iMac 21.5 2011 gpu upgrade possibilities

[TechnoV]

Hello!!
I'm trying to find a stable solution for my iMac. I want to upgrade my gpu (6750m) with 6970 from 27" same year iMac.
Is it possible?
Plug n play?
Bootscreen etc?

thanks in advance.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

Hello!!
I'm trying to find a stable solution for my iMac. I want to upgrade my gpu (6750m) with 6970 from 27" same year iMac.
Is it possible?
Plug n play?
Bootscreen etc?

thanks in advance.

It's might be possible but as the card you intend to use is from the 27 inch machine I think you'll find the 21.5 has neither the power supply nor the thermal capacity for that upgrade. It's certainly not plug and play, it's also probably not worth the effort and risk.

Here is a guide for doing the replacement.

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iMac+Intel+21.5-Inch+EMC+2428+GPU+Card+Replacement/5980

You are probably better off selling yours and buying a 27 inch with the graphics card you want,

 

[TechnoV]

It's might be possible but as the card you intend to use is from the 27 inch machine I think you'll find the 21.5 has neither the power supply nor the thermal capacity for that upgrade. It's certainly not plug and play, it's also probably not worth the effort and risk.

Here is a guide for doing the replacement.

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iMac+Intel+21.5-Inch+EMC+2428+GPU+Card+Replacement/5980

You are probably better off selling yours and buying a 27 inch with the graphics card you want,

Thanks a lot for advice. I am not a pro, but in the past i have opened imacs. I know where the gpu located, i know how to replace it.
I don't want to spend money for the 6970 and finally doesn't work.

So that's why i asked "plug and play"..
I mean if i install the gpu and boot my imac, i will need something else to do? flash, etc or the card will work instanly, with bootscreen?
As for the heatsink, i will try to mod it. Temps are the second thing.

Thanks in advance and apologise for my poor english..

 

[Samuelsan2001]

Thanks a lot for advice. I am not a pro, but in the past i have opened imacs. I know where the gpu located, i know how to replace it.
I don't want to spend money for the 6970 and finally doesn't work.

So that's why i asked "plug and play"..
I mean if i install the gpu and boot my imac, i will need something else to do? flash, etc or the card will work instanly, with bootscreen?
As for the heatsink, i will try to mod it. Temps are the second thing.

Thanks in advance and apologise for my poor english..

As I say I'm not sure but I would say yes it's possible, how well it works is another matter you may need to flash the card, and the power unit might not provide enough power for the card and CPU, then there is the possible cooling issues...

Here is a thread detailing some people's experiences.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/2011-imac-graphics-card-upgrade.1596614/

 

[TechnoV]

If the card has already apple firmware, do i need to flash it?

 

[hank.collins]

Hello I have had a iMac 27", Mid 2011 sitting on the floor in the box it came in for the past four months. It has the dreaded 6970 gpu. Because it is 5 years old it does not qualify for Apple's free factory replacement. Apple service here in the Philippines says the entire Motherboard must be replaced, at a cost almost exactly 1/3 what it cost me to purchase it new. I know this thread was about a iMac 21 and I apologize for going off subject. But I am desperate.. Can someone please advise me what I can do? Does this sound right to you? The whole board must be replaced. Or, do I have another option?

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.
Hank (N1RLT - QTH Cebu, Philippines)

 

[TechnoV]

open a new thread dude. wtf?

 

[kgian]

Supposedly the 6970 is going to work without needing any flashing. You will have to do some serious heatsink modding though. I don't think power draw is going to be a problem.

 

[TechnoV]

Supposedly the 6970 is going to work without needing any flashing. You will have to do some serious heatsink modding though. I don't think power draw is going to be a problem.

That is what i was hopping to listen 🙂
I will order an apple HD 6970m. I hope the best. Also i will check the 6750 heatsink if it works. If not i will start modding..

 

[Maty Verdina]

That is what i was hopping to listen 🙂
I will order an apple HD 6970m. I hope the best. Also i will check the 6750 heatsink if it works. If not i will start modding..

so ? what happened ? did it work ?