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

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

About the AMD Polaris/Ellesmere vBIOS version booting High Sierra

Booting into High Sierra disables the internal LCD when macOS drivers take over (late boot phase). This is really confusing since the OC boot picker works on power on and during 90% of the boot phase and suddenly the screen turns off.

There is no software fix for this bug. The only work around is this hard - wire mod. Connecting the green and white marked pins enables the internal screen back, brightness control is fully working. The connection needs to be made during the complete time when High Sierra is booted and used. Sleep disables the display, wake brings it back.

Disconnecting the both pins switches the LCD off, again.

Never thought we would need another such hardware mod for this corner case. But who is using High Sierra with this cards and system today?

I do. Because of plain laziness. (the machine is now used by my kid for her online study.)
And the wire-mode I used was external.
My solution is connecting the 2010 iMac to another active monitor/dummy VGA load.
It's only necessary when doing a restart or power-up.
Waking up the iMac from sleep doesn't need the wire-mode.

 

[motorm3]

Has anyone with a K4100M in a Mid 2011 installed Windows 7? I get a Blank screen when I boot into the DVD. I don't get this when I boot into the DVD partition called 'Windows' but do when I boot into the one called 'EFI Boot'. Asking here because I assume it could be a graphics driver issue.

edit: to be clear the screen is completely off, no backlight - nothing visible when I shine a light at it

I'm running Windows 11

 

[JakovButko]

Hello.
My imac 21 2010 has a K2000M graphics card (bios by nikey22). MacOS Monterey works fine, but on Windows 10 after installing nvidia drivers it gives graphical errors.
Installed bios by Nick [D] vB (Windows works fine, MacOS doesn't work).
I want to try changing Device ID and Subvendor in Bios by nikey22 (change 10DE 0FFB - 10DE 053E to 10DE 0FFB - 1028 153E). Please tell me how this can be done?

Many thanks to Nick [D] vB, nikey22 and all the active contributors.
I'm sorry for my bad English.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Hello.
My imac 21 2010 has a K2000M graphics card (bios by nikey22). MacOS Monterey works fine, but on Windows 10 after installing nvidia drivers it gives graphical errors.
Installed bios by Nick [D] vB (Windows works fine, MacOS doesn't work).
I want to try changing Device ID and Subvendor in Bios by nikey22 (change 10DE 0FFB - 10DE 053E to 10DE 0FFB - 1028 153E). Please tell me how this can be done?

Many thanks to Nick [D] vB, nikey22 and all the active contributors.
I'm sorry for my bad English.

Using the @nikey22 vBIOS with OpenCore would need UEFI Windows.
Using the @Nick [D]vB version can run Legacy Windows.

Which version of Windows did you try? And what does not work with the @Nick [D]vB version when running macOS?

 

[JakovButko]

Using the @nikey22 vBIOS with OpenCore would need UEFI Windows.
Using the @Nick [D]vB version can run Legacy Windows.

Which version of Windows did you try? An what does not work with the @Nick [D]vB version when running macOS?

I am using OpenCore and Windows UEFI. When I use bios by @nikey22 the Nvidia driver installer cannot find the K2000M. With NVCleanstall v1.12.0 I solve this problem, but after installing the drivers there are image problems.

Disable Nvidia drivers (do not remove drivers), problems disappear. I change vbios by @nikey22 to vbios by @Nick [D]vB. I start Windows and Nvidia drivers are installed automatically. There are no problems with the image.
Running macOS 12.1 and getting kernel panic. I do a PRAM reset, this solved the problem with the kernel panic, but now MacOS simply does not boot.

I use vbios again by @nikey22. MacOS boots and works fine. Windows works only if you use the universal drivers from Microsoft (universal drivers give only a normal image).

 

[motorm3]

I am using OpenCore and Windows UEFI. When I use bios by @nikey22 the Nvidia driver installer cannot find the K2000M. With NVCleanstall v1.12.0 I solve this problem, but after installing the drivers there are image problems.

Disable Nvidia drivers (do not remove drivers), problems disappear. I change vbios by @nikey22 to vbios by @Nick [D]vB. I start Windows and Nvidia drivers are installed automatically. There are no problems with the image.
Running macOS 12.1 and getting kernel panic. I do a PRAM reset, this solved the problem with the kernel panic, but now MacOS simply does not boot.

I use vbios again by @nikey22. MacOS boots and works fine. Windows works only if you use the universal drivers from Microsoft (universal drivers give only a normal image).

Looks like something wrong with the bios or gpu

 

[ChrisCaro]

Has anyone with a K4100M in a Mid 2011 installed Windows 7? I get a Blank screen when I boot into the DVD. I don't get this when I boot into the DVD partition called 'Windows' but do when I boot into the one called 'EFI Boot'. Asking here because I assume it could be a graphics driver issue.

edit: to be clear the screen is completely off, no backlight - nothing visible when I shine a light at it

I found this video helpful.


YouTube, win10 install

 

[motorm3]

I found this video helpful.


YouTube, win10 install

It's very easy to install Windows 10 OCLP make USB windows 10 and install

 

[hugodlc]

About the AMD Polaris/Ellesmere vBIOS version booting High Sierra

Booting into High Sierra disables the internal LCD when macOS drivers take over (late boot phase). This is really confusing since the OC boot picker works on power on and during 90% of the boot phase and suddenly the screen turns off.

There is no software fix for this bug. The only work around is this hard - wire mod. Connecting the green and white marked pins enables the internal screen back, brightness control is fully working. The connection needs to be made during the complete time when High Sierra is booted and used. Sleep disables the display, wake brings it back.

Disconnecting the both pins switches the LCD off, again.

Never thought we would need another such hardware mod for this corner case. But who is using High Sierra with this cards and system today?

I ran into this same issue, solved using dv-hdmi adapter and hdmi dummy plug.

 

[vinaypundith]

Thank you both for confirming! That was my understanding too. Honestly I was VERY CONFUSED because of this "multiple boot picker" (Apple + OCLP) in my first project when installing the Nvidia card. I remember when I modified it not knowing what I am doing and crashed my first installation...hard learning .

Here's my last question: My iMac 11,3 27 inch runs now OCLP 3.3 with MacOS 12.1. System is automatically booting from EFI/OCLP on internal SSD (ODD has been replaced by SSD, MacOS installed on that SSD, standard HDD is still in there for backup purposes). In that scenario, I expect to do the hardware changes (incl. flash Bios, copper plate,...) to new GPU AMD WX4130 and system should re-boot normally with already existing OCLP picker and Monterey 12.1 - do you agree? Should I unpatch the metal support before (3. Post install volume patch/Metall graphics acceleration)? My guess is yes, but would be great if you could confirm too.

Oops I didn't see this until just now :-(
Yes you should unpatch the non-Metal graphics acceleration stuff.

 

[davidg5678]

Hello,

I have a 2010 iMac 11,3 with a WX4150 installed. When I recently updated my OpenCore version to 0.3.3, my computer developed an issue where my selected audio output device randomly switches without any user input.

I have an Apple LED Cinema display connected via MiniDisplayPort, and my sound output comes from the external screen. Nothing is plugged into my headphone jack, as the sound goes over MiniDisplayPort.

In System Preferences, the option to output sound from my internal speakers has disappeared. Ordinarily, I wouldn't mind having the sound output from my external monitor, but the issue is that at random intervals, the sound from my computer gets directed into a pair of "headphones" that don't exist.

The computer decides to cycle through various audio options at random, going from these non-existent headphones to a non-existent optical audio device, and even briefly showing the internal speakers as an audio output option. This symptom is frustrating, as my sound will stop working at random intervals.

I have cleaned out my headphone jack, and I am reasonably sure that this is an issue with my GPU upgrade and OpenCore, as it started immediately after I upgraded my OpenCore version and my external speakers are connected to the GPU.

I am curious to know if anyone else here has experienced a similar problem, or has a suggestion for a solution. Thanks!

 

[nikey22]

@JakovButko
Thank you for spotting this. Apparently the newest Nvidia drivers don't have an entry for Nvidia based subvendor. They do however have entries for Dell, Lenovo and MSI. Download the following Windows 10 Drivers:
361.91-quadro-grid-desktop-notebook-win10-64bit-international-whql

I've modified the ROM to emulate a Dell subvendor, this should trigger the 'Dell&Alienware' drivers which are part of the above package to detect the card now.

Let's give it a try.

 

[TAPKAE]

@TAPKAE
It is just a function of boost and overclock. I had to scale back to keep the card from overheating on most applications based on people's opinions at the time.

Here it is with full boost, enjoy:

Hey, that worked. Thanks. The card's power is now unleashed properly.

I created this chart to show what I'd been working with for a year (Nick's ROM, upon the Elpida VRAM K2100), and then your earlier ROM that held back some power, and then the one you did to work in OpenCore context.

Geekbench iMac i5-2400 w K2100M (Elpida VRAM) before/after reflashed VBIOS

Sheet1 Operating System (volumes on SSD), CPU Tests,GPU Tests METAL,OpenCL Nick D (single/multi),Nikey22 Elpida 2GB VRAM--NON OC (single/multi),Nikey22 Elpida--OC (single/multi),Nick D 1GB VRAM,Nikey22 2GB VRAM (non-OC bios),Nikey22 2GB VRAM (OC bios),Nick D 1GB VRAM,Nikey22 2GB VRAM (non-OC bio...

docs.google.com

 

[Cloud9]

I know I am lazy for posting this question. In my defence I am a single dad who likes to tinker for fun. I have the skills, just not insane amounts of time, but I do have some time.

I have a 2011 27" imac with the highest cpu you could get at the time. 3.4ghz i7. 12gb ram.

I have the 1024mb 6970m.

I want to use the machine for light LAN gaming with my young sons. The imac works great, its a great machine that my sons can use for homework and I would like to just upgrade it if it makes any sense to do so. I'd love to get 30fps in a game like borderlands 2.

Why not just get an M1: Well... this machine works, and I could dual boot windows for more gaming when we want to go there.

Why not buy a cheap pc?: I like the aesthetic of my imac in my office/dungeon.

I have the skills to do the swaps. Is it worth it though from a performance standpoint for my purpose? Which card would be recommended? I have a pc available to flash bios if needed. I would like sleep and brightness to work.

 

[Guttles]

Okay, I'm finally back, my CH chip coder came, can someone tell me which chip is the Chios one that I should be flashing on the k1100m?

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Okay, I'm finally back, my CH chip coder came, can someone tell me which chip is the Chios one that I should be flashing on the k1100m?

Check this site for your gaming needs.
Check the first post of this thread and the FAQ (Q3) for any flashing related questions. Flashing can be done with software (Linux).

Hint: A BIOS chip has 8 legs - I can detect only a single such chip on the picture.

 

[m0bil]

I know I am lazy for posting this question. In my defence I am a single dad who likes to tinker for fun. I have the skills, just not insane amounts of time, but I do have some time.

I have a 2011 27" imac with the highest cpu you could get at the time. 3.4ghz i7. 12gb ram.

I have the 1024mb 6970m.

I want to use the machine for light LAN gaming with my young sons. The imac works great, its a great machine that my sons can use for homework and I would like to just upgrade it if it makes any sense to do so. I'd love to get 30fps in a game like borderlands 2.

Why not just get an M1: Well... this machine works, and I could dual boot windows for more gaming when we want to go there.

Why not buy a cheap pc?: I like the aesthetic of my imac in my office/dungeon.

I have the skills to do the swaps. Is it worth it though from a performance standpoint for my purpose? Which card would be recommended? I have a pc available to flash bios if needed. I would like sleep and brightness to work.

Well, borderlands 2 is not that demanding, a high end Kepler card like the GTX780M should be able to run it nicely, while will allow you to run up to Big Sur with OCLP (a ssd upgrade is a must too).

If you want to go further, take a look at this thread, where some of us have tested Maxwell and Pascal cards that will give you much higher Windows performance at the cost of losing native boot picker and graphics acceleration on Mojave and beyond. A M4000M will perform at almost twice the speed of the high end Kepler cards and costs cheaper, while the Pascal cards allow for playing even demanding recent games at decent settings.

 

[Guttles]

Check this site for your gaming needs.
Check the first post of this thread and the FAQ (Q3) for any flashing related questions. Flashing can be done with software (Linux).

Hint: A BIOS chip has 8 legs - I can detect only a single such chip on the picture.

I tried flashing in Linux and multiple different versions of nvflash but I always got the ID mismatch error. So I got the programmer, I attached it to that 8 pinned chip and successfully backed up the Roman and wrote the new one, but it still doesn't work, so I think maybe the GPU is dead.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

I tried flashing in Linux and multiple different versions of nvflash but I always got the ID mismatch error. So I got the programmer, I attached it to that 8 pinned chip and successfully backed up the Roman and wrote the new one, but it still doesn't work, so I think maybe the GPU is dead.

Do you get at least the boot picker when pressing alt/option on boot?

 

[Guttles]

Do you get at least the boot picker when pressing alt/option on boot?

No, I booted back into Linux to see check, and it still gives me an ID mismatch error even after flashing the Roman with a programmer. I can't even seem to do a pram reset, never chimes a second time.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

No, I booted back into Linux to see check, and it still gives me an ID mismatch error even after flashing the Roman with a programmer. I can't even seem to do a pram reset, never chimes a second time.

This is weird. (HP) K1100M are known to need flashing before being used, I did this two years ago with a CH341A, too. But I had never a system booting with chime and unable to do a PRAM reset.

Can you read the existing vBIOS from the card using the Linux tool? In case it works try to compare it with the to by flashed version either by using the diff command or the nvflash_linux took itself.

Retry to flash using the programmer and copy and paste the flashrom output.

 

[austinsec]

Hey I have a 2001 imac 27" with ssd and a k1100m running Catalina I patched sleep fix now I have reboot loop also on start it always had a black screen until I cleared nvram please help

 

[Guttles]

This is weird. (HP) K1100M are known to need flashing before being used, I did this two years ago with a CH341A, too. But I had never a system booting with chime and unable to do a PRAM reset.

Can you read the existing vBIOS from the card using the Linux tool? In case it works try to compare it with the to by flashed version either by using the diff command or the nvflash_linux took itself.

Retry to flash using the programmer and copy and paste the flashrom output.

The plot thickens, I took out the GPU, and tried to reflash the K1100.rom, and the chip reader said that the content I was trying to flash was already on the chip, so now I have got no clue. Should I try using the K1100M_0E.bin?

EDIT: Here is the output from flashing with the programmer.
[user@user ~]$ sudo flashrom --programmer ch341a_spi -w K1100.rom -c "MX25L2005(C)/MX25L2006E"
flashrom v1.2 on Linux 5.15.13-arch1-1 (x86_64)
flashrom is free software, get the source code at https://flashrom.org

Using clock_gettime for delay loops (clk_id: 1, resolution: 1ns).
Found Macronix flash chip "MX25L2005(C)/MX25L2006E" (256 kB, SPI) on ch341a_spi.
Reading old flash chip contents... done.
Erasing and writing flash chip...
Warning: Chip content is identical to the requested image.
Erase/write done.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

The plot thickens, I took out the GPU, and tried to reflash the K1100.rom, and the chip reader said that the content I was trying to flash was already on the chip, so now I have got no clue. Should I try using the K1100M_0E.bin?

EDIT: Here is the output from flashing with the programmer.
[user@user ~]$ sudo flashrom --programmer ch341a_spi -w K1100.rom -c "MX25L2005(C)/MX25L2006E"
flashrom v1.2 on Linux 5.15.13-arch1-1 (x86_64)
flashrom is free software, get the source code at https://flashrom.org

Using clock_gettime for delay loops (clk_id: 1, resolution: 1ns).
Found Macronix flash chip "MX25L2005(C)/MX25L2006E" (256 kB, SPI) on ch341a_spi.
Reading old flash chip contents... done.
Erasing and writing flash chip...
Warning: Chip content is identical to the requested image.
Erase/write done.

Take a look at the VRAM chips on your K1100M and try identify the print on it. If you detect Elpida use the K1100M_0E.bin, otherwise not.

We asked to take pictures of the card just because of this. No picture, no help. Ebay listing pictures do not help, we need the original.

You have to reset the PRAM at least once after flashing, try to dot a triple reset, i.e. hold the four keys until your herd the fourth chime.

If this does not work consider the card to be dead and return it.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Hey I have a 2001 imac 27" with ssd and a k1100m running Catalina I patched sleep fix now I have reboot loop also on start it always had a black screen until I cleared nvram please help

This guide is valid for Mid 2011 iMacs, only:

Start the installation of Catalina again from the scratch and try to follow the short guide on the first post (copied here because it is so hard to find):

1. Download dosdude1's Catalina patcher to do the installation.

2. Getting the latest Catalina installer is broken with the latest dosdude1 patcher. You need the gibMacOS utility to download the latest version and construct it from the several download files. Follow the instructions coming with the tool. Then in can be installed using the latest dosdude1 patcher. This method works for all recent macOS versions!

3. GPU and machine related patches:
Mid 2011: Install this package to avoid sleep problems, black screen etc. or follow this post.