Intel iMacs with Upgradable MXM Graphics(EFI UGA Hacking)

[Cuda]

With 10.6 on it's way soon, and OpenCL a Hot topic.

We maybe able to keep some older iMacs in the Loop so to speak, with some good old EFI UGA Rom hacks.

Here is a list of Intel iMacs with Upgradable MXM Graphics.


It's work in progress, so check back as I have time I'll to to keep it up to date.

MA456LL

Core 2 Duo 24"
CPUs (T7400)2.16 GHz/(T7600)2.33 GHz

Graphics: 32bit EFI or (EBC)
MXM Type II Slot:NVIDIA GeForce 7300GT/NVIDIA GeForce 7600GT

Upgrade Path: MXMII GeForce 7xxx

OpenCL 8xxxm,9xxxm,(no known 32bit EFI UGA Rom)(no EBC)

MA876LL

iMac Core 2 Duo 20" Aluminum
CPU (T7300)2.0 GHz

Graphics:64Bit EFI or (EBC)
MXM Type III Slot: ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT

Upgrade Path: MXMIII ATI Radeon HD 2xxx

OpenCL GeForce 8xxx,9xxx,GTxxx/Radeon 4xxx( Can be upgraded with Apple OEM 8800GS)(ATI Radeon HD 4850 / NVIDIA GeForce GT 130)

MA877LL

iMac Core 2 Duo 2.4 20" (Aluminum)
CPU 2.4 GHz (T7700)

Graphics:64Bit EFI or (EBC)
MXM Type III Slot: ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO

Upgrade Path: MXMIII GeForce 8800 GS

OpenCL GeForce 8xxx,9xxx,GTxxx/Radeon 4xxx( Can be upgraded with Apple OEM 8800GS)(ATI Radeon HD 4850 / NVIDIA GeForce GT 130)


MA878LL

Core 2 Duo 2.4 24" Aluminum

CPUs 2.4 GHz (T7700)/ 2.8 GHz "Extreme" (X7900)CTO

Graphics:64Bit EFI or (EBC)
MXM Type III Slot: ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO

Upgrade Path: MXMIII GeForce 8800 GS

OpenCL GeForce 8xxx,9xxx,GTxxx/Radeon 4xxx( Can be upgraded with Apple OEM 8800GS)(ATI Radeon HD 4850 / NVIDIA GeForce GT 130)

(MB323LL/A)

iMac "Core 2 Duo" 2.4 20-Inch Aluminum (Early 2008)
CPU 2.4 GHz (E8135)

Graphics:64Bit EFI or (EBC)
MXM Type III Slot: ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT

Upgrade Path: MXMIII ATI Radeon HD 2xxx

OpenCL GeForce 8xxx,9xxx,GTxxx/Radeon 4xxx( Can be upgraded with Apple OEM 8800GS)(ATI Radeon HD 4850 / NVIDIA GeForce GT 130)

(MB324LL/A)

iMac "Core 2 Duo" 2.66 20-Inch Aluminum (Early 2008)
CPU 2.66 GHz (E8335)

Graphics:64Bit EFI or (EBC)
MXM Type III Slot: ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO

Upgrade Path: MXMIII GeForce 8800 GS

OpenCL GeForce 8xxx,9xxx,GTxxx/Radeon 4xxx( Can be upgraded with Apple OEM 8800GS)(ATI Radeon HD 4850 / NVIDIA GeForce GT 130)


(Early 2008/Penryn)(Apple Part # ?)

iMac 3.06 24" Aluminum
CPU 3.06 GHz (E8435)

Graphics:64Bit EFI or (EBC)
MXM Type III Slot: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GS

Upgrade Path: MXMIII NVIDIA GeForce GT130

OpenCL Supported ,9xxx,GTxxx/Radeon 4xxx(ATI Radeon HD 4850 / NVIDIA GeForce GT 130)


(MC015LL/A)

iMac 20" Aluminum (Early 2009/Education Only)

CPU 2.0 GHz (P7350)

Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 9400M Chipset Integrated(May also have MXM Slot)

MXM (Unknown?)

OpenCL Supported

(MB418LL/A)

iMac 2.66 20" Aluminum (Early 2009)
CPU 2.66 GHz (?)

Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 9400M Chipset Integrated(May also have MXM Slot)

MXM (Unknown?)

OpenCL Supported

(MB419LL/A)

iMac 24" Aluminum (Early 2009)
CPU 2.93 GHz

Graphics:NVIDIA GeForce GT 120( Assumed MXMIII/ Unknown?)

Upgrade Path: ATI Radeon HD 4850 / NVIDIA GeForce GT 130 (Assumed?)

OpenCL Supported

(MB420LL/A)

iMac "Core 2 Duo" 3.06 24-Inch Aluminum (Early 2009) features a

CPU 3.06 GHz (E8435)

Graphics:NVIDIA GeForce GT 130( Assumed MXMIII/ Unknown?)

Upgrade Path: ATI Radeon HD 4850

OpenCL Supported

That's the quick and dirty list.
It still needs editing and fact checking, DON'T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT, YET!!!


I'll try and Add some HowTo's for making EFI Rom's/Flashing PC MXM Cards and Upgrading with Apple OEM EFI Cards, as time permits.

As to Opening the Case and Installing the cards, You Are On Your own!!

 

[mzd]

thanks for the very detailed info and upgrade paths!
but to my knowledge, no one has successfully upgraded an iMac Core 2 Duo gfx card. ever. i hope that doesn't mean it is impossible, but the aluminum iMacs have been on the market for almost two years now. seems like a long time for no one to have attempted this yet. also, the earlier white iMacs had MXM graphics as well and that goes even farther back. again, i've never heard of anyone being able to swap gfx cards to date. hopefully...

 

[Niklaas]

The iMacs 20" Aluminum ( witch doesn´t use integrated chipset) can not use MXMIII cards, because there isn´t enough space for it.

24" MXMII/III
20" MXMII or integrated

 

[Ju2999]

Are there any news?

I opened my iMac7,1 mid2007 24 and the graphics board seems to be a standard MXMII oder MXMIII board from AMD. Nothing special with it.

So in combination with NVEnabler is there still a reason why an mxm upgrade would not work?

 

[lion10]

An very interesting thread...

However, something confusing is the "mixing" of the MXM generations. According to Wikipedia there are actually two INCOMPATIBLE MXM versions, "Generation 1", and "Generation 2". (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_PCI_Express_Module)

"Generation 1" MXM are ALL (MXM based) iMacs until end 2008.
"Generation 2" MXM are ALL (MXM based) iMacs from early 2009.

Therefore, it is NOT POSSIBLE that an Geforce GT 120 / 130 or Radeon 4850 card will fit physically into an earlier iMac before 2009.

To make the confusion perfect, there seems to be a difference in the "EFI dialect" of "first Generation" MXM in Apple's 24" plastic iMac's MA456LL. These MXM (1Gen) cards talk to the logic board accordingly the EFI 1.10 specification. The ALU iMac series MXM (1Gen) cards talk to the logic board accordingly EFI 2.x specification ALTHOUGH they only have EFI 1.10 level!!! Absolutely frustrating....

The following models DO NOT have any MXM slot: MB418LL/A, MC015LL/A

It would be interesting if the original author "cuda" will explain these "EFI UGA Rom hacks" more precisely. It is possible to change the communication protocol of ALU MXM (1Gen) modules to be compatible with these Plastic iMac 24" MXM (1Gen) ones?

I tried to install an Radeon HD 2600 MXM card out of an ALU iMac into an 24" plastic one, - but because of the different "EFI communication" it doesn't work. All other physical & electrical aspects seems to be absolutely compatible...

 

[ygryk]

Hello,

I'm just complete to install the MXM II ATI HD4650 on my 20" T7700 iMac Aluminium 2007 MA877xx by replacing standard HD2600 PRO.

Unfortunately the screen appears black after power on

I'm still looking for solution or hacks on how to make it work. May be someone can help me with that?

 

[Niklaas]

that can not work, we only talking about replacing apple cards with apple cards here, because of the EFI.

 

[lion10]

Hello,

I'm just complete to install the MXM II ATI HD4650 on my 20" T7700 iMac Aluminium 2007 MA877xx by replacing standard HD2600 PRO.

Unfortunately the screen appears black after power on

I'm still looking for solution or hacks on how to make it work. May be someone can help me with that?

As Niklaas says, this will NOT work so easy...

You need for your "PC based" Radeon HD 4650 MXM card a (more or less) working Mac EFI compatible firmware/vBios.

Here starts the first problem, there was never any MXM II (1Gen) Radeon HD4650 card for your iMac model line. As follows there is simply no possibility to "grab" a corresponding "MXM Mac EFI firmware".

For yours generation iMac there were officially only the Radeon HD 2400 / 2600 and the Geforce 8800 GS series MXM cards available. So, if someone has the knowledge, it would be only possible to make such gpu based PC MXM cards iMac compatible.

Otherwise you should ask netkas, the "Master of the EFI UGA Hack universe". http://forum.netkas.org/index.php/board,5.0.html

 

[takeshi81]

imac mid 2007 MA878LL

Hi i have a MA878LL 24" 2,4Ghz can i upgrade only to 8800GS? I've found other video card with MXMIII format... they can fit in but i need a custom firmware after installing the video card?

 

[MacVidCards]

I want to resurrect this thread on the basis that it contains some useful info that may have been forgotten. I am hopeful that we can end up with a public repository of which cards work in which iMacs.

 

[mrkapqa]

As Niklaas says, this will NOT work so easy...

You need for your "PC based" Radeon HD 4650 MXM card a (more or less) working Mac EFI compatible firmware/vBios.

Here starts the first problem, there was never any MXM II (1Gen) Radeon HD4650 card for your iMac model line. As follows there is simply no possibility to "grab" a corresponding "MXM Mac EFI firmware".

For yours generation iMac there were officially only the Radeon HD 2400 / 2600 and the Geforce 8800 GS series MXM cards available. So, if someone has the knowledge, it would be only possible to make such gpu based PC MXM cards iMac compatible.

Otherwise you should ask netkas, the "Master of the EFI UGA Hack universe". http://forum.netkas.org/index.php/board,5.0.html

on ifixit someone posted that he changed his GT 130 MXM card from an early 2009 imac with a GTX 260M , and it worked, but he got high gamma value and the diplay got reddish, if i remember correctly.

other people wrote, that swapping a HD 4850 from a 27'' Imac late 2009 into an early 2009 24'' Imac did not work, however /(although, there was a upgrade option for this model to HD 4850)


I too have a imac 24'' with GT 130 and i am ready to change GPU as this one seems faulty;

so, could i use a HD 4670, that was a basic model i guess for late 2009/2010? Probably, but maybe i would be better off to change a Nvidia Gt 130 with a Nvidia GT 260M MXM from PC Laptop Market? Maybe Firmware would this allow more easily?
maybe nvidia to nvidia more easily achievable than from nvidia to ati on apple imac early 2009?

 

[Ausdauersportler]

on ifixit someone posted that he changed his GT 130 MXM card from an early 2009 imac with a GTX 260M , and it worked, but he got high gamma value and the diplay got reddish, if i remember correctly.

other people wrote, that swapping a HD 4850 from a 27'' Imac late 2009 into an early 2009 24'' Imac did not work, however /(although, there was a upgrade option for this model to HD 4850)


I too have a imac 24'' with GT 130 and i am ready to change GPU as this one seems faulty;

so, could i use a HD 4670, that was a basic model i guess for late 2009/2010? Probably, but maybe i would be better off to change a Nvidia Gt 130 with a Nvidia GT 260M MXM from PC Laptop Market? Maybe Firmware would this allow more easily?
maybe nvidia to nvidia more easily achievable than from nvidia to ati on apple imac early 2009?

Time to give it a try and change the GPU in your iMac 24" early 2009 - I am looking for people willing to invest 30 USD and buy a M5100 or M4000, flash a VBIOS and test it in such iMacs. Those cheap cards support metal and you might be able to move on to Monterey on these old iMacs.

BTW:
The iMac 27" Late 2009 old ATI 4850 would work in your iMacs if you rewrite the vBIOS in advance. But those cards a old an faulty!

 

[mrkapqa]

@Ausdauersportler, don§t have such imac anymore; could find a real new Radeon 4850 HD at the time (the one upgrade model for the 24'' imac 2009), that was also real expensive,
and the imac functioned for some weeks, but soon broke down, so sold for parts;
it was a real nice Mac, just really like the 16:10 format, and with the glass removed, it had a good matte screen.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

@Ausdauersportler, don§t have such imac anymore; could find a real new Radeon 4850 HD at the time (the one upgrade model for the 24'' imac 2009), that was also real expensive,
and the imac functioned for some weeks, but soon broke down, so sold for parts;
it was a real nice Mac, just really like the 16:10 format, and with the glass removed, it had a good matte screen.

Got this machine working with an AMD FirePro M5100 including brightness control and DRM using OLCP with Big Sur and Monterey

A little late...

 

[Pigeo]

Got this machine working with an AMD FirePro M5100 including brightness control and DRM using OLCP with Big Sur and Monterey

View attachment 2172128
A little late...

Hallo !
A little late but still interesting topic in 2023
I'm considering making such a GPU upgrade on my iMac 27" Late 2009, and I guess if the AMD FirePro M5100 works fine in your 24" Early 2009 it should also work on a 27" Late 2009, isn't it ?
With this GPU, do you also have working Apple boot menu when pressing Alt at start-up ? (and working USB boot functionality ?)
What did you had to do in order to make this GPU upgrade work (GPU vBIOS flash / logic board firmware hack / hardware mod of the GPU in order to fit in the iMac ?) Would like to hear more about that!
Thanks

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Hallo !
A little late but still interesting topic in 2023
I'm considering making such a GPU upgrade on my iMac 27" Late 2009, and I guess if the AMD FirePro M5100 works fine in your 24" Early 2009 it should also work on a 27" Late 2009, isn't it ?
With this GPU, do you also have working Apple boot menu when pressing Alt at start-up ? (and working USB boot functionality ?)
What did you had to do in order to make this GPU upgrade work (GPU vBIOS flash / logic board firmware hack / hardware mod of the GPU in order to fit in the iMac ?) Would like to hear more about that!
Thanks

There is a thread here on MR about this and the documentation on this particular thread on the very first post will answer all your questions. It is a nice DIY project.

 

[Pigeo]

Thanks for the link! (I didn't see at first time that it was right in your signature...)