Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Status
The first post of this thread is a WikiPost and can be edited by anyone with the appropiate permissions. Your edits will be public.
Q9001 (2N7002 MOSFET) lost its housing. This component turns on the display. It may still work, maybe unreliably, since the display is OK with the old GPU...
replaced the part, the image appeared on the old video card and the native screen, but the 880 does not want to leave the image, what else can you do?standard video card 4 diodes are on, 880 3 diodes are on
 
Last edited:
replaced the part, the image appeared on the old video card and the native screen, but the 880 does not want to leave the image, what else can you do?standard video card 4 diodes are on, 880 3 diodes are on
The classical most annoying and well known and documented NVIDIA black screen issue? It was a late 2009, right?

Would you like to add a signature to your account settings before posting? This guessing thing drives me mad.
 
The classical most annoying and well known and documented NVIDIA black screen issue? It was a late 2009, right?

Would you like to add a signature to your account settings before posting? This guessing thing drives me mad.
yes, this is 2009-i7, I installed the patch and I don’t know what to do next, it doesn’t work
 
yes, this is 2009-i7, I installed the patch and I don’t know what to do next, it doesn’t work
Still no signature! Reading the first post instead of letting me repeating it here might be a plan?

You have to fully boot the patched High Sierra with the new card to overcome the black screen. It does not magically go away when you have it just installed, but not booted.

After a PRAM reset the internal screen will become black again and you will have to do a fully boot....

There are a few options left:

1. new GPU is not working
You need to check it in another iMac or Laptop

2. AGC patch installed incorrectly
In case you have a second Mac available install High Sierra on another sata drive, reinstall the patch and try

Another option will be to put OCLP onto the EFI partition of that disk and boot through OC, too. This way you will get the other software option installed to avoid the black screen issue. But the same rule applies: Screen comes up after a full boot.

3. Get an external monitor (most easy option)

Connect via display port and check if you get a boot screen on the external screen. It should work in any case. If not, watch out option #1.
 
Still no signature! Reading the first post instead of letting me repeating it here might be a plan?

You have to fully boot the patched High Sierra with the new card to overcome the black screen. It does not magically go away when you have it just installed, but not booted.

After a PRAM reset the internal screen will become black again and you will have to do a fully boot....

There are a few options left:

1. new GPU is not working
You need to check it in another iMac or Laptop

2. AGC patch installed incorrectly
In case you have a second Mac available install High Sierra on another sata drive, reinstall the patch and try

Another option will be to put OCLP onto the EFI partition of that disk and boot through OC, too. This way you will get the other software option installed to avoid the black screen issue. But the same rule applies: Screen comes up after a full boot.

3. Get an external monitor (most easy option)

Connect via display port and check if you get a boot screen on the external screen. It should work in any case. If not, watch out option #1.
I connect an external monitor and everything is working, the video card is determined, forgive me the problem with the complexity of the translation, I correctly understood that I need to reinstall the high-sier after replacing the video card, even if it is installed?
 
I connect an external monitor and everything is working, the video card is determined, forgive me the problem with the complexity of the translation, I correctly understood that I need to reinstall the high-sier after replacing the video card, even if it is installed?
No problem. If your internal display is working now you already have the (AGC) patch needed for the black screen installed correctly.

Just keep in mind after every PRAM reset the internal screen will remain dark until the iMac boot into your patched High Sierra is finished.

If you plan to move on the Mojave, Catalina or Big Sur just use the OpenCore Legacy Patcher (OCLP). It has the patch already included!!! Do not use @dosdude1 patchers with your iMac (Late 2009 or Mid 2010) any longer!

Signature!!! You macrumors account -> Signature - add there your hardware like I did!
 
No problem. If your internal display is working now you already have the (AGC) patch needed for the black screen installed correctly.

Just keep in mind after every PRAM reset the internal screen will remain dark until the iMac boot into your patched High Sierra is finished.

If you plan to move on the Mojave, Catalina or Big Sur just use the OpenCore Legacy Patcher (OCLP). It has the patch already included!!! Do not use @dosdude1 patchers with your iMac (Late 2009 or Mid 2010) any longer!

Signature!!! You macrumors account -> Signature - add there your hardware like I did!
the internal display does not work. I use the TV as a display, see my hands are crooked or I don't understand how to install it because of the language
 
I turned it off, in general, I spent 3 weeks on my Mac experimenting
Have you ever checked the contents of the /System/Library/Extensions ? The files named in the Package installer like the FakeSMC* should be there.

You could have tried to search them. I get tired of these endless repeating message „if does not work“. I have to pull every detail out of your nose and even then I do not get more then „I tried three weeks“.

I tried three weeks to become an NHL pro - did not really worked out so far.
 
the internal display does not work. I use the TV as a display, see my hands are crooked or I don't understand how to install it because of the language
With external display connected boot into High Sierra, go to power saver and set sleep to 1 min, let the computer sleep, full sleep not just display sleep, wait for fans and hard drive to go quiet.

After a minute or so wake up the iMac and see if your internal screen comes on.

Works on my son's 2009 i7 with GTX 880m.

EDIT:
I just realised I already explained this to you in post # 14706

Post in thread '2011 iMac Graphics Card Upgrade' https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/2011-imac-graphics-card-upgrade.1596614/post-29935271

I'm guessing you didn't try it because you didn't reply back then 🙄
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Ausdauersportler
Have you ever checked the contents of the /System/Library/Extensions ? The files named in the Package installer like the FakeSMC* should be there.

You could have tried to search them. I get tired of these endless repeating message „if does not work“. I have to pull every detail out of your nose and even then I do not get more then „I tried three weeks“.

I tried three weeks to become an NHL pro - did not really worked out so far.
With external display connected boot into High Sierra, go to power saver and set sleep to 1 min, let the computer sleep, full sleep not just display sleep, wait for fans and hard drive to go quiet.

After a minute or so wake up the iMac and see if your internal screen comes on.

Works on my son's 2009 i7 with GTX 880m.

EDIT:
I just realised I already explained this to you in post # 14706

Post in thread '2011 iMac Graphics Card Upgrade' https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/2011-imac-graphics-card-upgrade.1596614/post-29935271

I'm guessing you didn't try it because you didn't reply back then 🙄
Thank you all, everything worked out.
I installed Big Sur and a number of Windows 10, only for some reason, then the Boot Camp does not work when loading, the choice of wasps can be selected. Once again, thank you very much for your help.
 
Test GTX 880 big sur
Снимок экрана 2021-06-04 в 02.19.18.png
 
  • Like
Reactions: york026
I was approach by a family member asking for some help, after watching my wife iMac now running BigSur after I upgraded the GPU.
I say yes and help so we swap the stock GPU with a K2000 for a Dell machine, we flashed the card actually two cards. to not make the story long, the hole process was done and we ended up with some vertical lines.

i though we had ended up with some defective GPU, so we got a second one and we had the same results.
I checked all cables missing or nock down components on the logic board and all is ok, nothing missing or with noticeable damage.

Could it be possible to have those line due to a defective LCD? i will be taking the LCD of mi iMac to test i just wanted to see if anyone had any similar experience.

This was done on iMac 2010.

I will keep researching and repost with updated information.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_6883.jpg
    IMG_6883.jpg
    125.7 KB · Views: 230
  • IMG_6884.jpg
    IMG_6884.jpg
    419.7 KB · Views: 245
  • IMG_6885.jpg
    IMG_6885.jpg
    789.9 KB · Views: 232
  • IMG_6887.jpg
    IMG_6887.jpg
    597.6 KB · Views: 223
  • IMG_6888.jpg
    IMG_6888.jpg
    935.5 KB · Views: 255
  • IMG_6889.jpg
    IMG_6889.jpg
    655.2 KB · Views: 250
I was approach by a family member asking for some help, after watching my wife iMac now running BigSur after I upgraded the GPU.
I say yes and help so we swap the stock GPU with a K2000 for a Dell machine, we flashed the card actually two cards. to not make the story long, the hole process was done and we ended up with some vertical lines.

i though we had ended up with some defective GPU, so we got a second one and we had the same results.
I checked all cables missing or nock down components on the logic board and all is ok, nothing missing or with noticeable damage.

Could it be possible to have those line due to a defective LCD? i will be taking the LCD of mi iMac to test i just wanted to see if anyone had any similar experience.

This was done on iMac 2010.

I will keep researching and repost with updated information.
Are you sure those lines were not there before? I have the same symptom (those thin vertical lines, which appear to be moving like 'marching ants') on two 27' 2009 machines and even one 27' 2011 machine. I never saw this on a 21.5' machine. (Other thread readers be wary: Do not look for those lines! Once you see them, you can't unsee them...)

I can confirm it is the LCD - I swapped LCD panels (one symptom-free, the other affected) between two 27' 2011 machines and the symptom remained on the affected LCD panel. I'd like to find a solution, too. My first attempt will be swapping the T-con board of the affected panel with a new one (once I receive it).
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ausdauersportler
I was approach by a family member asking for some help, after watching my wife iMac now running BigSur after I upgraded the GPU.
I say yes and help so we swap the stock GPU with a K2000 for a Dell machine, we flashed the card actually two cards. to not make the story long, the hole process was done and we ended up with some vertical lines.

i though we had ended up with some defective GPU, so we got a second one and we had the same results.
I checked all cables missing or nock down components on the logic board and all is ok, nothing missing or with noticeable damage.

Could it be possible to have those line due to a defective LCD? i will be taking the LCD of mi iMac to test i just wanted to see if anyone had any similar experience.

This was done on iMac 2010.

I will keep researching and repost with updated information.

I have the same problem, but on my TV.
This is a very typical symptom of bad contact on the LCD panel, or the LVDS cable.
To exclude the GPU from possibilities, just hook a cable to an external display like a TV to see. There would be no lines on the external display, if it is good.

Vertical lines caused by defect GPU are very different.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ausdauersportler
A short plan how to change the GPU and prepare tools and software (04/06/2023)

Like the hardware section I decided to move this to the thread into a post because we hit the limit of the firsts posts size. Which each change there I have to delete some other mostly interesting stuff.

  1. Torx T8, T10, suction cups for the glass panel and Philipps screw driver for memory door to open and disassemble system
  2. Optional external monitor connected via display port, it greatly helps on NVIDIA and AMD based systems to overcome black screen issues.

  1. A great source of repair guides for any Mac is the ifixit.com website. It has repair guides for each iMac model and very often a graphics card replacement guide, too. Pictures and text in a Lego alike plan.
  2. You may also search the usual video platforms, although I am not a friend of these in general. Wasting 30 minutes of life time to get information which can be searched and read in minutes…
  3. Check the FAQ on the first post of this thread if you miss details.

This plan is not complete and because we have eight different iMac systems with different architectures, five different (unsupported) MacOS versions, nearly 50 graphics working cards in mainly 5 flavours, there cannot exist a simple single plan.

Most important fact: You need to flash the GPU with the vBIOS from this thread, otherwise you will not get an output on your internal screen (in most cases). Follow the steps in the same order as listed below.
  1. Choose a GPU from the tables on post #1, get the card (we do not comment on sellers). Take a photo of both sides of the card and save them for later trouble shooting before installing it!
  2. Upgrade your iMac boot rom firmware to the latest version (mandatory) by installing High Sierra on an internal disk including all recent Apple upgrades! Open your High Sierra for remote access, screen sharing and remote login (ssh) to be able to check success even if the display remains black!
  3. After opening the iMac and removing the display panel make some pictures of the system board and all connectors. Although all connectors are different it gives you a fall back in case you get confused during the re-installation. Bundle all cables on the top of the board, on the right near the ODD fan and un the left near the CPU fan. This way you make sure all cables remain above the system board on re-installation. Make sure all other cables (WLAN/BT) are visible and accessible. Using tape to fix the loose ends can help!
  4. AMD M4000/M5100/M6000/W5170M card, only: Install OpenCore with OCLP into your internal disk, choose MXM AMD GCN from developer settings.
  5. Use the GMRL tool to save your iMac firmware and store it externally (highly recommended). Same tool will flash the vBIOS - on stop shop solution.
  6. Do you want to flash before installation? Get a CH341A clip programmer and install flashrom using brew on another Mac and flash (works only with AMD cards and MXM-A Nvidia cards!). Now get the most recent BIOS version following the links in the tables of post #1 and flash the card! Check the FAQ Q3 for all flashing options. Best option: GMRL tool!
  7. AMD GPU (recommended): Use EnableGop vBIOS versions for this repository.
  8. Now install the card physically on the sink using K5 pro thermal paste for memory and Artic MX-4 (or similar) for the GPU! Some cards will need a copper plate, check tables of first post. Some cards need some heat sink modification.
  9. Now relocate the ODD temperature sensor and glue it on the sink (not needed with K610M and M4000). Finally install the GPU and sink back in your iMac!
  10. Do you need to flash your GPU after installation? Use the Linux GMRL tool.
  11. Now you should have flashed the GPU. Otherwise it may not work at all or work only in a very limited manner. So flashing is mandatory!
  12. Now check the basic functionality with the latest supported OS which is High Sierra (highly recommended). This way you can track your problems down and do not struggle with unsupported macOS versions on your iMac. AMD Venus cards will need OC boot to get there.
  13. Install Macs Fan Control to control the ODD fan according to the GPU heat sink temp sensor (highly recommended). Even if you have relocated the ODD sensor to use it with the Apple SMC some cards tend to overheat quickly because they were not designed to run in an iMac!
  14. NVIDIA card owners: Apply basic patches like the AGC if you experience a black screen or use OCLP (see first post)
  15. You need OpenCore? Now install OpenCore provided by OCLP app.
  16. Make load test (UNIGINE valley and Geekbench5 metal and Metalbench) and submit results (see above)
  17. Get used to the tools, especially with OpenCore (OCLP) and Macs Fan Control
  18. Now, after checking your card completely, move on to Mojave or Catalina or Big Sur or Monterey or Ventura using OCLP (details see on post #1)
  19. iMac Mid 2011 + NVIDIA if you want to run Mojave or Catalina:
    Check out the @dosdude1 section on the post #1 if you want to use QuickSync, OCLP does not support QuickSync. QuickSync is an HD3000 iGPU feature not available on OCLP based Big Sur and later.
An external display is of great help to check success even before you reinstalled your internal display. Get one or borrow one!

Whenever you have problems come back to this post #1 and read the guides. There have been hundreds of successful installations during the last year.

There is a link of the famous post #1 in the my signature below.
 
Last edited:
I was approach by a family member asking for some help, after watching my wife iMac now running BigSur after I upgraded the GPU.
I say yes and help so we swap the stock GPU with a K2000 for a Dell machine, we flashed the card actually two cards. to not make the story long, the hole process was done and we ended up with some vertical lines.

i though we had ended up with some defective GPU, so we got a second one and we had the same results.
I checked all cables missing or nock down components on the logic board and all is ok, nothing missing or with noticeable damage.

Could it be possible to have those line due to a defective LCD? i will be taking the LCD of mi iMac to test i just wanted to see if anyone had any similar experience.

This was done on iMac 2010.

I will keep researching and repost with updated information.
Good morning!

This is a (known) problem of some panels. Even official Apple repair shops knew this problem and sometimes in the past customers got the panel or electronics changed (do not know for sure). Last year I had one such panel and I can confirm the problem moves with the panel when moving it to different iMac systems.

For some month we know from @Airknight that one change the complete interface of the panel including the display connector and vertical sync cable. Possibly the problem is related to that part as @Nguyen Duc Hieu suggested.

It is definitely not a problem of the graphics card or the iMac. So save your time with doing wild and exhausting experiments.
 
It
Thank you all, everything worked out.
I installed Big Sur and a number of Windows 10, only for some reason, then the Boot Camp does not work when loading, the choice of wasps can be selected. Once again, thank you very much for your help.
It would be nice if you tell the audience what solved your black screen problem.

Cheers.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ausdauersportler
Hello everybody. I need help.
My imac is 27 (2010).
1) bought nvidia k1100m (elpida vram)
2) flashed rom1 for elpida vram k1100m
3) installed k1100m in imac.
4) black screen of the internal display. connected an external display - it works.
5) installed High Sierra, updated bootrom.
6) reboot
7) disabled SIP (csrutil status disable)
8) reboot
9) installed pkg (install iMac nvidia black Screen patch) selected vit9696 lilu / whatevergreen patch.
10) reboot

internal display black screen

files lilu / whatevergreen in extentions folder
have

In display settings, the internal display is not shown

reinstalled high sierra many times and once the display worked. but after resetting the pram black screen
 

Attachments

  • IMG_1927.jpg
    IMG_1927.jpg
    703.2 KB · Views: 319
  • IMG_1928.jpg
    IMG_1928.jpg
    915.2 KB · Views: 263
  • IMG_1931.jpg
    IMG_1931.jpg
    818.8 KB · Views: 280
  • IMG_1937.jpg
    IMG_1937.jpg
    1,021.5 KB · Views: 317
  • IMG_1807.jpg
    IMG_1807.jpg
    390.9 KB · Views: 326
Last edited:
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.