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

[Umarx]

Been using wx4130 for last couple of years on my 2011 imac 12,2 with dell monitor as second display smoothly with no issues. Tried to attach thunderbolt display but it stay dark upon startup while the imac boots normal. Is it not supported?

 

[1990diego]

Looks like correct ROM flashed for your card



Post #8351 suggest to install HS. HS is when APFS was introduced so logic board ROM needed to be flashed (during HS update) so it knows how to boot macOS installed on APFS. Maybe there are other graphics related reasons too but I don't know. So its generally safer to get these iMacs first to HS so we can avoid APFS related problems.

I'm unclear of your OCLP installation process but sounds like you didn't install OC on the USB install stick? You can follow my steps

• Erase SATA drive. iMac will search for bootable images in other places (on your USB stick with OC installed). HS installation already flashed the logic board ROM so logic board is setup properly.
• USB installer need to have OC installed with 1) Correct Target Model 2) nvidia GOP injection and nVidia Kepler set. Should look like pic below for your 12,2 + K3100M
• Follow my post #21491 step "Make Boot Stick #2 (OCLP macOS Install USB Stick)"
• When iMac boots, it needs to find and boot OC (just OCLP's boot manager). Since internal SATA is empty, iMac will search in USB. It will find the USB install stick with OC on it. Boot OC, then OC will launch the macOS installer on the USB stick. This is also why once macOS is installed onto internal SATA drive, it is necessary to install OC onto that SATA drive to enable iMac to boot OC from SATA drive (so you don't need to keep on using USB stick with OC), then launch OCLP patched macOS image on the SATA drive.

View attachment 2405002



ok make sense.

I havnt installed OCLP at all, shouldnt this card load HS also? I can not enter recovery as like the image on my first post, I think I will surrender for now, I do not have the knoledge I would like to, maybe in a future give it a try again with a new gpu... just installed the amd card again and its kind of broke but ater as while the system is usable.

Thanks for all your advices

 

[howardc64]

I havnt installed OCLP at all, shouldnt this card load HS also?

I don't know

I can not enter recovery as like the image on my first post, I think I will surrender for now, I do not have the knoledge I would like to, maybe in a future give it a try again with a new gpu... just installed the amd card again and its kind of broke but ater as while the system is usable.

Thanks for all your advices

Before you give up, here is a simple easy step to check if not installing OC is your problem. You already did the hardest part (flash GPU ROM) haha

1. unplug your HS SATA drive
2. build a USB macOS install stick (say Big Sur for Kepler GPU) and also install OC on the stick.
3. plug in USB install stick and boot, you will see boot options to install macOS

If you get this far, then all you need is erase your HS SATA drive, connect it. Repeat step 3 and install macOS into the blank SATA drive. Setup macOS when done, and run OCLP post install after setup.

 

[alberbrando]

I´ve been using the new graphic card, an amd 5100 and I realize how the temperature has dropped down in the iMac. Watching YouTube videos pushed my old graphic card to 51ºC and now it heats up to 41-42ºC.

 

[Jarafe]

Please help me to install driver, i install windows 10 all driver with bootcamp but the gpu only microsoft, helpp please

In win 11 with out boot camp my set up is fully stable and good drivers for my s7100x only had to use drivers from apple for isight camera and sound.
In still testing the install of boot camp on windows because it corrupts win 11 , it boots start but within 30secs image gets all gibberish and imac reboots, already removing parts of the bootcamp install drivers but so far i’ve been unable to get it to work. With out bootcamp win11 de-bloated works brilliantly

 

[howardc64]

Upgraded both 21" and 27" 10,1 (both late 2009 27" C2D) with AMD M4000 (eDP VBIOS for 27" LVDS EG2 VBIOS for 21") and SSDs with OCLP macOS Monterey (UPDATE : Moved to Big Sur which ran on some dual core / 4 threads rMB core Ms). Surprisingly usable! Good enough for most casual users. C2D's 2 cores (no threads) probably shouldn't run the post M1 macOS Ventura/Sonoma with its 8 core/thread demands.

Upgrade process same as all others in my signature link.

GPU shim was 0.3mm. Runs amazingly cool! 1/4 screen Valley stabilize at ~60C on 27"

 

[dorninko]

In win 11 with out boot camp my set up is fully stable and good drivers for my s7100x only had to use drivers from apple for isight camera and sound.
In still testing the install of boot camp on windows because it corrupts win 11 , it boots start but within 30secs image gets all gibberish and imac reboots, already removing parts of the bootcamp install drivers but so far i’ve been unable to get it to work. With out bootcamp win11 de-bloated works brilliantly

Hi, you could try the following (helped me several times):
In windows got to windows/system32/drivers and rename (or delete) the driver MacHALdriver.sys (you have to do that in safe mode or command line in repair mode), see:

[macOS] Windows 10 1903 with Boot Camp - Apple | DSLReports Forums

Forum discussion: I had no problems running 1809 via Boot Camp, but I tried 1903 today and it seemingly went well until it booted into Windows and after about 10 seconds I get a BSOD with a WDF Violation that I can't fix, so I rolled back to 1809. Has anyone else had

www.dslreports.com

Might help

 

[Jarafe]

Hi, you could try the following (helped me several times):
In windows got to windows/system32/drivers and rename (or delete) the driver MacHALdriver.sys (you have to do that in safe mode or command line in repair mode), see:

[macOS] Windows 10 1903 with Boot Camp - Apple | DSLReports Forums

Forum discussion: I had no problems running 1809 via Boot Camp, but I tried 1903 today and it seemingly went well until it booted into Windows and after about 10 seconds I get a BSOD with a WDF Violation that I can't fix, so I rolled back to 1809. Has anyone else had

www.dslreports.com

Might help

Thank you, will give it a try and then report back

 

[dorninko]

Just a short comment for all how consider installing NVIDIA GTX 880M or GTX 870M:
don't use it if you want to use Sonoma. It is mentioned on page 1:

Please read the issues section first! Most of these cards hit the street 2012 and are considered as old cards. Optimal for macOS up to Big Sur, some non fixed issues on Monterey, serious problems with Ventura 13.3+. If you plan to use Ventura do not buy a Kepler card these days!

I can sadly confirm this: I have an 12,2 iMac with GTX880 and an 12,1 iMac with GTX870, both worked fine with Monterey but after upgrade to Sonoma I have many strange small problems: sporadically display freez after a few minutes, HDD not responding sometimes (I checked the HDD it is ok), sound not working sometimes, "flippy" display after long pause (I turned off automatic sleep), and more.

I ordered 2 WX4150 cards and will replace the Nvidia cards.

 

[howardc64]

I can sadly confirm this: I have an 12,2 iMac with GTX880 and an 12,1 iMac with GTX870, both worked fine with Monterey but after upgrade to Sonoma I have many strange small problems: sporadically display freez after a few minutes, HDD not responding sometimes (I checked the HDD it is ok), sound not working sometimes, "flippy" display after long pause (I turned off automatic sleep), and more.

I ordered 2 WX4150 cards and will replace the Nvidia cards.

Running 2x 12,2 with WX4130 on Sonoma + 1.5.0 OCLP as daily driver and have random hangs

14.6.1 hangs multiple times a day. Annoying enough to be not usable.
14.6 was most stable. Every 2-3 days and generally acceptable
14.5 was worse than 14.6

Reverting to Monterey and will report results after use.

 

[dorninko]

Running 2x 12,2 with WX4130 on Sonoma + 1.5.0 OCLP as daily driver and have random hangs

14.6.1 hangs multiple times a day. Annoying enough to be not usable.
14.6 was most stable. Every 2-3 days and generally acceptable
14.5 was worse than 14.6

Reverting to Monterey and will report results after use.

oh, that doesn't sound good....
I already installed 5 WX4130 cards in iMacs 12,2 and sold them... So far no calls from customers... but might happen. If so I will report. And I will also report after installing the WX4150 into my iMacs.

Thanks, howardc64, for the reply.

 

[Vladistone]

Turn out to be the cable (Mini DP to HDMI) was problem. Its working fine with my Surface but not iMac, have used them same cable before in High Sierra. Bought new (Mini DP to DP) and it working.

what adapter cable are you talking about? an external cable for an external display or something else?
I have a small problem using an external display using a miniDP to 2 HDMI 4K splitter cable that I bought on Aliexpress and I couldn't get it to work with a second 2K Display. So I periodically look through this thread looking for a solution (maybe this is the only problem that can't be solved with a splitter for an iMAc 11.3 with a miniDP interface for a peripheral monitor.

 

[howardc64]

Encountered 4x OCLP 1.5.0 + metal GPU upgrade installation hangs on 3 different machines all in the same way. Wondering if anyone else see the following pattern

1. iMac 12,1 + k610m on OCLP 1.5.0 + Big Sur. Reinstall Big Sur with a OC USB installer and hangs during install
2. iMac 10,1 27" + M4000 eDP VBIOS on OCLP 1.5.0 + Monterey. Reinstall Big Sur with OC USB installer and hangs during install
3. iMac 12,2 + WX4130 on OCLP 1.5.0 + Sonoma. Reinstall Monterey with OC USB installer and hangs during install
4. iMac 10,1 21" + M4000 LVDS VBIOS on OCLP 1.5.0 + Monterey. Reinstall Big Sur with OC USB installer and hang during install.

In all cases, when OC USB installer starts recovery. Use Disk Utility and change view to Devices (instead of Volume only) Click on the internal SATA device (Samsung EVO SSD in all 4 and all working with prior OCLP macOS) and format to APFS prior to starting the install. Installation hangs after the first boot phase (~20min) during the reboot to 2nd boot phase

In all cases, solution was to format the SSD again to FAT/exFAT and do OCLP install again without any problems.

For #1, its a EG2 VBIOS, when booting after the hang, screen shows a bunch of scrolling text output text before showing can't boot. Was able to startup Original boot picker (option key) to boot an El Capitan USB partition to format SSD.
For #2/#3/#4 without EG2 VBIOS (Have since then shifted to EG2 M4000 VBIOS), iMac just shows blank screen. Need to pull the screen to format the SSD.

On #4 tried formatting to FAT->exFAT->APFS and still hung.

So it seems a long power down (which is just an SMC reset) is likely required on install over prior OCLP macOS. And do EG2 always whenever possible to rescue bad installs.

Wondering if anyone else encountering this.

 

[alberbrando]

Encountered 4x OCLP 1.5.0 + metal GPU upgrade installation hangs on 3 different machines all in the same way. Wondering if anyone else see the following pattern

1. iMac 12,1 + k610m on OCLP 1.5.0 + Big Sur. Reinstall Big Sur with a OC USB installer and hangs during install
2. iMac 10,1 27" + M4000 eDP VBIOS on OCLP 1.5.0 + Monterey. Reinstall Big Sur with OC USB installer and hangs during install
3. iMac 12,2 + WX4130 on OCLP 1.5.0 + Sonoma. Reinstall Monterey with OC USB installer and hangs during install
4. iMac 10,1 21" + M4000 LVDS VBIOS on OCLP 1.5.0 + Monterey. Reinstall Big Sur with OC USB installer and hang during install.

In all cases, when OC USB installer starts recovery. Use Disk Utility and change view to Devices (instead of Volume only) Click on the internal SATA device (Samsung EVO SSD in all 4 and all working with prior OCLP macOS) and format to APFS prior to starting the install. Installation hangs after the first boot phase (~20min) during the reboot to 2nd boot phase

In all cases, solution was to format the SSD again to FAT/exFAT and do OCLP install again without any problems.

For #1, its a EG2 VBIOS, when booting after the hang, screen shows a bunch of scrolling text output text before showing can't boot. Was able to startup Original boot picker (option key) to boot an El Capitan USB partition to format SSD.
For #2/#3/#4 without EG2 VBIOS (Have since then shifted to EG2 M4000 VBIOS), iMac just shows blank screen. Need to pull the screen to format the SSD.

On #4 tried formatting to FAT->exFAT->APFS and still hung.

So it seems a long power down (which is just an SMC reset) is likely required on install over prior OCLP macOS. And do EG2 always whenever possible to rescue bad installs.

Wondering if anyone else encountering this.

I´ve installed an flashed M4100 one month ago and neither hangs nor problems.

 

[howardc64]

I´ve installed an flashed M4100 one month ago and neither hangs nor problems.

This hang was a "reinstall" OCLP problem. It doesn't happen on the first installation which most people experience.

Reinstallation hang issue appear when iMac already running OCLP macOS, then re-installing OCLP macOS (for example, change to different macOS) all 4 systems hung after initial install phase when it reboots.

The solution was to do SMC reset

1. Boot OCLP installer
2. Erase + Format (eg APFS) SATA drive as an example for clean install. Be sure to show device and select device to format rather than just volumes or containers.
3. SMC reset ( https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3603 )
4. Boot OCLP installer again
5. Proceed with install

If 3+4 are skipped which is natural to do, will hang on first boot during reinstall. If performed, runs installer perfectly.

Actually doing 3+4 is probably always a good idea as some macOS was previously installed and OCLP install seems to have some interactions.

 

[howardc64]

Anyone know why post #1 AMD VBIOS tables defaults the none EnableGOP (EG*) VBIOS repository? Just going through to GRML flash all my iMacs to EG2. Great when OCLP install goes wrong messes up and have recovery method without pulling the LCD.

 

[alberbrando]

This hang was a "reinstall" OCLP problem. It doesn't happen on the first installation which most people experience.

Reinstallation hang issue appear when iMac already running OCLP macOS, then re-installing OCLP macOS (for example, change to different macOS) all 4 systems hung after initial install phase when it reboots.

The solution was to do SMC reset

1. Boot OCLP installer
2. Erase + Format SATA drive as an example for clean install
3. SMC reset ( https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3603 )
4. Boot OCLP installer again
5. Proceed with install

If 3+4 are skipped which is natural to do, will hang.

Ok, it´s good to know it.I haven´t faced this problem but if I do I will know how to solve it.Thanks.

 

[mathieudel]

I all !

I'm new here, searching for information to complete my project:
I'm the happy owner of an earlry 2011 21,5 inch iMac (12,1 IIRC) and would like to give it some boost.
I already bumped its ram, and have an SSD ready to replace the stock HDD and I am now searching for the best (as best (performace * quality of life) / (cost * upgrade difficulty) ratio) GPU and as I understand it from this thread's first post and other readings, it should be Dell's 4130 WX AMD card.

First of all, am I correct about my assumption ?
Then, is that right the only mod needed is the addition of the copper plate so that the GPU touches the heatsink ?
About software compatibility, I understood it should be enough to insall macOS using OCLPP and that it would be OK to run Ventura, is that right or is there a better option ?
And finally, where do you all buy them from ? I'm in France and the only place I could find such cards was on AliExpress, but I'm quite worried when it comes to buy things from this site.

Thanks for your kind help !

 

[alberbrando]

I all !

I'm new here, searching for information to complete my project:
I'm the happy owner of an earlry 2011 21,5 inch iMac (12,1 IIRC) and would like to give it some boost.
I already bumped its ram, and have an SSD ready to replace the stock HDD and I am now searching for the best (as best (performace * quality of life) / (cost * upgrade difficulty) ratio) GPU and as I understand it from this thread's first post and other readings, it should be Dell's 4130 WX AMD card.

First of all, am I correct about my assumption ?
Then, is that right the only mod needed is the addition of the copper plate so that the GPU touches the heatsink ?
About software compatibility, I understood it should be enough to insall macOS using OCLPP and that it would be OK to run Ventura, is that right or is there a better option ?
And finally, where do you all buy them from ? I'm in France and the only place I could find such cards was on AliExpress, but I'm quite worried when it comes to buy things from this site.

Thanks for your kind help !

First of all hello and welcome.All your assumptions are right about the graphic card,OCLP and best OS you may install with no worries.
And about buying in Aliexpress...well I have bought the graphic card and the WiFi card (and adapter) to upgrade my iMac late 2009 27" to the same buyer and no problem at all.It was fast and painless.

 

[howardc64]

I all !

I'm new here, searching for information to complete my project:
I'm the happy owner of an earlry 2011 21,5 inch iMac (12,1 IIRC) and would like to give it some boost.
I already bumped its ram, and have an SSD ready to replace the stock HDD and I am now searching for the best (as best (performace * quality of life) / (cost * upgrade difficulty) ratio) GPU and as I understand it from this thread's first post and other readings, it should be Dell's 4130 WX AMD card.

First of all, am I correct about my assumption ?

Yes perfect understanding

Then, is that right the only mod needed is the addition of the copper plate so that the GPU touches the heatsink ?

Correct

About software compatibility, I understood it should be enough to insall macOS using OCLPP and that it would be OK to run Ventura, is that right or is there a better option ?

I think many people run Sonoma with WX4130. I had some hangs in Sonoma (post #21936) and tested Monterey and was perfect stable. Now testing Ventura...

I was using none EG2 VBIOS ( post #1 directs to this VBIOS ) but now shifted to EG2 VBIOS ( link ) and gradually moving up macOS (Monterey -> Ventura -> Sonoma) to determine stability given my prior hang issues.

And finally, where do you all buy them from ? I'm in France and the only place I could find such cards was on AliExpress, but I'm quite worried when it comes to buy things from this site.

USA ebay. Probably costly to ship to FR? Will need to flash vBIOS. Use GRML method. Info in my signature linked websites.

Aliexpress is okay source. Buy from higher volume seller ( link ) Will get money back easily (Aliexpress usually favor buyer in disputes)

 

[mathieudel]

First of all hello and welcome.All your assumptions are right about the graphic card,OCLP and best OS you may install with no worries.
And about buying in Aliexpress...well I have bought the graphic card and the WiFi card (and adapter) to upgrade my iMac late 2009 27" to the same buyer and no problem at all.It was fast and painless.

Ok, thanks for your feedback.

Yes perfect understanding



Correct



I think many people run Sonoma with WX4130. I had some hangs in Sonoma (post #21936) and tested Monterey and was perfect stable. Now testing Ventura...

I was using none EG2 VBIOS ( post #1 directs to this VBIOS ) but now shifted to EG2 VBIOS ( link ) and gradually moving up macOS (Monterey -> Ventura -> Sonoma) to determine stability given my prior hang issues.



USA ebay. Probably costly to ship to FR? Will need to flash vBIOS. Use GRML method. Info in my signature linked websites.

Aliexpress is okay source. Buy from higher volume seller ( link ) Will get money back easily (Aliexpress usually favor buyer in disputes)

Thank you too.
I hoped I would not need to flash VBIOS, last time I did such things was to fit a 3DFX 4 card into a PowerMac 7500, it has been ages !

Looking into US eBay to compare prices with AliExpress...

 

[howardc64]

Ok, thanks for your feedback.


Thank you too.
I hoped I would not need to flash VBIOS, last time I did such things was to fit a 3DFX 4 card into a PowerMac 7500, it has been ages !

VBIOS flashing sounds scary but is trivial. No burning hardware necessary as experts have already made it easy. Look at the GRML section in signature link website.

• Put premade file set on USB key
• Put vBIOS file on USB key
• Disconnect or erase internal SSD so bootrom can't boot from there
• Insert USB key into iMac
• Power on
• Connect via ethernet
• remote login from another computer to iMac running GRML with blank screen
• run a few terminal commands to flash the GPU VBIOS. Done

Looking into US eBay to compare prices with AliExpress...

The low volume GPU card seller from aliexpress 1) flash the wrong VBIOS 2) reused the old X bracket which cause bolt to contact logic board. Experience listed in signature link website.

 

[mathieudel]

VBIOS flashing sounds scary but is trivial. No burning hardware necessary as experts have already made it easy. Look at the GRML section in signature link website.

• Put premade file set on USB key
• Put vBIOS file on USB key
• Disconnect or erase internal SSD so bootrom can't boot from there
• Insert USB key into iMac
• Power on
• Connect via ethernet
• remote login from another computer to iMac running GRML with blank screen
• run a few terminal commands to flash the GPU VBIOS. Done

Sounds easy enough indeed, no need to find a host PC with same bus to flash the card like it did in the past !

Looking at your links I see that some of the folks behind all this are the same that were already developing XPostFacto, fond memories !

The low volume GPU card seller from aliexpress 1) flash the wrong VBIOS 2) reused the old X bracket which cause bolt to contact logic board. Experience listed in signature link website.

That's frightning. I looked at the high volume AliExpress reseller found in your links but they don't have the WX 4130 right now.
On US eBay I found https://www.ebay.com/itm/3554844885...7UTofu17ARAG3CTnoMOGC7QNsOXJ|tkp:BFBMsIH8xLBk, which is cheaper than what I can found on low volume AliExpress resellers, even when including shipping cost.
I think I'll go for that card.

 

[Terros]

Anyone know of a way, or a bios, to unlock overclocking (under Windows?) for the WX7100? I've tried under Afterburner to unlock unofficial overclocking. When applying the overclock, the settings just revert.

 

[mathieudel]

I finally bought a WX 4130 card from the eBay account I linked yesterday.

I was a bit hesitating but I just received a notification from an application I'm using that they'll stop working on September the 1st on my browser, and I cannot install anything more recent on High Sierra, so it's definitely time to upgrade !

Thank you all for your help, I'll post something once the upgrade is done (or if it fails ).