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

[The_Croupier]

I have no display available for this machine, which is an A1311 with Intel i5 2nd gen.

Wait, so you have no display as in black screen or no display as in you have removed the lcd panel? Check you gpu temp cable and lcd cables.

 

[it9exm]

That's right, It is running without the LCD. Please don't consider temperatures starting with TL.
According to the 1st post and the faqs, the probes on the K610M are not reporting a valid temperature because it is not a ++ card, and then the fans are running loud?

 

[ChrisCaro]

That's right, It is running without the LCD. Please don't consider temperatures starting with TL.
According to the 1st post and the faqs, the probes on the K610M are not reporting a valid temperature because it is not a ++ card, and then the fans are running loud?

Use a program called macsfancontrol to quiet down the fans. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but the Fans should return to normal once an LCD is properly connected (assuming you are using a Apple hard drive). If you are using an SSD then you need a special probe from OWC, some fancy wiring trick, or macsfancontrol to keep the fans from defaulting to max speed.

 

[herrdude]

Use a program called macsfancontrol to quiet down the fans. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but the Fans should return to normal once an LCD is properly connected (assuming you are using a Apple hard drive). If you are using an SSD then you need a special probe from OWC, some fancy wiring trick, or macsfancontrol to keep the fans from defaulting to max speed.

For sure the fans will spin because it thinks that the LCD is overheating. They will continue to spin until Mac Fan Control kicks in.

 

[it9exm]

Thank you,
I'll try connecting an LCD, I still have to buy one, yes I am using an SSD and experienced, a few time ago, in another A1311 iMac that running without hdd causes the fan to progressively increase the rotation up to the max speed in around 30 minutes. In this case, it takes about 20-25 seconds from powering on. I don't plan to use OSX on this machine, I'll go with GNU/Linux so mbpfan should be doing the same job of macsfancontrol.

 

[herrdude]

Thank you,
I'll try connecting an LCD, I still have to buy one, yes I am using an SSD and experienced, a few time ago, in another A1311 iMac that running without hdd causes the fan to progressively increase the rotation up to the max speed in around 30 minutes. In this case, it takes about 20-25 seconds from powering on. I don't plan to use OSX on this machine, I'll go with GNU/Linux so mbpfan should be doing the same job of macsfancontrol.

Do you have the V-Sync/temp sensor cable from the LCD? Connecting that would stop the fans. You can put a power splitter on the SATA cable and that will get around the fans spinning because of the new hard-drive.

 

[it9exm]

Unfortunately no, also the inverter board is missing, so I will have to get one too. Actually, I have bought one of these about a couple months ago, but yesterday I discovered that it was the wrong type as it has a connector for a flat ribbon cable, while the display used in this model (lm215wf3 sd c2) has a different vsync connector.
I think I should have the LCD temp probes stored, can't remember where they are.

 

[herrdude]

Unfortunately no, also the inverter board is missing, so I will have to get one too. Actually, I have bought one of these about a couple months ago, but yesterday I discovered that it was the wrong type as it has a connector for a flat ribbon cable, while the display used in this model (lm215wf3 sd c2) has a different vsync connector.
I think I should have the LCD temp probes stored, can't remember where they are.

With two major components that are missing, it should not be a surprise at all that the fans are spinning up.

 

[ulan99]

So I've got a K3000m but it has Samsung RAM, will the new ROM work with that? Thanks,

Yes, i flashed one today. 👍🏻

 

[KennyW]

Hi there,
probably more of a question to @Ausdauersportler but sharing here for the benefit of others who might be on the same boat.

I installed Big Sur on my iMac mid 2010 using @Ausdauersportler 's big-sur-micropatcher v0.5.4. At the time, the latest Big Sur was 11.2.2.

Now Software Update (within System Preferences) is advising that version 11.2.3 is available for update.
Is is safe to just do the update? Or I should do a new install with the new versionof the big-sur-micropatcher (currently v0.5.5)?

The reason I'm asking is because v0.5.5 documentation says it is safe to now use the Software Update and there seems to be changes on the patch-kexts.sh script as well as the install/config-opencore ones...

Appreciate any help

I updated directly from 11.2.2 to 11.2.3 via Software Update in my 27" iMac 2010 successfully.
So, you have to tried for yourself and tell us 🙂

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Yes, i flashed one today. 👍🏻

And did you some load tests and can you share a photo of the card/vram chip?

 

[Ausdauersportler]

OpenCore Legacy Patcher
​

For the last months I updated from time to time the OpenCore version to be used with our iMac11,x and iMac12,x to get either Brightness Control (several + cards on the NVIDIA list) or enable the AMD GPIU acceleration (all +++ GPUs on our list) or just to enable OTA upgrades with Big Sur.

There has been a really exciting project started some months ago to provide a OpenCore based Big Sur installer named OpenCore Legacy Patcher. Most of our knowledge has been adopted and if you need a new version of OpenCore to be used with Big Sur this is possibly the single choice in the future unless you are willing to configure it on our own.

Download and follow the instructions on the download site. You can either installer the EFI on your Catalina Loader or put or directly on an EFI partition (internal boot drive or external USB/SD drive/card).

Really important:

The EFI and System (replaces BOOT) folders will be created in a temp sub folder under /private/var/folder/.... and it's exact location will be printed out after creation to the console. If you want to save it (and you want this!) copy it manually from there to your Documents folder before quitting the program!

1. Use/enable this settings (mandatory):

• Using minimal SMBIOS spoofing (default)​
• Disabling SecureBootModel (no default)​
• Disabling SIP (no default)​

2. Optional developers should add:

• Enabling Verbose boot​
• Enabling DEBUG Kexts​
• Enabling DEBUG OpenCore​

Unsolved problems:

• Ethernet via CatalinaBMC5701Ethernet.kext does not work on iMac11,x and iMac12,x​
• Sound via VoodooHDA.kext is not a really convincing solution​

I have prepared an yet unreleased nanopatcher (which is a small part of the micropatcher) to patch this two kernel extensions back into Big Sur. Doing this brings back full functionality, but break the delta OTA upgrades. It is your choice. Currently you cannot get it all!

Download: here (current version 0.0.18 based on OpenCore 0.6.8, development is rapid, new versions on a nearly daily base right now)

Documentation: here

Found an issue?

Report new problems with the software to the developers using the Github page and open an issue. Asking how to use this software is not an issue!!!

Need help?

If you need help how to handle the software you can to subscribe to Discord and post into the opencore-patcher channel. This is the way to get help!

 

[ulan99]

And did you some load tests and can you share a photo of the card/vram chip?

No loadtest yet. I will do later.
its a Imac 27 2011 i7 2600

 

[jroy]

Hi guys,

Do you know how I could enable H264 acceleration under Catalina with a 2009 iMac? I have the stock AMD HD 4850 installed. Your help would be very much appreciated.

 

[mperaltaoz]

I updated directly from 11.2.2 to 11.2.3 via Software Update in my 27" iMac 2010 successfully.
So, you have to tried for yourself and tell us 🙂

Challenge accepted! 🙂

I went ahead and updated via Software Update on my 21.5" iMac 2010. After a few 3 reboots and some confusion at the beginning (a new disk appeared in the OpenCore boot picker after the first reboot, which I guessed I should pick), the update completed and I was running Big Sur 11.2.3.
The only thing I had to do after that was to run patch-kexts.sh --2010 on a terminal window and reboot again (as I didn't have WiFi before). That solved the issue and all is good now.

 

[andyzeo]

It looks like the video memory is over-heating, try turning your ODD fan up.

If that doesn't fix it try flashing this patched bios with lower memory clocks,

it will also enable brightness control on 765M & 770M with the OpenCore loader!

This hybrid 780M bios doesn't need OpenCore, it just fixes the Boot Camp problem.

Enjoy!

Hello, I just got my hands on a 765M N14E-GE-B-A1 chipset and has memory skhynix H5GQ2H24AFR t2c 332V and i'm confused if this firmware is compatible with it or only with BFR memory, can someone shed a light?

I intend to return it in favor of a Quadro K3100 if this one is not flashable /tested. otherwise it'll just fry it and i can't return it

i'm scrolling the thread for a few hours but couldn't find a post with the rom details for the 765M

If there's one, can someone point me out? i'm sorry if i'm redundant, new here

 

[xanderon]

OpenCore Legacy Patcher
​

For the last months I updated from time to time the OpenCore version to be used with our iMac11,x and iMac12,x to get either Brightness Control (several + cards on the NVIDIA list) or enable the AMD GPIU acceleration (all +++ GPUs on our list) or just to enable OTA upgrades with Big Sur.

There has been a really exciting project started some months ago to provide a OpenCore based Big Sur installer named OpenCore Legacy Patcher. Most of our knowledge has been adopted and if you need a new version of OpenCore to be used with Big Sur this is possibly the single choice in the future unless you are willing to configure it on our own.

Download and follow the instructions on the download site. You can either installer the EFI on your Catalina Loader or put or directly on an EFI partition (internal boot drive or external USB/SD drive/card).

Really important:

The EFI and System (replaces BOOT) folders will be created in a temp sub folder under /private/var/folder/.... and it's exact location will be printed out after creation to the console. If you want to save it (and you want this!) copy it manually from there to your Documents folder before quitting the program!

1. Use/enable this settings (mandatory):

• Using minimal SMBIOS spoofing (default)​
• Disabling SecureBootModel (no default)​
• Disabling SIP (no default)​

2. Optional developers should add:

• Enabling Verbose boot​
• Enabling DEBUG Kexts​
• Enabling DEBUG OpenCore​

Unsolved problems:

• Ethernet via CatalinaBMC5701Ethernet.kext does not work on iMac11,x and iMac12,x​
• Sound via VoodooHDA.kext is not a really convincing solution​

I have prepared a nanopatcher to patch this two kernel extensions back into Big Sur. Doing this brings back full functionality, but break the delta OTA upgrades. It is your choice. Currently you cannot get it all!

Download: here (current version 0.0.18 based on OpenCore 0.6.8, development is rapid, new versions on a nearly daily base right now)

Documentation: here

You all your help if you start to adopt this OpenCore solution and report new problems with the software to the developers using the Github page and open an issue.

If you need help you can to subscribe to Discord and post into the opencore-patcher channel.

nice to see that you put your knowledge to this branch. so did I get it right? everything except ethernet and audio is already working. is there no way to fix this 2 hardware issues with your patches from micropatcher?

or is this actually breaking OTA? if so, y is OTA working with your patcher? need more details and I will switch to be a beta tester. I like what you code ninjas are doing to the environment by saving the good ol' hardware for the next 10 years.

and I'm writing this from my modified iMac (see sig) with my MacBook Pro 16" lying right next to it…

 

[dream_catcher]

Hi guys, i need urgent help.
I have an imac 27" mid 2011 and last saturday i switch the graphics card for an Nvidia K3100M.
It boots ok to my account and detected the Nvidia card and after a while it went black, completely black. I turned it off and on, it remains completely black. I know its working because i can hear the disc working and the fans also working.
I am researching for an answer in this forum since saturday and i can't find a solution.
So please is there anyone who can give me a hint what to do to solve this issue?
Best regards,

 

[The_Croupier]

Hi guys, i need urgent help.
I have an imac 27" mid 2011 and last saturday i switch the graphics card for an Nvidia K3100M.
It boots ok to my account and detected the Nvidia card and after a while it went black, completely black. I turned it off and on, it remains completely black. I know its working because i can hear the disc working and the fans also working.
I am researching for an answer in this forum since saturday and i can't find a solution.
So please is there anyone who can give me a hint what to do to solve this issue?
Best regards,

Did you read about black screen on the wiki in post 1?
With the amount of information you have provided in your question it is impossible to help you

 

[The_Croupier]

Hello, I just got my hands on a 765M N14E-GE-B-A1 chipset and has memory skhynix H5GQ2H24AFR t2c 332V and i'm confused if this firmware is compatible with it or only with BFR memory, can someone shed a light?

I intend to return it in favor of a Quadro K3100 if this one is not flashable /tested. otherwise it'll just fry it and i can't return it

i'm scrolling the thread for a few hours but couldn't find a post with the rom details for the 765M

If there's one, can someone point me out? i'm sorry if i'm redundant, new here

Back up the original ROM and give it a go, as the current ROM for the 765m only comes in one flavour its your only option unless you try Nick's original Beta 3 version which i believe the current one is based on except tweaked to implement brightness via OC.
What have you got to loose?

 

[dream_catcher]

Did you read about black screen on the wiki in post 1?
With the amount of information you have provided in your question it is impossible to help you

Yes I did read. I need to flash vbios to new graphics and kext. But with blackscreen I can't see nothing to do that. I tried to connect via hdmi to a TV but nothing happens. No image appears.
Is there a way to flash that without image? Or try to install new OS without image appear?
My old graphics card was an AMD 6970M and it was faulty, so I switched to an Nvidia K3100M, and did the switch and booted the imac, after a while it booted ok and i went to internet to download what I needed to flash and before I did the chance to do that the screen went completely black. I turned off the imac and when I switch on again the imac stays completely black.
I am asking if there is any solution to flash vbios with the black screen, because I have no image to know what I need to do.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Yes I did read. I need to flash vbios to new graphics and kext. But with blackscreen I can't see nothing to do that. I tried to connect via hdmi to a TV but nothing happens. No image appears.
Is there a way to flash that without image? Or try to install new OS without image appear?
My old graphics card was an AMD 6970M and it was faulty, so I switched to an Nvidia K3100M, and did the switch and booted the imac, after a while it booted ok and i went to internet to download what I needed to flash and before I did the chance to do that the screen went completely black. I turned off the imac and when I switch on again the imac stays completely black.
I am asking if there is any solution to flash vbios with the black screen, because I have no image to know what I need to do.

I cannot believe this.

Did you read the first post about the flash options? (No!)
Did you read about the Linux flash utility? (No!)
Did you notice that all the methods proposed are made to work with a non working internal display from remote systems? (No!)
Did you read the short plan? ....

Please, we put so much effort in the tools and the docs and you ignore all of it.

You just need a second system, an iPad oder iPhone with an SSH client will do. But to setup the Linux boot utility you need a real computer, but your neighbours or friends system will do, too. Or are you living isolated on and island?

 

[dream_catcher]

I cannot believe this.

Did you read the first post about the flash options? (No!)
Did you read about the Linux flash utility? (No!)
Did you notice that all the methods proposed are made to work with a non working internal display from remote systems? (No!)
Did you read the short plan? ....

Please, we put so much effort in the tools and the docs and you ignore all of it.

You just need a second system, an iPad oder iPhone with an SSH client will do. But to setup the Linux boot utility you need a real computer, but your neighbours or friends system will do, too. Or are you living isolated on and island?

Ok, I can arrange An Ipad, a MacBook Pro and windows PC. Wich one do you recommend? My brother borrowed to me.
What to do next?

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Ok, I can arrange An Ipad, a MacBook Pro and windows PC. Wich one do you recommend? My brother borrowed to me.
What to do next?

Wait, reading the first post and prepare the Linux boot stick? Literally you need to start reading. I wonder what you did while waiting for weeks for you new GPU?

Do not misunderstand me. I am not a genius bar Apple employee just waiting to answer questions in my spare time when we spent already so much time into preparing docs. You need to find the first post of this thread...whereever this is hidden today.

Take the MacBookPro, you can create and check the Linux USB there in advance.

 

[ulan99]

No loadtest yet. I will do later.
its a Imac 27 2011 i7 2600

Here we go