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

[fredflinston]

Hey Peeps,

So just a little peev that has appeared, my Apple full USB keyboard has a small issue in that on startup it stops working.. strangely if I try writing something before everything is loaded, I sometimes can do (spotlight for example), then it stops responding until unplug and plug in again, then is fine until next reboot.... very occasionally suddenly types 2-3 letters by itself in the middle of a word...

Also Apple Mail seems to have lost search capability, have tried the rebuild, reindex, etc, spotlight seems to still be indexing after 3-4 days now (although slowly seems to be getting to the end..) Spotlight finished indexing and Mail search OK

And sharing wifi I understand would need a wifi card upgrade now, not a deal breaker at all, just a note ;-)

Thanks to all for the great work to allow a decent machine a few more years of life!!

Cheers!
Andy

 

[beblack568]

After testing K4100m on iMac 27" 2011 i can say is a good card but i don´t know if i got a faulty card or if its a expected behaviour. On stand by or light apps the GPU heatsink and card are between 48-53 Celsius(A hot summer in Mexico), but as soon as i start Valley or an intensive game(ROTTR for example) after 2-3 minutes the card goes up to 93 Celsius which is the temp limit the card has and the frames start to drop.

Can some people who has same card say if my temps are normal?

 

[DickDiver]

Hello guys, thank you very much to everyone who has contributed experience and knowledge in this thread.

I'm going to present my situation to you, see what you think. I have an iMac 12.2, i5 3.1GHz, 32 Gb RAM, 1 Tb SSD, 3 Tb HDD and an ATI 6970 1 Gb. Two years ago the ATI started failing and I had to put it through the oven. Last month it failed again, but this time repair attempts were unsuccessful. I decided to buy a new ATI 6970 but this time 2 Gb. When installing it, the system, Catalina, failed to boot into a reboot circle. After resetting PRAM and SMC, it managed to boot, but the performance was clearly improvable. I decided to install Big Sur using OpenCore, due to good experience with an iMac 11.1 with an ATI 4850. Attempts to install it have all been unsuccessful. Also with Ventura and Monterey. I decided to install High Sierra and it hasn't been possible either. Sierra, neither. Only Catalina can be installed without any problem, with the Catalina patcher.

I don't know what can happen so that it won't let me install another OS than Catalina. As it is, I'm considering buying a K2100 and installing it so that I can install Big Sur with native support for graphics acceleration.

Any ideas to try before buying another graphics card?

 

[fredflinston]

After testing K4100m on iMac 27" 2011 i can say is a good card but i don´t know if i got a faulty card or if its a expected behaviour. On stand by or light apps the GPU heatsink and card are between 48-53 Celsius(A hot summer in Mexico), but as soon as i start Valley or an intensive game(ROTTR for example) after 2-3 minutes the card goes up to 93 Celsius which is the temp limit the card has and the frames start to drop.

Can some people who has same card say if my temps are normal?

I would venture that you don't have enough contact / thermal paste between GPU and heatsink..? did you try "dry" fit and check any space left...? should check how thick thermal pads to use on VRAM (chips around the edge of the card), and then use a thin piece of copper to suplement the GPU chip itself, using thermal paste on both sides...

FWIW, I had to use 2 different thickness of thermal pads to avoid grinding where VRAM met heatsink, and then a 1mm copper plate with thermal paste on both sides.. my my Vally score is as expected, and temps reach max 68 degrees

HTH!

 

[gagarin]

Hello guys, thank you very much to everyone who has contributed experience and knowledge in this thread.

I'm going to present my situation to you, see what you think. I have an iMac 12.2, i5 3.1GHz, 32 Gb RAM, 1 Tb SSD, 3 Tb HDD and an ATI 6970 1 Gb. Two years ago the ATI started failing and I had to put it through the oven. Last month it failed again, but this time repair attempts were unsuccessful. I decided to buy a new ATI 6970 but this time 2 Gb. When installing it, the system, Catalina, failed to boot into a reboot circle. After resetting PRAM and SMC, it managed to boot, but the performance was clearly improvable. I decided to install Big Sur using OpenCore, due to good experience with an iMac 11.1 with an ATI 4850. Attempts to install it have all been unsuccessful. Also with Ventura and Monterey. I decided to install High Sierra and it hasn't been possible either. Sierra, neither. Only Catalina can be installed without any problem, with the Catalina patcher.

I don't know what can happen so that it won't let me install another OS than Catalina. As it is, I'm considering buying a K2100 and installing it so that I can install Big Sur with native support for graphics acceleration.

Any ideas to try before buying another graphics card?

Your iMac is perfect for WX4170. But WX4130/50 will also do

 

[daillest319]

i currently have an upgraded 2011 21.5 imac with Quadro K2100M card installed. Everything was good until i upgraded to ventura. Photo booth does not work. The only work around is if i open face time then photo booth will work. is there fix for this?

 

[beblack568]

I would venture that you don't have enough contact / thermal paste between GPU and heatsink..? did you try "dry" fit and check any space left...? should check how thick thermal pads to use on VRAM (chips around the edge of the card), and then use a thin piece of copper to suplement the GPU chip itself, using thermal paste on both sides...

FWIW, I had to use 2 different thickness of thermal pads to avoid grinding where VRAM met heatsink, and then a 1mm copper plate with thermal paste on both sides.. my my Vally score is as expected, and temps reach max 68 degrees

HTH!

I will look at the space between gpu and heatsink tomorrow but as far as i remember it was good. Termal pads are 1mm(maybe too thick?). Valley scores are very good 1st time, after that scores tend to lower everytime. Also i saw that if i use MSI afterburner to set max temp at X. The core clock start to go down to 543 Mhz tying to get desired temp.

 

[guitar_head]

i currently have an upgraded 2011 21.5 imac with Quadro K2100M card installed. Everything was good until i upgraded to ventura. Photo booth does not work. The only work around is if i open face time then photo booth will work. is there fix for this?

Same issue in my case. Same Graphics Card but iMac 11.3 27". Any ideas on the issue? Microsoft Teams became unusable. The Camera isn't recognized in the browsers (Chrome, Safari, Edge, Mozilla).

 

[romanboy]

Hi all,
I've got a mid-2010 27 inch iMac, and I wanted to upgrade the GPU on it. As such, I purchased an Nvidia Quadro K3100M, and also a 3 pipe heatsink. I installed High Sierra on an internal SSD, which upgraded the firmware on the iMac to the latest. I modified the 3 pipe heatsink, and installed it the K3100M.

The K3100M came from a HP machine, so I imagine it has no VBIOS installed.
When booting, I get a chime, and then the mac reboots. I've taken out the GPU, reset the PRAM 3 times, and re-installed the K3100M. The chime-reboot cycles returned. I can reset PRAM with the K3100M installed, however only the first 2 LEDs light up on the main board.

The Mac does not finish booting from the internal SSD (has Screen sharing, remote login turned on), nor does it boot from the GRML USB I created, with the SSD disconnected. The mac behaves as normal with the old GPU, and passes ASD EFI and ASD OS.

Am I having issues because of the lack of VBIOS on the HP card? Or is there potentially another issue, am I missing something?

Many thanks for your help.

 

[DickDiver]

The K3100M came from a HP machine, so I imagine it has no VBIOS installed.

This!

You need to flash the K3100M with the correct bios for iMac.

 

[ottomanuel]

Buenas, estoy tratando de instalar Monterey en una MacBookPro8,2 y me da problemas después en el Post-Install Root Patch, ya la pc se reinicializa y se queda colgada en el proceso de reinicio. La tarjeta gráfica es AMD Radeon HD 6750M, 1024 MB, habría alguna solución para este problema, sobre todo en los kest.

He hecho el mismo proceso ya con el nuevo Open-Core-Patcher 0.6.6 y me da el mismo error. Me vendría bien una ayuda en este aspecto, Gracias.

Hi, I'm trying to install Monterey on a MacBookPro8,2 and it gives me problems after the Post-Install Root Patch, and the pc reboots and hangs in the reboot process. The graphics card is AMD Radeon HD 6750M, 1024 MB, there would be some solution for this problem, especially in the kest.

I have done the same process already with the new Open-Core-Patcher 0.6.6 and it gives me the same error. I could use some help in this regard, Thanks.

 

[romanboy]

This!

You need to flash the K3100M with the correct bios for iMac.

Thanks. Can I do that when the card is in the iMac, or do I need to plug it in another machine? Or can I use a clip?

Once again, thanks.

 

[beblack568]

Thanks. Can I do that when the card is in the iMac, or do I need to plug it in another machine? Or can I use a clip?

Once again, thanks.

K3100m can't be flashed using a clip. If your gpu is still working i suggest to install the 15 GB bootcamp partition with Windows 7 and all the tools you need. Then install teamviewer on any machine and setup to connect to the iMac. After that reboot and be sure you can connect to the imac, then install the new card and flash the card using correct bios on windows after you connect using teamviewer.

 

[crazyjnz]

Where do I find nicky22's gtx780m vbios version before the latest one 780M-BR3.rom? I belive its 780M_BR2.rom
Thanks

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

Thanks. Can I do that when the card is in the iMac, or do I need to plug it in another machine? Or can I use a clip?

Once again, thanks.

You can do it anyway you would like to and are capable of doing.

1> Assemble the card in the iMac, boot it with GRML Linux USB, and remote control the iMac from another device. (PC or tablet with remote control function)
2> Plug it in another machine capable of connecting to an MXM card. (Workstation laptop with MXM slot, mini PC with MXM slot, desktop PC with proper MXM to PCIE adapter)
3> Desolder the vBIOS chip and put it in a chip programmer device.

 

[Redlight-Records]

over 3 years after modding it, my beloved 2011 27" iMac 12,2 is still running like a champ. I agonized over whether to do the vbios flashing for the GTX 765m, but I'm scared I'll jinx my fix!

View attachment 941511
If you want to save your iMac, you gotta put in a little work. I have the same machine, and I started with the bare minimum needed to keep it running: swapping out the gpu. It's a pain, but doable. I bought a dremmel attachment, some K5, and a GTX765. The heat sink mod is not terribly difficult, but it was a little tricky with the x-bracket. I used a punch to remove the 765's screw mounts and then used that instead of re-using the iMac's bracket (which requires modification). I am running x.11.6 and as soon as I put everything back together, it booted right up, and I picked up right where I was before the AMD failed (for the second time). Machine ran plenty hot (50 - 60C) and I mounted a muffin fan to the back of the iMac and leave it on.

I found the lack of brightness control to be to much of an eye-strain and the heat issue worried me, but because I have to run El Capitan & had no hope of native brightness control even with flashing, so I did the backlight PWM mod. I bought an $80 oscilloscope, the resistors one and two, and the PWM module. I put together the PWM w/resitors and 3wires. Then, because I'm terrified of soldering on circuit boards, I fashioned some homemade Y connectors out of some female spade connectors (see below) and stuffed 'em in the backlight's output harness. I cut the backlight's output to the logic board, put 'er back together and crossed my fingers. Booted right up with very noticeable improvement in viewing and heat (36-50C) I needed to download Macs Fan Control, as SMCfancontrol no longer worked. After all that, my machine runs just as it did pre-gpu failure!. I now hope to keep using my beloved iMac for many years! I'll do the vbios flashing at some point, but no big hurry.

View attachment 936079

 

[Stefanox2410]

hello everyone, I have an imac 27 2009 i7 with a k2100m, I would like to install ventura on it, I read on the first page and in the end it doesn't seem very difficult, is it stable? any problems? do you have any advice?

 

[romanboy]

K3100m can't be flashed using a clip. If your gpu is still working i suggest to install the 15 GB bootcamp partition with Windows 7 and all the tools you need. Then install teamviewer on any machine and setup to connect to the iMac. After that reboot and be sure you can connect to the imac, then install the new card and flash the card using correct bios on windows after you connect using teamviewer.

My original GPU is working. Once I have Windows 7 installed, will the Mac boot past the Chime-Reboot-Chime boot loop?

You can do it anyway you would like to and are capable of doing.

1> Assemble the card in the iMac, boot it with GRML Linux USB, and remote control the iMac from another device. (PC or tablet with remote control function)
2> Plug it in another machine capable of connecting to an MXM card. (Workstation laptop with MXM slot, mini PC with MXM slot, desktop PC with proper MXM to PCIE adapter)
3> Desolder the vBIOS chip and put it in a chip programmer device.

1> I tried number 1, the mac is in a Chime-Reboot-Chime boot loop.
2> I was thinking of buying a PCI-e to MXM adapter. Any you'd recommend?
3> Also an option for me, but where is the BIOS chip on the board? I can order a new BIOS chip from ebay, flashed with the ROM from this thread.

Thanks both of you for your time and help.

 

[dorninko]

Same issue in my case. Same Graphics Card but iMac 11.3 27". Any ideas on the issue? Microsoft Teams became unusable. The Camera isn't recognized in the browsers (Chrome, Safari, Edge, Mozilla).

i currently have an upgraded 2011 21.5 imac with Quadro K2100M card installed. Everything was good until i upgraded to ventura. Photo booth does not work. The only work around is if i open face time then photo booth will work. is there fix for this?

Same issue on 3 iMacs (2011, 2011, 2010) with various graphic cards and Ventura. Photo booth, Skype do not work. The only work around is if I open Facetime then the camera will work in the other programs. When I close Facetime the camera in the other programs turns black. Any ideas for a fix????

 

[gagarin]

Same issue on 3 iMacs (2011, 2011, 2010) with various graphic cards and Ventura. Photo booth, Skype do not work. The only work around is if I open Facetime then the camera will work in the other programs. When I close Facetime the camera in the other programs turns black. Any ideas for a fix????

I can only assume it is a question of older version of Metal that became deprecated in Ventura. All cards from your signature are Metal v1 cards. I have newer Polaris (Metal 2) card in my iMac but I do not have Ventura installed to check it.

 

[tcris]

Hi,
I have an imac 11,1 (27", late 2009, quad core i7, original video card ati 4850m)

I'd like to upgrade gpu/video card to something that
* allows Metal support and Monterey usage
* ideally tested with Windows

I also used to attach an Apple Cinema Display to it,
does anyone have any experience with such a video card that also works with a similar dual display setup?

Thank you

ps: My iMac is the 2009 model, if there's a better place to ask, please point me to it.

 

[gagarin]

Hi,
I have an imac 11,1 (27", late 2009, quad core i7, original video card ati 4850m)

I'd like to upgrade gpu/video card to something that
* allows Metal support and Monterey usage
* ideally tested with Windows

I also used to attach an Apple Cinema Display to it,
does anyone have any experience with such a video card that also works with a similar dual display setup?

Thank you

ps: My iMac is the 2009 model, if there's a better place to ask, please point me to it.

WX4130/50/70

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

Hi,
I have an imac 11,1 (27", late 2009, quad core i7, original video card ati 4850m)

I'd like to upgrade gpu/video card to something that
* allows Metal support and Monterey usage
* ideally tested with Windows

I also used to attach an Apple Cinema Display to it,
does anyone have any experience with such a video card that also works with a similar dual display setup?

Thank you

ps: My iMac is the 2009 model, if there's a better place to ask, please point me to it.

I have installed the following cards to my iMac 11,1
- Quadro K1100m
- Quadro M4000m
- FirePro M6100
I still use High Sierra. No idea about Windows operation with those card.
I don't have Apple Cinema Display to test.

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

My original GPU is working. Once I have Windows 7 installed, will the Mac boot past the Chime-Reboot-Chime boot loop?


1> I tried number 1, the mac is in a Chime-Reboot-Chime boot loop.
2> I was thinking of buying a PCI-e to MXM adapter. Any you'd recommend?
3> Also an option for me, but where is the BIOS chip on the board? I can order a new BIOS chip from ebay, flashed with the ROM from this thread.

Thanks both of you for your time and help.

1> Boot loop may be the result of a defective card, or short circuit because components on the card touching the heatsink. Search this thread again with "boot-loop" and K3100m issues to see if others have solution for similar case. I haven't try a K3100m yet.
I remember others have successfully overcome the boot loop issue by detaching the wifi card or bluetooth card from their iMac 2011.

2> There are 2 type of adapter (PCIe X16 to MXM), one for nVidia, and one 1 AMD.
Check the link below. They are not cheap.

Eurocom MXM-to-PCIe x16 adapter lets you put a laptop GPU inside of a desktop PC

In what is essentially an eGPU docking station in reverse, the Eurocom Riser card allows users to install laptop MXM3 graphics cards directly onto their desktop PCIe slots. The product is aimed at professionals and workstation environments for specialized SFF PCs rather than a home office.

www.notebookcheck.net

The cheapo PCie x1 to MXM adapter will be more miss than hit. If you don't mind spending 10$ or less to try your luck, then they are all over the internet.

3> The vBIOS chip of K3100m is on the lower left corner of the GPU chip side. Normally you can see a letter M on it.
Google Quadro K3100 BIOS chip and you can find compatible chip.

But remember, the boot-loop is caused by the whole card, not by the incompatible vBIOS. So even if you successfully program the vBIOS on to the chip, your iMac might still boot-looping.

 

[Radical78]

Hi,

If I have an iMac 2011 27 inch and want to upgrade it with an Nvidia Quadro K3100M GPU do I have the change the heatsink?

Thanks in advance folks.