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

[Umarx]

A bit off topic, last week my imac 27 with WX4130 on catalina via OC, started freezing and shutting down due to temperatures reaching 80-90C. Surprisingly GPU remained the coolest among all. The temperature was reaching these heights within 5-10 minutes of boot and apps launch. I switched to fall back high sierra partition and upon checking, it turned out that Google Chrome was the reason. Booted catalina, removed Chrome and all its associated files, switched to Firefox. Temperature readings are back to 30-40s since. Thought of sharing it.

 

[TigerA]

Installed a M5100 card today to a iMac11,2 running the latest High Sierra. Also installed OCLP v0.3.1 with agdpmod=vit9696 added to the boot-args entry. Tried to turn on without flashing the VBIOS first. The iMac screen remained black (no pick screen) but the external monitor showed a white Apple logo with progress bar on a black background, meaning the system picked OCLP and then HS. It actually reached to a corrupted login screen (I assume). I was quite happy at that stage thinking all I needed to do is to flash the VBIOS, which I did without any drama. But After flashing the new VBIOS (which is actually older than the one in the card, very strange), the internal screen remained black and external screens was still showing white apple logo but the progress bar stuck in the middle. I then removed the internal LCD panel and saw only 2 LEDs lit up. After a NVRAM reset, now it does not boot to anything. Both screens are black now.
I'd like to know if I received a correct card, and selected correct VBIOS?
Your help will be greatly appreciated.
Add: Just flashed again and this time around there is still no boot picker screen (It's a known issue for all GCN type cards according to the 1st page) but the internal LCD showed the HS icon and a white Apple logo with progress bar on a black background. External screen lit up after reached to login screen. But both screens were garbled like the photo attached. I had to boot into safe mode to get the correct display. But safe mode is extremely slow.
Also the M5100 is shown as AMD Radeon HD 7xxx, Device ID: 0x6821, not sure if this is significant.

 

[internetzel]

Installed a M5100 card today to a iMac11,2 running the latest High Sierra. Also installed OCLP v0.3.1 with agdpmod=vit9696 added to the boot-args entry. Tried to turn on without flashing the VBIOS first. The iMac screen remained black (no pick screen) but the external monitor showed a white Apple logo with progress bar on a black background, meaning the system picked OCLP and then HS. It actually reached to a corrupted login screen (I assume). I was quite happy at that stage thinking all I needed to do is to flash the VBIOS, which I did without any drama. But After flashing the new VBIOS (which is actually older than the one in the card, very strange), the internal screen remained black and external screens was still showing white apple logo but the progress bar stuck in the middle. I then removed the internal LCD panel and saw only 2 LEDs lit up. After a NVRAM reset, now it does not boot to anything. Both screens are black now.
I'd like to know if I received a correct card, and selected correct VBIOS?
Your help will be greatly appreciated.
Add: Just flashed again and this time around there is still no pick screen but both the internal showed the HS icon and a white Apple logo with progressive bar on a black background. External screen lit up after reached to login screen. But both screens were garbled like the photo attached. I had to boot into safe mode to get the correct display. But safe mode is extremely slow.
Also the M5100 is shown as AMD Radeon HD 7xxx, Device ID: 0x6821, not sure if this is significant.

If the "corrupted login screen" was just like on the photo the card is most probably faulty.
If not, chances are it is caused by a VRAM type that's unknown to the VBIOS.

 

[TigerA]

If the "corrupted login screen" was just like on the photo the card is most probably faulty.
If not, chances are it is caused by a VRAM type that's unknown to the VBIOS.

The photos displayed correctly in the Photos app, in safe mode (can't login in normal mode).
I also tried to rebuild the OCLP but always received the following error:
An error occurred!
0:188: execution error: Volume on disk0s1 failed to mount
If the volume is damaged, try the "readOnly" option
(1)
Please report this to the devs at GitHub.

 

[luke9511]

I use a 256k WaBang VBiOS capacity is 128k

where did you get those from? also would a 25x20clnig 1704 work or do i need to look for the exact one in your picture?

 

[Ausdauersportler]

The photos displayed correctly in the Photos app, in safe mode (can't login in normal mode).
I also tried to rebuild the OCLP but always received the following error:
An error occurred!
0:188: execution error: Volume on disk0s1 failed to mount
If the volume is damaged, try the "readOnly" option
(1)
Please report this to the devs at GitHub.

Please read the post I made about this card, again! There is even a method mentioned how to use OCLP in safe mode.

Everything is there and I would appreciate if you guys just read the one or two posts needed in advance and make a short plan.

Notes:
- Where did you come up with the agdpmod=vit9696 idea? Please remove it!
- If you just add these to the boot-args radpg=15 -wegtree apdpmod=pikera shikigva=80 your system will happily boot into normal mode. Then you can either run OCLP, again or leave the config as it is for the time being.
- OCLP 0.3.1 currently misses the apdpmod=pikera and your external display will remain dark. To avoid this you need to add - again - apdpmod=pikera to the boot-args manually. Hope this all will be solved in 0.3.2.
- You need to flash the card before it will use the internal display!

Hint:
Remove the label from the front of you card and check the card-id and compare with the list on the first post I made about the M5100.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

If the "corrupted login screen" was just like on the photo the card is most probably faulty.
If not, chances are it is caused by a VRAM type that's unknown to the VBIOS.

The corrupted screen may be just a sign that the CAIL settings aka radpg=15 have not been applied in advance

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Hey @Ausdauersportler has anybody tried flashing the GTX 660M with the vBIOS from the GTX 680M, or is that just a crazy idea and the product of my fevered mind? 🤪

Hi!

If you have followed my posts here I am not really the NVIDIA vBIOS expert here. Generally cross flashing will not work. You may just create a brick. So I would advice - as mentioned on the first post - to wait until a proper vBIOS will be posted.

But there's always (since we have OCLP) another option:

1. install and use High Sierra
2. enable screen sharing, remote access, file sharing
3. get an external display
4. get the Linux flashing tool and download the GTX 660M vBIOS versions from techpowerup.com
5. boot High Sierra and wait until it has been booted and hope the internal display comes up finally, if not check remote access and screen sharing access
6. if you had success on step 5 go head, otherwise flash another vBIOS you got in step 4 and repeat step 5
7. now we have a working internal screen after complete boot! So install OpenCore using OCLP to get a boot screen (it will recognized your NVIDIA card and applies the needed settings), reboot
8. if no boot screen comes up with OpenCore use the GopUpdate tool and flash the updated vBIOS working vBIOS

Have fun!

 

[internetzel]

The corrupted screen may be just a sign that the CAIL settings aka radpg=15 have not been applied in advance

Ah, yes! I already forgot about these special things with those older AMD cards.

 

[TigerA]

Please read the post I made about this card, again! There is even a method mentioned how to use OCLP in safe mode.

Everything is there and I would appreciate if you guys just read the one or two posts needed in advance and make a short plan.

Notes:
- Where did you come up with the agdpmod=vit9696 idea? Please remove it!
- If you just add these to the boot-args radpg=15 -wegtree apdpmod=pikera shikigva=80 your system will happily boot into normal mode. Then you can either run OCLP, again or leave the config as it is for the time being.
- OCLP 0.3.1 currently misses the apdpmod=pikera and your external display will remain dark. To avoid this you need to add - again - apdpmod=pikera to the boot-args manually. Hope this all will be solved in 0.3.2.
- You need to flash the card before it will use the internal display!

Hint:
Remove the label from the front of you card and check the card-id and compare with the list on the first post I made about the M5100.

Thank you so much, @Ausdauersportler, very appreciated for your help. It is working now, even showing the correct card type: AMD FirePro M5100😅
The only remaining issue is that it still does not show the initial EFI picker by holding Alt/option key. My understanding is that this is expected for GCN type cards, based on my reading of the 1st page. Not sure if I misunderstood?
I also read the [Spoiler: Installing macOS High Sierra (supported)] in the 1st page stating the AMD GPU need agdpmod=vit9696 boot-args entry to enable the internal screen. Again, not sure if my astigmatism got better or worse of me😅
And now I've found the radpg=15 -wegtree apdpmod=pikera shikigva=80 in #16,421 😅

Add: The installation to the 21.5" iMac11,2 does not require any modification, not even a copper shim. Although I moved the ODD temp sensor to the GPU heatsink, but it may not be necessary because I can see the "GPU AMD FirePro M5100" temp in MacsFanControl app. Right now it's at 48C and GPU Heatsink at 46C, only 2C difference!
The next step is to upgrade the i3-540 CPU to Xeon L3426, and increase the RAM from the current 8GB to 12-16GB. Hope this will improve the performance.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Thank you so much, @Ausdauersportler, very appreciated for your help. It is working now, even showing the correct card type: AMD FirePro M5100😅
The only remaining issue is that it still does not show the initial EFI picker by holding Alt/option key. My understanding is that this is expected for GCN type cards, based on my reading of the 1st page. Not sure if I misunderstood?

NO EFI BOOT PICKER! NO EFI BOOT PICKER! NO EFI BOOT PICKER!
NO EFI BOOT PICKER! NO EFI BOOT PICKER! NO EFI BOOT PICKER!

Only OpenCore boot picker. Normally OCLP enables this and shows it. You can find hundreds of screen shot of it on Discord and even within the OCLP online docs - which I always recommend to read.

I also read the [Spoiler: Installing macOS High Sierra (supported)] in the 1st page stating the AMD GPU need agdpmod=vit9696 boot-args entry to enable the internal screen. Again, not sure if my astigmatism got better or worse of me😅

Applies only to GOP vBIOS versions on Polaris/Ellesmere cards!

And now I've found the radpg=15 -wegtree apdpmod=pikera shikigva=80 in #16,421 😅

Finally

Reorganized my posts to clarify things. The safe mode method is meant for all people not wanting to edit the config.plist.

 

[nikey22]

For all those wondering about the NVIDIA GTX660M. It is in its final stages of testing! Not a powerful card, but another member of the family nonetheless that can be purchased for cheap. Vbios coming up:

 

[TigerA]

add: it's running much cooler than the stock ATI Radeon HD4670 graphics card, along with the power supply board. I am so impressed 😅 It will be even more faster & cooler once the Xeon L3426 CPU is installed to replace the i3-540.

 

[Gorditcho]

Hi!

If you have followed my posts here I am not really the NVIDIA vBIOS expert here. Generally cross flashing will not work. You may just create a brick. So I would advice - as mentioned on the first post - to wait until a proper vBIOS will be posted.

But there's always (since we have OCLP) another option:

1. install and use High Sierra
2. enable screen sharing, remote access, file sharing
3. get an external display
4. get the Linux flashing tool and download the GTX 660M vBIOS versions from techpowerup.com
5. boot High Sierra and wait until it has been booted and hope the internal display comes up finally, if not check remote access and screen sharing access
6. if you had success on step 5 go head, otherwise flash another vBIOS you got in step 4 and repeat step 5
7. now we have a working internal screen after complete boot! So install OpenCore using OCLP to get a boot screen (it will recognized your NVIDIA card and applies the needed settings), reboot
8. if no boot screen comes up with OpenCore use the GopUpdate tool and flash the updated vBIOS working vBIOS

Have fun!

Thank you Sir!
My 660M currently works for the internal display, I was just curious regards the cross flashing idea.
I will take your advice and count my lucky stars and leave it alone.
My main motivation for posing the question was -
1: Curiosity
2: I'd like to be able to connect an external screen, at the moment this is not possible. It is out of an Alienware machine, so it works okay with the existing firmware, sort of...

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Thank you Sir!
My 660M currently works for the internal display, I was just curious regards the cross flashing idea.
I will take your advice and count my lucky stars and leave it alone.
My main motivation for posing the question was -
1: Curiosity
2: I'd like to be able to connect an external screen, at the moment this is not possible. It is out of an Alienware machine, so it works okay with the existing firmware, sort of...

Install OpenCore using OCLP, it should enable boot screen and the external display.

 

[StephN999]

Bonjour,

I saw in the development version of OC 0.7.6 that there is :

+ - Added `ReconnectGraphicsOnConnect` option for enabling alternative UEFI graphics drivers

Will this be useful for some of our graphics cards, or will it be mostly useful for graphics cards on hackintoshes, thanks for your guidance. 😅

 

[Balsie]

Hello good afternoon, I have a question.
I can get a cheap Nvidia GTX 780 MXM dell clevo alienware 4Gb.
I've red all posts about this card and I know I can use it in iMac 27 - 2010.
But can I use the original heatsink without modifications?
I already replaced my HD with a SSD.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Hello good afternoon, I have a question.
I can get a cheap Nvidia GTX 780 MXM dell clevo alienware 4Gb.
I've red all posts about this card and I know I can use it in iMac 27 - 2010.
But can I use the original heatsink without modifications?
I already replaced my HD with a SSD.

No!
You need a 2011 heat sink and need to modify it!
Read the first post and take a look a the pictures attached there. You certainly missed this post on your read through all posts.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Bonjour,

I saw in the development version of OC 0.7.6 that there is :

+ - Added `ReconnectGraphicsOnConnect` option for enabling alternative UEFI graphics drivers

Will this be useful for some of our graphics cards, or will it be mostly useful for graphics cards on hackintoshes, thanks for your guidance. 😅

There is no or little documentation available. Viewing the source of the update gave me the impression it will work with legacy Macs, too - whatever it will do...

 

[hugodlc]

There is no or little documentation available. Viewing the source of the update gave me the impression it will work with legacy Macs, too - whatever it will do...

It looks like it's just for the OC menu and OS preboot. My best guess is some laptops may have crappy GOP uefi implementation and with this patch OC bootloader replaces that early boot driver with a better one.
But once the OS drivers take over, it's no longer used, so wouldn't help much if anything, unless for troubleshooting a card that has no acceleration and bad uefi implementation.

 

[Balsie]

No!
You need a 2011 heat sink and need to modify it!
Read the first post and take a look a the pictures attached there. You certainly missed this post on your read through all posts.

Ok, sorry, I indeed missed this, thanks!

 

[Ausdauersportler]

It looks like it's just for the OC menu and OS preboot. My best guess is some laptops may have crappy GOP uefi implementation and with this patch OC bootloader replaces that early boot driver with a better one.
But once the OS drivers take over, it's no longer used, so wouldn't help much if anything, unless for troubleshooting a card that has no acceleration and bad uefi implementation.

Hi!
Should have asked you in the first place

Lately we had this one card not working with the GOP implementation included into the flashed vBIOS and we had to use the AMDGOP.efi driver.
What would do this new setting in this particular context?

 

[StephN999]

Re,

Thank you for your answers, I wasn't expecting miracles, especially since it works very well on my side.

Just very curious.

Have a nice day

 

[internetzel]

Hi!
Should have asked you in the first place

Lately we had this one card not working with the GOP implementation included into the flashed vBIOS and we had to use the AMDGOP.efi driver.
What would do this new setting in this particular context?

In case the GOP driver from the VBIOS is loaded but working badly, using the flag you can have OpenCore unload that driver so that another GOP driver (loaded from EFI boot volume) can be loaded and take over the graphical output.
In the M4000 case the original GOP failed and unloaded itself so that flag isn't needed.

 

[vinaypundith]

Hi all,
I've just installed an AMD Radeon WX4130 (originally from a Dell Precision 7510, per the ebay ad) in my iMac 11.3 (ie 27" Mid-2010 model, Xeon X3470 CPU if that matters), and, well, there's a couple of issues:
- Internal display does not come on at all (not with OpenCore on a USB and not with a Windows 8.0 hard drive on the internal SATA port).
- if I remove the internal display and have an external monitor hooked up to the mini DP port on the iMac, it does show the OpenCore boot picker on the external monitor. However, if I try to boot macOS (tried a working-with-an-nVidia-GPU installation of OS 12.1 Beta 1, recovery of the same thing, and a USB installer of 10.15.7), the screen goes blank at the point where the Apple logo screen normally changes color a little bit (and if using verbose mode, right when the verbose finishes and the GUI starts to load). I was able to boot an EFI mode installation of Windows 11 from my Mac laptop's hard drive, through OpenCore, which did load properly.
(If it's a clue to anything, this screen blanking while booting macOS is doing exactly the same thing that a Mac Pro 3.1 I used to have with a Radeon HD 7950 did when I tried to connect the monitor through a DVI to VGA adapter)
- if I try to boot the (legacy BIOS mode installed) Windows 8.0 drive, even the external monitor does not work.
- keeping the internal display and an external monitor results in..... both staying blank in all conditions.

Anyone know what I might have done wrong? my card still has the original Dell VBIOS. Or is this expected behavior? I will be doing the EG BIOS mod thing and the hardware backlight mod, but if there is some other issue with my setup I'd like to fix that first before breaking the OpenCore bootscreen by putting a non GOP (ie the EG one) VBIOS on the card.

My other question was about the hardware backlight mod for enabling the internal display itself for bootscreen with the EG BIOS (from here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/2011-imac-graphics-card-upgrade.1596614/post-27485731 ). Does this mod break some backlight-related features, like dimming/turning off the display when the machine is idle, since we're replacing a controlled line with a no-smarts 3.3v supply from the PSU?

Thanks in advance.