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

[jay508]

You made both of the unforgivable mistakes: You lost your original vBIOS and even did not post a picture of your card.
How should we help when no one is able to identify your card?

You may try this version, the only one I could create to support different memory type (Hynix AFR, Samsung, Hynix BFR). Cannot promise anything.

Edit:
@nikey22 - you may fetch this BIOS and update your own original post, added the VRAM_INFO from the latest Dell vBIOS I found and this supports both Hynix AFR and BFR memory.

Hi nikey22@ Ausdauersportler@
Tested Dell M61000 in macOS everything is fine, windows 10 can not install the driver tried multiple versions are failed.

Using aida64 to detect the model number HD8950M driver detection tool also identified as HD8950 matching the installation of the driver failed to come to the Chinese hardware detection tool (Lu Master) to detect the identification of the model number R9 M380.

GPU-Z check ID hardware manufacturer for Apple, I am thinking that the installation of the driver failure is not the device ID error caused by the failure to match the installation of the driver, can you fix the hardware ID inside the vbios to match the installation of the correct driver?

Übersetzt mit www.DeepL.com/Translator (kostenlose Version)

 

[Quinten07]

I originally had the GTX770M running on an earlier Imac 12,1 (16GB upgraded with CPU i7-2700s) i7-2400s. For the most part it was stable with productivity apps but as @Ausdauersportler had reported it can be unstable in GPU intensive tasks that result in GPU throttling and occasional POST issues. Some minor external power integration can be added internally to prevent such problems but it's not entirely a tidy solution now that the WX4150 is an option. In the end it was a good introduction and experience learning about Imac mods etc.

Next game play is to investigate integrating the either the 880M or the WX4150. I feel the 880M will be the better option not requiring any OC together with the price performance stats though will require a hack to access updated nvidia drivers.

Wel if what you typed is correct, using a GTX 770M in a 21.5 inch IMacs is just a bad idea allround. Those smal heatsinks in the 21.5 inch imacs combined with the low output power supply is just a bad combo. (Trust me I tried with a k3000m it will work sort of but putting stress on the system will cause enourmous heat and stability issues)

I have the GTX 680M in my 2011 27 inch IMac with the i7 2600 and the 3- pipe heatsink. This runs very stable and even with a good overclock on the card temps are well within range. Just DONT use MXM-b type cards in a 21.5 inch system.

 

[Quinten07]

Hi nikey22@ Ausdauersportler@
Tested Dell M61000 in macOS everything is fine, windows 10 can not install the driver tried multiple versions are failed.
View attachment 2031693
View attachment 2031691
Using aida64 to detect the model number HD8950M driver detection tool also identified as HD8950 matching the installation of the driver failed to come to the Chinese hardware detection tool (Lu Master) to detect the identification of the model number R9 M380.

GPU-Z check ID hardware manufacturer for Apple, I am thinking that the installation of the driver failure is not the device ID error caused by the failure to match the installation of the driver, can you fix the hardware ID inside the vbios to match the installation of the correct driver?

View attachment 2031694

View attachment 2031695
Übersetzt mit www.DeepL.com/Translator (kostenlose Version)

I had the same issue that no driver what so ever would install on my GTX 680M in windows 10. I did find a fix by looking at the devide ID of the card and manually adding it to the list of supported cards in the nvidia drivers. Maybe this will work the same on amd cards?

 

[jay508]

I had the same issue that no driver what so ever would install on my GTX 680M in windows 10. I did find a fix by looking at the devide ID of the card and manually adding it to the list of supported cards in the nvidia drivers. Maybe this will work the same on amd cards?

nvidia various models of graphics cards never encountered can not install the driver directly install the public version of the driver can.

AMD model graphics card I have WX4130 windows10 system networking automatically install the driver does not need to manually install themselves, you can also manually use the driver detection tool to match the installation is also possible. The same method failed on the M6100.

AMD graphics cards do not understand how to modify the add ID to the driver support list, Nvidia driver I know is possible to install the driver correctly by modifying the INF file to disable the driver signature mode.

 

[madvinegar]

With all these Monterey-kepler problems (if no solution is found by OCLP devs) I am thinking of changing my k2100m with an AMD m5100.

Is there anyone in here with a 12.1 iMac (2011 model - 21.5inch) that has installed the AMD m5100 to let me know if all is working OK? For example is sleep working OK? Are there any other problems?
Thanks.

 

[TheSjaakSpoiler]

I upgraded my Imac 11,1 (Late 2009 model) with a K1100M.
I ran the Valley benchmark and got a decent score of 900 @ 19FPS.
After that I attached the ODD temperature sensor to he GPU heatsink and
now the same benchmark scores drop to 169 @ 4FPS.

For 1~2 seconds, the FPS is around 20 but then it drops to 4, to hover somewhere between 4 and 7.

Might OSX be throttling the GPU for some reason?
Would 46C for the ODD temp sensor be enough for the system to slow it down forcefully?

Or did I miss something in the post about moving the ODD temp sensor?

Macs Fans Control shows normal termperatures of 45C/46C for the GPU heatsink and ODD temp sensor.
So I think that both temperature sensors are properly connected.
If the issue above sounds like a loose/broken connector, feel free to point it out and I'll open the imac once more.

I removed the ODD temperature sensor from the GPU heatsink and put it back on the ODD drive.
And the Unigine Valle benchmark now runs smoothly again with a score of 902 @ 19FPS.

I found no broken wire or loose connectors.
Everything was where is was supposed to be.

So the only thing I can think of is that the GPU heatsink is getting too hot (about 40C) for the ODD temperature sensor and this somehow throttles the GPU performance.

 

[Ozzies]

Regarding the @nikey22 post #28742848 that details the integration of the GTX880M on a 2011 iMac 12,2 using High Sierra 10.1 has there been any further updates to this existing procedure and/or ROM? I'm curious whether there would be any problems in upgrading to macOS 12 Monterey (for unsupported macs)?

Hi have just upgraded using the 880m following the posts and got it working perfect with heatsink mod and removing superdrive to keep GPU cool, i also updated using OCLP to 12.4 and all works perfectly havent noiced any issues at all.

But know i see apple droped support for nvidia in 12.5 im wonder if i should sell the card and change for AMD its not ideal.

Not sure what would be the best cards going forward with native boot screen and brightness ?

Ive seen the current list but also see alot of talk of wx7100 ect.

2010 imac 27

 

[Jforte]

Hi have just upgraded using the 880m following the posts and got it working perfect with heatsink mod and removing superdrive to keep GPU cool, i also updated using OCLP to 12.4 and all works perfectly havent noiced any issues at all.

But know i see apple droped support for nvidia in 12.5 im wonder if i should sell the card and change for AMD its not ideal.

Not sure what would be the best cards going forward with native boot screen and brightness ?

Ive seen the current list but also see alot of talk of wx7100 ect.

2010 imac 27

Keep the dvd drive. It is best to cool the gpu.

 

[B0URNE]

Hi have just upgraded using the 880m following the posts and got it working perfect with heatsink mod and removing superdrive to keep GPU cool, i also updated using OCLP to 12.4 and all works perfectly havent noiced any issues at all.

But know i see apple droped support for nvidia in 12.5 im wonder if i should sell the card and change for AMD its not ideal.

Not sure what would be the best cards going forward with native boot screen and brightness ?

Ive seen the current list but also see alot of talk of wx7100 ect.

2010 imac 27

Still waiting on the 880M to arrive and will do similar upgrade on the 2011 using the OLCP to 12.4. The price and performance with this mgpu (according to passmark) is far better than the AMD 41x0 and roughly 20% better than the WX7170. The broken support for the Kepler architecture in 12.5 is a concern moving forward though.

I’m interested in the 7170 but waiting to see if the NVRAM reboot is resolved for the 2011. Not sure if native boot screen and brightness is at all possible with this series.

 

[TheSjaakSpoiler]

Keep the dvd drive. It is best to cool the gpu.

I saw someone who 3d printed a fan duct to split the air so it goes over the GPU heatsink and the heatpipe heatsink.
Too bad he didn't share the STL files...

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

I saw someone who 3d printed a fan duct to split the air so it goes over the GPU heatsink and the heatpipe heatsink.
Too bad he didn't share the STL files...

You can do it with Cardboard. No need to use a 3D printer.

 

[Manu182]

Hello all,

I have searched the thread so far, but I can't find my problem. I have an iMac 2011 (iMac12,2) with macOS 12.4. Mods performed:

1: Upgrade CPU i7 2600
2: Upgrade GPU Nvidia Geforce GTX880M (by Nikey22 8GB)
3: RAM 4x 8GB
4: Added Samsung SSD 512GB
5: Added HDD 6TB (Windows)
6: ODD Sensor swapped with GPU Sensor (Fan Control)
7: Upgrade Wifi (Not done yet)

The iMac is running with a second screen disguised in a broken iMac. Everything is running wonderfully so far, only two things that bother me:

1: Sometimes when I turn on the iMac the USB devices are not recognized (mouse, keyboard). I then have to restart several times until it eventually works. Error is not reproducible.

2: Legacy Windows 10 installed. Second monitor flickers. I can only run one active monitor. Not bad, but is there maybe a solution for this?

Thanks a lot!

 

[Ozzies]

You can do it with Cardboard. No need to use a 3D printer.

Hi

Can you show how this is done i havent found any over heating issue todate with the drive out and in london just had a 38c days and have been runing the system all day with no issues.

It it helps i dont mind adoing this so i dont burn out the new gpu which is new old stock.

 

[Ozzies]

Hello all,

I have searched the thread so far, but I can't find my problem. I have an iMac 2011 (iMac12,2) with macOS 12.4. Mods performed:

1: Upgrade CPU i7 2600
2: Upgrade GPU Nvidia Geforce GTX880M (by Nikey22 8GB)
3: RAM 4x 8GB
4: Added Samsung SSD 512GB
5: Added HDD 6TB (Windows)
6: ODD Sensor swapped with GPU Sensor (Fan Control)
7: Upgrade Wifi (Not done yet)

The iMac is running with a second screen disguised in a broken iMac. Everything is running wonderfully so far, only two things that bother me:

1: Sometimes when I turn on the iMac the USB devices are not recognized (mouse, keyboard). I then have to restart several times until it eventually works. Error is not reproducible.

2: Legacy Windows 10 installed. Second monitor flickers. I can only run one active monitor. Not bad, but is there maybe a solution for this?

Thanks a lot!

I have done all the above and also considering Windows for some gaming but as i dont have the cd drive im not sure i can get windows on the system through usb.

Was this pre or post upgrade ?

 

[Manu182]

I have done all the above and also considering Windows for some gaming but as i dont have the cd drive im not sure i can get windows on the system through usb.

Was this pre or post upgrade ?

After upgrade I think

 

[Quinten07]

I have done all the above and also considering Windows for some gaming but as i dont have the cd drive im not sure i can get windows on the system through usb.

Was this pre or post upgrade ?

I have installed windows 10 via usb on numerous upgraded Imacs, it has never been an issue,
Ive installed it on 2009 27 inch imacs, 2010 21.5 inch IMacs and 2011 21.5 and 27 inch IMacs all with upgraded GPU’s. Just made a windows 10 installer using the windows media tool and downloaded the drivers via bootcamp. Only driver you will have to install manualy is the graphics driver, all other stuff works out of the box.

Also the guide mentions that you cant have 2 drives installed when installing windows on a 2011 IMacs 27 inch but I installed windows on my system with a second 2TB HDD in the system as well as my SSD and it installed perfectly fine.

 

[lyf314512]

5500xt 8g latest developments
By modifying the hardware of the graphics card, the internal screen can be successfully turned on on other mxm laptops. After passing the stability test, I will install the graphics card on the imac 2011. Perhaps the internal screen and 2 minidp interfaces can be enabled normally by oclp booting.
If all goes well, I will install the strongest AMD card rx5700xt 8g on imac 2011

 

[lyf314512]

I got a AMD RX5500XT 8GB mxm graphics card, after installing it on imac 2011, 2 minidp connected external monitors can be used normally, can't use the native monitor, its performance is 30% better than wx7100.
sorry for using translation

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AMD RX 5500 XT 8GB Latest News
After a few days of testing, the 5500xt is already working fine with the built-in monitor on the laptop. Next, I'll test the imac, there may be surprises.

 

[Mr Tao]

AMD RX 5500 XT 8GB Latest News
After a few days of testing, the 5500xt is already working fine with the built-in monitor on the laptop. Next, I'll test the imac, there may be surprises.

Waiting for your good news, keep watching

 

[thainglo]

Will be modding a 2009 27" iMac i7-870 in a few days with an AMD m6100 GPU and have been creating a plan for the process. This site has been AMAZING, but it appears some things have changed from the original Hardware Plan linked in Post #1. From what I have researched here and read through on the links, this is what I have devised:

Prerequisite: Clean Install of High Sierra, fully updated

1. Create GRML Linux USB with m6100 ROMs
2. Create USB w/ OpenCore Legacy Patcher Installer – Monterey v12.4 (DONE)
3. Swap Video Card
4. Insert USB w/ GRML Linux into iMac. Make sure iMac connected via Ethernet. Boot iMac
5. Log into iMac remotely via ssh. Follow instructions to backup vBIOS and install new ROMs to GPU.
6. Shut down iMac
7. Insert USB w/ OCPL into iMac
   • Press Option/Alt key at chime to enter boot screen, boot from USB
   • If keyboard command does not work, remove SSD and connect via USB adapter
8. Install Monterey OS to SSD, either in machine or via USB adapter
9. With SSD installed in machine, download OCPL again to Build and Install OpenCore on SSD
10. Reboot holding down Option/Alt key and select the internal EFI
    • Removes the need to keep OCPL USB inserted in machine
11. Apply any root patches as recommended by OCPL
12. Run performance benchmarks to insure devices working properly

With improvements to OCPL and the Linux device created by xanderon and The_Croupier, the entire process appears MUCH simpler.

Are there steps I'm missing? I have several pages printed out from here and the appropriate Linux & OCPL pages, been reading a ton over the last couple of days. Wrote these steps down as a way to organize what I've been finding, plus digging through other similar installations.

What about the OpenCore Recovery CD? Was going to burn one as part of the preparation, but could not find the "Set Generic Bootstrap" in the OCPL Advanced Patcher Settings. Is the CD no longer needed?

 

[internetzel]

Will be modding a 2009 27" iMac i7-870 in a few days with an AMD m6100 GPU and have been creating a plan for the process. This site has been AMAZING, but it appears some things have changed from the original Hardware Plan linked in Post #1. From what I have researched here and read through on the links, this is what I have devised:

Prerequisite: Clean Install of High Sierra, fully updated

1. Create GRML Linux USB with m6100 ROMs
2. Create USB w/ OpenCore Legacy Patcher Installer – Monterey v12.4 (DONE)
3. Swap Video Card
4. Insert USB w/ GRML Linux into iMac. Make sure iMac connected via Ethernet. Boot iMac
5. Log into iMac remotely via ssh. Follow instructions to backup vBIOS and install new ROMs to GPU.
6. Shut down iMac
7. Insert USB w/ OCPL into iMac
   • Press Option/Alt key at chime to enter boot screen, boot from USB
   • If keyboard command does not work, remove SSD and connect via USB adapter
8. Install Monterey OS to SSD, either in machine or via USB adapter
9. With SSD installed in machine, download OCPL again to Build and Install OpenCore on SSD
10. Reboot holding down Option/Alt key and select the internal EFI
    • Removes the need to keep OCPL USB inserted in machine
11. Apply any root patches as recommended by OCPL
12. Run performance benchmarks to insure devices working properly

With improvements to OCPL and the Linux device created by xanderon and The_Croupier, the entire process appears MUCH simpler.

Are there steps I'm missing? I have several pages printed out from here and the appropriate Linux & OCPL pages, been reading a ton over the last couple of days. Wrote these steps down as a way to organize what I've been finding, plus digging through other similar installations.

What about the OpenCore Recovery CD? Was going to burn one as part of the preparation, but could not find the "Set Generic Bootstrap" in the OCPL Advanced Patcher Settings. Is the CD no longer needed?

The most important thing you missed is the fact that pressing the option key at bootup will not work at all with any of the later ATI/AMD GPUs (it's possible but that requires some more mods and equipment to make it work).
Pressing the "C" key in order to boot from a CD does still work, although without any display until the OS has loaded the graphics drivers.

 

[thainglo]

Got it, thanks! If I am understanding correctly, the only way to boot into the OCPL USB with the later AMD m6100 is to disconnect the hard drive (in my case, the SSD)? Then, the iMac will boot to the OCPL as desired?

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

Got it, thanks! If I am understanding correctly, the only way to boot into the OCPL USB with the later AMD m6100 is to disconnect the hard drive (in my case, the SSD)? Then, the iMac will boot to the OCPL as desired?

Option 1.

Just format the SSD with EFI volume and copy the OCLP EFi to that. You can boot from the internal SSD and Open Core menu still works. No need to worry about that.

Option 2.
When you have already booted the machine from the GRML USB, the next time you will boot from USB as well, no need to press Option.

Option 3.
Probably you can install Monterey on another Intel Mac, then copy the OCLP to the EFI volume (with proper setup for your ancient iMac + M6100), and just move the SSD to the iMac with M6100.

 

[kitroughtrash]

Kepler Support on Monterey (finally?) broken

Apple broke finally Kepler support with Monterey 12.5. There is no fix, no ETA, no plan. You will have to stay on 12.4 for the time being.

AMD GCN cards are still fully working (AFAIK from the current beta testing).

In a silly move, I upgraded to 12.5 without checking the compatibility first. After patching I am stuck at login screen.

Is there any other solution that restoring from time machine backup?

 

[thainglo]

Option 1.

Just format the SSD with EFI volume and copy the OCLP EFi to that. You can boot from the internal SSD and Open Core menu still works. No need to worry about that.

Option 2.
When you have already booted the machine from the GRML USB, the next time you will boot from USB as well, no need to press Option.

Option 3.
Probably you can install Monterey on another Intel Mac, then copy the OCLP to the EFI volume (with proper setup for your ancient iMac + M6100), and just move the SSD to the iMac with M6100.

Thanks! Option 2 looks likes the easiest to understand. I've updated my cheat sheet. Really appreciate the help!