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

[KingCornWallis]

Some have encountered GRML booted iMac not showing up on router. One guy posted a workaround

iMac+Metal GPU - flash GPU GRML/CH341A

Overview There are 2 methods to flash the GPU. For 10,x and 11,x, GRML is probably the easiest path as GPU is easy to remove and install. 12,x GPU is difficult to remove/install so CH341A is desirable IF flashrom is not the low profile version. GRML For end users, this is the easiest path to flash

sites.google.com

wx4130 doesn't need HW mod



ebay has salvaged cable if needed. AliExpress has new aftermarket (Doesn't connect as well as the OEM)

So I installed OpenCore but can't get into it. Black Screens until I get to the OS. I thought if I hold the option key for a period and then try left or right on the directional keys it would select the OC partition...but both times it seems to have missed...don't know what the heck it's doing. How did you get in?

 

[howardc64]

So I installed OpenCore but can't get into it. Black Screens until I get to the OS. I thought if I hold the option key for a period and then try left or right on the directional keys it would select the OC partition...but both times it seems to have missed...don't know what the heck it's doing. How did you get in?

If you want option key to work, need to use EG vBIOS

iMac+Metal GPU - 12,x

Main Info Source All the info is gleamed from the big macrumor's thread post #1. Be sure to consult the following sections. No way to link to these sections so perhaps open 2 browser windows to read side by side this site and these sections Spoiler: 2 Working AMD Graphics Cards Spoiler: AMD GCN v4

sites.google.com

Your prior post said you are installing High Sierra (presumably stock macOS). I'm not familiar with how stock macOS works with OCLP. Not sure you are installing OCLP correctly from your post. Go over all the install guide links for 10,x 11,x 12,x in my signature link to be certain doing OCLP install correctly. Plenty of guides+videos online as well.

 

[countryhick]

I'm interested to know...
1. How common it is to have the 'Elpida' Vram chips on these WX4130's?
2. If you've had experience with one of these WX4130's cards with Elpida Vram, did/does it operate as expected and without major faults?
I've brought a few WX4130's from an Ebay vendor in the U.S. and 3 of the cards had Samsung Vram (No issues flashing or once up and running MacOS) and one of them had Elpida... I had all kinds of issues with the Elpida card, and ended up sending it back....
I can elaborate on my complete experience, but I also don't want to circulate misinformation on what may very well have just been a bad card... or operator error

 

[howardc64]

I'm interested to know...
1. How common it is to have the 'Elpida' Vram chips on these WX4130's?
2. If you've had experience with one of these WX4130's cards with Elpida Vram, did/does it operate as expected and without major faults?
I've brought a few WX4130's from an Ebay vendor in the U.S. and 3 of the cards had Samsung Vram (No issues flashing or once up and running MacOS) and one of them had Elpida... I had all kinds of issues with the Elpida card, and ended up sending it back....
I can elaborate on my complete experience, but I also don't want to circulate misinformation on what may very well have just been a bad card... or operator error

I've installed 2x Elpida wx4130 on 2x 12,2. Both behaved identically

• GOP vBIOS had random hangs on Sonoma. Hang frequency changed through out Sonoma minor updates. Ran for 2-3 months like this.
• EG1.2 vBIOS ( link ) installs and runs perfectly on Sequoia. No hang. Perfect.

Since behavior was identical on 2x GPUs on 2x 12,2s, I figure this could be expected behavior and not GPU issues.

What is your experience?

 

[countryhick]

Thanks for the reply Howard,

So my experience was roughly as follows...
12,2 / i7 3.4GHz / 32GB Ram / 2TB SSD

(***In all instances, the resulting failure would cause a black screen that would pulse a faint grey screen about every 2 seconds or so.***)

The initial flash of the card was done using GRML and I used the WX4130_EnableGop.rom.zip as you linked above.. I noticed when I was installing (OCLP 2.0.1 / Sonoma 14.7), I was greeted with said blinking Black/Grey screen, where the welcome screen would have usually appeared (Thought it may have just been a weird OC glitch)... a hard shutdown and reboot and the machine booted to the welcome/setup screen and I proceeded to do a basic user setup..
From that point on I was constantly getting random hangs with the blinking black/grey screen. Sometimes during boot, sometimes during normal operation. There didn't appear to be a pattern.
In brief, I tried the following which all still lead to the blinking screen.

* Multiple PRAM and SMC resets
* Double check mounting of GPU to heatsink (check for shorts, clearance issues etc.)
* Tried the WX4130_EnableGop_ALT.rom.zip (Alt vRam bios gave all kinds of weird screen artifacts)
* Reflash trying the WX4130_GOP.rom
* Tried manually installing root patches for AMD Polaris card in OC
* Updated OC to 2.0.2
* Tried a Sequoia 15.0 install
* Flashed the Enable_Gop.rom again
* Flashed the card using CH341a using all options of roms mentioned above.
* Spent the best part of two days going back over the above steps with no success.

In the end I opened the second card (same vendor, same order) which had the Samsung Vram, flashed it using the EnableGop.rom and it's now been running OC Sequoia faultlessly with out a single hang for a few weeks.

Since everything was running so great, I decided to pull the machine apart again and try the 'Elpida' card one more time haha! ****FAIL**** same resulting issue.

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

So I installed OpenCore but can't get into it. Black Screens until I get to the OS. I thought if I hold the option key for a period and then try left or right on the directional keys it would select the OC partition...but both times it seems to have missed...don't know what the heck it's doing. How did you get in?

Modify the config.plist file to keep the OC menu displayed for a longer time. You will see the OC boot menu.
I use an Application named OpenCore Configurator to modify my config.plist files.

 

[zeratul75]

hi guys, trying to find this information from first page, but can't sort out. basically put a k610m in my imac 2011 27'' 12,2. everything is going fine. used dosdure1 catalina patcher, and @Ausdauersportler post install patch to have video on boot and sleep working. just a small issue: don't have brightness control. I am reading that it should work if I use opencore. But can't understand if there is a way to have it working not with opencore but with catalina patcher as well.

 

[dorninko]

Thanks for the reply Howard,

So my experience was roughly as follows...
12,2 / i7 3.4GHz / 32GB Ram / 2TB SSD

(***In all instances, the resulting failure would cause a black screen that would pulse a faint grey screen about every 2 seconds or so.***)

The initial flash of the card was done using GRML and I used the WX4130_EnableGop.rom.zip as you linked above.. I noticed when I was installing (OCLP 2.0.1 / Sonoma 14.7), I was greeted with said blinking Black/Grey screen, where the welcome screen would have usually appeared (Thought it may have just been a weird OC glitch)... a hard shutdown and reboot and the machine booted to the welcome/setup screen and I proceeded to do a basic user setup..
From that point on I was constantly getting random hangs with the blinking black/grey screen. Sometimes during boot, sometimes during normal operation. There didn't appear to be a pattern.
In brief, I tried the following which all still lead to the blinking screen.

* Multiple PRAM and SMC resets
* Double check mounting of GPU to heatsink (check for shorts, clearance issues etc.)
* Tried the WX4130_EnableGop_ALT.rom.zip (Alt vRam bios gave all kinds of weird screen artifacts)
* Reflash trying the WX4130_GOP.rom
* Tried manually installing root patches for AMD Polaris card in OC
* Updated OC to 2.0.2
* Tried a Sequoia 15.0 install
* Flashed the Enable_Gop.rom again
* Flashed the card using CH341a using all options of roms mentioned above.
* Spent the best part of two days going back over the above steps with no success.

In the end I opened the second card (same vendor, same order) which had the Samsung Vram, flashed it using the EnableGop.rom and it's now been running OC Sequoia faultlessly with out a single hang for a few weeks.

Since everything was running so great, I decided to pull the machine apart again and try the 'Elpida' card one more time haha! ****FAIL**** same resulting issue.

Hi, I had a similar experience: I ordered 2 WX4150 cards, one worked without a problem the other showed wired things, like 3 times the same pictures with a slight offset. I did not bother trying software things, I requested a new card from the vendor. I got it after about 4 weeks and it is working fine.
Apparently some cards have faults...

 

[dorninko]

wx3200 (GCN4 ~$30 ebay 9/22/2024) install success on 12,2 with Sonoma and Sequoia. Much easier with latest OCLP wx3200 installation support (Thanks to the devs!) Only 2 installation bug to resolve (below with workarounds)

Simpler OCLP Supported Install

The older wx3200 procedures (post #18295 linked by post #1) in this thread requires various manual patches. Current OCLP (I'm on 2.0.1) has a Lexa (wx3200 is Lexa) selection for AMD GOP Injection and will automatically add all the patches. So Lexa is fully integrated to OCLP. Normal metal card upgrade install to macOS Sonoma. Installation succeeded and works great in brief test and usage so far.

View attachment 2426001

Common Installation Issues

Got the fairly common "An Error Occurred While Preparing the Software Update" Just shutdown, reboot, and continue installation from the internal drive. Once restarted, installation will progress to the ~30min count down phase.

2 Unique Installation Bugs

• Installation will hang somewhere between the two installation reboot phases (30min countdown phase and 1-100% phase, there are 3-4 short reboot phases in between these 2 longer ones). For Sonoma, power off the iMac, press and hold shift key and restart to boot safe mode ( link ) and the installation continued to the 1% -> 100% phase and completed without further issues. For Sequoia. safe mode workaround did not work so easily (UPDATE: 2 additional 12,2/11,3+wx3200 Sequoia install succeeded with same workaround as Sonoma). However, eventually worked by try safe mode on every installation phase reboot AFTER the 30min count down phase. There are 3-4 reboots before the 1-100% phase. Unsure which one solved it. If installation is stalled by safemode, shutdown and reboot and avoid safe mode for that install phase and do safe mode on the next reboot to next installation phase. Eventually, was able to progress to the 1-100% phase and completed install without further problems.
• After install and first setup. OCLP will do the usual prompt to build OC and install into internal SSD. Avoid this as OCLP will not automatically set AMD GOP Injection + Lexa. If this is installed, iMac will boot loop. VBIOS is not EC so only way to fix is extract the SSD (LCD screen off again), SATA<->USB connect to a Mac with OCLP and install OC again properly set AMD GOP Injection + Lexa (and set the correct target of course) Anyway, best workaround is just not let OCLP to auto generate and install OC into internal SSD. Do it manually properly setting GOP injection and Lexa. Look at the OC build log to be sure. UPDATE : OCLP 2.0.2 still has this problem.

View attachment 2425999

WARNING : Note that OCLP as of 2.0.1 will not automatically add Lexa patches on wx3200 and bricks iMac boot. Until this is fixed, must be vigilant whenever install/reinstall OC into internal SSD. Do it manually and with Lexa GOP injection. This will occur on every OCLP version change and automatic updates. Look at info below on making a rescue CD just in case.

If the setup iMac will be used by a OCLP novice, it maybe advisable to remove OCLP from the system (assuming its working well for them) so it doesn't auto update and automatically prompt for EFI update. Just remove OCLP app and all its background daemons ( remove /Library/Application Support/Dortania , shortcut in /Applications, and daemons ( link )) Of course if they want to update OCLP and driver patches later, need to install OCLP again and know all the pitfalls like this one.

GPU Card Modification

Mine wx3200 is an HP and require modification. Followed the recommended mod from post #18295 ( link )

• 2x jumper wires instead of 2x 0 ohm resistor (didn't have on hand)
• Removed 2 resistors (Probably unnecessary for 12,2 but decided to make the GPU more useful in future for 12,1 etc) Have hot air station which made the task quite easy. Hot scissors would work too but these are advanced micro-soldering tools. Using a single soldering iron is likely quite difficult. Probably want to have low melting temperature solder if using a soldering iron.

VBIOS

Chose github one ( link ) with later date instead of post #18295. No EG VBIOS available. Flash ROM is 512KB ( IS25LQ040 link ) Physical ROM size is the larger one so can use CH341A. I didn't choose GRML flash method since I'm making GPU hardware modifications for the first time and uncertain it will POST.

UPDATE : These cards have different height IS24LQ040 packages. Cheap CH341A clip can't grab on to the lower profile package so will have to be GRML flashed.

Heat Sink Shim

wx3200 GPU die is really low compared to other components on the card (inductors, diodes) Larger MXM-B heat sinks require 1.5mm (used 1mm+0.5mm) shim to get clearance. So have some thick shim on hand. Note the pictures below showing 70C+ on Valley. After properly shimming. About 15-20C cooler on the die and much closer to the heat sink temp. On a MXM-A heat sink install. 0.8mm.

Remainder Installation Follows like All others

For example, the M5100 install guide in post #21491 OCLP 2.0.1 seems to not need post install patch phase anymore in my recent installation experiences.

I did encounter the "Preparing Update" failure repeatedly during 2 Sequoia installation attempt but not 3rd. This has occurred before with other OCLP macOS installs. Did not encounter in Sonoma install.

Proof of Life

Sonoma

View attachment 2426000
Sequoia

View attachment 2426802

Visual Anomalies

Sonoma

There are some but so far no show stoppers.

1. Sometimes wake from sleep into lock screen has no wall paper. Started working properly after awhile.
2. Control center brightness slider didn't work for awhile but then fixed itself
3. System Settings didn't show Apple magic trackpad2 despite connected and working. Eventually fixed itself

Last 2 seems quite common in these OCLP + metal gfx upgrade installs. Perhaps since the change to iOS style system settings since Ventura? Would have liked to try Sequoia to see if improve but unable to to a clean install currently with the hang without workaround.

Sequoia

• Setting wallpaper didn't show until logout and back in
• Photos launching preview to edit images is sluggish/hang. True on wx4130 also so not wx3200 only. If photos export an image (example jpg) and preview edit that, its fine. UPDATE : seems fixed in OCLP 2.0.2
• Been using it for a few days as daily driver. Completely stable and usable for me. No difference than my 12,2+wx4130

wx3200 Limitations

Doesn't have VA (Virtual Address?) Per post #1, editing apps like FinalCut and DaVinci use this feature and will not work. Maybe safe for most non graphics artists.

Make a Rescue CD

Since wx3200 has no EG vBIOS and current OCLP will auto generate a broken EFI. Best to make a rescue CD just in case. See post #22013

Hi all, I can report back of a successful upgrade of an iMac 11,3 with WX3200 card.
(I bought 2 of these card from US eBay for a total of 92 Euros including shipping!)
Following basically the above procedure, I now have a working iMac with Sequoia!
The procedure went very smooth, I did the hardware mods (both are necessary: install 2 jumpers, remove 2 resistors), modified the cooling plate (some grinding where components would come too close), used a thin shim and installed the card into the iMac.
Without internal ssd and using the grml stick I flashed the vbios from another iMac via LAN.
Then I plugged the ssd via usb externally onto the iMac and installed Sequoia directly onto the external disk (I had the Sequoia USB stick prepared with the LEXA advanced settings). It took quite long but in the end the ssd was ready without any problems (I did not have to do anything, just waiting).
Then I started OCLP and wrote the correct EFI onto the ssd.
Then I installed the ssd into the iMac and started the iMac. After installing the post-install root patches, the iMac was ready

Many thanks to Howardc64, Ausdauersportler and all the other contributors to this forum. And, of course to the OCLP developers!

 

[howardc64]

hi guys, trying to find this information from first page, but can't sort out. basically put a k610m in my imac 2011 27'' 12,2. everything is going fine. used dosdure1 catalina patcher, and @Ausdauersportler post install patch to have video on boot and sleep working. just a small issue: don't have brightness control. I am reading that it should work if I use opencore. But can't understand if there is a way to have it working not with opencore but with catalina patcher as well.

k610m (Kepler) brightness control works on 12,x and generally works perfectly with OCLP macOS Big Sur. I think post #1 says to avoid @dosdude1 catalina patcher as the development stopped awhile ago. All the dev+testing effort (tons of development and improvement would be an understatement) shifted to OCLP.

 

[howardc64]

11,3 27" i3 + M4000 + EG1.2 vBIOS install success

• Slight different process starting with a not working iMac with failed HDD so documenting it here.

Not Working 11,3

• Boot to white screen, no logo, installer DVD in drive making initial noise but no boot. Option key doesn't show boot selector (actually I think it showed network boot option once)
• Failure was HDD drive. Prevents iMac from even trying to boot from other sources. HDD tested in USB enclosure later and doesn't mount.

SSD Replacement

• Replaced HDD with Samsung 860 EVO 250GB SSD with 3904 transistor thermal sensor ( link ) to quiet the HDD fan for the 11,3 thermal solution.

Install macOS High Sierra

• iMac owner doesn't know the last macOS installed. Installed HS to ensure flash logic board to handle APFS properly.

Install OCLP Monterey on OEM Radeon HD 5670

• 11,3 i3 = 2 core / 4 threads. Decided to install last macOS prior to M1 (8 core) era macOSs starting with Ventura.
• Installation and initial setup no issues. Mouse movement was sluggish during initial setup prior to root patching.

Setup OC and macOS for M4000

• OCLP install M4000 OC into internal SSD EFI. Skip reboot
• OCLP revert root patches. Shutdown

Change GPU Card

• CH341A flashed M4000 ( link ) with EG1.2 eDP vBIOS ( link )
• Simple smaller 2 heat pipe MXM-A install. Found a new way to determine shim size. With all thermal paste removed, just try various shim sizes. Rock all 4 sides of the GPU card confirm will pivot (slightly) over the GPU die. This one needed a fairly thin shim 0.3mm or 0.5mm (didn't measure)

Install GPU and root patch

• Installed GPU, power on, iMac boots with prior internal SSD EFI OC with M4000 settings works perfectly with M4000 EG1.2 eDP vBIOS.
• Root patch patched legacy wireless. It appears no patching was require on GPU for Monterey.

 

[KingCornWallis]

If you want option key to work, need to use EG vBIOS

iMac+Metal GPU - 12,x

Main Info Source All the info is gleamed from the big macrumor's thread post #1. Be sure to consult the following sections. No way to link to these sections so perhaps open 2 browser windows to read side by side this site and these sections Spoiler: 2 Working AMD Graphics Cards Spoiler: AMD GCN v4

sites.google.com

Your prior post said you are installing High Sierra (presumably stock macOS). I'm not familiar with how stock macOS works with OCLP. Not sure you are installing OCLP correctly from your post. Go over all the install guide links for 10,x 11,x 12,x in my signature link to be certain doing OCLP install correctly. Plenty of guides+videos online as well.

I am only installing High Sierra as the last support version to test functionality...then installing OC and going to Ventura. To simplify things I will wipe this drive. With the drive wiped and an OC Ventura USB installer inserted I am still uncertain how to boot into the installer without any boot screen.

My memory of the boot selection screen is that the Boot Menu OC installers have what looks like the stock installer option (that of course never works on older machines) and the actual installer inside the OC option. How do I boot directly into the OC installer without seeing anything?

Also...I am using the EG vBIOS for my WX4130.

 

[zeratul75]

11,3 27" i3 + M4000 + EG1.2 vBIOS install success

• Slight different process tstarting with a not working iMac with failed HDD so documenting it here.

Not Working 11,3

• Boot to white screen, no logo, installer DVD in drive making initial noise but no boot. Option key doesn't show boot selector (actually I think it showed network boot option once)
• Failure was HDD drive. Prevents iMac from even trying to boot from other sources. HDD tested in USB enclosure later and doesn't mount.

SSD Replacement

• Replaced HDD with Samsung 860 EVO 250GB SSD with 3904 transistor thermal sensor ( link ) to quiet the HDD fan for the 11,3 thermal solution.

Install macOS High Sierra

• iMac owner doesn't know the last macOS installed. Installed HS to ensure flash logic board to handle APFS properly.

Install OCLP Monterey on OEM Radeon HD 5670

• 11,3 i3 = 2 core / 4 threads. Decided to install last macOS prior to M1 (8 core) era macOSs starting with Ventura.
• Installation and initial setup no issues. Mouse movement was sluggish during initial setup prior to root patching.

Setup OC and macOS for M4000

• OCLP install M4000 OC into internal SSD EFI. Skip reboot
• OCLP revert root patches. Shutdown

View attachment 2438645

Change GPU Card

• CH341A flashed M4000 ( link ) with EG1.2 eDP vBIOS ( link )
• Simple smaller 2 heat pipe MXM-A install. Found a new way to determine shim size. With all thermal paste removed, just try various shim sizes. Rock all 4 sides of the GPU card confirm will pivot (slightly) over the GPU die. This one needed a fairly thin shim 0.3mm or 0.5mm (didn't measure)

Install GPU and root patch

• Installed GPU, power on, iMac boots with prior internal SSD EFI OC with M4000 settings works perfectly with M4000 EG1.2 eDP vBIOS.
• Root patch patched legacy wireless. It appears no patching was require on GPU for Monterey.

View attachment 2438646

Nice work but dont you have, or Will not have, the slow boot issue with Samsung SSD and Monterey? Or Is It only affecting nvme SSD?

 

[howardc64]

Nice work but dont you have, or Will not have, the slow boot issue with Samsung SSD and Monterey? Or Is It only affecting nvme SSD?

Never seen slow boot issues with Samsung SATA SSDs. However, there are some incompatibilities with with some Samsung SATA SSD models with iMacs. I've had 850 EVO not working correctly on 12,1 and 11,3 yet works perfectly in 12,2

Macs Stayin Alive - Upgrade Parts

SSD This will be likely be the most expensive part of the upgrade. Largely due to cyclic fluctuating flash memory prices. Do note more poor flash memory makers from China are entering the market and can fail rapidly just outside the return window. Probably the major high quality brands are the msot

sites.google.com

860 EVO has worked on every iMac I've tried. 12,2 12,1 11,3 10,1

NVMe is another story (for > 2011 iMacs) Lots of issues with the adapter dongle. Even when it works, there is a long delay on boot on 2 Macbook Air's I've seen. I use Apple OEM and avoid NVMe adapter issues.

 

[howardc64]

I am only installing High Sierra as the last support version to test functionality...then installing OC and going to Ventura. To simplify things I will wipe this drive. With the drive wiped and an OC Ventura USB installer inserted I am still uncertain how to boot into the installer without any boot screen.

My memory of the boot selection screen is that the Boot Menu OC installers have what looks like the stock installer option (that of course never works on older machines) and the actual installer inside the OC option. How do I boot directly into the OC installer without seeing anything?

Also...I am using the EG vBIOS for my WX4130.

Per your post #22075, you were installing HS. So wx4130 is displaying properly during entire HS installation? HS account setup? and reboots afterwards shows logo, macOS boot progress bar and eventually login screen all properly? And does option key work when HS was installed. Shouldn't matter but just trying to understand what is working correctly.

Wired Apple keyboard (or Magic keyboard 2 with USB lightning cable plugged into iMac)? I generally avoid BT keyboard while setting up OCLP iMacs in case need option key.

I guess check OCLP settings when making OC?
- Target Model 12,1
- Advanced Tab ( link )

 

[dorninko]

I am only installing High Sierra as the last support version to test functionality...then installing OC and going to Ventura. To simplify things I will wipe this drive. With the drive wiped and an OC Ventura USB installer inserted I am still uncertain how to boot into the installer without any boot screen.

My memory of the boot selection screen is that the Boot Menu OC installers have what looks like the stock installer option (that of course never works on older machines) and the actual installer inside the OC option. How do I boot directly into the OC installer without seeing anything?

Also...I am using the EG vBIOS for my WX4130.

For High Sierra you need to plug in an external display (or a display simulator) for WX4130 otherwise you will have a black screen.

 

[RonyIsaPony]

Hello everyone! I appreciate everyone who helped out in this forum, and thanks to y'all I've been inspired to upgrade iMacs. I have a 21.5 inch 2011 I upgraded with a WX 4150 and a Xeon E3 1270 and it's running great!

I recently have acquired a 27 inch 2011 with a dead GPU and I'm looking to upgrade it with a modern AMD GPU such as GCN4.0 or Navi/RDNA. I've checked Aliexpress for availability of WX 7100's as they're essentially RX 580's however they're quite pricey. I found this site selling a RX 580 8GB MXM, (they require you to inquire about it) it appears to have a EEPROM chip according to the images, I am curious if a WX 7100 bios has been tested on one of these or if any other bios has been tested on it. I searched through this thread trying to see if anyone has tried a RX 580 MXM card but I cannot find a clear answer because it appears some people are referring to the WX 7100 as a "RX 580". I'm going to inquire about the card and find out more details from the vendor, I'll post an update when I find out.

EDIT: I received this GPUZ info from the seller. They have both 2048 and 2304 stream processor variants. WX 7100 is 2304 so it could work?

 

[KingCornWallis]

Per your post #22075, you were installing HS. So wx4130 is displaying properly during entire HS installation? HS account setup? and reboots afterwards shows logo, macOS boot progress bar and eventually login screen all properly? And does option key work when HS was installed. Shouldn't matter but just trying to understand what is working correctly.

Wired Apple keyboard (or Magic keyboard 2 with USB lightning cable plugged into iMac)? I generally avoid BT keyboard while setting up OCLP iMacs in case need option key.

I guess check OCLP settings when making OC?
- Target Model 12,1
- Advanced Tab ( link )

Don't care about HS, That's what the guide said to do.

After flashing the GPU, I got a display on GMRL. I then plugged in the HS USB installer and an external display, and turned on the computer. Everything was completely black until I saw the Install High Sierra Screen. I installed and restarted. Everything was then completely black until I reached the High Sierra login screen.

Using an Apple Wired Keyboard...and I am able to reset NVRAM which uses the option key.

Based on the responses I am getting I am leaning towards not flashing the correct VBIOS. I used the /Volumes/NEWFLASH/flash/Video/AMD/GCN4/WX4130_GOP.rom file that comes stock on the GMRL image. Was I supposed to add the WX4130_EnableGop.rom from gitHub? Did part of the guide say that or is it implied?

 

[howardc64]

Don't care about HS, That's what the guide said to do.

Not sure what guide you are referring to. Perhaps mine? If so, I guess I need to clarify why install HS and how do install HS with good and broken iMac. Read below.

After flashing the GPU, I got a display on GMRL.

If you rebooted iMac with GRML AFTER completing GRML vBIOS flash. Then this proves correct vBIOS for wx4130 is flashed properly. Otherwise, iMac won't display GRML on the screen just like the initial GRML boot prior to flash the GPU.

So I think this info proves you have properly flashed a wx4130 vBIOS. But there is > 1 wx4130 vBIOS, read below.

I then plugged in the HS USB installer and an external display, and turned on the computer. Everything was completely black until I saw the Install High Sierra Screen. I installed and restarted. Everything was then completely black until I reached the High Sierra login screen.

The reason iMac needs to have installed HS previously is because HS flash logic board to handle APFS file system first introduced in HS. For example, when pressing option key and looking for bootable volumes including APFS volumes.

If iMac has HS installed prior, then no need to do this step.

If iMac needs to install HS for the first time, its best to do this while on old GPU (if iMac is not already broken) If iMac is broken, then it gets more complex. If old GPU is broken, then if replace with metal GPU card, then you have to do process you did and go through all the black screens until macOS boots (Didn't know HS + metal GPU did that)

Anyway, since you've installed and booted HS. This step is done.

Using an Apple Wired Keyboard...and I am able to reset NVRAM which uses the option key.

Based on the responses I am getting I am leaning towards not flashing the correct VBIOS. I used the /Volumes/NEWFLASH/flash/Video/AMD/GCN4/WX4130_GOP.rom file that comes stock on the GMRL image. Was I supposed to add the WX4130_EnableGop.rom from gitHub? Did part of the guide say that or is it implied?

You installed the none EG (Enable GOP) rom. EG rom is better (get option key boot menu and cured random Sonoma hangs for me on 2x installs) I mentioned everything here

iMac+Metal GPU - 12,x

Main Info Source All the info is gleamed from the big macrumor's thread post #1. Be sure to consult the following sections. No way to link to these sections so perhaps open 2 browser windows to read side by side this site and these sections Spoiler: 2 Working AMD Graphics Cards Spoiler: AMD GCN v4

sites.google.com

But regardless, non EG rom should boot OCLP installer USB drive properly even if can not use option key AND internal drive doesn't have a bootable volume (completely erased at the highest level - Show All Devices)



So some possibilities

1. Didn't completely erase the internal SSD at the highest level. Maybe HS EFI still on there.
2. Wrong OC settings when writing OC EFI to OCLP installer USB drive.
3. Correct OC setting but wrote the OC EFI to internal drive instead of OCLP installer USB drive. But I think this case will display USB installer as bootable volume.

Maybe #1/#2 are your potential problems.

 

[KingCornWallis]

Not sure what guide you are referring to. Perhaps mine? If so, I guess I need to clarify why install HS and how do install HS with good and broken iMac. Read below.



If you rebooted iMac with GRML AFTER completing GRML vBIOS flash. Then this proves correct vBIOS for wx4130 is flashed properly. Otherwise, iMac won't display GRML on the screen just like the initial GRML boot prior to flash the GPU.

So I think this info proves you have properly flashed a wx4130 vBIOS. But there is > 1 wx4130 vBIOS, read below.



The reason iMac needs to have installed HS previously is because HS flash logic board to handle APFS file system first introduced in HS. For example, when pressing option key and looking for bootable volumes including APFS volumes.

If iMac has HS installed prior, then no need to do this step.

If iMac needs to install HS for the first time, its best to do this while on old GPU (if iMac is not already broken) If iMac is broken, then it gets more complex. If old GPU is broken, then if replace with metal GPU card, then you have to do process you did and go through all the black screens until macOS boots (Didn't know HS + metal GPU did that)

Anyway, since you've installed and booted HS. This step is done.



You installed the none EG (Enable GOP) rom. EG rom is better (get option key boot menu and cured random Sonoma hangs for me on 2x installs) I mentioned everything here

iMac+Metal GPU - 12,x

Main Info Source All the info is gleamed from the big macrumor's thread post #1. Be sure to consult the following sections. No way to link to these sections so perhaps open 2 browser windows to read side by side this site and these sections Spoiler: 2 Working AMD Graphics Cards Spoiler: AMD GCN v4

sites.google.com

But regardless, non EG rom should boot OCLP installer USB drive properly even if can not use option key AND internal drive doesn't have a bootable volume (completely erased at the highest level - Show All Devices)

View attachment 2439390

So some possibilities

1. Didn't completely erase the internal SSD at the highest level. Maybe HS EFI still on there.
2. Wrong OC settings when writing OC EFI to OCLP installer USB drive.
3. Correct OC setting but wrote the OC EFI to internal drive instead of OCLP installer USB drive. But I think this case will display USB installer as bootable volume.

Maybe #1/#2 are your potential problems.

So I figured it out. Needed to modify my iMac BootRom and then flash the EG2 VBIOS. I would wager most of the knowledge in the universe is within this 900 page thread and its associated links...it's just a shame that they aren't in the sticky thread on the first page (or your site?). Maybe these pieces of info are there, I just couldn't find them after reasonable (but not exhaustive) searching. To recap, I encountered the following problems that I either posted here or had to dig for answers, I will condense here for others and for potential refinements to guides...Maybe just for me:

1. iMac not Booting after WX4130 Install - GPU was shorting with Heatsink: Needed to kapton tape almost the entire contact side of PCB (minus die and VRAM)
2. iMac IP Address not showing up in router after booting GRML - GRML was not using DHCP properly: needed to manually assign an IP via a few commands
3. No EFI bootpicker after vBIOS flash - default vBIOS provided in November Rain image does not provide such a feature: needed to add the EG2 vBIOS from a related GitHub repo
4. No EFI bootpicker continued: Also needed to dump, modify, and re-flash my iMac BootRom. GRML complained there were multiple chips to choose from and I needed to specify; Decided to go the CH341A route so there was no confusion. Was going to try FlashRom in macOS but after seeing the convoluted install process switched to Windows to run my precompiled binary of one of many competent programming tools (think mine is just called CH341a Programmer). Dumped, verified, modified with UEFI-Tool, flashed.

Now installing OC Ventura...Still reviewing the stability of Sonoma.

Thank you for all your help.

 

[howardc64]

So I figured it out. Needed to modify my iMac BootRom and then flash the EG2 VBIOS.

You are more advanced than me, I've not tried iMac BootRom and EG2. Stopped after I saw dump+mod etc. and wasn't necessary for wx4130 since it has an EG vBIOS.

There is an EG vBIOS ( link ) that is not EG2 and don't require iMac Boot Rom update to get option key. Thats what I'm running and what my website + guide points to. I think I also said don't do EG2 vBIOS unless know how to update the iMac boot rom but I guess didn't note it in every single guide ( link )

On stickies to post #1, its pretty easy to find ( just hit post #1 except its so dense ) so no need. On an easier place to find my website, I've been reluctant to put it in post #1 even though its editable by anyone. Don't really know what the etiquette is and may have changed over the 10+ years this thread has been running. #1 was likely originally setup by the devs and it seems they have mostly moved on after enabling many GPUs (maybe just about all thats possible? haha) Anyhow, for now, link just in my signature.

 

[dorninko]

Hi all, I need help:
I was not careful and broke a very small component off my WX3200 card, see red circle in attached picture.
Unfortunately, I was not able to find out the specifics of this component, my guess is it is a resistor but no idea what exactly. So my question is: does anybody know the specs of this component?

Thanks in advance for any clue.

 

[howardc64]

Hi all, I need help:
I was not careful and broke a very small component off my WX3200 card, see red circle in attached picture.
Unfortunately, I was not able to find out the specifics of this component, my guess is it is a resistor but no idea what exactly. So my question is: does anybody know the specs of this component?

Thanks in advance for any clue.

Almost lost mine (easy to fly off into the 9th dimension) removing to measure for you. Had to solder on 1 side to avoid it flying off. And hope I didn't kill my BGA solder balls directly on other side of the board with hot air. Took a bit more heat than I was expecting to remove it... probably due to the big BGA heat soak on the other side.

102K ohm 0402 (1mm x 0.5mm) resistor. Unknown watt.

87K ohm when soldered onto the board.

 

[dorninko]

Almost lost mine (easy to fly off into the 9th dimension) removing to measure for you. Had to solder on 1 side to avoid it flying off.

102K ohm.

THANKS!!!!!

 

[HuppDiDupp]

Hi you all
yesterday i think i killed my install during Sonoma 14.7 update.
I have a XM4130 Graphics Card added to my old iMac 12,1 .
It is a pre-flashed one I ordered through ebay US.

All worked fine using Sonoma 14.6.1 until I tried updating to 14.7

I was not able to login anymore because Systems hangs at login screen.

Then I thought I do I fresh Install and erased die complete SSD .
Starting System and using option Key does not Work. the USB "OCLP EFI Boot picker" can not be accessed.
There is only a normal boot picker to Install from Usb , but after installation is completed I hav e blank Black Screen an can not login.
I guess the complete OCLP Stuff is being ignored.

Is there any Chance to get this System up and running again?

I would really appreciate any help or tipps .

Thanks in advance.