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

[passatgt]

You

Thanks passatgt,
I am not sure if I can do this. I am ok techie guy and i was flashing desktop GPU-s many times but i never done this.
I found SOIC 8 but how to make adapter for Raspberry Pi? I can see that this one was custom made on this picture.

Theres two type os soic clips: pme that has wires integrated and when the other end is just a connector(like on the photo in the link above). With a connector end, you need a male-female jumper wires. If theres no wires on the soic clip, you can use female-female jumper wires: https://www.ebay.com/itm/40pc-10-30...e-Arduino-Breadboard-F-F-M-M-F-M/132422423178
The pinout is listed here: https://tomvanveen.eu/flashing-bios-chip-raspberry-pi/

 

[Ooze]

Okay, well. Weirdly enough. It seems like it installed fine. Screen was black, ect. But I realized the 3rd and 4th led weren't coming on. Alongside that, I was able to boot into windows with teamviewer, but while gpu-z recognized my gpu (nvidia, 1060, ect.) the pc loaded up the intel basic graphics driver and when I attempted to install it's actual driver for the gtx 1060 mxm 6gb. It would fail, no matter what, the nvidia graphics driver installer simply would not install. Geforce experience has an error. standalone installer failed with the whole "no compatible hardware found" thing. How should I move forward? It's pretty crazy, seeing as not only did the 2009 imac boot, but I was able to install a driver onto the GPU when it was booted up. But somehow the 2011 can't? I attempted to re-seat the gpu, ect. Still trying things out. Any ideas?

 

[passatgt]

Okay, well. Weirdly enough. It seems like it installed fine. Screen was black, ect. But I realized the 3rd and 4th led weren't coming on. Alongside that, I was able to boot into windows with teamviewer, but while gpu-z recognized my gpu (nvidia, 1060, ect.) the pc loaded up the intel basic graphics driver and when I attempted to install it's actual driver for the gtx 1060 mxm 6gb. It would fail, no matter what, the nvidia graphics driver installer simply would not install. Geforce experience has an error. standalone installer failed with the whole "no compatible hardware found" thing. How should I move forward? It's pretty crazy, seeing as not only did the 2009 imac boot, but I was able to install a driver onto the GPU when it was booted up. But somehow the 2011 can't? I attempted to re-seat the gpu, ect. Still trying things out. Any ideas?

Do you have picture on an external display? I would also try to install different roms on the card and see if that helps, theres a few versions on techpowerup: https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios...60+Mobile&interface=&memType=&memSize=&since=

 

[WebHead]

From Apple's technicians' manual:

If third LED is not visible after power on:
• Verify that the MXM video card is seated properly
• Verify if boot chime is present and fans are running when powered ON (reset SMC and PRAM, reseat or check backup battery if necessary for proper boot up):
If POST boot chime is not heard, go to No Startup symptom flow, If POST boot chime is heard, go to No Video symptom flow.

If fourth LED is not visible after power on:
• Verify internal DisplayPort cable connections between LCD panel and logic board
• Inspect LCD display cables for cable damage
• Verify external video functionality, and according to result check the following items:
If external display works then verify/replace the LED backlight board
If external display works then verify/replace the LCD panel If external display does not work verify/replace the logic board

 

[Nick [D]vB]

The service manual probably assumes an Apple card... forget all about the 3rd LED, if the 4th comes on the LCD EDID is detected and it will work with a back-light mod. The windows drivers might need modifying, you can try and force them to load through device manager but you'll probably just get error code 10/12/43. I would try an external screen in MacOS first, with the web drivers. If it won't boot try unplugging the LCD. A GPU-Z screenshot would be helpful, what vbios is the card running atm? If you want to flash it this one is probably your best bet:

https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/204652/204652

But don't blame me if it bricks the card...

 

[miloshov]

You


Theres two type os soic clips: pme that has wires integrated and when the other end is just a connector(like on the photo in the link above). With a connector end, you need a male-female jumper wires. If theres no wires on the soic clip, you can use female-female jumper wires: https://www.ebay.com/itm/40pc-10-30...e-Arduino-Breadboard-F-F-M-M-F-M/132422423178
The pinout is listed here: https://tomvanveen.eu/flashing-bios-chip-raspberry-pi/

Thanks again,
this is great help. I will try to do this.

 

[FlorisVN]

As far as I can remember pascall cards don’t work at all with imac’s.
So far I have only read story’s of pascall cards not working with iMac’s.

I would not advise pascal and just stick with known compatible kepler cards..

 

[lamerz78]

Nothing....black screen. I think the video card is defective/wrong model.
I’ve purchased another one: https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.it/ulk/itm/143293505497

Another little question.....is it normal that the iMac boots ok without the legacy video card patch and the stock video card installed? I suppose to view nothing or glitches or artefact....finder is ok, mail is ok, safari (1 tab) is ok....(2/3 tab some glitches).....

I’ve not told you but don’t seem to be a issue.....I suppose.....my 21’5 iMac is modded with HARD DISK, SUPERDRIVE AND SSD.....Mojave is installed on the SSD....the HD is only storage.

Finally Got it !!!!!

Installed Brightness Slider......all ok.

Now what else? I remember something about Kext to allow monitor suspend? Is it right?

 

[passatgt]

Finally Got it !!!!!

View attachment 845757 View attachment 845758
Installed Brightness Slider......all ok.

Now what else? I remember something about Kext to allow monitor suspend? Is it right?

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/2011-imac-graphics-card-upgrade.1596614/page-58#post-26923507

 

[lamerz78]

Thanks, I told @dosdude1 about this, but he said it's included in the legacy video card patch. Which is something we *SHOULD NOT* install it will break graphics by installing a modified 'IOAcceleratorFamily2.kext' we don't need as it will break acceleration. (its for the 2010 MBP) I'm trying to work with him to modify his patcher to install the HD3000 kexts even if No legacy video patch is selected. If not, everyone here can just install the HD3000 kexts from post #1438 with kext utility and have sleep working in Mojave again.

I've not installed the Kext you provided on post #1438, because I've already them on my Mojave. Patched without "Legacy video card" before installing the K2000M.

If I turn off the monitor (mouse on left down corner) it power on regular if I move the mouse or type anything.

 

[Nick [D]vB]

As far as I can remember pascall cards don’t work at all with imac’s.
So far I have only read story’s of pascall cards not working with iMac’s.

But we thought the same about Maxwell, until somebody actually did it... I've not seen any real evidence that Pascal cards can't work in the 2011 iMac, just that no one has done all three things required: the right drivers, the right vbios, and probably the back-light mod. But I agree that most people should still go for a Kepler card.

 

[passatgt]

I've not installed the Kext you provided on post #1438, because I've already them on my Mojave. Patched without "Legacy video card" before installing the K2000M.

If I turn off the monitor (mouse on left down corner) it power on regular if I move the mouse or type anything.

Possible that this was fixed with the newer version of the Mojave patcher tool. Good news

 

[kral84]

. I can not see the bootmanager when i press alt button... I press 10-20 sec then press right but nothing do it.. can any one help me?

 

[lamerz78]

Possible that this was fixed with the newer version of the Mojave patcher tool. Good news

The screen turns on also if the iMac goes to sleep mode. Awesome!
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. I can not see the bootmanager when i press alt button... I press 10-20 sec then press right but nothing do it.. can any one help me?

Have you tried a Pram reset? Cmd + Alt + P + R for about 20 second when power on the iMac?

 

[kral84]

I did it but nothing helped.me.... i remove my ssd and install mojave on an other mac ...

 

[lamerz78]

Your Mac is “standard” or with a new graphic card?

 

[kral84]

New gtx860 card...

 

[lamerz78]

I’ve read a couple of guides.....I’ve understand that the “right way” to have HS on first partition and Mojave on second partition (set to default o.s.) is this one:

1. Format everything
1.1 Boot from HS installer from usb
2. Disk utility
3. Create First Partition (HS) small (I think 30 gb will be ok)
4. Create Second Partition (Mojave)
5. Install HS (from usb) on first partition
6. Install Mojave (even from Application installer from HDD or USB stick) on second partition
7. Set the “default” o.s. to Mojave

Normal boot starts Mojave.

Pram reset starts HS.

Is it correct?

Thanks a lot!

I’ve read that when installing Mojave it automatically create the recover (hidden) partition. I remember a option in Dosdude patch “Recovery Partition Patch”. If I enable this option (fourth starting from top) I think the recovery partition is “already” patched.....is it true?

So the procedure is:

1. Clean all partition
2. Create first small partition and second big partition
3. Install HS on first small partition
4. Install Mojave on second big partition
5. Run the “post installation patcher”
6. Select the fourth option to patch the recovery partition.
7. Run the o.s. Preferred in startup disk utility

New gtx860 card...

Have you tried “my method”?
With the stock graphic card do a clean install WITHOUT the legacy graphic card patch. Then disassemble everything and switch the graphic card.

I have done these tricks yesterday and now my 21,5” iMac is all ok with Nvidia Card and Mojave.

For everyone....doing a PRAM reset it starts always Mojave and not HS. Even if on the first Partition is located HS and Mojave on the second.....strange.....

 

[kral84]

I have only mojave... And my stock gpu was broken...i install mojave to my external ssd after that i install it and hopee...

Do you understand me wronf? I have a black screen.. i press alt on boot bothing , i press recovery nothing.

 

[belafarinrod91]

In order to change the GPU of an iMac 2011, is there any chance to use the clover bootloader to bring back the bootscreen and the brightness control?

I would like to install a K1100M (or something similar). I don't know if this idea was discussed already.

 

[FlorisVN]

In order to change the GPU of an iMac 2011, is there any chance to use the clover bootloader to bring back the bootscreen and the brightness control?

I would like to install a K1100M (or something similar). I don't know if this idea was discussed already.

nope not possible as far as I know.
only solution for bootscreen so far I think is an modified vbios to add Apple EFI bootscreen support.
this then could also fix our brightness control problem I think...

So far no custom vbios has been released as of yet...

 

[lamerz78]

So.....the only 2 ways to install a “clean” version of Mojave patched without Legacy Video Card Support are:

1) install with a stock Apple graphic card in order to have the ALT boot menu and THEN switch to a custom graphic card. I used this method.

2) remove the SSD/HD from the iMac and install on it with a second Mac a copy of Patched Mojave on the first partition. Then reinstall the SSD/Hd on the iMac. But I have some doubts it will boot from it......

Now my unsolved question.....why doing a PRAM reset it starts Mojave instead HS ? On the first partition I have HS and on the second Mojave.

 

[passatgt]

It would be a good idea to create a disk image with an empty High Sierra and Mojave installed, so we could just simply clone it to an existing ssd, so the installation should work like this without a stock apple graphic card. I will try to do this once i have a bit more time(and a working apple card to do the install)
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nope not possible as far as I know.
only solution for bootscreen so far I think is an modified vbios to add Apple EFI bootscreen support.
this then could also fix our brightness control problem I think...

So far no custom vbios has been released as of yet...

What about this one? http://refit.sourceforge.net

 

[lamerz78]

It would be a good idea to create a disk image with an empty High Sierra and Mojave installed, so we could just simply clone it to an existing ssd, so the installation should work like this without a stock apple graphic card. I will try to do this once i have a bit more time(and a working apple card to do the install)
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Yes great idea but.....how do you restore the image?
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[doublepost=1562148551][/doublepost]

What about this one? http://refit.sourceforge.net

Dead project.....the new one is interesting.....who tries???

 

[belafarinrod91]

Hm, @lamerz78 what do you mean with the new one?

@FlorisVN thanks for your response - sad to hear that.