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

[Greyday23]

Today i got my K2100m, flashed it with CH341a. But i keep getting a Blackscreen on my 2011 iMac 21 inch.
Idk what im doing wrong Boot chime is playing. But only 2 lamps are turned on the Mainboard. My previous K2000m just works like normal ....

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

Finally installed the pre-flashed K2100M from eBay, and the 3rd LED finally shows, but no 4th LED. I've rechecked the LCD cables and the issue persists. Am I missing something here? I assumed something would show up on the screen once booting finished. I'm going to test with an external display later today, but if anyone has any tips, I would appreciate it.

It's normal. I got the same black screen issue on the first powering up after installing a pre-flashed Quadro to one iMac 2011.
Try the below to see if it can help.
1. Triple PRAM reset.
2. After the third time, press and hold Option until seeing the boot screen. This is assumed to let you get to Desktop or log-in screen on a native High Sierra volume. Should be a single volume. If you failed to get to the Desk-top in this step, turn-off the iMac and try again.
3. From the High Sierra Desktop, you can download and install OCLP to fix the boot screen issue and brightness control issue.

Other people may get to the Desktop on their first power-up. But that's not always the case.

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

Thanks for your suggestion. I would love it to be enough but it seems I need more help...

So I borrow an external display with miniDP connector (iMac side) and DP connector (Display side). I test it on my Macbook and it works well.
But connected to the late 2009 27" 11,1 iMac there is still no screen both internal lcd and external display remain black
So I unplugged the lcd screen, then the HDD, then the SSD, then the ram. All disconnected the screen is not still not working. I can listen the boot and the two fan seems fully working.
Any chance I miss something during the process ? I mean I believe I successfully flashed the videocard (it has been test and was working on Dell laptop), and the screen was clearly working with my dead 4850.

I suppose I should see the Apple logo during the first boot sequence but as I don't know during which boot sequence the screen should start working I suppose the problem might be:
- As the default target OS is Catalina (dosdude patched) I try to hold option key during boot the choose the HSierra partition. Nothing sure but it might be my problem ?
- the miniDP port behind the iMac was difficult to plug, maybe because I never use it before or because the motherboard original position change a little bit.
- It seems the top left screen corner connector has suffer some from plug/unplug
- I choose the WX4130 ROM to flash the GPU but I can repeat the process with another ROM more recent ?

I start losing doubt seeing my iMac working again but far from the idea to give up. The Late 2009 11.1 may has some limitation, different from iMac 2011 ?

1. You need a single volume SSD with only High Sierra on it for the first time. Multi-volume SSD will boot to its default OS, which is Catalina => Black screen.

2. The miniDP port is always difficult to plug blindly. Keep the cable attached all the time if possible.

3. iMac late 2009 also suffer from the "broken V-synch cable head" issue. I've just had to order a pair of that "FFC 4pin 0.5mm cable, same side connector" to replace my broken one. Use that keyword to search for a replacement. It shouldn't cost you more than 5$/a piece (Mac parts). I could have bought 10pcs of white cable for 3$, but a Mac part looks cooler so the 5$ price is OK.

 

[godardfan]

Tried the PRAM reset/hold option key a couple times now and nothing works.

The thing is, I couldn't install High Sierra on the iMac before installing the GPU, due to the 6770 being dead. I also took out the old spinning hard drive, however, I swapped it with an SSD from my 2010 MacBook Pro with High Sierra installed onto it. Is the iMac able to boot into that? If not, I guess that's the reason I'm not getting any display to show.

I'm glad the 3rd LED is showing, at least.

 

[Rafy_GZ]

1. You need a single volume SSD with only High Sierra on it for the first time. Multi-volume SSD will boot to its default OS, which is Catalina => Black screen.

2. The miniDP port is always difficult to plug blindly. Keep the cable attached all the time if possible.

3. iMac late 2009 also suffer from the "broken V-synch cable head" issue. I've just had to order a pair of that "FFC 4pin 0.5mm cable, same side connector" to replace my broken one. Use that keyword to search for a replacement. It shouldn't cost you more than 5$/a piece (Mac parts). I could have bought 10pcs of white cable for 3$, but a Mac part looks cooler so the 5$ price is OK.

Thanks you for this answer in 3 points!
For solving the first point : what are my options ? can I remove the SSD from the iMac, format the current partition table and reinstall from a macbook to SSD as external device and replug into the iMac ?
Or can I use a usblive High Sierra install and do a SSD hot plug ?

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

Thanks you for this answer in 3 points!
For solving the first point : what are my options ? can I remove the SSD from the iMac, format the current partition table and reinstall from a macbook to SSD as external device and replug into the iMac ?

Yes, this option sound fine to me.
I would do a fresh install of High Sierra on a new SSD, using another Mac Computer, then transfer the SSD to the iMac. Actually I always have an SSD or HDD with High Sierra pre-installed for these incidents.

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

Tried the PRAM reset/hold option key a couple times now and nothing works.

The thing is, I couldn't install High Sierra on the iMac before installing the GPU, due to the 6770 being dead. I also took out the old spinning hard drive, however, I swapped it with an SSD from my 2010 MacBook Pro with High Sierra installed onto it. Is the iMac able to boot into that? If not, I guess that's the reason I'm not getting any display to show.

I'm glad the 3rd LED is showing, at least.

Do you hear the Chime when doing PRAM reset?

If you old spinning hard drive still have High Sierra on it, you can try booting from that HDD. It would take only your time to do the test.

 

[godardfan]

Yes I can hear the chime during each reset.

The HDD has nothing on it because I wiped it before the GPU died for good, which was before High Sierra came out.

 

[Rafy_GZ]

Yes, this option sound fine to me.
I would do a fresh install of High Sierra on a new SSD, using another Mac Computer, then transfer the SSD to the iMac. Actually I always have an SSD or HDD with High Sierra pre-installed for these incidents.

So it can also works with my original HDD if I install High Sierra using another Mac? In this case I even don't need to buy another SSD, or you suggest to use SSD for some reasons?
Do I need perform a special install or just choice the external disk as partition to install ?

 

[internetzel]

I suppose I should see the Apple logo during the first boot sequence but as I don't know during which boot sequence the screen should start working I suppose the problem might be:
- As the default target OS is Catalina (dosdude patched) I try to hold option key during boot the choose the HSierra partition. Nothing sure but it might be my problem ?

Holding option key on boot does not bring up the usual boot selection screen but will instead make the machine hang without booting. There's no Apple boot selection screen using an AMD GOP VBIOS.
The only way to get a boot selection screen would be OpenCore (there are alternatives to OpenCore but here we only consider OpenCore).

 

[godardfan]

I took out the SSD and am currently doing a fresh install of High Sierra on my MBP before putting it back in my iMac.

Will booting the iMac with the SSD show me the "Welcome" page to register/set up my Mac without needing OpenCore??

 

[internetzel]

So it can also works with my original HDD if I install High Sierra using another Mac? In this case I even don't need to buy another SSD, or you suggest to use SSD for some reasons?

An SSD is much faster when using the APFS file system, which is mandatory for Mojave and later (Mojave can still be installed to an HFS+ file system, but that's not fully supported).
To be clear, an HDD is much slower for running Mojave and later on an APFS filesystem than it is for running High Sierra on an HFS+ file system.

 

[Rafy_GZ]

An SSD is much faster when using the APFS file system, which is mandatory for Mojave and later (Mojave can still be installed to an HFS+ file system, but that's not fully supported).
To be clear, an HDD is much slower for running Mojave and later on an APFS filesystem than it is for running High Sierra on an HFS+ file system.

Makes sense. So I will get ready High Sierra on a single volume SSD to avoid more problems. Can do this fresh install from a 2014 MacBookAir with different graphic card, CPU, motherboard, etc: did the Late 2009 iMac will be able to boot such a configured MasOS?

 

[The_Croupier]

Sorry, i mean:
What games?
I only know the sims for mac..

O.k. minecraft is not what i'm interessted in...

Sure there are heaps of games, here's just a small selection on the Mac I'm currently sitting at.

 

[kajjak]

Looks good. It’s more expensive than mine but if you’re in the US them your listing is probably the cheapest you can get (I’m in Germany so my listing probably won’t work for you). Still, here’s the Link: https://www.ebay.de/itm/165461735015

Here is my experience in a step-by-step Guide and me assuming you have a 2011 27” like me:
You will need:
The 3 Pipe MXM-B Heatsink (if you have the HD 6970M in your iMac you don’t need to buy it separately)
A Dremel or some off-brand one
Thermal Paste and Thermal Pads or K5 Pro
The new Card
A USB Stick to make a Linux Flash USB (use this vid:

)
A computer you can use to SSH into the iMac Linux USB
An ethernet connection
Steps:
1. Take apart your iMac and take out the old card.
2. Now that you have both the heatsink and both the old and new cards, swap out the metal x-clamps om the back.
3. Take the heatsink, clean any dirt or leftover Thermal Paste off and dremel out the needed spots (see last image in first post)
4. Apply an appropriate amount of new thermal paste to the Die of the GPU and apply the thermal pads to the RAM Chips on the front of the GPU
5. Put the GPU and Heatsink together correctly and put everything back together but don’t screw in the board yet and leave the hard drive unplugged.
6. Turn on the iMac (black screen is normal) and use the Vid to SSH into the iMac. If the Card is functional it should chime and boot into the USB you have to plug in b4 booting it up
7. Use the first few steps from Post #13,624 to go into the correct directory (it isn’t always “/ssd2” like shown in the post, use the lsblk command to find out the correct one)
8. Use the Video to flash the card but remember to put “./” infront of nvflash_linux or else it wont work. (not shown in vid)
9. If the flash was successful, press the power button on the imac for 1 second and wait until it shut down.
10. Power it back on and if everything worked and the card isn’t dead it should start up normally and you can try accessing the boot picker just to see if everything worked.
11. Unplug everything and put the iMac together completely now (also plug in your Hard Drive and all that)
12. Enjoy!

I am from czech rep. so pretty much near you, where you bought k5 pro thermal paste? Could you send me link too? Or you just used normal paste to CPU?

 

[Ausdauersportler]

I am from czech rep. so pretty much near you, where you bought k5 pro thermal paste? Could you send me link too? Or you just used normal paste to CPU?

Instead of making this a chat please just read the docs on the first post of this thread. FAQ, Q7.
Everything else has been explained in great detail, too. You just need to read a little bit.

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

I took out the SSD and am currently doing a fresh install of High Sierra on my MBP before putting it back in my iMac.

Will booting the iMac with the SSD show me the "Welcome" page to register/set up my Mac without needing OpenCore??

1. Do the initial setting on your MBP.
2. No Apple ID, No Icloud stuff.
3. Just create a simple admin account with a simple log-in password.
4. Change the setting to "auto log-in"
5. Reboot several times to ensure the booting process is smooth.
6. Now move the SSD to the iMac. Ensure that it is the only SATA device in the iMac, no other USB device, no SD card plugged in.
7. Power on the iMac, do a PRAM setting once.
8. As soon as hearing the second chime, release the combo key press, then press Option.

If the above process couldn't get you to the Desktop screen with K2100m, then you can assume a hardware issue with the card, or the cables.

 

[Techtype]

I am from czech rep. so pretty much near you, where you bought k5 pro thermal paste? Could you send me link too? Or you just used normal paste to CPU?

I agree with Ausdauersportler but imma still give ya an answer.

K5 Pro is a replacement for the Thermal Pads that go on the RAM chips. The GPU itself (which you call CPU) is supposed to get normal paste like for example MX-5 (which is what I used) For the RAM Chips I didn’t use K5 Pro but I used Thermal Pads

Post #1 has a picture with the K5 Pro and where it should go

 

[internetzel]

Makes sense. So I will get ready High Sierra on a single volume SSD to avoid more problems. Can do this fresh install from a 2014 MacBookAir with different graphic card, CPU, motherboard, etc: did the Late 2009 iMac will be able to boot such a configured MasOS?

MacOS installations aren't hardware dependent. They are portable between all supported models.

An OCLP booted and even more an OCLP or dosdude1 post install patched macOS installation will most likely only run well on the system it has been patched for.

So, yes that way you should get a bootable macOS installation for your iMac late 2009.

 

[Dastane]

hello evry one
please; i have imac 2011 27" High ssierra os with
i7 2600
GPU hd6970m
Bluetooth : BRCM2046
Ethernet: BCM5701

So, for upgrading my imac to big sure or Monterey os i need to upgrade the GPU first
i ordered a GPU Nvidia kepler K1100m (i'll get it in a few days)

my problem is:​

do I also have to update the network card and bluetooth ???


in opencore legacy: for wifi and bluetooth it is mentioned resolved "Resolved in 0.2.5 and newer"
or i must upgrad then too??
thanks a lot

 

[Greyday23]

Hello Guys,

A Few days ago i got my hands on an K2100m. My 2011 iMac 21 inch has got OCLP Monterey and a K2000m flashed with the custom Bios. I flashed the new Card with the Bios with my CH341a and installed it into the iMac. But i got a Blackscreen. The 3 lamp isnt on too. I switched back the K2000m and the third light switched on. Can it be anything related to OCLP? Without the SSD it was doing the exact same thing. Should i flash back the Original Bios and try to Flash the Bios via Linux? Should the light turn on when the original Bios is flashed?

I installed the Card to test without the Heat Sink and its getting warm

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Hello Guys,

A Few days ago i got my hands on an K2100m. My 2011 iMac 21 inch has got OCLP Monterey and a K2000m flashed with the custom Bios. I flashed the new Card with the Bios with my CH341a and installed it into the iMac. But i got a Blackscreen. The 3 lamp isnt on too. I switched back the K2000m and the third light switched on. Can it be anything related to OCLP? Without the SSD it was doing the exact same thing. Should i flash back the Original Bios and try to Flash the Bios via Linux? Should the light turn on when the original Bios is flashed?

I installed the Card to test without the Heat Sink and its getting warm

Check the hardware problems section, always worth a reading and please do not double post.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

hello evry one
please; i have imac 2011 27" High ssierra os with
i7 2600
GPU hd6970m
Bluetooth : BRCM2046
Ethernet: BCM5701

So, for upgrading my imac to big sure or Monterey os i need to upgrade the GPU first
i ordered a GPU Nvidia kepler K1100m (i'll get it in a few days)

my problem is:​

do I also have to update the network card and bluetooth ???

If you want to avoid post install patching and have AirDrop etc. working update the BT/WiFi card (I do it with all of my iMacs).

in opencore legacy: for wifi and bluetooth it is mentioned resolved "Resolved in 0.2.5 and newer"
or i must upgrad then too??
thanks a lot

No, only basic functionality can be patched back (and it is not 100% stable).

Edit: So WiFi will work only after patching!

 

[Techtype]

I now have a big issue.

Yesterday the iMac was working fine and I shut it down like normal. Now I come back from school and want to do stuff with the iMac but the screen stays black!
After it boots into Monterey my second monitor comes on in a really weird resolution which I set back to 1080p. Then I notice that the iMac’s internal screen is still at the same weird res but it wont let me change it.
I do a PRAM Reset, no change.
I check all connections, all fine.
I check the LEDs, all 4 are on.
I shine a Flashlight into the screen and notice that the screen is actually on but the whole backlight went out.

The picture shows the screen being black and the weird Resolution.

Could this be an inverter board issue or is this a GPU issue? I’d really appreciate some help, thanks!

 

[Ausdauersportler]

WX4130/WX4150/WX4170 screen recoding (CMD+SHIFT+5):

Does not work for unknown reason on Big Sur and Monterey using these cards, but this command enables it back

me@iMac % defaults write com.apple.cmio CMIO_Unit_Input_ASC.DoNotUseOpenCL -bool true

Just found this again hidden deeply in my notes. Might work with other cards, too?

(tested on iMac12,2+WX4170 Monterey 12.3.1 OLCP 0.4.4)