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

[aa004737]

I am trying to upgrade my iMac 12,2 graphics card and I can’t figure out witch card is the best I have gone through all the documentation that it’s provided, my goal is to have a working iMac with Mac OS sequoia. I made everything work with the original hd6970 until it stopped working today. Does anyone have a working setup like the one I am trying to achieve so I can copy it.

4130. 4150

 

[dorninko]

I checked again to see what might be going on with the monitor and found another interesting quirk: if you set the brightness all the way to zero (everywhere — not just by writing it to NVRAM, but also by turning the slider to 0 in the system itself), then put it to sleep and wake it up, the screen magically comes to life and keeps working fine until the brightness is increased. What could this be?

Still sounds very random to me and I am pretty sure that the LED backlight is the problem. Easies way to find out would be to use another display. I had a very similar situation (sudden black screen at random situations, sometimes every few minutes sometimes after a few days. I was able to get the backlight back every time by applying sleep/wake) but was lucky because I had anothe iMac at home. I swapped the displays and the problem moved with the display.

 

[Replanz]

Still sounds very random to me and I am pretty sure that the LED backlight is the problem. Easies way to find out would be to use another display. I had a very similar situation (sudden black screen at random situations, sometimes every few minutes sometimes after a few days. I was able to get the backlight back every time by applying sleep/wake) but was lucky because I had anothe iMac at home. I swapped the displays and the problem moved with the display.

Well, to be honest, I’m also starting to think it’s the backlight. How else can I diagnose this? I checked the inverter myself and it seems fine. The only thing that puzzled me is that the pin responsible for the backlight on the inverter shows the same value when I try to increase the brightness: around 0.1–0.2 V.
It’s just that I don’t have a second display to test this

 

[dorninko]

Well, to be honest, I’m also starting to think it’s the backlight. How else can I diagnose this? I checked the inverter myself and it seems fine. The only thing that puzzled me is that the pin responsible for the backlight on the inverter shows the same value when I try to increase the brightness: around 0.1–0.2 V.
It’s just that I don’t have a second display to test this

I don't know of any test to check for this specific problem but your problem is very very similar to what I experienced. And I went through the significant effort to replace the LED backlight strips (see

). The strips are not expensive, see e.g. https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005...t_main.60.3c005c5fWw1eeo&gatewayAdapt=glo2deu
With the new LEDs the problem was gone.

Another suggestion: there are a number of same iMacs available for 30-50 Euros (in my country) with defective graphic cards, you could buy one of those and swap the display...


Hope this helps

 

[trialer2018]

Dears looking to upgrade my XServe2,1 with a newer video card and I believe the best/fastest is the K2100M. Anyone have something running like this?

 

[StefanAM]

K4100M from Dell precision M6800. iMac2011 27".

Spoiler: GRML-FLASH log

root@192.168.10.119's password:


Linux grml 6.6.15-amd64 #1 SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Debian 6.6.15-2 (2024-02-04) x86_64


Grml - Linux for geeks





root@grml ~ # lsblk


NAME MAJ:MIN RM SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINTS


loop0 7:0 0 835.4M 1 loop /usr/lib/live/mount/rootfs/grml64-full.squashfs


/run/live/rootfs/grml64-full.squashfs


sda 8:0 1 0B 0 disk


sdb 8:16 1 29.3G 0 disk


└─sdb1 8:17 1 982M 0 part /usr/lib/live/mount/persistence/sdb1


/run/live/persistence/sdb1


sr0 11:0 1 1024M 0 rom


root@grml ~ # cd /usr/lib/live/mount/persistence/sdb1/flash/video


root@grml ..ive/mount/persistence/sdb1/flash/video # ./nvflash --save Backups/OldNVBios.rom


NVIDIA Firmware Update Utility (Version 5.792.0)


Copyright (C) 1993-2022, NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved.





Reading EEPROM (this operation may take up to 30 seconds)





Build GUID : Blank


Build Number : 0


IFR Subsystem ID : Blank


Subsystem Vendor ID : 0x0000


Subsystem ID : 0x0000


Version : Unavailable (Invalid) (Disabled Image)


Image Hash : N/A


Hierarchy ID : N/A


Build Date : Blank


Modification Date : Blank


UEFI Version : No Version Found or Out-dated ( )


UEFI Variant ID : No Variant ID Found ( No Variant ID Found )


UEFI Signer(s) : Unknown signer


XUSB-FW Version ID : N/A


XUSB-FW Build Time : N/A


InfoROM Version : No Version Found


InfoROM Backup : Not Present


License Placeholder : Not Present


GPU Mode : N/A


CEC OTA-signed Blob : Not Present





root@grml ..ive/mount/persistence/sdb1/flash/video # ls


AMD Backups K4100M_AFR.rom K4100M_BR.rom K4100M_UGA.rom NVIDIA README.amdvbflash.txt README.nvidia.txt amdvbflash amdvbflash-4.71 nvflash nvflash_cert nvflash_linux


root@grml ..ive/mount/persistence/sdb1/flash/video # ./nvflash --protectoff


NVIDIA Firmware Update Utility (Version 5.792.0)


Copyright (C) 1993-2022, NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved.





Setting EEPROM protection complete.


root@grml ..ive/mount/persistence/sdb1/flash/video # ./nvflash -6 K4100M_AFR.rom


NVIDIA Firmware Update Utility (Version 5.792.0)


Copyright (C) 1993-2022, NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved.





Checking for matches between display adapter(s) and image(s)...





Reading EEPROM (this operation may take up to 30 seconds)





NOTE: EEPROM does not contain board ID, skipping board ID check.





Current - Version:Unavailable (Invalid) ID:0000:0000:0000:0000





Replace with - Version:41.6B.32.37.AF ID:10DE:11B7:1028:15CD


NVIDIA Quadro K4100M by nikey22 (Normal Board)





Update display adapter firmware?


Press 'y' to confirm (any other key to abort): y


Reading EEPROM (this operation may take up to 30 seconds)





[==================================================] 100 %


Reading EEPROM (this operation may take up to 30 seconds)








A reboot is required for the update to take effect.





root@grml ..ive/mount/persistence/sdb1/flash/video # ./nvflash --verify K4100M_AFR.rom


NVIDIA Firmware Update Utility (Version 5.792.0)


Copyright (C) 1993-2022, NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved.








NOTE: NO ROM INDEX HAS BEEN SPECIFIED. PERFORMING CHECKS FOR ALL ROM IMAGES AVAILABLE





========================== Image Index 0 ====================================


Reading EEPROM (this operation may take up to 30 seconds)





Error : Mismatch at offset 0x00000000.





Size differs between file(262144) and adapter firmware (0)





==================================================================================





ERROR: The image from the rom pack did not match the device rom image





2 root@grml ..ive/mount/persistence/sdb1/flash/video # reboot

After this it is working like a dream. @Ausdauersportler is this normal?

 

[Benako444]

Hello! I have an iMac 12.2 27 inch mid 2011. I ordered an AMD Wx7100 video card from Aliexpress, but it turned out to be version 1.0, and my iMac won't start. Please help me! Is it possible to run my iMac with this video card?

 

[Alan_Hit]

Hey guys!

I'm struggling to find the correct VBIOS ROM file for my K2100M.

I'm upgrading an iMac 21.5" Mid-2011 (iMac12,1) and trying to flash an NVIDIA Quadro K2100M.

Does anyone have the modified VBIOS ROM file specifically built and confirmed working on the iMac12,1, which includes the necessary EFI/boot screen support? I would really appreciate the help and a secure link!

 

[imacker2011]

Hey guys!

I'm struggling to find the correct VBIOS ROM file for my K2100M.

I'm upgrading an iMac 21.5" Mid-2011 (iMac12,1) and trying to flash an NVIDIA Quadro K2100M.

Does anyone have the modified VBIOS ROM file specifically built and confirmed working on the iMac12,1, which includes the necessary EFI/boot screen support? I would really appreciate the help and a secure link!

It is included in Ausdauersportler's GRML-Flash Linux boot image:

GitHub - Ausdauersportler/GRML-FLASH: GRML LInux based flash tool with flashrom, amdvbflash, nvflash

GRML LInux based flash tool with flashrom, amdvbflash, nvflash - GitHub - Ausdauersportler/GRML-FLASH: GRML LInux based flash tool with flashrom, amdvbflash, nvflash

github.com

I used it successfully on one 21,5" and two 27" machines.

 

[imacker2011]

root@grml ..ive/mount/persistence/sdb1/flash/video # ./nvflash --verify K4100M_AFR.rom
NVIDIA Firmware Update Utility (Version 5.792.0)
Copyright (C) 1993-2022, NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved.

NOTE: NO ROM INDEX HAS BEEN SPECIFIED. PERFORMING CHECKS FOR ALL ROM IMAGES AVAILABLE

========================== Image Index 0 ====================================

Reading EEPROM (this operation may take up to 30 seconds)

Error : Mismatch at offset 0x00000000.

Size differs between file(262144) and adapter firmware (0)
========================================================================

ERROR: The image from the rom pack did not match the device rom image

2 root@grml ..ive/mount/persistence/sdb1/flash/video # reboot
[/SPOILER]
After this it is working like a dream. @Ausdauersportler is this normal?

In fact, I wanted to ask @Ausdauersportler the same question. I had the same verification error on three K2100m cards. Despite it, all cards are working nonetheless.

 

[Shnite]

Next step will be trying to write some kind of app to make TDM possible again in a more user friendly way than running terminal commands.

Did you write an app?
The TDM switch doesn't work for me.

• To turn off TDM:
  1. sudo ./smc -k MVHR -w 00
  2. wait 1 second
  3. sudo ./smc -k MVMR -w 02

sudo smc -k MVHR -w 00
sleep 1
sudo smc -k MVMR -w 02

And the brightness is always at maximum when using TDM, which puts a lot of strain on the power supply and my eyes.

 

[iPhone_se]

Hello! I have an iMac 12.2 27 inch mid 2011. I ordered an AMD Wx7100 video card from Aliexpress, but it turned out to be version 1.0, and my iMac won't start. Please help me! Is it possible to run my iMac with this video card?

See post a few pages back below. It looks like your V1.0 card is a NO-GO on 2011 iMac, it only works on 2009 and 2010 iMac. Graphics GPU upgrades on these early intel iMacs are pretty tricky to get working. You might have success if you can snag a V1.1 Dell Wx7100 GPU from eBay.

(do not ask where I found this)

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/2011-imac-graphics-card-upgrade.1596614/page-899?post=33979875#post-33979875

 

[NT1911PB]

Hi guys,

I have a GTX 860m with the bios from the forum here.

iMac 12.2
i72600
32GB
2xSATA SSDs

Since the updates “annoy” me a bit, I thought to myself; Come on, install Windows...

After a few hours of problems it starts (wrong Windows version and so on)

But what I have now is the main problem:

The GTX 860M is not recognized in Windows. Under GPU-Z it cannot read memory. As soon as I install the driver I get a blue screen. And there's also the sound problem...

I solved the latter by using OpenCore. BUT! I loaded OpenCore via a USB stick.

But it worked -> Now the real problem: The GTX 860M is not recognized under Windows 10 or 11 or 7. What can you do there?

 

[Tairon85]

** NVIDIA Quadro K4100M Mac Edition ROM **
Genuine Native Boot Screen & Brightness Control
​

View attachment 942198


After much testing and research, I've put together a ROM for the NVIDIA Quadro K4100M which will allow:

• Genuine native brightness control
• Genuine ‘gray’ early-boot screen
• Genuine macOS bootloader compliance

Requirements:
BACKUP YOUR ORIGINAL ROM before doing anything!
iMac12,2 (27-inch Mid 2011) Mac-942B59F58194171B (Tested machine)
BootROM: 87.0.0.0.0. Please use High Sierra to update your BootROM to latest version.

GPU Variant: N15E-Q3-A2
Dell K4100M vbios: 80.04.E8.00.1D
HP K4100M vbios: 80.04.E8.00.22

tested card with the following vram:
View attachment 1729324 View attachment 1743819

This ROM does not require a 3rd party bootloader like OpenCore.
This is an alternative ROM and mainly for the audience that just want a “drop-in” answer to upgrading their video card on the iMac 2011. I appreciate the ongoing ROM testing done by @Ausdauersportler, @highvoltage12v. With their efforts we can expand its utility across multiple macOS versions and peripherals.

Brightness Control Stepping Modifcation:
-Turn computer on, hold down Command(⌘)-R
-Choose Utilities > Terminal
-Enter:csrutil disable
-Reboot
-MacOS Catalina: requires you to make root writeable: sudo mount -uw /
-You can download 'Hackintool v3.05' , navigate to View attachment 1823642 menu, use the View attachment 1823641 icon at the bottom to disable gatekeeper and mount the disk in read/write mode.
-Download and open 'Kext Utility v2.6.6'

-Navigate to S/L/E (System/Library/Extensions)
-Copy "AppleBacklight.kext" to Desktop
-Edit: AppleBacklight.kext/Contents/Info.plist
-Scroll down to: IOKitPersonalities > AppleIntelPanelA > ApplePanels
-There you find several Apple LCD profiles.
-For the iMac 2011 27" machine locate:

<key>F10Ta007</key>
<data>
ABEABgALABQAHAAnADMAPwBOAFwAZwBzAIEAkQClAL8A2wD/
</data>

-Change the <data> section to:
ABEAAgA3AF8AigCzAOsBJAFnAakB1AIJAlQCogL4A00DlgRpBGk=

-Drag your modded kext into Kext Utility, allow it correct permissions
-Applebacklight.kext.bak folder will be created
-Reboot

The above data pattern will allow for a wider span of steppings for the brightness control and utilizes more of the capacity of the HD3000. If you have a different machine, your panel ID can be found by going to System Preferences > Displays > Color > Open Profile > mmod

This rom does not require the use of an external EDID parser or a separate graphics core-console stack module, but I’ve left them in there for now. It uses a built in EDID_override_Protocol, a UGA_protocol and GOP_protocol. The rom is based on a TianoCore EDK2 build which houses its own generic video driver. During bootup, the efiROM is responsible for video rendering before the control is seamlessly transferred off to a different handle, the macOS video drivers. This is known as pre-boot configuration.

Caveats post-install/Bugs:
-16bit resolution glitch of UGA_DRAW_PROTOCOL - temporary solution: activate a sleep cycle and return, this should now clear the issue.

warning: as stated previously these cards are based on a WSON flash package and therefore are much more difficult to recover from a bad flash. Please take precautions and verify flashing.


In the words of Steve Jobs, “this is insanely great!”

files:
K4100M_BR.rom - stable with mem:2000Mhz, TDP:862Mhz
K4100M_UGA.rom - overclocked with mem: 2200Mhz, TDP: 967Mhz
K4100M_AFR.rom - for -AFR based cards

******
UPDATE
******
09 02 2021: working on Catalina 10.15.7
07 02 2021: tested stability @2200Mhz & 967Mhz, thank you @Ri7 for testing, K4100M_UGA
09 08 2020: working on BigSur!
11 11 2020: working on High Sierra 10.13.6, security update 2020-006
24 09 2020: working on High Sierra 10.13.6, security update 2020-005
21 07 2020: working on Mojave 10.14.6, security update 2020-004 (18G6020)
20 07 2020: working on High Sierra 10.13.6, security update 2020-004
20 07 2020: working on Catalina 10.15.4
20 07 2020: working on Catalina 10.15.6 + kext mods

Good evening
I'm following this procedure but I can't figure out how to load the ROM onto my GPU.
Then how do I edit AppleBacklight.kext?
I'm installing the GPU on a 2011 iMac.
I've already replaced the CPU with an i7 2700k 3.5GHz, 32GB RAM.
I just bought a Nivida k4100M
4GB, but I need your help to install it.
Thanks
Sorry for my translation, I'm Italian.

 

[ethanstiles]

Help, I have a 2011 iMac currently with a black screen and a WX4150 AMD GPU installed. Computer works and boots, plays audio but does not have an image on the screen. Do I need to install open core legacy patcher? What version of macos is the latest working version for this model? How do I install open core with the computer screen being black, should I use an external monitor, or if an external monitor doesn’t work can I use another iMac to create the boot drive for this one? The card should be flashed with the vbios already, but I was running Catalina. Please help, thank you.

 

[NT1911PB]

Good evening
I'm following this procedure but I can't figure out how to load the ROM onto my GPU.
Then how do I edit AppleBacklight.kext?
I'm installing the GPU on a 2011 iMac.
I've already replaced the CPU with an i7 2700k 3.5GHz, 32GB RAM.
I just bought a Nivida k4100M
4GB, but I need your help to install it.
Thanks
Sorry for my translation, I'm Italian.

U have to flash the VBios on the card.

Programmer like CH341A

 

[NT1911PB]

Help, I have a 2011 iMac currently with a black screen and a WX4150 AMD GPU installed. Computer works and boots, plays audio but does not have an image on the screen. Do I need to install open core legacy patcher? What version of macos is the latest working version for this model? How do I install open core with the computer screen being black, should I use an external monitor, or if an external monitor doesn’t work can I use another iMac to create the boot drive for this one? The card should be flashed with the vbios already, but I was running Catalina. Please help, thank you.

Wich CPU ?

Did u flash the WX4150 VBios ?

Maybe Mac Os Montery or Ventura.. but!!! STOP THE AUTO-Updates!!!

 

[howardc64]

Well, to be honest, I’m also starting to think it’s the backlight. How else can I diagnose this? I checked the inverter myself and it seems fine. The only thing that puzzled me is that the pin responsible for the backlight on the inverter shows the same value when I try to increase the brightness: around 0.1–0.2 V.
It’s just that I don’t have a second display to test this

These backlights typically fails at the connector solder joint where its the hottest so most thermal flex of brittle lead free solder. I've fixed 20-30 Thunderbolt Displays (exact same LCD assembly except some cabling shape differences) and 1 27" 09-11 iMac with this problem. TB display fails more because they are usually used by artists that have them on all day.

Typical failure is starting to blank out with higher brightness.

Delicate disassembly to get to the connector to reflow solder joint.

Apple Thunderbolt Display Black Blanking Out Repair

Thunderbolt Display uses an LG edge LED lit LCD Display (also 09-11 27" iMacs and 27" Cinema Displays). The LEDs are on the bottom edge of the...

www.ifixit.com

 

[snackbar]

Alright, after finding the time I added a 0.5mm 15x15mm shim with K4-Pro on both the GPU die and the shim's topside. K5Pro for the VRAM. 21.5" 2011 with the two lane heatsink.

No change. OCLP Sonoma install goes straight to black screen with backlight on. After some time, the backlight turns off and doesn't come back on again. Looking at some mentions here it seems the card is dead. Now going to try to return the card via Aliexpress... to China.

Anyone know of a reliable source for a WX4130 in Europe? Or any hot tip for a GPU to bring the system to Sonoma?

Dear all,

after stepping back from the project for the summer I thought I'd give it another try. I bought a new running 12,1 to eliminate any issues I might have caused in March and changed as little as possible this time: SSD and different WX4130 with a 0.5mm shim already flashed from @Ausdauersportler himself. No different CPU, no new RAM.

I still end up with the SAME behaviour on a DIFFERENT machine: install goes straight to black screen with backlight on.

Thought this card was bad and bought another WX4130 which was already flashed (checked). Same behaviour.

What am I missing? I really want to get this out of my head (and into my basement where it was planned to go as an easy project).

Sonoma OCLP USB stick is done on a USB-C dock in a Macbook Air. Selected 12,1 as target and AMD GPU injection. Installer creation finishes with a success message. Tried at least five different USB sticks. No change.

 

[ethanstiles]

Wich CPU ?

Did u flash the WX4150 VBios ?

Maybe Mac Os Montery or Ventura.. but!!! STOP THE AUTO-Updates!!!

i7-2500S
Vbios is flashed, but I am trying to boot in catalina. Is it necessary to use high sierra?

Could I create a custom boot drive using another mac to make a bootable ventura drive so I can see the screen?

I just checked the leds on the board and only 1 and 2 come on. The computer boots on catalina and still logs in to the user and plays videos and audio with a black screen.

 

[howardc64]

Dear all,

after stepping back from the project for the summer I thought I'd give it another try. I bought a new running 12,1 to eliminate any issues I might have caused in March and changed as little as possible this time: SSD and different WX4130 with a 0.5mm shim already flashed from @Ausdauersportler himself. No different CPU, no new RAM.

I still end up with the SAME behaviour on a DIFFERENT machine: install goes straight to black screen with backlight on.

Thought this card was bad and bought another WX4130 which was already flashed (checked). Same behaviour.

What am I missing? I really want to get this out of my head (and into my basement where it was planned to go as an easy project).

Sonoma OCLP USB stick is done on a USB-C dock in a Macbook Air. Selected 12,1 as target and AMD GPU injection. Installer creation finishes with a success message. Tried at least five different USB sticks. No change.

USB stick = USB-A connector and using a USB-C to USB-A adapter to MBA to make Sonoma OCLP USB installer? I think prior post you know how to set AMD GPU to Polaris. All the settings need to be set before making the OCLP USB installer and installing OpenCore onto the USB's EFI of course.

How far do you get when booting from the USB stick? If using Apple wireless keyboard, need to connect lightning port to USB.

I wonder if you have any bent pins on the LCD connector? Fragile and can be difficult without experience. Tips here

iMac+Metal GPU - iMac HW Tips

Many guideline exist on internet like ifixit + youtube. Will outline a few tips having done a few of these

sites.google.com

 

[ethanstiles]

I have an iMac 12,1 with AMD WX4150, I tried installing macos Sonoma using open core and the prior advice on open core settings but I am getting a black screen with the backlight on when the installation fully completes and the mac tries to boot from the drive. The screen shows the apple logo and progress bar, then a blank black screen with the backlight still on forever. I believe I must delete some kext files. Can someone give me advice on what to do? If I am correct what kext files do I select to delete?

 

[ethanstiles]

Dear all,

after stepping back from the project for the summer I thought I'd give it another try. I bought a new running 12,1 to eliminate any issues I might have caused in March and changed as little as possible this time: SSD and different WX4130 with a 0.5mm shim already flashed from @Ausdauersportler himself. No different CPU, no new RAM.

I still end up with the SAME behaviour on a DIFFERENT machine: install goes straight to black screen with backlight on.

Thought this card was bad and bought another WX4130 which was already flashed (checked). Same behaviour.

What am I missing? I really want to get this out of my head (and into my basement where it was planned to go as an easy project).

Sonoma OCLP USB stick is done on a USB-C dock in a Macbook Air. Selected 12,1 as target and AMD GPU injection. Installer creation finishes with a success message. Tried at least five different USB sticks. No change.

I think I am having the same issues as snackbar, I can boot into recovery mode and use the installer fine, tired wiping the drive with disk utility and reinstalling sonoma multiple times. I keep getting the same issue where the install completes, apple logo and progress bar with timer completes, then after the computer tries to boot into the newly created macintosh hd it crashes to a black screen after getting the apple logo and progress bar for a minute.

 

[Bigwaff]

@ethanstiles When building OC EFI with OCLP application, did you select Target Model iMac 12,2? What did you select for "Graphics Override" in Graphics section of Advanced tab? Also helpful to check "Verbose" in Debug section of Build tab.

 

[ethanstiles]

@ethanstiles When building OC EFI with OCLP application, did you select Target Model iMac 12,2? What did you select for "Graphics Override" in Graphics section of Advanced tab? Also helpful to check "Verbose" in Debug section of Build tab.

I did not select verbose, however, I did select imac 12,1 as that is my model. But I am happy to reveal that I believe the issue has been fixed due to some research on this tread. @snackbar The issue for me seemed to work once I held down the shift key through boot. I am currently looking at a 99% complete boot screen loader. I will update you if I get to the desktop.