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

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

Hi, I relized that the system info the ram memory is 8gb...when I have 12gb, 2 4gb banks and 2 2gb banks, how is it possible that I only recognize 8gb?
View attachment 1913496

4GB RAM kit (2x2GB) misread as 4GB each?
I've seen this once. The seller claimed that it was 2 8GB RAM stick.
Turned out it was a dual stick kit, labeled as 8GB kit and he was mis-read it.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Well, after a few days of running my newly upgraded iMac12,2 with a K3100M graphic card, it developed the issue of random shutdown and 3 beeps when trying to boot up again. This does not happen very often and only occurred when the iMac was not attended for a prolonged period, like a few hours (This iMac sleeps well: no crash or other strange behaviours.). Initially I thought it could be the RAM not being seated properly. After reseating, The iMac started up. It happened twice and I reseated the RAM twice as well, and swapped positions along the process. But last time when it occurred again, I simply pressed the power button and turned off then turned back on again, which started up the iMac. This has made me wonder if it was actually the RAM issue. The K3100M seems functioning fine except some random green pixels with certain but rare pictures. Not sure if it is related to the graphics card though. The funny thing is that there is no crash report.
View attachment 1912920
The image showed correctly then I clicked "Open original", which opened another tab in safari.
not sure what to make out of this?

The green blocks have been reported several times here with NVIDIA cards and on all macOS versions. This seems to be an Apple/Safari problem. No fix available.
INMHO you can get rid of them by causing a redraw of the current windows, just move or resize it.

 

[fuinhu]

Yes! If a single sensor is missing the fans will run at full speed and at the same time the CPU will not boost, i.e. go beyond 1.2 or 1.6 GHz. Should be mentioned on the hardware post or within the FAQ.

AHT will not run through since the GPU temp sensor is missing, too.

Yesterday i mounted the display and everything works perfectly!

Depends on what you plan to do? If your goal is Big Sur or Monterey go ahead with installing OCLP and later the new macOS.

If you plan to stick with High Sierra you may try internet recovery or try to download High Sierra using another Mac and create an USB installer.

All details are explained on the first post!

I ended up installing High Sierra with a USB drive because the internet recovery was crashing.
I'll do some benchmarks later and then i'll go to Big Sur i think.

 

[nick0k]

It's incredible..! I check my four banks of sodimm and i found out that i have 4 2gb banks of ram.. i'm sure was 12gb!!
Last year in 2020 i send my imac to reballing my old GPU 6970 to a technical.. i'm sure he stole my two 4gb banks of sodimm!! I feel like an idiot..

 

[nick0k]

Tomorrow i proceed to mount the ODD/DVD sensor to the sink og GPU..but but tell me if it can be a correct idea:
Some time ago I bought the cable with OWC temperature sensor for the HDD, so as not to send the fans to maximum by changing the HDD, now since I have mounted an SSD and it does not heat .. I could not use that sensor to put it on the GPU instead of DVD?

 

[dfranetic]

Tomorrow i proceed to mount the ODD/DVD sensor to the sink og GPU..but but tell me if it can be a correct idea:
Some time ago I bought the cable with OWC temperature sensor for the HDD, so as not to send the fans to maximum by changing the HDD, now since I have mounted an SSD and it does not heat .. I could not use that sensor to put it on the GPU instead of DVD?

No. HDD sensor controls the HDD fan. ODD sensor controls the ODD fan - the one that cools the ODD and GPU heatsink fins.

 

[nick0k]

ok, now i see that desktop colors is ok but some dithering between windows, i look this thread

For Nvidia Users booting with OpenCore(k1100M/k2100M/ETC)/ native booting K3100M/K4100M & 780M

I have Updated the ApplebacklightFixup.kext to include the proper Backlight stepping-levels for the 2009-2011 27" iMac. You can replace the one in your OpenCore loader with this or install it Natively to System/Library/Extensions. This actually makes my Previous guide irrelevant unless you really like the Native Kext feeling.

Lilu.kext will be needed for the kext to be listed as 'loaded' but it's still working for me without it.
Usual Verbiage below....
If installing to System/Library/Extensions. Catalina users need to Unlock their System Partition using Hackintool first. Then install with Kext Utility. Finally Open Terminal and enter "sudo reboot" as sometimes Catalina will hang on the Desktop.

i made the mo in info.plist bit in big sur how can i disable SIP..? Because kext tool doesn't compile permession..

 

[nick0k]

another question, in Videoproc i see i haven't H264 and HEVC acceleration.. how can i enabled ?
when I launch kext utility I see the check nvram error... is it a problem?

 

[TigerA]

ok, now i see that desktop colors is ok but some dithering between windows, i look this thread


i made the mo in info.plist bit in big sur how can i disable SIP..? Because kext tool doesn't compile permession..

My understanding is that the ApplebacklightFixup.kext is only needed to be manually loaded for supported macOS like High Sierra and not running OCLP. It's for achieving full brightness of your internal LCD. The fact that you are running Big Sur on your iMac12,2 means you are using OCLP. This means you don't need to install it by yourself. It's already loaded to the EFI. Just don't worry about it (I actually installed on my High Sierra disk without issue). Besides, SIP is automatically disabled (not for all the bits) when running OCLP to build EFI.

It's also highly recommended to publish your system spec/configuration in your signature field.

 

[nick0k]

Thanks, I'm heartened .. but why doesn't kext utility allow me to load kext? And why i have Nvram error?
Furthermore, in this thread i read a dithering problem... that i have when i move windows in the desktop..

About the 16bit resolution glitch of UGA_DRAW_PROTOCOL

Recently a user of this forum reached out and sent over this attached kernel extension which can be installed directly to the system (High Sierra, Mojave and Catalina via @dosdude1 patcher) or injected using OpenCore (and in particular OCLP) to tackle the above mentioned problem.

Please send a feedback about the usability and the success, if it works for the NVIDIA users in a reliable way (cannot test it myself) I will make a pull request to include it into OCLP.

Thanks for helping!

BTW: Apparently @Nick [D]vB found this solution.

How can i try to injected in OpenCore.. mount efi partition and copy kext into folder?
So many thanks.. i'm trying to set up my imac..

 

[TigerA]

Hi,
I recently replace my dead 6970 by a gtx780-4g flashed with a Nick[D]vb bios. Everything is working Well, I have native bootscreen and native brightness control, but randomly, my mac close my session and propose me To choose another session... Anybody experienced the same issue or havre an rideau To resolve it?

(IMac A1312, 27" from mid 2011 running on sierra)

Thanks

Not sure what do you mean by "session"? logged you out?
Anyway, since you have a metal GPU now, you can upgrade to OCLP Big Sur / Monterey, which may solve this "session" issue.

 

[TigerA]

How can i try to injected in OpenCore.. mount efi partition and copy kext into folder?
So many thanks.. i'm trying to set up my imac..

Again, there is no need to inject this kext for OCLP. By now (4 months later) it should have already been included in the OCLP, I presume / expect.

In regard to your "dithering" issue when moving windows in your desktop, have you applied Post-Install Patch (#3) in OCLP app?

It would be a good idea to specify macOS (eg. Big Sur) and type of patch (eg. OCLP) in the signature.

 

[antoniomac]

The fan control is broken after replacing the GPU. While we can monitor the GPU temps using different software solutions the Apple internal SMC (System Management Controller) refuses to control the ODD fan according to the heat generation on the GPU and heatsink. You need to use either the Macs Fan Control software or replace the ODD temp sensor. See below in the The Seven Problems section and read the #7 description.

Hi,
Today I would like to install the K2100 in my imac 27 2010
I was reading this point and I wanted to know the sensor change was really recommended.
My use is office only
Thanks so much for your time

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Hi,
Today I would like to install the K2100 in my imac 27 2010
I was reading this point and I wanted to know the sensor change was really recommended.
My use is office only
Thanks so much for your time

It gives you the assurance to have a working heat control even during upgrades or when no user is logged in - Macs Fan Control does only work after login.

Yes, it is recommended for all cards.

 

[antoniomac]

It gives you the assurance to have a working heat control even during upgrades or when no user is logged in - Macs Fan Control does only work after login.

Yes, it is recommended for all cards.

Ok, but should the original GPU sensor be removed?

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Ok, but should the original GPU sensor be removed?

No, when you remove a single sensor from the system the fans will run full speed and the CPU will not boost any longer.
Please leave the GPU sensor on the sink and connect it back to the port on the logic board.

P.S.:
We tried to make the guides Lego or IKEA alike - so of you do not find a single word/picture/post about removing the heat sink sensor you can be sure there is no plan to remove it.

 

[nick0k]

Again, there is no need to inject this kext for OCLP. By now (4 months later) it should have already been included in the OCLP, I presume / expect.

In regard to your "dithering" issue when moving windows in your desktop, have you applied Post-Install Patch (#3) in OCLP app?

It would be a good idea to specify macOS (eg. Big Sur) and type of patch (eg. OCLP) in the signature.

ok now I understand about SIP, and Yes I applied post install patch and OCLP say nothing to patch.. but sometimes glitches appears..and what about "check NVRAM error" inkiest utilities?
is there anything to do? Like thread above

2011 iMac Graphics Card Upgrade

About the 16bit resolution glitch of UGA_DRAW_PROTOCOL Recently a user of this forum reached out and sent over this attached kernel extension which can be installed directly to the system (High Sierra, Mojave and Catalina via @dosdude1 patcher) or injected using OpenCore (and in particular...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[nick0k]

I'm irritating .. in the videoproc app does not detect h264 acceleration ..how can I enable?

 

[dfranetic]

I'm irritating .. in the videoproc app does not detect h264 acceleration ..how can I enable?

Please do not ask me where I found this… and yes, you are irritating.

 

[nick0k]

Noooo, sorry for my inconvenience..😇😎 I'm trying to do myself.. but it's a little bit hard..
And now? I haven't see that big sur doesn't support Nvidia h264... maybe if I install Catalina is better?

 

[TigerA]

ok now I understand about SIP, and Yes I applied post install patch and OCLP say nothing to patch.. but sometimes glitches appears..and what about "check NVRAM error" inkiest utilities?
is there anything to do? Like thread above

Have you done a NVRAM reset by holding down option+Cmd+R+P at the beginning of the booting up for at least 5s and heard 2 chimes?

 

[nick0k]

yes I heard 2 chimes, but if I put the post installation patcher, say no root patches required for your machine

 

[nick0k]

may I have to do "allow accel on Mojave/catalina ? Currently is false

 

[TigerA]

yes I heard 2 chimes, but if I put the post installation patcher, say no root patches required for your machine

That’s correct for Big Sur. And it would install Kepler & legacy Bluetooth patch for Monterey.

 

[TigerA]

may I have to do "allow accel on Mojave/catalina ? Currently is false

No need to enable this because you are not running Mojave / Catalina.
Have you installed MacFanControl app & checked your K4100M temperature? What‘s the temprapture reading for the ODD sensor, presuming you have moved this sensor to the graphics card heatsink?
wondering if you modified & installed the heatsink correctly, along with the thermal paste?
Also run activity monitor to check if there is any process using excessive CPU energy.