: Already opened an issue with OCLP.

I looked in my phone in the kext, and my panel type is in there.
This afternoon I will try with your kext, and compare to the OCLP one.

Thanks for all

 

[herrdude]

Sorry.

The post I referred is #13.572

Yes, I have applebacklightfixup.kext in EFI. (I “forced” Nvidia in OCLP)

Later I will do another test, now I understand how to put my panel ID in the plist. With the info in ColorSync, (4 last digits), my panel is

<key>F10T9cde</key>

Only one last question, the data string is the same in all Nvidia cards? Or change with the panel type/size?

I looked to see what the post is about. In fact it is post 13,573, the post you refer to is about a user having problems flashing his k610m card.

 

[Airknight]

Are you able to edit the config.plist of your OpenCore manually using tools like the OpenCore Configurator or Xcode or ProperTree (github)?

Add this to the boot-args: agdpmod=vit9696

Boot Flags | GPU Buyers Guide

or post your config.plist here and I will do the mod for you. You would need to copy the changed file back into ECI/OC and reboot the iMac.

EDIT:
Yes, it is the Late 2009 and the well known total black screen. Since I do not own a working iMac11,1 myself I cannot predict what happens, but I would assume the AGC patch will do the job or this OC mod.

Got the 11,1 working on Catalina this weekend, thank you!

The AGC patch did the trick. Had to install twice because the first time I forgot to uncheck the the 2011 and AMD mods, so replacing the original Kext for the 2009 #4,048 didn't work.

For now the Catalina works fine. Had quite some trouble getting the K1100M to work. It has Samsung memory on it, I have another one also with Hynix memory, I'll try this one later this week.

Having connected it to HDMI helped a lot.
The strange thing I noted that (before applying the AGC patch) I had the Black Screen issue, except if I booted with Option pressed. Selecting my new Catalina Partition there allowed me to start the system normally on the mac screen, allowing me to apply the AGC patch. This was t he shortest route for me.

Ungine still fails on OpenGL, will look into that later. Don't use it for gaming anyways.

I attached some screenprints. The black one is from the K1100m with Samsung memory on the ROM it came with. Sofar I noticed hardly any diffence between the machine on the Nick [D]vB K1100m ROM and an identical machine on the original shipped ROM. If there is use for it, I can post the the original ROM here too.

 

[panwato]

I looked to see what the post is about. In fact it is post 13,573, the post you refer to is about a user having problems flashing his k610m card.

Yes, edited.
Thx!

 

[sieuwe01]

Finally succes with the gpu upgrade! I bought another wx4130 and after flashing it using the Linux usb it fired right up! Thanks for the help.

So it turned out all my problems where because of a dead on arrival card.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

The Purge
​

Took some time, but I tried to reorg the first post (not the layout, but the contents). I deleted all (hopefully) references to Catalina Loader/OpenCore posts I made here during the last year (did not change the posts, though) and linked all references made to OpenCore (in the GPU tables and installation section) to the OpenCore Legacy Patcher.

• I strongly recommend to do all macOS installations in future using this tool. This includes High Sierra with AMD users.​
• The only (corner) case to use still the complex @dosdude1 and @Ausdauersportler package patch process is the Mid 2011 system using NVIDIA cards and needing Intel Quicksync working. Who needs this for sure?​
• AMD users should install OpenCore package generated to an pluggable USB/SD device (for the same reason we used Catalina Loader before). If you are sure the solution is mature (which I am) you can install it to the internal disk, too. This makes things a lot more easy. You will always get the OC book picker. All the systems I have built for my family using AMD cards are setup in this way (no Catalina Loader, internal EFI).​
• NVIDIA users can install it to the EFI partition of the internal disk.​
• AMD users should likely first install High Sierra into a small first partition as a fall back solution. Make sure that after a PRAM reset booting is done automatically into this High Sierra version. This way your always have a working machine. You still do not have an EFI Boot picker to force the system to boot an external disk etc.​
• Do not use the Catalina Loader with Big Sur. You cannot set it as the default boot object from the Big Sur system preferences. To achieve this one would have to boot High Sierra, choose Catalina Loader and then getting the OC boot picker.​
• Having more than one internal disks can end up with having more than one OpenCore installed (each disk can have at least one EFI partition), use the terminal command diskutil list to check this. This can end up in conflicting situations with weird side effects, lately I broke my OpenGL acceleration completely with all installed macOS versions at once (two disk Mid 2011 system still with Catalina Loader in use). The Highlander rule applies here: There can be only one OpenCore installed!​

If you find misleading information on the first post please reply. If you have questions about OCLP please read the documentation provided by the authors.

 

[sieuwe01]

The Purge
​

Took some time, but I tried to reorg the first post (not the layout, but the contents). I deleted all (hopefully) references to Catalina Loader/OpenCore posts I made here during the last year (did not change the posts, though) and linked all references made to OpenCore (in the GPU tables and installation section) to the OpenCore Legacy Patcher.

• I strongly recommend to do all macOS installations in future using this tool. This includes High Sierra with AMD users.​
• The only (corner) case to use still the complex @dosdude1 and @Ausdauersportler package patch process is the Mid 2011 system using NVIDIA cards and needing Intel Quicksync working. Who needs this for sure?​
• AMD users should install OpenCore package generated to an pluggable USB/SD device (for the same reason we used Catalina Loader before). If you are sure the solution is mature (which I am) you can install it to the internal disk, too. This makes things a lot more easy. You will always get the OC book picker. All the systems I have built for my family using AMD cards are setup in this way (no Catalina Loader, intern EFI).​
• NVIDIA users can install it to the EFI partition of the internal disk.​
• AMD users should likely first install High Sierra into a small first partition as a fall back solution. Make sure that after a PRAM reset booting is done automatically into this High Sierra version. This way your always have a working machine. You still do not have an EFI Boot picker to force the system to boot an external disk etc.​
• Do not use the Catalina Loader with Big Sur. You cannot set it as the default boot object from the Big Sur system preferences. To achieve this one would have to boot High Sierra, choose Catalina Loader and then getting the OC boot picker.​
• Having more than one internal disks can end up with having more than one OpenCore installed (each disk can have at least one EFI partition), use the terminal command diskutil list to check this. This can end up in conflicting situations with weird side effects, lately I broke my OpenGL acceleration completely with all installed macOS versions at once (two disk Mid 2011 system still with Catalina Loader in use). The Highlander rule applies here: There can be only one OpenCore installed!​

View attachment 1756716​

If you find misleading information on the first post please reply. If you have questions about OCLP please read the documentation provided by the authors.

So I don't need to use this one? https://forums.macrumors.com/thread....1596614/page-347?post=28769981#post-28769981.

Thanks

Sieuwe

 

[Ausdauersportler]

So I don't need to use this one? https://forums.macrumors.com/thread....1596614/page-347?post=28769981#post-28769981.

Thanks

Sieuwe

Please re read my last post carefully and check the first post about OpenCore!

EDIT: Never post your serial to the public, it can be abused!

 

[herrdude]

The Purge
​

Took some time, but I tried to reorg the first post (not the layout, but the contents). I deleted all (hopefully) references to Catalina Loader/OpenCore posts I made here during the last year (did not change the posts, though) and linked all references made to OpenCore (in the GPU tables and installation section) to the OpenCore Legacy Patcher.

• I strongly recommend to do all macOS installations in future using this tool. This includes High Sierra with AMD users.​
• The only (corner) case to use still the complex @dosdude1 and @Ausdauersportler package patch process is the Mid 2011 system using NVIDIA cards and needing Intel Quicksync working. Who needs this for sure?​
• AMD users should install OpenCore package generated to an pluggable USB/SD device (for the same reason we used Catalina Loader before). If you are sure the solution is mature (which I am) you can install it to the internal disk, too. This makes things a lot more easy. You will always get the OC book picker. All the systems I have built for my family using AMD cards are setup in this way (no Catalina Loader, intern EFI).​
• NVIDIA users can install it to the EFI partition of the internal disk.​
• AMD users should likely first install High Sierra into a small first partition as a fall back solution. Make sure that after a PRAM reset booting is done automatically into this High Sierra version. This way your always have a working machine. You still do not have an EFI Boot picker to force the system to boot an external disk etc.​
• Do not use the Catalina Loader with Big Sur. You cannot set it as the default boot object from the Big Sur system preferences. To achieve this one would have to boot High Sierra, choose Catalina Loader and then getting the OC boot picker.​
• Having more than one internal disks can end up with having more than one OpenCore installed (each disk can have at least one EFI partition), use the terminal command diskutil list to check this. This can end up in conflicting situations with weird side effects, lately I broke my OpenGL acceleration completely with all installed macOS versions at once (two disk Mid 2011 system still with Catalina Loader in use). The Highlander rule applies here: There can be only one OpenCore installed!​

View attachment 1756716​

If you find misleading information on the first post please reply. If you have questions about OCLP please read the documentation provided by the authors.

I just did a quick linguistic revision of the first post. A few typos here and there, otherwise good!

 

[Ausdauersportler]

I just did a quick linguistic revision of the first post. A few typos here and there, otherwise good!

Thanks!!

You should do that all the time! Four eyes see much more than....
And I would like to condense it a little bit, again.

 

[sieuwe01]

Please re read my last post carefully and check the first post about OpenCore!

Thanks. So I have made a usb installer of Big Sur using the instructions. I also patched the ego using the tool from legacy patcher. However how am I able to boot from this usb without a boot menu? I think the boot menu only shows after us is booted into the usb and is able to apply the patch? I don’t have a boot menu since I have just my original high Sierra install.

Also the usb is not avaible from the startup disk menu, so I can’t boot it like that.

How should I boot the usb?

thanks

sieuwe

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Got the 11,1 working on Catalina this weekend, thank you!

The AGC patch did the trick. Had to install twice because the first time I forgot to uncheck the the 2011 and AMD mods, so replacing the original Kext for the 2009 #4,048 didn't work.

For now the Catalina works fine. Had quite some trouble getting the K1100M to work. It has Samsung memory on it, I have another one also with Hynix memory, I'll try this one later this week.

Having connected it to HDMI helped a lot.
The strange thing I noted that (before applying the AGC patch) I had the Black Screen issue, except if I booted with Option pressed. Selecting my new Catalina Partition there allowed me to start the system normally on the mac screen, allowing me to apply the AGC patch. This was t he shortest route for me.

Ungine still fails on OpenGL, will look into that later. Don't use it for gaming anyways.

I attached some screenprints. The black one is from the K1100m with Samsung memory on the ROM it came with. Sofar I noticed hardly any diffence between the machine on the Nick [D]vB K1100m ROM and an identical machine on the original shipped ROM. If there is use for it, I can post the the original ROM here too.

That is promising news!

Pressing option on boot works for all other models expect the Late 2009 after a PRAM reset - that is why I call it total black screen. All this has been described in depth more than once.

Over the weekend everything has changed when it comes to install Mojave, Catalina, or Big Sur. The OCLP is the tool to be used, you would need to reinstall completely.

I will not support @dosdude1 patched installations any longer here and I will not spend any time on remote debugging such installation. I am about to reinstall every single macOS instance I have on my 5 iMacs. Sorry.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Thanks. So I have made a usb installer of Big Sur using the instructions. I also patched the ego using the tool from legacy patcher. However how am I able to boot from this usb without a boot menu? I think the boot menu only shows after us is booted into the usb and is able to apply the patch? I don’t have a boot menu since I have just my original high Sierra install.

Also the usb is not avaible from the startup disk menu, so I can’t boot it like that.

How should I boot the usb?

thanks

sieuwe

Two ways to boot strap:

Use Catalina Loader as described in the old times or install the OCLP generated EFI directly onto your single internal disk.

YOU are the beta tester right now.

 

[davidg5678]

AMD users will use the AMD GPU superior H.264 encoding and do not need Intel QuickSync and should use in any case the installation method described here!

Typo from first post: It should probably now say AMD users "should not use in any case"

 

[BuKandar83]

The only (corner) case to use still the complex @dosdude1 and @Ausdauersportler package patch process is the Mid 2011 system using NVIDIA cards and needing Intel Quicksync working. Who needs this for sure?

Me 😄

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Me 😄

Sorry, it is unsure if it ever comes back into Big Sur. There are people still working on it. But it will certainly mean real patching of the root filesystem as before with the micropatcher. So you are kind of stuck with patching and loss of OTA upgrades and so on.

 

[kral84]

@All the imac 12,2 with bluetooth problem use the patcher go to patcher settings and set Imac Metal GPU patch to true...after that build it new and tadaaaa its working