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

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The first post of this thread is a WikiPost and can be edited by anyone with the appropiate permissions. Your edits will be public.
Okay, Card arrived here very fast. It tourned out that it is a k3000m not a k3100m.
The Mac bootet into windows very well (without screen, but rdp does work).
Flashed booth available K3000m bios versions, but the screen stays black. So i do assume correctly that, in order to get the backlight running the screen needs to be driven correctly?

I got a IMac mid 2010 (socket 1156).
 
Revoxy said:
Okay, Card arrived here very fast. It tourned out that it is a k3000m not a k3100m.
The Mac bootet into windows very well (without screen, but rdp does work).
Flashed booth available K3000m bios versions, but the screen stays black. So i do assume correctly that, in order to get the backlight running the screen needs to be driven correctly?

I got a IMac mid 2010 (socket 1156).
Click to expand...
Tried to read the known issues section right above the NVIDIA table?
 
Yes i red about issue 4. But i haven't done any pramreset between old an new card.

But think i found the Problem: The Card was not even a "k" 3000 it was an old version.

I was a bit irritated when i read "40nm" in GPUz (thought it was caused by the standard windows driver). So the card that i got is a GF104.

I flashed it back to stock rom and hope the seller can send me a real "k" one.
 
Bitterman said:
Good day,

I got my hands on an iMac 27" 12,2 with a defect graphics card.
So I searched the internet, to find a way to get the iMac up and running again.
First try was the BAKE method - and hell yeah - it worked.

Then I found this thread on macrumors
First many thanks to all users, who make this possible.
I became very curious and got me an k2100m on the internet.

The assembly wasn't that hard, as there wasn't modifications needed.
Flashing the bios was also no problem.
Then the moment of truth - starting the iMac and after some seconds the login screen appeared.
Great!

But then, after some time - I suspect the screensaver or sleep mode - the monitor has turned black and I haven't found a way to get it running again. Currently three status LED lights green
I'm aware of the Black Screen Issue mentioned on the first page.
So I create a OCLP medium (not an USB-stick but an old extern hdd) and added the agdpmod=vit9696 in the boot-args.
Unfortunately, nothing happens.

I hope someone can give me hint, what to do next, so the monitor is working again.

Many thanks in advance
Click to expand...
a little update
The internal lcd still refuses to work with the k2100m and BigSur.

What have I tried so far:
As seen in some post, it may not be nessessary to added agdpmod=vit9696 as boot-args. So I build a new version without this parameter, but it has done little to help.

Next I tried an external monitor via mini display port. This functioned perfectly, but it cannot be the solution.
So I would rule out a defect graphics card.

Then I read about some hardware issue and a defect transistor that could explain the behaviour.
Therefore I exchange the k2100m with the old AMD 6970m - the internal display came up with no problem.
Booting Big Sur via OCLP also works.

Has someone a hint/idea what I could try next

Regards
 
Bitterman said:
a little update
The internal lcd still refuses to work with the k2100m and BigSur.

What have I tried so far:
As seen in some post, it may not be nessessary to added agdpmod=vit9696 as boot-args. So I build a new version without this parameter, but it has done little to help.

Next I tried an external monitor via mini display port. This functioned perfectly, but it cannot be the solution.
So I would rule out a defect graphics card.

Then I read about some hardware issue and a defect transistor that could explain the behaviour.
Therefore I exchange the k2100m with the old AMD 6970m - the internal display came up with no problem.
Booting Big Sur via OCLP also works.

Has someone a hint/idea what I could try next

Regards
Click to expand...
Put the K2100M, boot your system and rewrite OC through OCLP with the NVIDIA GPU installed. This might enable the internal LCD finally.

BTW:
OLCP is a program to generate and write a complete OpenCore (OC) fitting to your current hardware onto your EFI partition. Changing the hardware without rerunning OCLP breaks main functionality.
 
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So maybe there's a chance.. i connect via ssh to my imac, backup original rom, i remove the protecion and when i launch the command for write bios.. i have the followinf error.. i have a K4100M GPU

Schermata 2021-11-14 alle 00.05.40.png
 
nick0k said:
So maybe there's a chance.. i connect via ssh to my imac, backup original rom, i remove the protecion and when i launch the command for write bios.. i have the followinf error.. i have a K4100M GPU

View attachment 1909883
Click to expand...
The .rom file is in the quadro subfolder. Try replacing the K4100M_BR.rom part of your command with ./quadro/K4100M_BR.rom.
 
Ausdauersportler said:
Thanks for confirming our thoughts. This is consistent to all results we got from the past seven years on this thread, and expected, too.

The Late 2009 21.5 and 24 models need a different vBIOS - we had this discussion before about the ATI HD4670 - which comes with two different vBIOS version used in C2D (LVDS) and in Intel i-series machines using the eDP internal display connection.

Unfortunately I have no access to such LVDS systems to do further test. Since there are so many GPU dead i-series 2009-2011 systems I would advice to get such a system cheap on the 2nd hand market.
Click to expand...
Would a early 2009 iMac via remote internet connection do the job too? Though I am still waiting for my new card…
 
Last edited:
Hello.

First of all thanks for this great forum, I have used it a lot the past couple of weeks.

I need to upgrade my iMac (to Catalina) to run some specific software, therefore I bought a Gtx 880m from Ebay with should be flashed by seller.
I have tried a lot, read a lot, searched a lot, but everything I do, don't do anything.
The card is only showing black screen, no dp works.
I can here the boot chime and verify with sound that I arrived at the login screen. led 1+2 Is on, nothing else.
Tried fresh high Sierra install, with and without sip, backlight fixes, and everything else I could find on this page.

ssh with the linux usb can't find any nVidia adapter.
Seller says it should work as plug n play from him, but I must be because iam using a 2010 and not a 2011 machine.


Did I receive a dead gpu or am I doing it completely wrong /missing something.
 

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rcmn said:
Hello.

First of all thanks for this great forum, I have used it a lot the past couple of weeks.

I need to upgrade my iMac (to Catalina) to run some specific software, therefore I bought a Gtx 880m from Ebay with should be flashed by seller.
I have tried a lot, read a lot, searched a lot, but everything I do, don't do anything.
The card is only showing black screen, no dp works.
I can here the boot chime and verify with sound that I arrived at the login screen. led 1+2 Is on, nothing else.
Tried fresh high Sierra install, with and without sip, backlight fixes, and everything else I could find on this page.

ssh with the linux usb can't find any nVidia adapter.
Seller says it should work as plug n play from him, but I must be because iam using a 2010 and not a 2011 machine.


Did I receive a dead gpu or am I doing it completely wrong /missing something.
Click to expand...
Return your card if you cannot get it working. This is not a support organization of ebay or AliExpress sellers.

A warning about these cards has been placed on the first post. If you decide to ignore it please face the consequences on your own.

The vBIOS (if flashed to the chip) would support the card in every iMac listed on the first post.

May I remember that there is no NVIDIA support on Monterey any longer. The price of more than 200 USD for a used ten year old card is ridiculous.
 
Last edited:
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rcmn said:
Hello.

First of all thanks for this great forum, I have used it a lot the past couple of weeks.

I need to upgrade my iMac (to Catalina) to run some specific software, therefore I bought a Gtx 880m from Ebay with should be flashed by seller.
I have tried a lot, read a lot, searched a lot, but everything I do, don't do anything.
The card is only showing black screen, no dp works.
I can here the boot chime and verify with sound that I arrived at the login screen. led 1+2 Is on, nothing else.
Tried fresh high Sierra install, with and without sip, backlight fixes, and everything else I could find on this page.

ssh with the linux usb can't find any nVidia adapter.
Seller says it should work as plug n play from him, but I must be because iam using a 2010 and not a 2011 machine.


Did I receive a dead gpu or am I doing it completely wrong /missing something.
Click to expand...
If card is not recognized on linux ("lspci" and "nvflash" can't find the card) then you have a hardware problem. To discard installation problems you can try to boot without heatsink attached to card and see if linux can find the card that way. Do NOT have the card without heatsink for more than 30 to 60 secs, it's risky.
 
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So i'm making usb installer with Mojave, because now my ssd don't have macos.. can i start a clean installation and after install OCLP for patch?
 
rcmn said:
Hello.

First of all thanks for this great forum, I have used it a lot the past couple of weeks.

I need to upgrade my iMac (to Catalina) to run some specific software, therefore I bought a Gtx 880m from Ebay with should be flashed by seller.
I have tried a lot, read a lot, searched a lot, but everything I do, don't do anything.
The card is only showing black screen, no dp works.
I can here the boot chime and verify with sound that I arrived at the login screen. led 1+2 Is on, nothing else.
Tried fresh high Sierra install, with and without sip, backlight fixes, and everything else I could find on this page.

ssh with the linux usb can't find any nVidia adapter.
Seller says it should work as plug n play from him, but I must be because iam using a 2010 and not a 2011 machine.


Did I receive a dead gpu or am I doing it completely wrong /missing something.
Click to expand...
With that price, you should seriously consider an AMD GPU if a/v e.g WX4150 which runs cooler and speedier and still supported by the latest macOS ...
 
Hi to everyone,

I have installed K3000M Graphic Card with High Sierra but It doesn't updated boot rom to 87.0.0.0 Can I flash directly rom v4? thanks!
 
That's done.. maybe.. Big Sur!
With Benchmark Valley the gpu temp is over 70 degrees.. in Mac fan control I check the gpu peci for fan control?

Schermata 2021-11-14 alle 19.22.37.png
 
Hi to everyone,

I have installed K3000M Graphic Card with High Sierra but It doesn't updated boot rom to 87.0.0.0 Can I flash directly rom v4? thanks!
 
freestart said:
Hi to everyone,

I have installed K3000M Graphic Card with High Sierra but It doesn't updated boot rom to 87.0.0.0 Can I flash directly rom v4? thanks!
Click to expand...
Do not double post. You can. After that install latest High Sierra update. It should properly update the bootrom - possibly you will have black screen during that update. Let it finish.
 
dfranetic said:
Do not double post. You can. After that install latest High Sierra update. It should properly update the bootrom - possibly you will have black screen during that update. Let it finish.
Click to expand...
Hi, excuse me for double post. I have done all update but bootrom it is not changed, why?
 
Ausdauersportler said:
Retry installing High Sierra on an new APFS volume from the scratch and apply all available updates. Unfortunately in rare cases it fails even after several attempts. There is no other way.
Click to expand...
Thanks! I have flashed vbios mod but I have not native boot screen and screen is black, why? Thanks
 
dfranetic said:
Better also do this - a failsafe solution, which does not rely on software (started after login). (This solution is also explicitly linked from the 1st post, which you supposedly did read...)
Click to expand...
Yes i've read, i want to do this mod, i reread the post.. but which sensor i have to put on heatsink of the GPU? The ODD sensor? Is the DVD sensor right? In the thumbnail, @Ausdauersportler show in mac fan control the temperature of Video card "Radeon Pro 560X".. How? I don't understand..
 
nick0k said:
Yes i've read, i want to do this mod, i reread the post.. but which sensor i have to put on heatsink of the GPU? The ODD sensor? Is the DVD sensor right? In the thumbnail, @Ausdauersportler show in mac fan control the temperature of Video card "Radeon Pro 560X".. How? I don't understand..
Click to expand...
Yes, it is the ODD/DVD sensor.
The reason "Radeon Pro 560X" temp shows in MacsFanControl is that it is an AMD card. For Nvidia you'll have to use Heatsink temp or install some FakeSMC kexts using OpenCore (not worth the effort IMO).
 
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