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

[Allistah]

I can deal with a bit of work if installing a new OS so I’m glad to hear that subsequent updates are fine and require no additional work so far. Will probably end up going with the 860M. Anything I need to know around the 860M that I need to pay attention to? Thanks for the reply!

 

[stahl80]

I thinking of upgrading my iMac 27 2011 to a GTX 765 2GB (N14E-GE-B-A1).

I’m currently running High Sierra and from what I can understand it will be plug and play (without boot screen and so on).

But how is the best way to upgrade to Mojave with that card?

Should I use the unofficial install tool before installing the new GPU (slow performance in Mojave but might be enough for just shutdown and install the new card) or wait till after mounting the new GPU.

Guessing it will be more difficult with the new GPU mounted since I won’t see the bootmanager that will be needed during the Mojave upgrade.

Anyone done this or have any recommendations?

Anything else needed, Nvidia webdrives etc?

 

[Roman78]

Did you installed Win10 in parallel with MacOS? And how?

Btw, i used thermal pads on my 780m, 0,5mm and 1mm thick versions instead of the messy thermal paste. Temps look fine, but i'm guessing the thermal paste performs better even though it looks weird.

No, i installed it native on another Harddisk. This took a while... I had an installation all ready done with W10, but that one failed. So i had to do a new installation. Fortunately I have 2 of the same iMac's. So i installed the HDD containing the failing W10 installation in the other iMac and did a complete new installation. This went fine untill W10 installed the GPU driver, after that i had no screen (this iMac also has a defective GPU), so i installed the HDD into my MacPro and completed the installation (all updates and a USB-VGA adapter driver also). After that I installed the Harddisk back into the iMac with the 765M, first i got screen on the USB-VGA and after a while also on the screen of the iMac.

Now today i want to install Mojave. But how? Are there instructions for that? I tried the dosdude Mojave patcher and made an USB-HDD. The iMac boots from the USB device, but the screen stays off. After that i Booted into Yosemite and tried to run the installer from there, this always give me an error message that the installer is missing files an deed to download, but is unable to find any.

 

[passatgt]

No, i installed it native on another Harddisk. This took a while... I had an installation all ready done with W10, but that one failed. So i had to do a new installation. Fortunately I have 2 of the same iMac's. So i installed the HDD containing the failing W10 installation in the other iMac and did a complete new installation. This went fine untill W10 installed the GPU driver, after that i had no screen (this iMac also has a defective GPU), so i installed the HDD into my MacPro and completed the installation (all updates and a USB-VGA adapter driver also). After that I installed the Harddisk back into the iMac with the 765M, first i got screen on the USB-VGA and after a while also on the screen of the iMac.

Now today i want to install Mojave. But how? Are there instructions for that? I tried the dosdude Mojave patcher and made an USB-HDD. The iMac boots from the USB device, but the screen stays off. After that i Booted into Yosemite and tried to run the installer from there, this always give me an error message that the installer is missing files an deed to download, but is unable to find any.

I did my Mojave installation while i still had a working card installed with bootscreen, and i swapped out after Mojave was installed fully. Maybe you could install Mojave on your other iMac and swap hdd-s?

 

[Roman78]

I did my Mojave installation while i still had a working card installed with bootscreen, and i swapped out after Mojave was installed fully. Maybe you could install Mojave on your other iMac and swap hdd-s?

That could be an option, but i'm trying to get it done on the iMac it self. I will write a instruction on my Blog when i'M finished (http://www.die-oswalds.de/blog/). At this point i'm trying to update from El Capitan onto Sierra. even that can be hard to do....

/Edit: Mojave is running. I used the other iMac to install. But I would like to do it with this one.

/Edit2: Are there known issues with the PowerSaving option? I noticed twice on Yosemite, once on El Capitan and now also on Mojave that after a Powersafe the screen won't come back.

 

[passatgt]

That could be an option, but i'm trying to get it done on the iMac it self. I will write a instruction on my Blog when i'M finished (http://www.die-oswalds.de/blog/). At this point i'm trying to update from El Capitan onto Sierra. even that can be hard to do....

/Edit: Mojave is running. I used the other iMac to install. But I would like to do it with this one.

/Edit2: Are there known issues with the PowerSaving option? I noticed twice on Yosemite, once on El Capitan and now also on Mojave that after a Powersafe the screen won't come back.

Install the HD3000 kext from this post: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/2011-imac-graphics-card-upgrade.1596614/page-58#post-26923507

 

[Roman78]

Hmmm that would not explain, why it also did not worked on Yosemite and El Capitan.

 

[Allistah]

A couple questions for those that have done this mod, assuming I've installed a "known working" GPU like the 860M:

1) If I install High Sierra as the "Primary, Safe Boot OS" can I just install Mojave without any patches or will I always require the OS to be patched before I install?

2) Will there be a backlight issue - meaning that I won't be able to change the brightness of the screen with the normal controls?

Not sure if all the hassle is worth it so I want to know what I'm getting myself into before I buy the GPU and go for it. Thanks to all who answer and who have contributed to this thread. Great stuff!

 

[Roman78]

@Allistah

i don't know about the 860M, i have a 765M installed in one of mine. But i can say: Installing another OS with an alternative card is hard. I tried installing Sierra from Yosemite and El Capitan, both installations getting in en infinity loop. I also tried installing Mojave, the official way tells me that the iMac is not supported. The dosdude patcher works, but only with an original card.I have several other macs so i installed Mojave there and moved the hdd to the one with the 765M.

Point two: Yes, backlight is at 100%. I found the program Brightness Slider in the App Store, but that one is not controlling the backlight, it just makes the screen darker. I tested the power consumption while sliding.

And i have some issues with Power Saving mode. I'll try to figure out why.

And if its worth the hassle.... Hmmmm having a 14KG paperweight or, in my case about 100€ for the card and the iMac is usable again. If not, you can still sell the parts. But i think its worth the hassle, but people say i'm not normal.

Question at all: Does someone has a better tool for the Backlight issue? Some software to control the backlight it self rather than making the screen darker.

 

[passatgt]

@Allistah

i don't know about the 860M, i have a 765M installed in one of mine. But i can say: Installing another OS with an alternative card is hard. I tried installing Sierra from Yosemite and El Capitan, both installations getting in en infinity loop. I also tried installing Mojave, the official way tells me that the iMac is not supported. The dosdude patcher works, but only with an original card.I have several other macs so i installed Mojave there and moved the hdd to the one with the 765M.

Point two: Yes, backlight is at 100%. I found the program Brightness Slider in the App Store, but that one is not controlling the backlight, it just makes the screen darker. I tested the power consumption while sliding.

And i have some issues with Power Saving mode. I'll try to figure out why.

And if its worth the hassle.... Hmmmm having a 14KG paperweight or, in my case about 100€ for the card and the iMac is usable again. If not, you can still sell the parts. But i think its worth the hassle, but people say i'm not normal.

Question at all: Does someone has a better tool for the Backlight issue? Some software to control the backlight it self rather than making the screen darker.

The dyinglight module can be installed but its a bit hacky. The other hacky solution is installing a PWM module, described in post #1354.
One of the users installed Ubuntu and had full backlight control working out of the box. I'm hoping a software like that can be made for MacOS too.

 

[kral84]

after the GPU (860m) upgrade i must press power button (2x) twice for booting (whether long or short press no matter)... can any one helpme what is wrong?

old amd card i press 1x and the boot up ..

 

[francovilar]

I have a 21.5 imac from late 2009 with a dead hd 4670 graphic card. Can I replace with a k2000m?

 

[FlorisVN]

I have a 21.5 imac from late 2009 with a dead hd 4670 graphic card. Can I replace with a k2000m?

Dell quadro k2000m is good for 21,5” indeed

 

[Lodge52]

Is there anyway of doing the PWM module hack on a 21,5 2011 iMac, the backlight board only has a 4 pin connector and I cannot see a PWM pin on the board.

 

[ich558]

When i put a GTX 770M or 765M in the iMac it works like plug and play. But for what are this Web Drivers necessary?

 

[Raod]

nice, and thx for sharing again !

I was wondering, would it maybe be a good idea, to extend the air cover going to the MXM video card backside ?
So it will reach also the bottom vram chips better ?

And I was also wondering, how about creating some holes in the design for extra HDD/SSD airflow.. ?
Am I correct that I think, it looks like the airflow going to HDD/SSD is now almost completely gone/blocked.. ?
correct me if i'm wrong of course, just want to share my thoughts..

As I said in the previous post I updated the design and the new version should have a better fit but I left the "alpha" version installed till the need to open the iMac again. I also left the original Fusion 360 file for someone who want to made mods/update it.

It works well for me but I left the ODD installed and exchanged the original HDD to fit a RAID0 array (2 SSDx500gb), also there's a little hole in the duct to let some air going upwards to the SSDs but both are always cooler than anything else inside the case.

Here's some captures:

I'm very happy with the results and really thanked to all you people who find and share this info here!

 

[Roman78]

You need the webdrivers if you planning to install a newer GPU, like the 980 or so.

 

[Roman78]

I benchmarked the some graphic cards. The iMac i use daily has the HD 6970M, the 21,5 i have here has the HD6770M and than i have the GTX 765M. The GTX 765M is more than twice as fast as the 6970M (and the 6970M is on an i7-2600 while the GTX 765m in on a i5-2400). And I just bought a Quadro K1100M as test.

Well, for me the speed of the 6770M is more than enough. I don't play games on iMac's anymore (i killed a 2013 last year by playing a game for 3 hours).

 

[FlorisVN]

As I said in the previous post I updated the design and the new version should have a better fit but I left the "alpha" version installed till the need to open the iMac again. I also left the original Fusion 360 file for someone who want to made mods/update it.

It works well for me but I left the ODD installed and exchanged the original HDD to fit a RAID0 array (2 SSDx500gb), also there's a little hole in the duct to let some air going upwards to the SSDs but both are always cooler than anything else inside the case.

Here's some captures:

View attachment 842291
View attachment 842292

I'm very happy with the results and really thanked to all you people who find and share this info here!

thx for sharing again sir !
sorry i forgot that you already made an updated design

Anyway, if I am correct these desings from you are the latest of your design I suppose ?
(see attacht files)
[doublepost=1560363257][/doublepost]

You need the webdrivers if you planning to install a newer GPU, like the 980 or so.

or use web and cuda drivers, if you need CUDA support..
These compatible kepler cards won't need Web Drivers, they can also run fine withouth them as we know..
[doublepost=1560363321][/doublepost]

When i put a GTX 770M or 765M in the iMac it works like plug and play. But for what are this Web Drivers necessary?

basicually yes, heatsink mod is of course also needed.
web drivers are not needed, only if you need CUDA for example but otherwise not.
They work OOB with built in MacOS kepler drivers..

 

[Raod]

thx for sharing again sir !
sorry i forgot that you already made an updated design

Anyway, if I am correct these desings from you are the latest of your design I suppose ?
(see attacht files)

Yes, they are the lastest.

If someone here uses it please give feedback!

 

[lamerz78]

Didn't add modded copper heatsinks on the backside vram chips yet but plan to. Had to drill out the x-clamp as it wasn't removable and it had threaded holes that are too small for the stock Apple mounting screws to pass through. I detailed the drill sizes I used above.

One other detail to add about both this upgrade (Quadro K2000M) for the 2011 iMac 21.5" and the upgrade (GTX 765M) for the 2011 iMac 27 is that screen sharing doesn't work (Apple TV or another iMac via Thunderbolt cable). The system report shows the devices as present when plugged in by Thunderbolt cable; however, CMD-F2 won't work.

One final detail: The backlight on the 2011 iMac 21.5" when full on does not produce anywhere near the heat that the 2011 iMac 27 does and I find the Brightness Slider App when used alone (without the hardware backlight control mod) to be sufficient so I may not perform the hardware backlight mod on my 21.5.

Hi!
I’ve purchased this card from AliExpress:

€ 51,32 | KaiFull CN-0D30WG D30WG K2000M N14P-Q3-A2 della Scheda Video grafica per Dell HP Precisione M4700 M4800 HP Elitebook 8560 w
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/bYSczFBi

I’ve done all the work.

Now my iMac do the “boing” and nothing more.

I want to boot from Modded Mojave Installation USB stick in “blind” mode but nothing happen.

Power on with ALT for “about 30 seconds” then push 1 time right arrow then RETURN..... nothing. The usb stick led stay solid.

Obviously if I don’t press ALT to boot from internal SSD nothing happened because I’ve a Modded Mojave with video card patch.

Is there any way to know if the Video Card is “defective”?

Tomorrow I’ll check again all the cables but I’m pretty sure they have all connected......

Any suggestions?

Thanks a lot.

 

[kmare]

running 780M w/High Sierra. Everything is great. Trying to get install Mojave no luck -- patched mojave setup USB and mojave fresh install both boot to black screen.

any ideas?

 

[Desgus71]

running 780M w/High Sierra. Everything is great. Trying to get install Mojave no luck -- patched mojave setup USB and mojave fresh install both boot to black screen.

any ideas?

If you read the first thread on page 1 it tells you, you will lose boot screen and the ability to control the backlighting( as the saying goes” there’s an app for that”).
[doublepost=1560667079][/doublepost]

If you read the first thread on page 1 it tells you, you will lose boot screen and the ability to control the backlighting( as the saying goes” there’s an app for that”).

For Backlight control I chose brightness slider, there are others.

I completed my mid 2011 27” iMac just recently. I went for GTX765m and also bought the Bluetooth and WiFi upgrade card, used dosdude patch for Mojave as Apple still won’t let my machine load Mojave direct from the App Store.

 

[Roman78]

@lamerz78 you can't boot from the USB installation stick, at least i was not able to. I did the installation with the DosDude patcher and the old defective GPU installed. Using the Videocard patch also keeps my display dark. You have to install without that patch. Do you have any other installation on a harddisk you could test?

@kmare Booting USB stick is not possible with alternative card installed. I did the installation with the original card installed.

 

[Appleak]

@Desgus71, tell me which compatible Bluetooth version and brand name to buy for my iMac 11.2, and the wifi as well

If you read the first thread on page 1 it tells you, you will lose boot screen and the ability to control the backlighting( as the saying goes” there’s an app for that”).
[doublepost=1560667079][/doublepost]

For Backlight control I chose brightness slider, there are others.

I completed my mid 2011 27” iMac just recently. I went for GTX765m and also bought the Bluetooth and WiFi upgrade card, used dosdude patch for Mojave as Apple still won’t let my machine load Mojave direct from the App Store.

@lamerz78 you can't boot from the USB installation stick, at least i was not able to. I did the installation with the DosDude patcher and the old defective GPU installed. Using the Videocard patch also keeps my display dark. You have to install without that patch. Do you have any other installation on a harddisk you could test?
_____
@kmare Booting USB stick is not possible with alternative card installed. I did the installation with the original card installed.

@Roman78 , you can take a look at macOS Catalina unsupported there's in wikipost a Catalina loader for unsupported Macs with metal compatible gpu, bluetooth, wifi.