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

[fr4nk18]

AppleALC has to do with the sound kext. I don't know if that helps. Maybe the kext is not the correct one and so the driver is conflicting. Fyi, I use an 2011 imac updated to Big Sur with a K2100m GPU using OCLP 0.4.4. My apple ALC kext is version 1.6.3.
Whilst version 1.6.3 is not the latest one (I think 1.7.1 is the latest one), OCLP does not update it to the latest version, probably due to compatibility reasons. You can try downloading AppleALC version 1.6.3, replace the one you have in your EFI/OC/Kext folder and see if that helps. Maybe now you have an older AppleALC kext from your Catalina era and a more update one is needed for big sur.

OR there is another kext that needs to be removed. Check to see that you don't have any other conflicting kext with AppleALC like AppleHDAdisabler kext etc. I attach a pic of my kext folder for your reference. (In case you delete a kext, you need to also update the config.plist accordingly).

Release 1.6.3 · acidanthera/AppleALC

v1.6.3 Update ALC289 layout-id 87 by GitNaufal Update ALC235 layout-id 18 for AsRock 310 BB by viorel78

github.com

thanks for the answer but i need some more help
how should i check the alc version ? in case is the wrong one how to replace

my ststem install ubs key does not even boot up ...

thanks for your patience

 

[Ausdauersportler]

thanks for the answer but i need some more help
how should i check the alc version ? in case is the wrong one how to replace

my ststem install ubs key does not even boot up ...

thanks for your patience

Since no one else posted a problem like yours I doubt you have problem with the AppleALC version.
Nevertheless this is an Big Sur with OCLP question to be discussed on this thread.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Sorry, I’m new to this. Can anyone help.

I’m running Monterey 12.3.1 new install with Opencore 0.44

Graphics Quadro K2100M by nikey22 2GB
iMac12,2 (mid 2011)
8gb Ram
HDD replaced with SSD (fan controlled)

Everything works well except when I sleep the computer. Fans come on eventually kernel panics.

Sleep/wake issue should not happen and you likely have a slightly incompatible card (check first post of this thread and the known issues section within the NVIDIA section) causing an SMBUS conflict. You can check it by disconnecting the Camera/BT connector from the board.
Never have seen this with the K2100M before, but who knows?

I bought the K2100m pre flashed. Does it need to be flashed with a different Bios or is just how K2100m works with iMac12,2?

Since the first publishing of the K2100M vBIOS there has been only a single addition to support cards with Elpida memory. If your card shows 2GB memory you have already the correct vBIOS flashed.

Is there another plug and play card best suited for iMac12,2 (mid 2011)?

Check the NVIDIA table on the first post. This is all you can get. We do no recommend sellers or cards. Pick what you can get and what you are willing to pay.

Please read the documentation on the first post of this thread!

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

I updated from an HD6770 to a K2100m (my iMac is mid 2011). I have not encountered any GPU issues. Ofcourse I also flashed the new recommended Bios by Nick[D]vB. What do you mean when you say "issues with the way graphics appear"? Can you explain or post a pic?

He said so because on the private exchange with me, he asked what happened if he installed a pre-flashed K2100m to his iMac 2010 without installing Opencore, and I answered that he would get a black screen when powering the machine on.

He is still in the process of selecting a proper card for his GPU-dead iMac 27" 2010, and he refuses to read the guideline on post #1, refuses to buy/borrow a Dremel to grind the heatsink for MXM-B cards, quite reluctant to install Opencore.

 

[fr4nk18]

Since no one else posted a problem like yours I doubt you have problem with the AppleALC version.
Nevertheless this is an Big Sur with OCLP question to be discussed on this thread.

tbh i do not agree with you
this is related with the graphic card imho
however will ask in the thread you mentioned
thanks you were helpful

 

[godardfan]

Hey guys, not sure if this is allowed here, but I'm selling a K2100M and K610M for dirt cheap. I couldn't figure out for the life of me how to flash these cards, so I ended up buying a pre-flashed K2100M on eBay instead. I'm left stuck with these non-flashed cards and want them gone ASAP. Please PM me if you're interested. PayPal Goods & Services only.

K2100M - $30

K610M - $15

Also, please keep in mind, there are no brackets on these cards.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

tbh i do not agree with you
this is related with the graphic card imho
however will ask in the thread you mentioned
thanks you were helpful

You may consult the first post and flash the latest vBIOS posted a year ago by @nikey22 - the error message on screen does not show any AppleALC failure. It shows presumably that the console on the main screen can not come up.
Flashing FAQ, Q3.

 

[madvinegar]

tbh i do not agree with you
this is related with the graphic card imho
however will ask in the thread you mentioned
thanks you were helpful

In case you have another mac you can prepare a new usb stick with the OCLP (ofcourse choose the SMBios of your iMac), and boot from it (hold alt/option key during boot) to see if there is any problem with the EFI settings.
If you get the same error during boot, then there may be a hardware problem (no proper bios flashed to the GPU etc.)

Or, you could start from the beginning... Try to install High Sierra, if all is ok, then update to Big Sur.

 

[zoran]

He said so because on the private exchange with me, he asked what happened if he installed a pre-flashed K2100m to his iMac 2010 without installing Opencore, and I answered that he would get a black screen when powering the machine on.

He is still in the process of selecting a proper card for his GPU-dead iMac 27" 2010, and he refuses to read the guideline on post #1, refuses to buy/borrow a Dremel to grind the heatsink for MXM-B cards, quite reluctant to install Opencore.

I use my iMac for work and since i do graphics (Adobe CC apps) i wish to know if i will have any graphic issues with the K2100. Im trying to be extra carefull in making this upgrade, cause after i make it and something goes wrong, i wish to know if i can turn back to the prior state, with the Ati card... thats all.

 

[madvinegar]

I use my iMac for work and since i do graphics (Adobe CC apps) i wish to know if i will have any graphic issues with the K2100. Im trying to be extra careful in making this upgrade, cause after i make it and something goes wrong, i wish to know if i can turn back to the prior state, with the Ati card... thats all.

When I replaced the HD6770 and installed the K2100m in my imac 2011, I was running High Sierra and the GPU was not flashed with the new Nick[D]vB bios. I had a black screen only during boot (I did not have a boot option screen), but the system finally booted to High Sierra just fine (in full brightness).
I then flashed the new bios to the GPU card (using the linux USB method). The system again booted just fine. Then I downloaded and installed OCLP, created a Big Sur bootable usb with OCLP EFi, rebooted to recovery and installed Big Sur. Installation went great and I also had brightness control etc.
So regarding your question, if all goes well, you will not be experiencing graphic issues as regards the animations, transparency etc.

However, graphics acceleration is different to video acceleration. In post no1, Q13 it says:

Quote
A: The first term simply describes the fact that you can use GUI related operations like moving, resizing, closing an application or Finder window fast and smooth. This has been a serious issue with all patched installations of macOS versions on unsupported hardware. All "metal" cards listed above offer full graphics acceleration. Especially with Big Sur this has become more important since only "metal" enabled cards offer now the full graphics acceleration. The term video acceleration describes the hardware abilities of the GPU supported by the macOS. Only the new AMD GPUs offer 4K HEVC and 4K H.264 if installed in an iMac. If you want to know more about the possibilities AMD cards offer watch some of the videos collected here.
Unquote

So I don't know how this will affect your work with Adobe CC apps. I don't do that kind of work so I don't know. Someone more experienced in this can reply (i.e. if Adobe CC apps will not work correctly after upgrading to a metal Nvidia card).
I know though that the AppleTV app and Netflix in Safari don't work.

Ofcourse you can re-install your ATI card and High Sierra to revert back to the OEM state as long as you don't make any hardware modifications.

 

[Eeeeffffcccc]

I use my iMac for work and since i do graphics (Adobe CC apps) i wish to know if i will have any graphic issues with the K2100. Im trying to be extra carefull in making this upgrade, cause after i make it and something goes wrong, i wish to know if i can turn back to the prior state, with the Ati card... thats all.

Photoshop 2022 comes up with a warning at startup, what kinda graphics card is this? But it still works. If your making money I’d invest in the future with new Apple silicon hardware that will last you another 10 years. If you want to cash out your investment you can. Apple computers hold their value.

Good spec m1 iMac is $150 a year over 10 years if you buy used. Would hard to drop from 27” to 24” though.

 

[Stefanox2410]

hello everyone, I can't understand why this happens, I bought a regenerated HD5750 1gb apple, how is it possible that trying it on imac 2009 and 2010 it works and on 2011 tested on three different ones it doesn't work? in 2011, only the first two LEDs remain on the motherboard. hope you can help me, thank you very much

 

[jay508]

hello everyone, I can't understand why this happens, I bought a regenerated HD5750 1gb apple, how is it possible that trying it on imac 2009 and 2010 it works and on 2011 tested on three different ones it doesn't work? in 2011, only the first two LEDs remain on the motherboard. hope you can help me, thank you very much

Tested 5750 can only work properly on 2009 2010, can not work in 2011, as you said the case.

 

[Stefanox2410]

Tested 5750 can only work properly on 2009 2010, can not work in 2011, as you said the case.

thanks, there is no method flashing the card?

 

[jay508]

thanks, there is no method flashing the card?

Refreshing vbios can't be used to change cards for 2011 models, right?

 

[zoran]

So I don't know how this will affect your work with Adobe CC apps. I don't do that kind of work so I don't know.

Someone more experienced in this can reply (i.e. if Adobe CC apps will not work correctly after upgrading to a metal Nvidia card).

I wish there was someone using HSierra and AdobeCC apps and the K2100 GPU in a mid2010 iMac that could solve the mystery!!!

 

[Ausdauersportler]

I wish there was someone using HSierra and AdobeCC apps and the K2100 GPU in a mid2010 iMac that could solve the mystery!!!

Simply search such application specific compatibility questions yourself on the ISV help pages..the CC contains nearly 30 (thirty) different apps. Some already need Catalina (minimum) or Big Sur (recommended) and you will not come away without a metal GPU.

 

[JamieWHD]

You are simply using the wrong software tool. The K2100M is an NVIDIA card. Try nvflash_linux and search the post where you found this Linux tool for some guides…

This is the first time I have seen this error

Hi, I managed to get a 2GB AMD FirePro M5100, however, it needs reflashing. I'm planning on using the live linux USB method via ssh. Could you by any chance tell me the commands to use it for this specific card since you used it in a 2009. Where to place .rom file on the USB?

Thanks

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Hi, I managed to get a 2GB AMD FirePro M5100, however, it needs reflashing. I'm planning on using the live linux USB method via ssh. Could you by any chance tell me the commands to use it for this specific card since you used it in a 2009. Where to place .rom file on the USB?

Thanks

Hi!

You can get all this easily from the post coming with the latest version of the Linux tool. Put the file into the folder named AMD, if you want. This would follow the guide directly...

 

[Techtype]

After 2 Years of re-reading this Thread over and over again I finally got myself a 2011 27" iMac!
I first wanted to hold off the GPU Upgrade as the one I wanted is still pretty expensive but then right after I got the iMac the GPU started to show signs of death.
I told that to the seller and they refunded me 100€ of the original 280€ Purchase Price which enabled me to now go ahead and buy a Quadro K4100M for 120€!
I'll update y'all when it arrives and how the Upgrade goes.

 

[16v]

Whow!
Really?
280 for a 2011 27" iMac?

Got mine for 50€ with faulty power supply, and a 21" 2011 fully working for Also 50€.
I'm in germany.

 

[Techtype]

Whow!
Really?
280 for a 2011 27" iMac?

Got mine for 50€ with faulty power supply, and a 21" 2011 fully working for Also 50€.
I'm in germany.

I'm also in Germany.

It was listed as working and it's basically perfect condition.
It also had the original Box and Magic Mouse + Keyboard.
The seller also included a new 50€ OWC Hard Drive sensor cable which I'll be selling as I just immediately did the soldering mod to make the fan act like normal. That cable is a total scam.

And guess what, with current prices on these that was still pretty cheap! I even got that price at an offer, it originally was 300.

Even tho usually I always buy broken and fix, this time I didn't want a broken one. Still ended up broken. 180€ for a broken 2011 27" with these accessories is still a fair price tho imo.

 

[Berenod]

Over here (Belgium) asking price for the 2011 27" ones can be anywhere between 250 and 400€.
Needless to say, they hardly sell at those prices.
Realistic price is maybe between 100 and 200€ for a working one, as you never know when the gpu is going to croak.


Lots of them get sold with a freshly oven baked gpu, just to get them out of the door!

First time oven baked can last anywhere from days to a few months...

 

[Berenod]

I'm also in Germany.

It was listed as working and it's basically perfect condition.
It also had the original Box and Magic Mouse + Keyboard.
The seller also included a new 50€ OWC Hard Drive sensor cable which I'll be selling as I just immediately did the soldering mod to make the fan act like normal. That cable is a total scam.

And guess what, with current prices on these that was still pretty cheap! I even got that price at an offer, it originally was 300.

I never even touch the sensors...
Macfancontrol is way better to control temps in your machine!

 

[Techtype]

I never even touch the sensors...
Macfancontrol is way better to control temps in your machine!

The way I did is the best way to do it.
The fan speed never changes anyways and the OWC "Sensor" isn't even a sensor so yes Macs Fan Control works.

But here's why snipping 2 wires and soldering them together is better:
You never have to even worry about installing any additional software and having annoying compatibility issues because this will work just like the internals never changed from the original hard drive.
There is absolutely no chance you'll get ever any sort of ramped up fans.

But yes, for anything else relating fans, Macs Fan Control is absolutely great! I have it on all my macs.