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

[KennyW]

As I was looking for an 8-pin chip, there's a few possibilities on this card. frontside left of main chip, backside top center.
Need a microscope to read whats on them.

refitting an 8 pin chip is not that big of a deal, any outlets for that?

Thanks!

It should be the WSON type 8-pin chip on your front side photo at left lower corner near the screw hole.
Change it to a narrower SOP8 chip of at least 2Mb to hold the new vBIOS.
Just source it from AliExpress. Usually sell in 5 or 10 in a batch.

 

[GreyLotus]

Good move with the signature. But I will no not copy and paste the solution here. You will have to check the specific section yourself. Obviously you already read it, how else did you know of the plist patching within the Catalina Installer. Your iMac, your puzzle, your success.

Hi, so, I decided to re-create the USB from scratch with the Auto-Install of patches disabled, as well as the plist file changed & re-installed Catalina one more time.

This worked! No more graphic glitches.

HOWEVER, on normal bootup, only my external monitor will work, iMac stays completely black.
If I boot up holding the alt key & select my SDD, both monitors will work.
I also re-installed the iMac Nvidia patch, but it didn't change anything this time.
Did this occur to anyone else?

 

[FløH]

- all these @Nick [D]vB BIOS versions have a timeout (somewhere mentioned) before switching on the screen
- possibly you missed the part about the legacy video patch with Catalina (post #1)
- try alt/option on boot and count the seconds...it will be there in less than 10 seconds
- if it is still a 10s lasting POST until you hear the chime it looks more like a hardware problem, one cable missing and some hardware, too?

Nevertheless, how often do you boot the system up a day and do you mind about some seconds spent there? Not spent, because booting happens in the dark...

Thanks for the reply. All is good now, I suspected it had something to do with the legacy video patch. I tried to disable it but I ended up reinstalling Catalina with the autopatch feature disabled, and guess what? It's working fine now Option boot is still taking about 10 seconds before the screen is enabled, but I don't really mind. The entire system is booting in 45 seconds, which isn't that bad imo. The iMac itself is getting pretty hot under load, but considering I'm not using it that often it'll be fine. Thanks again!

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Thanks for the reply. All is good now, I suspected it had something to do with the legacy video patch. I tried to disable it but I ended up reinstalling Catalina with the autopatch feature disabled, and guess what? It's working fine now Option boot is still taking about 10 seconds before the screen is enabled, but I don't really mind. The entire system is booting in 45 seconds, which isn't that bad imo. The iMac itself is getting pretty hot under load, but considering I'm not using it that often it'll be fine. Thanks again!

Macs Fan Control to control your ODD Fan, this is broken in all new BIOS versions. First post, again...

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Hi, so, I decided to re-create the USB from scratch with the Auto-Install of patches disabled, as well as the plist file changed & re-installed Catalina one more time.

This worked! No more graphic glitches.

HOWEVER, on normal bootup, only my external monitor will work, iMac stays completely black.
If I boot up holding the alt key & select my SDD, both monitors will work.
I also re-installed the iMac Nvidia patch, but it didn't change anything this time.
Did this occur to anyone else?

Cannot repeat this. Common MacOS problems on first post, really selective perception.

 

[MacBurger31]

Before doing surgery you could try to use the last linux nvflash version (5.660). Just in case...

Thanks.

I'm figuring out what is best to do. I found a guy in the UK who can flash a VBIOS chip with anything I send him, and basically replacing an 8 pin SMC isn't a big deal.

It's that or opening up the iMac again for a new flash trial , and this being a Dell card, I have a bit of a problem believing this card isn't supported in previous NVFLASH version(s). (OR this isn't a Dell card, the serial number points towards a Dell / HP card though) No real ways of checking as I can't read the EPROM's details. Or is there?

 

[MacBurger31]

It should be the WSON type 8-pin chip on your front side photo at left lower corner near the screw hole.
Change it to a narrower SOP8 chip of at least 2Mb to hold the new vBIOS.
Just source it from AliExpress. Usually sell in 5 or 10 in a batch.

Thanks, I could order a few, but leaves me with an unsupported GPU, so would I be able to flash a new rom into an empty bios?

 

[alejon]

Seeking for Beta Test Users (Package Installer)
(Catalina iMac 2011 sleep/AGC/iGPU/backlightfixup installer)

​

Attached you will find the a kernel extension package installer currently working on Catalina 10.15.4 and later. It will install all the packages listed in this post @highvoltage12v made years ago.

It will patch the current installed AppleGraphicsControl (AGC) as described in this post addressing the black screen issue and the AppleBacklightFixup needed for ++ type Nvidia cards.

After starting the Apple package installer (double click) you can choose the destination and select the packages to be installed according to your system and card type. For this reason I separated the complete sets in several subsets. You can use the installer to install AGC, BacklightFixup, FakeSMC, and WhateverGreen/Lilu on 2009 and 2010 systems, too.

1. 2011 HD3000 sleep extensions (Mojave & Catalina)
2. 2011 sleep extensions (Catalina, only)
3. Nvidia AppleGraphicsControl AGC (all iMacs, Nvidia card users, only)
4. Nvidia BacklightFixup (all iMacs, Nvidia card users, only)
5. AMD HD3000 sleep (AppleIntelSNBGraphicsFB.kext, 2011 iMac AMD Polaris card users only)
6. Nvidia AppleGVA.framework (2011 only)
7. FakeSMC Package (all iMacs, all graphics cards)
8. vit9696 WhateverGreen and Lilu (all iMacs, all graphics cards)

Attached you will find some selections screen shots. You can use the installer to select a single package only. You can use the installer with 2009 and 2010 iMacs, too. I marked all 2011 specific packages.

Note: This installer currently will only install files on Catalina 10.15.4 and later!

Recipe:

If you are not willing to experiment on your current Catalina installation please create a new APFS Container, install Catalina 10.15.7 into it (it will use barely 15GB on your disk), boot into this newly created MacOS, and use the installer package to do the final adjustments. Check and report back! I will not link this to the first post if it causes trouble.

​

Have fun!

11/14/2020: upload a new version containing the plist patch working on all installed versions of the AppleGraphicsControl instead of replacing the file completely.
11/26/2020: upload a new version created on Catalina to address the iGPU problem

Hi,
I've been fighting with the Sleep mode for a week now, nothing worked for me so far and I saw your post with package installer - I thought this sounds too good to be true. Indeed, it did not worked either - I get an ERROR no matter which patches I select. SIP is disabled!!!
PLEASE help me!!!

 

[Tuscon]

I guess I am missing something here but are some of these GPU's able to be used with out flashing them even if i dont have a boot screen or brightness control

I use a unflashed GTX765m in my 2009 27”. Works fine as long as you use the 3pipe heatsink. Just no bootscreen Nd no brightness control.

 

[velvet_man]

After running into issues with OpenCore and only getting more questions than answers in post 1, I decided why bother with OpenCore if I just want brightness control. So I looked on the Mac App store, installed Brightness Slider, configured it so FN+F1 and FN+F2 increase and decrease brightness, and set it to load at boot. Problem solved.

 

[BadBiscuit]

... Problem solved.

Not really, for your LCD's backlight is still outputting at max and generating more heat than if OC was used.

If you are having issues with what has been provided here, then you might see if the methods provided by this guide work for you:
https://dortania.github.io/OpenCore-Install-Guide/installer-guide/
https://github.com/acidanthera/OpenCorePkg/releases
Then update from latest zip from what @Ausdauersportler provided. It seems like "more questions than answers" would indicate others are not experiencing your issue. Best of luck.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Hi,
I've been fighting with the Sleep mode for a week now, nothing worked for me so far and I saw your post with package installer - I thought this sounds too good to be true. Indeed, it did not worked either - I get an ERROR no matter which patches I select. SIP is disabled!!!
PLEASE help me!!!

Please go to the first post and choose the way @highvoltage12v documented in his post - this worked all the time. Or read my Catalina Loader doc and learn how to used the terminal and add extensions and frameworks (comes close to the first solution).

This package installer:
Please make a series of screen shots of the installer window only (CMD SHIFT F4) and select with cursor the part if the display showing the particular window and upload, please to not upload photos the screen. I need to know which selections you made on your way to this error message - which I never have seen on my own systems so far.

 

[alejon]

The following guide will work on any MXM swapped card that has Brightness control enabled either through OpenCore (K2100m/K1100M) or Natively (K4100M) doing so allows for the Native Apple kext to be used and Not AppleBacklightFixup.kext

Here is a short guide on how to create your own AppleBacklight.kext for the 27” 2011 (F10Ta007) iMac. The same could be done for the 2010 iMac (F10T9cd7) and 2009 iMac (F10T921e)

1. Navigate to /System/Library/Extensions, find the AppleBacklight.kext and drag it to the Desktop.

View attachment 936404

2. Right click on the kext to show package contents open contents/info.plist. with TextEdit.

View attachment 936405



3 With info.plist Open in we need to Find the original value “F10Ta007”/“F10T9cd7/“F10Ta007” and NULL it out, This value is based on your iMacs Display year/Model. Enter Null or whatever value you want here.


4. Now to Fix Brightness we need to Replace the screen Value to the one that belonged to a 21.5” iMac, this Value is F10Ta00cM. Find this value using Find in TextEdit.


5. Replace Value F10Ta00cM with the one for your iMac’s Display model, I’m using a 2011 27” so the value is “F10Ta007”

View attachment 936407

<key>F10Ta007</key>    (2011 Model used)
<data>
ABEAGAA3AF8AigCzAOsBJAFnAakB1AIJAlQCogL4A00D
</data>

Make sure your Data entry looks like this one above. Save info.plist

6. Reinstall AppleBacklight.kext using kext Utility. Catalina users need to Unlock their System Partition using Hackintool first.
View attachment 936408. View attachment 936409


You should Now have proper (2009-2011) 27” iMac Backlight stepping that will properly Dim and raise you’re LCD to full brightness.
[automerge]1595447252[/automerge]

I see you have a 21.5" iMac what size MXM card did you fit into your iMac?

Hi there,
I am a bit curious if the AppleBacklightFixup.kext does NOT allow for full brightness which the hardware could provide? I am using OpenCore with the AppleBacklightFixup.kext it works but...
My iMac 27" 2011 is not dim but it is NOT very bright when adjusted to max, compared to another one.
Many thanks in advance!
Best regards,
alejon

 

[motorm3]

This was the third or fourth time you asked this and you still ignore all answers:

Please use the micro patcher to install Big Sur on you iMac 2011, the fix has been included there.
Alternatively you may read the post where you got the K3100M BIOS from and do the fix yourself.

So the fix for backlight is now updated in micro patcher 5.1 for imac mid 2011 27 quadro k3100m and I will get full brightness.

 

[velvet_man]

Not really, for your LCD's backlight is still outputting at max and generating more heat than if OC was used.

If you are having issues with what has been provided here, then you might see if the methods provided by this guide work for you:
https://dortania.github.io/OpenCore-Install-Guide/installer-guide/
https://github.com/acidanthera/OpenCorePkg/releases
Then update from latest zip from what @Ausdauersportler provided. It seems like "more questions than answers" would indicate others are not experiencing your issue. Best of luck.

Thank you, I'll have a look at those.

Are you sure about the backlight output? The reason I ask is because I checked the LCD proximity sensors in Macs Fan control, and they seem to be OK (44˚C), and overall PC temp is fine and the fans aren't spinning up, so it seems to be working OK. I'm not an expert, though (clearly!).

 

[ddi666]

can somone help me to make a bios for nvidia gt240 card to get it work in imac 27 inch 2011
i have a lot of this good working cards i put a dump of the bios from the card here

 

[KennyW]

I use a unflashed GTX765m in my 2009 27”. Works fine as long as you use the 3pipe heatsink. Just no bootscreen Nd no brightness control.

Yes, some of these cards will work without flashing, including my AMD WX4130, but would experience a mixture of the Seven Problems as described in the first post. If you can tolerate that, that's ok. However, if the flashing can bring your GPU closer to a Mac GPU, why not? Since it is already working partially, you can flash it either with Linux USB drive method by setting Startup Disk in System Preferences or work under Terminal with Flashrom. Many of the ROMs are modded to tame the power consumption within the iMac's specification for it to run cooler and more stable, under normal use. But anyway, it is a personal choice.

 

[KennyW]

can somone help me to make a bios for nvidia gt240 card to get it work in imac 27 inch 2011
i have a lot of this good working cards i put a dump of the bios from the card here

Please read the first post.
Only the Kepler GPU architecture for nVidia is supported natively with OSX driver.
GT240M is of Tesla 2.0 architecture.
That is a 7 years of work, experimenting with many types of MXM cards in the market.
There is no point for our developers to make the Mac vBIOS for yours with no driver support. What for ?
And there are so many other priorities to work for in both further refining the existing BIOSs and expanding those GPU coverage with native drivers.

 

[KennyW]

Thanks, I could order a few, but leaves me with an unsupported GPU, so would I be able to flash a new rom into an empty bios?

A few users received cards with empty ROM and were able to flash them.
So, I can only presume that's possible. Those who have done so may be able to confirm with you.
Alternatively you may flash the BIOS chip with clip method and then soldered it onto the board.

 

[ddi666]

Please read the first post.
Only the Kepler GPU architecture for nVidia is supported natively with OSX driver.
GT240M is of Tesla 2.0 architecture.
That is a 7 years of work, experimenting with many types of MXM cards in the market.
There is no point for our developers to make the Mac vBIOS for yours with no driver support. What for ?
And there are so many other priorities to work for in both further refining the existing BIOSs and expanding those GPU coverage with native drivers.

but the cards on the list of this forum are very expensive
if you can help me a little bit to help building a bios

i can do a lot of thinks but i need to know some information

how to fix the checksum and how to find the dcb tables and how to get the boot screen working
what part of the bios i need to edit and if there is a nvidia bios decompile what program you using to do it

and the gt240 is nearly the same as the gt120 from the xserver so it should possible

look at the attach files the driver is working

 

[Ausdauersportler]

but the cards on the list of this forum are very expensive
if you can help me a little bit to help building a bios

i can do a lot of thinks but i need to know some information

how to fix the checksum and how to find the dcb tables and how to get the boot screen working
what part of the bios i need to edit and if there is a nvidia bios decompile what program you using to do it

and the gt240 is nearly the same as the gt120 from the xserver so it should possible

This is off topic!

Those cards offer no metal support, cannot be used with Mojave, Catalina and Big Sur. This will simply not happen. We want to make the iMacs future proof and your plan is to put an even older card into it. If you think you can do this do it, but please not (ab)using this thread.

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

but the cards on the list of this forum are very expensive
if you can help me a little bit to help building a bios

i can do a lot of thinks but i need to know some information

how to fix the checksum and how to find the dcb tables and how to get the boot screen working
what part of the bios i need to edit and if there is a nvidia bios decompile what program you using to do it

and the gt240 is nearly the same as the gt120 from the xserver so it should possible

You can start to be one developer yourself, by comparing the BIOS of GT120 and GT240.
The point is: GT240 is not a powerful card. Except to revive a GPU-dead iMac, it does not have wide application. Even the cheap K610m is better than GT240.

 

[ezugaru]

You can start to be one developer yourself, by comparing the BIOS of GT120 and GT240.
The point is: GT240 is not a powerful card. Except to revive a GPU-dead iMac, it does not have wide application. Even the cheap K610m is better than GT240.

Hey, i love My cheap K610M
Hahahahaha j/k

 

[ddi666]

You can start to be one developer yourself, by comparing the BIOS of GT120 and GT240.
The point is: GT240 is not a powerful card. Except to revive a GPU-dead iMac, it does not have wide application. Even the cheap K610m is better than GT240.

yes i wil do it to revive this older macs but i need some info to do it and even the k610 is not an option here the are verry hard to get here in my country normaly i reballing the old gpu s and i want this to get more imacs fixed

i found that the dcb table start around 000B505

and the port definitions at 0000B6F9

the platform at 0000B6F

but in the gt120 bios its differend i think i dont have the bios from the xserver but from one that comes out a mac pro

and can somone tel me how to fix the checksum after i edited the bios file or can i leave it and flash it wouthouth the checksum fix

 

[BadBiscuit]

Thank you, I'll have a look at those.

Are you sure about the backlight output? The reason I ask is because I checked the LCD proximity sensors in Macs Fan control, and they seem to be OK (44˚C), and overall PC temp is fine and the fans aren't spinning up, so it seems to be working OK. I'm not an expert, though (clearly!).

Yes. Even at full brightness temps can be kept acceptable with fan control. I ran brightness slider with K2000M card for awhile. Certainly an acceptable solution, just not the best in my opinion, when you have a card/bios that works with OC.