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
![Nick [D]vB](/data/avatars/m/1132/1132239.jpg?1552018909){kind=avatar}
The Dell WX7100 works great in MacOS & Windows, which is a small miracle because every other AMD card that I have tested needs a soft reset before the PCI IDs are fully detected.
The only problem is you must have a way to manually fire the backlight or the internal screen will just stay black, either use a DyingLight module or just hot-wire it to 100% brightness.
The 6970 heat-sink & X-brace fit perfectly with no mods and the thermals are ok. One of the Thunderbolt ports works for external displays but only with DisplayPort (or an active adapter).
Obviously no boot-screens, yet…
The only problem is you must have a way to manually fire the backlight or the internal screen will just stay black, either use a DyingLight module or just hot-wire it to 100% brightness.
The 6970 heat-sink & X-brace fit perfectly with no mods and the thermals are ok. One of the Thunderbolt ports works for external displays but only with DisplayPort (or an active adapter).
Obviously no boot-screens, yet…
Last edited:
Thats good.
Alienware bios is the best, and highest succes rate as far as I know.
Not working with bootcamp Windows is normal, I and others have the same problem.
I only have a black screen with Bootcamp.
Some user here stated he got screen working with his GTX765m on bootcamp, forcing the Nvidia drivers to install.
I still don't know how he did that, and how he managed to get it working.
That methode should I think also work for GTX780m users out there..
Only 1 monitor output is normal, so does my GTX765m.
Port mapping in the bios are different, and I think have to be changed in order to make it all fully working.
But we don't have a Nvidia ROM, unless MacVidCards has got one already for public..
Anyway.
Your internal iMac screen aswell as 1 displayport output should work with a GTX780m with Alienware bios.
As far as I know.
But do I read it correctly, and you state that you dont have internal display working, only external display ?
Correct. No internal display on the 780M.
Internal and external (closest to Firewire) work on 765M in MacOS High Sierra with both default and web drivers.
Nothing is working in Windows, but I think I had both displays working there before on the 765M. I'm going to re-install the web driver package and see if that fixes it.
ok,
strange.
anyway my GTX765m works within macOS fine, does not need Nvidia web drivers at all to function.
It gives internal and external screen without nvidia Web drivers..
As far as I know, this should also apply for the GTX780m.
of course when running the Alienware vbios.
Within Windows i have a black screen on internal iMac display, but external display works.
strange.
anyway my GTX765m works within macOS fine, does not need Nvidia web drivers at all to function.
It gives internal and external screen without nvidia Web drivers..
As far as I know, this should also apply for the GTX780m.
of course when running the Alienware vbios.
Within Windows i have a black screen on internal iMac display, but external display works.
Hi All
i wanted if anyone can help me here , i have a iMac 27 2011
and GPU is Dead, i need to replace it.
i have a few questions
Does all MXM 3.0 B are compatible with my iMac? is there a list anywhere?
i can get Ati 8970m 4gb Alienware/clevo can this work?
also what i would like to know is do i need to flash the ROM/BIOS or somthing like that ?
is there a tutorial on how to flash the ROM?
cant i just desolder the Bios chip from the original iMac video card, and solder it to the new card?
i wanted if anyone can help me here , i have a iMac 27 2011
and GPU is Dead, i need to replace it.
i have a few questions
Does all MXM 3.0 B are compatible with my iMac? is there a list anywhere?
i can get Ati 8970m 4gb Alienware/clevo can this work?
also what i would like to know is do i need to flash the ROM/BIOS or somthing like that ?
is there a tutorial on how to flash the ROM?
cant i just desolder the Bios chip from the original iMac video card, and solder it to the new card?
Last edited:
only MXM-B cards are compatible best with iMac (2011) 27" models.
I would suggest you use a known working graphics card.
Like the Dell/Alienware GTX765m/770m/780m.
Thanks for the reply, i was digging this forum for quite a while now.
is there a way to get the boot screen on those Dell/Alienware GTX765m/770m/780m ?
if i solder the Bios chip from th original card to those cards will it work?
Last edited:
Hey guys, I have been slowly working on getting my 12,1 21.5" iMac working and have finally gotten some success!! I ordered this card on ebay:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Preci...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649
and got the x-mount drilled out, installed the card, and after being so anxious I forgot to install the memory, installed the memory and the machine is booting up into High Sierra just fine. I've been running it since last night and have had zero issues (knock on wood). My issue, though...
Obviously this card doesn't show display upon initial boot until the OS loading screen comes up and I want to install Mojave. I have downloaded the Mojave patcher and created a USB drive with the installer on it but since I have no display until the loading screen, I cannot access the boot drive selection screen. So my questions is: how do I install Mojave on this machine if I can't access/see the boot selection screen?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Preci...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649
and got the x-mount drilled out, installed the card, and after being so anxious I forgot to install the memory, installed the memory and the machine is booting up into High Sierra just fine. I've been running it since last night and have had zero issues (knock on wood). My issue, though...
Obviously this card doesn't show display upon initial boot until the OS loading screen comes up and I want to install Mojave. I have downloaded the Mojave patcher and created a USB drive with the installer on it but since I have no display until the loading screen, I cannot access the boot drive selection screen. So my questions is: how do I install Mojave on this machine if I can't access/see the boot selection screen?
I'm looking to do a number of simultaneous upgrades on my 2011 27" iMac now that the AMD card is one of the un-dead zombies from a reheat cycle. Operating on limited working time....
Reading through this forum and another (https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/imac-mid-2011-bluetooth-4-0-internal-upgrade.1780242/) I'm looking to go with a 765M and also update the wifi/bluetooth to the combined module with ac wifi and 4.0 bluetooth. I read somewhere along the way in this forum that it's possible to install a dyinglight module to gain back brightness control since it looks like there hasn't been any traction to MacVidCards offering a card or flash service for these yet. However, that requires an unused internal USB data connection to make it not have wires sticking out of the case.
Does anyone know if there is an unused USB data connection point on the 27" 2011 iMac i could solder to? Alternatively, would it be possible to break a compact usb hub out of its case and inside the computer where the current bluetooth card resides? I'm thinking I could unsolder the usb ports and direct wire the input from an existing internal USB point, feed 5V from somewhere else and then solder on to the outputs of the usb port to connect in the dyinglight and whatever the thing is I stole the usb lines from. Maybe the bluetooth or IR receiver?
I'm ready to dive in, but want a solid game plan first.
Reading through this forum and another (https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/imac-mid-2011-bluetooth-4-0-internal-upgrade.1780242/) I'm looking to go with a 765M and also update the wifi/bluetooth to the combined module with ac wifi and 4.0 bluetooth. I read somewhere along the way in this forum that it's possible to install a dyinglight module to gain back brightness control since it looks like there hasn't been any traction to MacVidCards offering a card or flash service for these yet. However, that requires an unused internal USB data connection to make it not have wires sticking out of the case.
Does anyone know if there is an unused USB data connection point on the 27" 2011 iMac i could solder to? Alternatively, would it be possible to break a compact usb hub out of its case and inside the computer where the current bluetooth card resides? I'm thinking I could unsolder the usb ports and direct wire the input from an existing internal USB point, feed 5V from somewhere else and then solder on to the outputs of the usb port to connect in the dyinglight and whatever the thing is I stole the usb lines from. Maybe the bluetooth or IR receiver?
I'm ready to dive in, but want a solid game plan first.
I finally got my DyingLight module installed. I had to load the WinUSB driver for it to work, but I now have full backlight control in Windows. Side victory, I also got my bluray drive installed.
bootscreen not possible, withouth a proper modified vbios.
as far as I know, the only person who is working on this, is Rominator from Macvidcards.
but of course feel free to create a rom..
If you’re willing to give up the SD card reader, you can use the cable from it. The dyinglight module (and SD card reader) runs on 3.3V instead of the standard 5V from USB, so I’m not sure that a USB hub would work for you anyway, unless you can find a 5V tie on point and then use a step down converter.
That works only if its the same card just different brand. You cannot install the bios from an ati card onto an nvidia card.
I actually use the SD card reader a lot, but never the IR receiver. Think i'm going to go that route. Sacrifice the IR receiver for an internal USB connection. Should be easier than trying to kludge a 5v usb hub into the mix.
as far as I know, yes AMD WX7100 would be the current newest option out there, but feel free to test other models !
Another successful upgrade.
Alienware GTX 765m, booted up straight away, no boot screen and internal brightness control, but other than that working perfect.
Also only have 3 diagnostics led’s on the logic board, the 3rd one isn’t lit which was the same with the dead AMD card.
Very happy
Alienware GTX 765m, booted up straight away, no boot screen and internal brightness control, but other than that working perfect.
Also only have 3 diagnostics led’s on the logic board, the 3rd one isn’t lit which was the same with the dead AMD card.
Very happy
Attachments
good, i hope you also used K4/K5 pro ?
and did the vram heatsink mod on the backside.. ?
Which mod is that? On the side with the x bracket? Or where the heat sink has to be ground down due to tall components?
Ah yes, I do remember seeing that.
How much does that actually help out VRAM temps since they’re up against the bracket with minimal airflow anyway?