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

[panwato]

😩😩😩

No, there is no backlight control, even with the panel in applebacklightfixup.

@Ausdauersportler, now what? 😢
And yes, I tried your kext too.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

😩😩😩

No, there is no backlight control, even with the panel in applebacklightfixup.

@Ausdauersportler, now what? 😢
And yes, I tried your kext too.

Then you have to start over creating the EFI and installing. The backlight control will be enabled if you chose the NVIDIA metal GPU on EFI creation.
Do not forget a PRAM reset each time you change the OpenCore versions.

What is about testing and experimenting on your own @panwato?

 

[panwato]

Then you have to start over creating the EFI and installing. The backlight control will be enabled if you chose the NVIDIA metal GPU on EFI creation.
Do not forget a PRAM reset each time you change the OpenCore versions.

What is about testing and experimenting on your own @panwato?

Already created a new EFI, starting from the ground.

Yes, PRAM after every change I do.

Now, with your EFI folder (for AMD), and with your applebacklightfixup enabled in the config.plist, all is working perfectly.

So, there is something wrong with the EFI folder created with OCLP and my machine/configuration. But right now is above my knowledge what is wrong or what is missing.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Already created a new EFI, starting from the ground.

Yes, PRAM after every change I do.

Now, with your EFI folder (for AMD), and with your applebacklightfixup enabled in the config.plist, all is working perfectly.

So, there is something wrong with the EFI folder created with OCLP and my machine/configuration. But right now is above my knowledge what is wrong or what is missing.

You need to check propery when starting the OCLP that your system type iMac11,2 has been detected correctly. Otherwise you need to set it manually!

It is only about creating the EFI, not installing Big Sur.

Please send over only the config.plist of the OCLP generated EFI - I will take a look at it.

 

[internetzel]

It seems counter-intuitive to me that steps 1 and 2 (in that order) are the last steps to be used in OpenCore-Patcher.
Step 5 first, followed by 1 and 2 as last steps.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

It seems counter-intuitive to me that steps 1 and 2 (in that order) are the last steps to be used in OpenCore-Patcher.
Step 5 first, followed by 1 and 2 as last steps.

This GUI has grown as the support list has grown. We can be happy to have full support. This is at all no enumeration of steps, it is more a label in front of the action.

One hint:

If one has an UEFI installation of Windows one should not install OLCP onto the same internal EFI. The access to windows will hide behind the OLCP.

If you put it onto another drive of USB stick or SD card all works out fine. The MICROSOFT folder within the EFI will not be touched, it is just the iMac firmware which cannot handle more than one boot loader.

 

[panwato]

You need to check propery when starting the OCLP that your system type iMac11,2 has been detected correctly. Otherwise you need to set it manually!

It is only about creating the EFI, not installing Big Sur.

Please send over only the config.plist of the OCLP generated EFI - I will take a look at it.

Yes, iMac11,2 selected.

After, Build and install in internal.

Attached is the plist of OCLP.

Many thanks for all.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Yes, iMac11,2 selected.

After, Build and install in internal.

Attached is the plist of OCLP.

Many thanks for all.

Sorry, cannot see an obvious reason why this config should not do the job completely. All necessary things are there. You will have to wait for another user complaining about the iMac11,2+K1100 not working with OCLP.

My dad owns the very same type, in two weeks I will know more. Update time....

 

[panwato]

Sorry, cannot see an obvious reason why this config should not do the job completely. All necessary things are there. You will have to wait for another user complaining about the iMac11,2+K1100 not working with OCLP.

My dad owns the very same type, in two weeks I will know more. Update time....

Don’t worry, now is working with your EFI+AppleBacklightFixUp. It’s only for know why is not working. It’s a paranormal activity 😅

 

[sieuwe01]

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.

Got it all working! Eventually just pulled the ssd out and forced to boot from the usb. Then plugged the ssd back in using a usb to sata adapter.

In short the steps I did for anyone who is interested in the wx4130 and iMac 2011

1 I Started with a fresh high Sierra install to get latest bootrom. 87.xxx for my machine

2 created backup of boot rom using dosdude rom tool

3 enabled ssh and vnc in settings. Also installed macs fan control.

4 created bootable Linux usb with fla tools using steps from this post:
Post in thread '2011 iMac Graphics Card Upgrade'
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/2011-imac-graphics-card-upgrade.1596614/post-29723850

5 tested the bootable Linux usb before opening the imac to make sure it actually works.

6 installed the graphics card into the iMac. I used a 1mm copper plate to bridge the gap with the wx4130 and heat sink. Also used k9 pro between vram and heatsink.

In here I also changed the connector on the temp sensor of the gpu heat sink using the connector and wires from the hdd temp sensor so that’s the gpu temp sensor can be plugged into the hdd temp sensor connector. This is to enable fan control later on. With macs fan control.

7 used the Linux usb and ssh to flash the vbios. I used the dell rx560 2gb rom. Then rebooted.

8 After some waiting I booted into high Sierra. In high Sierra I followed the opencore legacy loader steps to create a bootable Big Sur installer with 2 partitions. One with the modded opencore efi partition made using the automatic tool and on the other partition the Big Sur installer. (This is explained well on the open core lagacy patcher instructions)

9 since there still is no bootpicker I forced to boot from the usb by unplugging all drives. Then when booted in the installer I added my ssd using a sata to usb converter.

10 then formatted the ssd to fully remove high Sierra.

11 followed the Big Sur installer steps to install Big Sur.

12 after some reboots and a long wait you will be greeted with Big Sur!

Hardware acceleration also seems to work just fine! Thanks for the help all.

greetings

sieuwe

 

[UA_imac]

Cards with BIOS from @stephle

• NVIDIA K3000M 2GB including 2011 three pipe heat sink and ODD thermo sensor
• NVIDIA K5000M 4GB including 2011 three pipe heat sink and ODD thermo sensor

Cards will run in Late 2009 and Mid 2010 27 inch iMac (iMac11,1 and iMac11,3) only. All tests with my 2011 failed when trying to connect the internal display (does not start with internal display connected).

Normally those cards can run in 2011 systems, too. Cannot explain this odd behavior. Had other test cards running in 2011 fine.

Hello! Nvidia K3000M 2GB HP Works well for me on iMac 27 2011!

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Hello! Nvidia K3000M 2GB HP Works well for me on iMac 27 2011!

Yes, I had more than one of them but had again and again these "does not boot with internal display connected" issues only in the Mid 2011 systems. For that reason I did not offer both cards for use in the 2011. @nikey22 uses his K5000M in an Mid 2011, too,
So we know it can work.

 

[passatgt]

Don’t worry, now is working with your EFI+AppleBacklightFixUp. It’s only for know why is not working. It’s a paranormal activity 😅

Can you check your display type? Does it have a VSync cable that connects to the LCD controller, or your LCD controller connects to the motherboard, like i mentioned in my post? Might be related, who knows. I believe this version is not that common, most iMacs had a different LG display where the VSync cable connects to the display directly.

 

[Sserna14]

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

Anyone else manage to resolve the VRAM issue with other cards? If there are 4gb versions of this card GTX 880m it would be nice to add it to the first post

 

[panwato]

Can you check your display type? Does it have a VSync cable that connects to the LCD controller, or your LCD controller connects to the motherboard, like i mentioned in my post? Might be related, who knows. I believe this version is not that common, most iMacs had a different LG display where the VSync cable connects to the display directly.

Yes, the screen has 4 cables.
- VSync
- LED backlight
(Both from LED driver board)
- The LVDS connector itself
- Temperature sensor.

 

[herrdude]

If I am not mistaken, the V-Sync and Temperature sensor are the same cable (at least for iMac 2011).

 

[Ausdauersportler]

If I am not mistaken, the V-Sync and Temperature sensor are the same cable (at least for iMac 2011).

No, the temp sensor is a 4 or 5 pin small connector right next to the smaller display connector.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Don’t worry, now is working with your EFI+AppleBacklightFixUp. It’s only for know why is not working. It’s a paranormal activity 😅

This can work - has been fixed in OCLP, too. Some kind of confusion about device path entries. Put both in, one will fit hopefully.

 

[herrdude]

That's true. So, the four cables that connect to the logic board are:
1. V-Sync
2. LCD Inverter
3. Backlight
4. LVDS

 

[The_Croupier]

That's true. So, the four cables that connect to the logic board are:
1. V-Sync
2. LCD Inverter
3. Backlight
4. LVDS

Unless your have @passatgt 2011 27" rarity, then there are only 3 cables from the lcd to the logic board.


Post in thread '2011 iMac Graphics Card Upgrade' https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/2011-imac-graphics-card-upgrade.1596614/post-29713402

 

[Plc-4-Mie-Haed]

Hi there,

I'm looking for some advice around the best place to buy a card for my 27" mid 2010 iMac. I live in NZ so shipping is expensive and I don't want to spend heaps and get a dud!

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

Hi there,

I'm looking for some advice around the best place to buy a card for my 27" mid 2010 iMac. I live in NZ so shipping is expensive and I don't want to spend heaps and get a dud!

If you don't have access to a local market, then everything is expensive. Aliexpress and Ebay are the most popular market to search oversea.
Good Luck!
I always looks in local market first. Remember that the cards were pulled out from gaming laptops, so inquires info from laptop parts shops maybe a good idea.

 

[THeKiNGs]

I think you can flash the 256mb Apple ROM onto this card, but you might need to replace the bios chip with a higher capacity one. I did a similar project with a 6750M, i bought a dell(or hp, i'm not sure, it was a long time ago) version with 1gb memory and it was running perfectly fine with the original 512mb apple rom after i replaced the bios chip(the apple bios size was larger than the original bios chip).

Also later i got a modified 1gb rom for this card(the apple rom was changed to address 1gb instead of 512mb) and that worked fine too. I'm not sure how to do this rom modification though.

Hi, can you please upload that rom for 6750m(the one that can address 1GB of memory)? Thanks!

 

[panwato]

This can work - has been fixed in OCLP, too. Some kind of confusion about device path entries. Put both in, one will fit hopefully.

Thx! I hope is fixed in the next version.

So, I have to create a new EFI with OCLP, change the plist and applebacklightfixup, right?

 

[Maki Fox]

Hey guys,



I have problem with the 27 iMac 2011, the video card is done, I have tried baking but overheated it and one of the mem chips came down. i have put it back but I don’t think it worth trying. Now I have two options that are quick. I have found a broken similar card which I can try baking or a 512 mb nvidia card form a 21 inch imac same year that is working. Not sure if this downgrade would work smoothly and easily and how the radiator matches up. What do you think? Thanks.