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.
understood. Does brightness control work in windows ??

I see M4000M has like 30% more performance than a 780M and less heat dissipation, and can be found relatively cheap. Sounds like a good alternative for a windows-only setup.
Possibly one could finally start a new thread on this special topic? Most information about it is only available in a few brains or dispersed on a lot of posts on 600+ pages.

We can group all related iMac threads together as the MacPro users did.
 
  • Like
Reactions: m0bil and iMac-iPad
Possibly one could finally start a new thread on this special topic? Most information about it is only available in a few brains or dispersed on a lot of posts on 600+ pages.

We can group all related iMac threads together as the MacPro users did.
Couldn't agree more. I've just had to scan past 6 months of this thread to get a better picture of it. Maybe @G3llings and @jay508 can start a thread on this topic and shed some light... Some doubts I still have:

- A special vbios is needed to make M4000M drive the internal display, which one ?
- Driver install on windows is not straight forward (why?), you have to modify driver .inf or card ID on vbios
- No boot screen, and no internal screen until windows loads drivers. How to make windows install or recovery ?
- Does brightness control work ?
- Card stuck at low clock P5 or P8, had to modify vbios to change clocks in this state. Does this happen with all M4000M cards ? Maybe there's a way around this?


Feel tempted to build a windows gaming iMac for my kid and recover my 27'' for work hehe
 
  • Like
Reactions: G3llings
Couldn't agree more. I've just had to scan past 6 months of this thread to get a better picture of it. Maybe @G3llings and @jay508 can start a thread on this topic and shed some light... Some doubts I still have:

- A special vbios is needed to make M4000M drive the internal display, which one ?
- Driver install on windows is not straight forward (why?), you have to modify driver .inf or card ID on vbios
- No boot screen, and no internal screen until windows loads drivers. How to make windows install or recovery ?
- Does brightness control work ?
- Card stuck at low clock P5 or P8, had to modify vbios to change clocks in this state. Does this happen with all M4000M cards ? Maybe there's a way around this?


Feel tempted to build a windows gaming iMac for my kid and recover my 27'' for work hehe
@m0bil this VBiOS is I have modified the direct refresh M4000M graphics card can use the clock frequency test score normal, you have to use other models of graphics cards to install Windows7 or Windows10 system in exchange for a good refresh this VBiOS M4000M direct Nvidia official search M4000M model to download and install the public version The driver can be installed without any changes to the driver ID.INF.

I installed the correct driver in the form of a remote desktop so that its internal screen can display work .

I have to install the correct M4000M driver to display the internal screen, no startup screen No brightness adjustment screen has been running at maximum brightness. Other software APP can be adjusted I have not tried.
 

Attachments

  • M4000M.Windows.zip
    139.6 KB · Views: 84
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: m0bil
@m0bil this VBiOS is I have modified the direct refresh M4000M graphics card can use the clock frequency test score normal, you have to use other models of graphics cards to install Windows7 or Windows10 system in exchange for a good refresh this VBiOS M4000M direct Nvidia official search M4000M model to download and install the public version The driver can be installed without any changes to the driver ID.INF.

I installed the correct driver in the form of a remote desktop so that its internal screen can display work .

I have to install the correct M4000M driver to display the internal screen, no startup screen No brightness adjustment screen has been running at maximum brightness. Other software APP can be adjusted I have not tried.

Could you please move your contents to this thread?

 
Could you please move your contents to this thread?

Sorry I don't know how to edit the content in detail, my native language is Chinese, my English sucks very badly, it's all in translation form to read
 
Hi All.
I have an Imac 21" Mid 2011. Ive upgraded the memory and storage but now want to upgrade the Graphics so I can run something higher than high sierra.

A friend has a 1000M Quadro card I can have and was wondering if this will work or does it need to be a K1000M?

Thanks
 
Hi All.
I have an Imac 21" Mid 2011. Ive upgraded the memory and storage but now want to upgrade the Graphics so I can run something higher than high sierra.

A friend has a 1000M Quadro card I can have and was wondering if this will work or does it need to be a K1000M?

Thanks
Did you check the table in the first post? It is a beautifully organized listing all of the functioning cards. Cheers!
 
Did you check the table in the first post? It is a beautifully organized listing all of the functioning cards. Cheers!
Yes, I suppose I was hoping the non K version would work.

Anyway next question.

If I buy a K1000m card or any other compatible card instead of flashing the bios via linux etc can I just pop the bios chip off the board and program it with my prommer and solder it back on?
 
right now I have a m1 air but missing the cables. also I only have a modded iMac 27 2011 (see sig)
Xanderon can you please help me, i keep getting no such file or directory after cd /lib/live/mount/medium/flash in terminal. Im trying to flash my k2100m in Imac 12,2. :(
 
If I buy a K1000m card or any other compatible card instead of flashing the bios via linux etc can I just pop the bios chip off the board and program it with my prommer and solder it back on?

seems like an awful lot of work given that the Linux USB stick works just fine, but sure you could burn the vbios onto the chip directly.
 
in Unix (and in DOS for that matter) you can always "cd" to the first place (e.g. cd /lib) and then do a directory to see where to go next (e.g. ls)

so you could:

cd /lib
ls
cd live
ls
cd mount
ls
and so on until you get there
 
seems like an awful lot of work given that the Linux USB stick works just fine, but sure you could burn the vbios onto the chip directly.
Am I correct in thinking if I fitted k1000m it would be black screen until I flashed a bios via SSh or is it just no boot screen?. If its the first just flashing a bios via prommer would be quicker and easier for me.
 
Am I correct in thinking if I fitted k1000m it would be black screen until I flashed a bios via SSh or is it just no boot screen?. If its the first just flashing a bios via prommer would be quicker and easier for me.
First post, FAQ. First three questions. I am correct thinking you missed this?
 
  • Like
Reactions: herrdude
Am I correct in thinking if I fitted k1000m it would be black screen until I flashed a bios via SSh or is it just no boot screen?. If its the first just flashing a bios via prommer would be quicker and easier for me.
Considering that you will have to tear down the computer in both situations, I fail to see how it would be quicker and easier. I can flash a vbios in less than 2 minutes. How can it possibly be quicker to remove the bios chip, burn it, and resolder it? And as for easier, we are talking about issuing maybe up to 8-10 commands in Linux.
 
Am I correct in thinking if I fitted k1000m it would be black screen until I flashed a bios via SSh or is it just no boot screen?. If its the first just flashing a bios via prommer would be quicker and easier for me.
yes, until you have the right bios you're not going to get anything on the screen.

if you have the equipment and skills to unsolder and resolder that component then it could be quicker. but for most plugging a USB into the system and plugging in a ethernet cable is a bit easier.
 
Hi @Nick [D]vB @niky22 I found two AMD MXM graphics card models respectively
Ellesmere's AMD Radeon E9550 MXM
AMD Radeon Pro WX 3200 Mobile by Polaris 23

I don't know if it can be used on iMac
 

Attachments

  • Radeon E9550 A.JPG
    Radeon E9550 A.JPG
    291.4 KB · Views: 155
  • Radeon E9550 B.JPG
    Radeon E9550 B.JPG
    620.7 KB · Views: 105
  • Radeon Pro WX 3200 A.JPG
    Radeon Pro WX 3200 A.JPG
    400.7 KB · Views: 161
  • Radeon Pro WX 3200 B.JPG
    Radeon Pro WX 3200 B.JPG
    431.9 KB · Views: 186
Hi @Nick [D]vB @niky22 I found two AMD MXM graphics card models respectively
Ellesmere's AMD Radeon E9550 MXM
AMD Radeon Pro WX 3200 Mobile by Polaris 23

I don't know if it can be used on iMac
The E9950 is a embedded version of the WX7100 series.

The WX3200 is a really interesting and rare model. Did not know that AMD/HP released another MXM module after 2016/2017. It is a slightly downgraded version of the WX4150 (less #cores and lower memory frequency). There are also WX2100 MXM models. Never seen one in real life.

@internetzel is the one who made all recent AMD vBIOS versions. I guess he will chime in later.

Both should work (in principle) and both should have driver support in macOS.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: highvoltage12v
AMD Radeon Pro WX 3200 Mobile by Polaris 23

I don't know if it can be used on iMac
Polaris 23 corresponds to Polaris 12 also known as the Lexa core. That core is known to not be supported at all by macOS graphics drivers.
 
Last edited:
Hi @Nick [D]vB @niky22 I found two AMD MXM graphics card models respectively
Ellesmere's AMD Radeon E9550 MXM
AMD Radeon Pro WX 3200 Mobile by Polaris 23

I don't know if it can be used on iMac

This website is pretty interesting! Using the same page, I made a search for other suitable AMD GPUs: https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/?mfgr=AMD&slots=MXM Module&sort=released

Most of these MXM GPUs are not for sale anywhere on the internet, unfortunately, but at least it still seems like there is a small supply of WX4150 and WX4130 GPUs on eBay.

Prices have risen significantly in the last year though. I bought a WX4150 for $63 in December, and it seems like they are now worth $200, which is a bit too much of an investment for an 11-year-old computer in my opinion. I think that the ~$100 WX4130 GPUs that are still available make some sense right now though.

Too bad the WX3200 won't work --there is still a supply on eBay, and the price is reasonable.
 
I 've bought three 2011 27" iMacs with broken video cards and I've ordered GTX 780M cards from China for them.
The cards are mounted and working. The problem is, that all three cards only reach a score of around 1700 in Unigine Valley. According to the post on page 1 it should be something around 2600.

The max heatsink temperature during benchmark is 72ºC, even with all fans on maximum. The machines all have 3 pipe (modded) heatsinks. I used Arctic MX-4 for the GPU and K5-Pro instead of thermal pads.

What could be the reason for the cards underperforming in all 3 machines?
 

Attachments

  • Bildschirmfoto 2021-06-17 um 02.24.24.png
    Bildschirmfoto 2021-06-17 um 02.24.24.png
    600.1 KB · Views: 112
Last edited:
  • Haha
Reactions: Ausdauersportler
Hi,

I finally installed the K3000M in my iMac with @nikey22 ROM.

When I turn it on this is what I got in the external monitor, just black screen. I reset the PRAM and just get stuck or get the loop chime.

FBDC8BB5-06CC-4069-8C10-E64D99C04B40.jpeg


AC95B2FB-8398-41B3-86DA-6E10053DA6E7.jpeg


My SSD has High Sierra. I replaced and fixed the Q9001 transistor since I busted.



I have another SSD with a fresh installed High Sierra and I’m having the same issues black screen and the loop chime.

it will be software or hardware?

thanks I’m advance.
 
Hi,

I finally installed the K3000M in my iMac with @nikey22 ROM.

When I turn it on this is what I got in the external monitor, just black screen. I reset the PRAM and just get stuck or get the loop chime.




My SSD has High Sierra. I replaced and fixed the Q9001 transistor since I busted.



I have another SSD with a fresh installed High Sierra and I’m having the same issues black screen and the loop chime.

it will be software or hardware?

thanks I’m advance.

Seems more about hardware than software to my naked eyes.
You can swap the K3000m with a stock GPU to isolate the issues.
 
I 've bought three 2011 27" iMacs with broken video cards and I've ordered GTX 780M cards from China for them.
The cards are mounted and working. The problem is, that all three cards only reach a score of around 1700 in Unigine Valley. According to the post on page 1 it should be something around 2600.

The max heatsink temperature during benchmark is 72ºC, even with all fans on maximum. The machines all have 3 pipe (modded) heatsinks. I used Arctic MX-4 for the GPU and K5-Pro instead of thermal pads.

What could be the reason for the cards underperforming in all 3 machines?

If the CPU and GPU performance is constantly below what is expected, it is often a thermal throttle in order to avoid over heating. I had this after swapping my CPU, when I forgot to plug in the CPU heatsink sensor cable.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ausdauersportler
Hi everyone,
I've been following you for some time but it's my first post, I'm Italian

Hardware: Imac 27" 2011 last firmware + Nvidia K3000M flashed by Nikey22 rom

Problem: with the internal display connected, imac does not turn on (only the first LED turns on). With the internal display disconnected (internal cable) everything works ok but only in the external display, as shown in the pictures.
With the original Apple graphics card everything works perfectly

Attention: as you can see, macfan control sees 2 GPUs, maybe it can be useful to solve the problem?

Thanks for can answer me

1623921345403.png
1623921390949.png
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.