I used one of the Dell / Alienware 2GB cards. These can still be got for under $200 on eBay. The Apple card is identical in every way except for the firmware.
This is the Dell / Alienware card here
[image|1435803]
[image|1435806]
Grab the Apple ROM file from here: https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/?architecture=&manufacturer=Apple&model=&interface=&memType=&memSize=&since= Pay attention to the VRAM size and get the correct file
Prepare the card by removing the Dell metal bracket that the heatsink screws into on the back of the card. You will need to transfer the bracket from the Apple card. Transfer anything else that might be needed.
On the card, with the MXM connector facing downwards and the ATI chip facing you. There are 2 small black chips to the top left of the ATI chip. (one above the other) You need to flash the top one as shown
[image|1435801]
You will need a way to interface with the chip on the card. I used a Raspberry Pi with a SOIC 8 clip.
Connect the rPi, the clip and plug it in. I have my Pi setup as an access point with its own Wifi network. This way, It is portable and can be run of a power bank
scp the file onto the pi. "scp filename pi@ipaddress:/home/pi"
Backup the existing ROM first,
Flash the card and the card works perfectly as a genuine Apple card. I flashed the 1GB VBIOS version first before realising that I had the 2 GB card and had to dismantle the iMac again to reflash the card with the correct ROM. (I repeat, CHECK YOU HAVE THE CORRECT FILE)
[image|1435802]
After flashing the correct file it should look like this
[image|1435826]
You will get proper boot screen. No Kext hacking etc. The card works with full acceleration and passes Apple Service Diagnostics
[image|1435825]
[image|1435804]
Good luck and save yourselves a few quid.
-
+
EDIT - The M8900 Firepro is the same card so can be flashed with the Apple firmware in the same way as the Dell card.
Note, As this guide is now over 3 years old, time has marched on and not been kind to our 2009-2011 iMacs, The main issue we are all facing is the lack of Metal support with the AMD cards (If they haven’t failed already) As most of you are probably all aware, there are some great developers on the scene that have devoted a lot of time into keeping our old unsupported Macs on the road. Special credits must do to DosDude who created the Mojave and Catalina Patcher tools to allow people to run these operating systems on their older unsupported Macs.
Unfortunalty with these iMacs, It can be done but requires a more up to date graphics card. There are 2 cards that I have found which offer boot screen and Metal support. There is a size “B” card for the 27” iMacs and a size “A” card for the 21.5” Macs. The size “A” will work in both.
-
These of course need to be flashed before they will work correctly. If there is enough demand for this I may setup a store to sell pre flashed MXM cards for these systems. A guide will also be provided for those that wish to flash the cards themselves. I will edit the original post to bring it into the 20’s
+
As of Feb 2021, the recommended card which has Monterey support is the M5100 Firepro. Nvidia cards are supported up to Big Sur.
+
+
All cards are supported in 21.5” and 27” iMacs with the exception of the Late 2009 21.5” Core 2 Duo. The Late 2009 27” Core2Duo IS supported. Pair this with a Wifi card from a 2015 or newer MacBook or iMac and you will have a fully supported iMac with Handoff etc working. The M5100 is difficult to setup initially as the system will not boot normally without the bootloader in place. I can be contacted on the same handle on Insta if anyone needs a preconfigured link to an ISO to get up and running with these cards.
I used one of the Dell / Alienware 2GB cards. These can still be got for under $200 on eBay. The Apple card is identical in every way except for the firmware.
This is the Dell / Alienware card here
[image|1435803]
[image|1435806]
Grab the Apple ROM file from here: https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/?architecture=&manufacturer=Apple&model=&interface=&memType=&memSize=&since= Pay attention to the VRAM size and get the correct file
Prepare the card by removing the Dell metal bracket that the heatsink screws into on the back of the card. You will need to transfer the bracket from the Apple card. Transfer anything else that might be needed.
On the card, with the MXM connector facing downwards and the ATI chip facing you. There are 2 small black chips to the top left of the ATI chip. (one above the other) You need to flash the top one as shown
[image|1435801]
You will need a way to interface with the chip on the card. I used a Raspberry Pi with a SOIC 8 clip.
Connect the rPi, the clip and plug it in. I have my Pi setup as an access point with its own Wifi network. This way, It is portable and can be run of a power bank
scp the file onto the pi. "scp filename pi@ipaddress:/home/pi"
Backup the existing ROM first,
Flash the card and the card works perfectly as a genuine Apple card. I flashed the 1GB VBIOS version first before realising that I had the 2 GB card and had to dismantle the iMac again to reflash the card with the correct ROM. (I repeat, CHECK YOU HAVE THE CORRECT FILE)
[image|1435802]
After flashing the correct file it should look like this
[image|1435826]
You will get proper boot screen. No Kext hacking etc. The card works with full acceleration and passes Apple Service Diagnostics
[image|1435825]
[image|1435804]
Good luck and save yourselves a few quid.
+
+
+
+
Note, As this guide is now over 3 years old, time has marched on and not been kind to our 2009-2011 iMacs, The main issue we are all facing is the lack of Metal support with the AMD cards (If they haven’t failed already) As most of you are probably all aware, there are some great developers on the scene that have devoted a lot of time into keeping our old unsupported Macs on the road. Special credits must do to DosDude who created the Mojave and Catalina Patcher tools to allow people to run these operating systems on their older unsupported Macs.
+
+
Unfortunalty with these iMacs, It can be done but requires a more up to date graphics card. There are 2 cards that I have found which offer boot screen and Metal support. There is a size “B” card for the 27” iMacs and a size “A” card for the 21.5” Macs. The size “A” will work in both.
+
+
These of course need to be flashed before they will work correctly. If there is enough demand for this I may setup a store to sell pre flashed MXM cards for these systems. A guide will also be provided for those that wish to flash the cards themselves. I will edit the original post to bring it into the 20’s
I used one of the Dell / Alienware 2GB cards. These can still be got for under $200 on eBay. The Apple card is identical in every way except for the firmware.
This is the Dell / Alienware card here
[image|1435803]
[image|1435806]
Grab the Apple ROM file from here: https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/?architecture=&manufacturer=Apple&model=&interface=&memType=&memSize=&since= Pay attention to the VRAM size and get the correct file
-
On the card, with the connector facing downwards and the ATI chip facing you. There are 2 small black chips to the top left of the ATI chip. (one above the other) You need to flash the top one as shown
+
Prepare the card by removing the Dell metal bracket that the heatsink screws into on the back of the card. You will need to transfer the bracket from the Apple card. Transfer anything else that might be needed.
+
+
On the card, with the MXM connector facing downwards and the ATI chip facing you. There are 2 small black chips to the top left of the ATI chip. (one above the other) You need to flash the top one as shown
[image|1435801]
You will need a way to interface with the chip on the card. I used a Raspberry Pi with a SOIC 8 clip.
-
Install Flashrom on the rPi. Google is your friend here.
Connect the rPi, the clip and plug it in. I have my Pi setup as an access point with its own Wifi network. This way, It is portable and can be run of a power bank
scp the file onto the pi. "scp filename pi@ipaddress:/home/pi"
Backup the existing ROM first,
Flash the card and the card works perfectly as a genuine Apple card. I flashed the 1GB VBIOS version first before realising that I had the 2 GB card and had to dismantle the iMac again to reflash the card with the correct ROM. (I repeat, CHECK YOU HAVE THE CORRECT FILE)
[image|1435802]
After flashing the correct file it should look like this
[image|1435826]
You will get proper boot screen. No Kext hacking etc. The card works with full acceleration and passes Apple Service Diagnostics
I used one of the Dell / Alienware 2GB cards. These can still be got for under $200 on eBay. The Apple card is identical in every way except for the firmware.
+
I used one of the Dell / Alienware 2GB cards. These can still be got for under $200 on eBay. The Apple card is identical in every way except for the firmware.
This is the Dell / Alienware card here
-
[image|1435803] [image|1435806]
+
[image|1435803]
-
Grab the Apple ROM file from here: https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/?architecture=&manufacturer=Apple&model=&interface=&memType=&memSize=&since= Pay attention to the VRAM size and get the correct file
+
[image|1435806]
-
On the card, with the connector facing downwards and the ATI chip facing you. There are 2 small black chips to the top left of the ATI chip. (one above the other) You need to flash the top one as shown
+
Grab the Apple ROM file from here: https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/?architecture=&manufacturer=Apple&model=&interface=&memType=&memSize=&since= Pay attention to the VRAM size and get the correct file
+
+
On the card, with the connector facing downwards and the ATI chip facing you. There are 2 small black chips to the top left of the ATI chip. (one above the other) You need to flash the top one as shown
[image|1435801]
You will need a way to interface with the chip on the card. I used a Raspberry Pi with a SOIC 8 clip.
Install Flashrom on the rPi. Google is your friend here.
Connect the rPi, the clip and plug it in. I have my Pi setup as an access point with its own Wifi network. This way, It is portable and can be run of a power bank
scp the file onto the pi. "scp filename pi@ipaddress:/home/pi"
Backup the existing ROM first,
-
Flash the card and the card works perfectly as a genuine Apple card. I flashed the 1GB VBIOS version first before realising that I had the 2 GB card and had to dismantle the iMac again to reflash the card with the correct ROM. (I repeat, CHECK YOU HAVE THE CORRECT FILE) [image|1435802]
+
Flash the card and the card works perfectly as a genuine Apple card. I flashed the 1GB VBIOS version first before realising that I had the 2 GB card and had to dismantle the iMac again to reflash the card with the correct ROM. (I repeat, CHECK YOU HAVE THE CORRECT FILE)
+
+
[image|1435802]
+
+
After flashing the correct file it should look like this
+
+
[image|1435826]
You will get proper boot screen. No Kext hacking etc. The card works with full acceleration and passes Apple Service Diagnostics
I used one of the Dell / Alienware 2GB cards. These can still be got for under $200 on eBay. The Apple card is identical in every way except for the firmware.
+
I used one of the Dell / Alienware 2GB cards. These can still be got for under $200 on eBay. The Apple card is identical in every way except for the firmware.
-
Grab the Apple ROM file from here: https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/?architecture=&manufacturer=Apple&model=&interface=&memType=&memSize=&since= Pay attention to the VRAM size and get the correct file
+
This is the Dell / Alienware card here
-
On the card, with the connector facing downwards and the ATI chip facing you. There are 2 small black chips to the top left of the ATI chip. (one above the other) You need to flash the top one.
+
[image|1435803] [image|1435806]
+
+
Grab the Apple ROM file from here: https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/?architecture=&manufacturer=Apple&model=&interface=&memType=&memSize=&since= Pay attention to the VRAM size and get the correct file
+
+
On the card, with the connector facing downwards and the ATI chip facing you. There are 2 small black chips to the top left of the ATI chip. (one above the other) You need to flash the top one as shown
+
+
[image|1435801]
You will need a way to interface with the chip on the card. I used a Raspberry Pi with a SOIC 8 clip.
Install Flashrom on the rPi. Google is your friend here.
-
Connect the rPi, the clip and plug it in
+
Connect the rPi, the clip and plug it in. I have my Pi setup as an access point with its own Wifi network. This way, It is portable and can be run of a power bank
-
scp the file onto the pi.
+
scp the file onto the pi. "scp filename pi@ipaddress:/home/pi"
-
Backup the existing ROM first, Flash the card and the card works perfectly as a genuine Apple card
+
Backup the existing ROM first,
+
+
Flash the card and the card works perfectly as a genuine Apple card. I flashed the 1GB VBIOS version first before realising that I had the 2 GB card and had to dismantle the iMac again to reflash the card with the correct ROM. (I repeat, CHECK YOU HAVE THE CORRECT FILE) [image|1435802]
+
+
You will get proper boot screen. No Kext hacking etc. The card works with full acceleration and passes Apple Service Diagnostics
I used one of the Dell / Alienware 2GB cards. The Apple card is identical except for the firmware.
+
I used one of the Dell / Alienware 2GB cards. These can still be got for under $200 on eBay. The Apple card is identical in every way except for the firmware.
-
Grab the Apple ROM file from here: https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/?architecture=&manufacturer=Apple&model=&interface=&memType=&memSize=&since=
+
Grab the Apple ROM file from here: https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/?architecture=&manufacturer=Apple&model=&interface=&memType=&memSize=&since= Pay attention to the VRAM size and get the correct file
-
You will need a way to interface with the ROM chip on the card. I used a Raspberry Pi with a SOIC 8 clip.
+
On the card, with the connector facing downwards and the ATI chip facing you. There are 2 small black chips to the top left of the ATI chip. (one above the other) You need to flash the top one.
+
+
You will need a way to interface with the chip on the card. I used a Raspberry Pi with a SOIC 8 clip.
Install Flashrom on the rPi. Google is your friend here.
+
+
Connect the rPi, the clip and plug it in
+
+
scp the file onto the pi.
Backup the existing ROM first, Flash the card and the card works perfectly as a genuine Apple card
I used one of the Dell / Alienware 2GB cards. The Apple card is identical except for the firmware.
Grab the Apple ROM file from here: https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/?architecture=&manufacturer=Apple&model=&interface=&memType=&memSize=&since=
You will need a way to interface with the ROM chip on the card. I used a Raspberry Pi with a SOIC 8 clip.
Install Flashrom on the rPi. Google is your friend here.
Backup the existing ROM first, Flash the card and the card works perfectly as a genuine Apple card