Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iM 4,1-14,4 2011 iMac Graphics Card Upgrade
- Thread starter MichaelDT
- WikiPost WikiPost
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
- Status
Ask
@ASentientBot came up with this nice solution:
Code:
defaults write com.apple.cmio CMIO_Unit_Input_ASC.DoNotUseOpenCL -bool trueIt disables acceleration when creating such screen video takes and after entering this line into a terminal I was able to save a video....
EDIT:
MacPro5,1 users of similar GPU types (such as RX470) do not have this problem. vBIOS or just an Apple bug?
My iMac11,3 with RX480 and BS 11.5.1 does not have this problem!
Last edited:
Everyone take a mofo break rn lol this is some op inspiration to share.. just some quick shh but just trying to lighten the moods here.. buy some kettle one and relax lol..
Last edited:
Hi,
I purchased a NVIDIA K3100M with 3 pipes.
I flashed with Nickey AFR.rom (tried before with the V4.rom and BFR.rom, they got stuck in the Apple logo) but I’m having some trouble, I’m getting this screen:
if I use the AFR.rom
i get this screen:
I’m using the mini display port to my TV, I got a black screen in my LCD.
I have installed High Sierra on my SDD (I didn’t wipe my drive), do I need to install Catalina using OpenCore?
Thanks in advance.
I purchased a NVIDIA K3100M with 3 pipes.
I flashed with Nickey AFR.rom (tried before with the V4.rom and BFR.rom, they got stuck in the Apple logo) but I’m having some trouble, I’m getting this screen:
if I use the AFR.rom
i get this screen:
I’m using the mini display port to my TV, I got a black screen in my LCD.
I have installed High Sierra on my SDD (I didn’t wipe my drive), do I need to install Catalina using OpenCore?
Thanks in advance.
Hello ,
I have a quick question about the recent AMD vBIOSes in development: I saw that there is a new ROM that could be flashed to the WX4170 for testing. I have a WX4150 --would this ROM be worth trying to run on my computer's GPU? Does it improve the performance of the lower end GPUs by unlocking more shaders, or is this a WX4130 specific thing?
Thank you!
I have a quick question about the recent AMD vBIOSes in development: I saw that there is a new ROM that could be flashed to the WX4170 for testing. I have a WX4150 --would this ROM be worth trying to run on my computer's GPU? Does it improve the performance of the lower end GPUs by unlocking more shaders, or is this a WX4130 specific thing?
Thank you!
1. The WX4130 and WX4150 vBIOS versions have the same core (so all shaders enabled), only a different memory config.
2 NO, you cannot run this WX4170 vBIOS on a WX4150 in a stable way. The new faster vBIOS is even not stable on the every WX4170 card, I got nightly and daily silent reboots and it took a while to find out the GPU was the culprit. Flashing back the WX4150 vBIOS fixed it.
Just a stupid question, in theory only.
On my iMac 2009~2010, already got Big Sur and OCLP tuned for AMD card,
If I connect the MXM slot to an external GPU, like AMD 5600XT (same chip as iMac 2020),
do you think it will work and show image (including boot screen) on the internal LCD?
I came across a local offer of this eGPU set-up. MXM to M2 adapter + M2 to PCIE 16X adapter (85$). A plastic case for the Graphic card + ATX PSU can be purchase separately. (~70$). The seller and some buyers claimed that this set-up worked on a Windows laptop with MXM slot.
I might try this with my GTX 680 first, then buy the AMD later.
On my iMac 2009~2010, already got Big Sur and OCLP tuned for AMD card,
If I connect the MXM slot to an external GPU, like AMD 5600XT (same chip as iMac 2020),
do you think it will work and show image (including boot screen) on the internal LCD?
I came across a local offer of this eGPU set-up. MXM to M2 adapter + M2 to PCIE 16X adapter (85$). A plastic case for the Graphic card + ATX PSU can be purchase separately. (~70$). The seller and some buyers claimed that this set-up worked on a Windows laptop with MXM slot.
I might try this with my GTX 680 first, then buy the AMD later.
Last edited:
In theory yes, but the mxm contains specific connectors that are operating by gpu, GPIO, etc. without them most of system would not operate as expected.
I was thinking about that idea, but solution is really weird: you can use internal display converter to hdmi.
As a proof project that is good concept: theory it will work. But reality: buy new intel Mac with thunderbolt and that all you need. Need to play some more games, just connect thunderbolt and play with it.
I am running AORUS egpu with custom design chassis. And thunder2 for pci expansion.
I've just contacted with the seller and he confirmed that the internal LCD will not display anything.
Project dropped.... sadly.
Can you make high quality pics or scanner pictures of that mxm board?
You can design your own pcb with adding dp connector and backlight pwm. But only if you confirm that this part can work with PCIE ssd
The pictures are snapshots taken from browser screen. Can't make it more details to see the board.
PCB design is actually beyond my skill level.
But from my chat with the seller, and from the video on post#1, it seems that they allocated iGPU to drive the internal LCD, while eGPU to drive another display.
I'll stick with the K3100m/K4100m solution for the safe side, while waiting for iBoff RCC to finish their board. It seems very prominent to me.
Last edited:
Hi all,
Haven't been here for a while, however have done several successful GPU swaps in the meantime. Thank you again for this great source of knowledge and everybody's experience.
Yesterday a friend brought me his 21.5 iMac 2011 i5 with failed Radeon. Swapped with flashed k1100m and to my surprise - there is no brightness control!
Tests I have done:
Unfortunately I have no working Radeon around to do the test with it. I'll try to reflow that dead one and if I can resurrect it at least for a while, I'll do the test and post the results.
In the meantime - do you have any clues where to look for the source of the problem or what to test (AppleBacklightFixup plist modification?). I have reread the #1 post, but have not gone through all latest couple hundred pages - maybe someone has already reported similar issue?
Thank you in advance.
Haven't been here for a while, however have done several successful GPU swaps in the meantime. Thank you again for this great source of knowledge and everybody's experience.
Yesterday a friend brought me his 21.5 iMac 2011 i5 with failed Radeon. Swapped with flashed k1100m and to my surprise - there is no brightness control!
Tests I have done:
- another k1100m,
- High Sierra with old OC (brightness available on the same HDD moved to 21.5 2010),
- BigSur with OCLP (brightness available on the same HDD moved to 21.5 2010),
- during the OS booting the screen deems a bit (that was usually the sign that modified kexts got loaded I guess...),
- the screen is reported by BigSur as LCD, main, active, brightness auto: yes, connection type: internal
- when I move the same HDD to 21.5 2010, BiGSur reports the screen in the other iMac in the same way, but the brightness slider is available.
Unfortunately I have no working Radeon around to do the test with it. I'll try to reflow that dead one and if I can resurrect it at least for a while, I'll do the test and post the results.
In the meantime - do you have any clues where to look for the source of the problem or what to test (AppleBacklightFixup plist modification?). I have reread the #1 post, but have not gone through all latest couple hundred pages - maybe someone has already reported similar issue?
Thank you in advance.
Last edited:
You have to install a new OCLP generated EFI for each different iMac system, again. You cannot just move around a single boot disk with a single EFI from one iMac to another. DeviceProperties are different, so brightness will not work.
The old Catalina Loader images had a simple generic config.plist working on all iMacs with those NVIDIA cards.
When running the OCLP TUI app your have seen that the app configures an EFI for a specific system, not a generic one. You cannot exchange configs between AMD and NVIDIA upgrades systems, too.
Sure - on that 2011 I use the EFI on the SD card generated by OCLP on that particular system. And the OS is not pathed in any other way.
Last edited:
Have you tried some earlier versions of OCLP? Maybe one will work for iMac 2011.
Get this tool, run on the command line
Code:
me@iMac % ./gfxutil | grep GFX
01:00.0 1002:67e8 /PCI0@0/P0P2@1/GFX0@0 = PciRoot(0x0)/Pci(0x1,0x0)/Pci(0x0,0x0)
me@iMac %and compare if the DeviceProperties path
PciRoot(0x0)/Pci(0x1,0x0)/Pci(0x0,0x0) entry in your config.plist is the same as the output of this tool. Having the wrong path is the only root cause making it impossible to get the brightness control working through OC using this type of card.
The paths do match:
The OCLP log:
Code:
Loading...
- Rerouting payloads location
- Install Disk set: disk2
- Set Disable SIP configuration
- Set Disable SecureBootModel configuration
- Set Disable AMFI configuration
- Using detected model: iMac12,1
Building Configuration on model: iMac12,1
Build folder already present, skipping
Deleting old copy of OpenCore folder
- Adding OpenCore v0.7.0 RELEASE
- Adding config.plist for OpenCore
- Adding Lilu.kext 1.5.4
- Adding WhateverGreen.kext 1.5.1
- Adding SMC-Spoof.kext 1.0.0
- Adding CPUFriend.kext 1.2.4
- Adding CatalinaBCM5701Ethernet.kext 1.0.1
- Adding AppleALC.kext 1.6.2
- Adding FeatureUnlock.kext 1.0.3
- No 3rd Party NVMe drives found
- Found Wireless Device 168C:30
- Adding IO80211HighSierra.kext 1.0.0
- Enabling Windows 10 UEFI Audio support
- Adding USB-Map.kext
- Adding AppleGraphicsPowerManagement Override
- Adding dual GPU patch
- Found GFX0 Device Path: PciRoot(0x0)/Pci(0x1,0x0)/Pci(0x0,0x0)
- Adding audio properties
- Detected dGPU: 10DE:FF6
- Found GFX0 Device Path: PciRoot(0x0)/Pci(0x1,0x0)/Pci(0x0,0x0)
- Adding Nvidia Brightness Control and DRM patches
- Disabling unsupported iGPU
- Adding OpenCanopy GUI
- Adding SATA Hibernation Patch
- Enabling ShowPicker
- Disabling SIP
- Disabling AMFI
- Disabling SecureBootModel
- Adding SD Card icon
- Setting macOS Monterey Supported SMBIOS
- Spoofing to iMacPro1,1
- Using Board ID: Mac-7BA5B2D9E42DDD94
- Using Minimal SMBIOS patching
- Cleaning up files
Your OpenCore EFI for iMac12,1 has been built at:
/private/tmp/Build-Folder/OpenCore-Build
Mounting disk2s1...
Copying OpenCore Files...
Unmounting disk2s1...
Done! Operation completed successfully.The kexts seem to be loaded:
There is no Backlightinjecor - is it supposed to be loaded permanently or is it just used during the boot?
What else could I check?
Last edited:
Looking for help moving the circuit, before looking at the forum someone shared a Dell Red PCB HD6770M replacement 128k capacity EEPROM to write a modified Dell HP VBiOS support iMac. i myself also have a Dell Red PCB HD6770M can work fine on iMac 2011 21.5 2011 27.
I recently acquired 10 HP M5950 cheaply, the pcb color has two kinds of blue and green compared to the Dell red PCB front missing EEPROM to make up for themselves, the back circuit has a difference part of the empty solder.
I'm pretty sure there is no problem soldering EEPROM, soldered 6 sheets are the same result can not read from the EEPROM to identify the correct VBiOS information written VBiOS written a different Dell HD6770M forum modified Dell HP iMac M5950 6770M are the same. It is blank in any case.
EEPROM is to purchase dozens of brand new Huabang 256kb capacity actual written VBiOS information is 128kb.
These M5950M 6770M are HP 8560W 8760W tested to determine that the graphics card is normal workmanship without any problems. In the PC PCIE adapter MXM development debug card test graphics card can also work properly run scores also no problem. gpu-z view VBiOS information is blank did not correctly read the various tests written by CH341A VBiOS information.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
I recently acquired 10 HP M5950 cheaply, the pcb color has two kinds of blue and green compared to the Dell red PCB front missing EEPROM to make up for themselves, the back circuit has a difference part of the empty solder.
I'm pretty sure there is no problem soldering EEPROM, soldered 6 sheets are the same result can not read from the EEPROM to identify the correct VBiOS information written VBiOS written a different Dell HD6770M forum modified Dell HP iMac M5950 6770M are the same. It is blank in any case.
EEPROM is to purchase dozens of brand new Huabang 256kb capacity actual written VBiOS information is 128kb.
These M5950M 6770M are HP 8560W 8760W tested to determine that the graphics card is normal workmanship without any problems. In the PC PCIE adapter MXM development debug card test graphics card can also work properly run scores also no problem. gpu-z view VBiOS information is blank did not correctly read the various tests written by CH341A VBiOS information.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Attachments
