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Model A1225 / Early 2009 / 2.66, 2.93, or 3.06 GHz Core 2 Duo processor

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Can I upgrade early 2009 iMac Graphics card

Hello,

I've been looking around to see if I can swap out my current graphics card for a better one. Having seen many conflicting and sometimes confusing answers I thought I'd ask on here in the hope someone has tried and tested!

I have an early 2009 24 inch iMac Intel Core 2 Duo 3.06ghz with 8gb RAM and the GPU is an ATI Radeon Mobility HD 4850

I saw a guide on here that showed someone successfully changing theirs, but what I wanted to know was if it was possible to upgrade to a different card with more memory, 1GB or higher.

Things that worry me are, would another card fit ok? would there be overheating issues? and is there Apple firmware that needs to be pre installed for it to work?

Many thanks in advance

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This question was migrated from http://meta.ifixit.com/Answers.

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First these graphics boards are not your standard PCI board. So you can't just put anything in.

You currently have the top of the line system with the ATI card within this model series. So I'm at a loss what you are looking for as a replacement. Here is a user created guide on the IFIXIT site that goes into the process of replacing the card Graphics card replacement. As you can see its a big job and the price for the ATI card is around $450 in case yours is bad.

Given the age of your system you may want to invest in a newer model Vs trying to goose this one up a notch if that is at all possible. Sorry ;-{

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You can exchange the (MXM3) GPU in the iMac9,1 with 2.93 GHz and 3.06GHz CPU with a modern metal AMD GPU - both models were equipped with an MXM3 slot.

The process and source of compatible graphics card video BIOS (aka vBIOS) versions necessary has been described on this post. You will loose the EFI Boot screen, but can use OCLP to enable an OpenCore emulated boot picker and more importantly can install and run more recent macOS versions on this iMac9,1 model.

You need some patience, tools, a rainy Sunday...

P.S.:
To complete the answer: You can also re-use original Apple MXM cards from iMac11,x-iMac12,x models. Unfortunately these systems use a different encoding (eDP) to drive the internal display and thus all vBIOS versions from those cards are not compatible with the iMac9,1 (LVDS). Only cards from the iMac10,1 21.5 (LVDS) can be re-used without flashing a different vBIOS.

You can cross flash the iMac9,1 4850 vBIOS and the iMac10,1 21.5 ATI 4670 vBIOS onto the same cards from iMac10,1 27", iMac11,1 and iMac11,2 models (all eDP) to make the fully compatible. Physically these cards are identical.

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Technically you can replace the Graphics unit with another, but the compatibility is not tested for larger-memory card. However, keep in mind that you will have to use the same board as in your current iMac, which makes the mission very very hard.

If you find your system slow, think about replacing the HDD with SSD. This will increase App launch speed significantly.

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I don't think he was having a HD type of issue given the focus on the graphics card and its memory. You do raise a good point on getting more performance out of the system by replacing the HD. But, I think a SSHD (hybrid HD) would be a better choice than a straight SSD.

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Hey guys

Do you think I can replace the current GPU with a unit from the 2011 iMac generation?

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Will need more detail on which model. Most likely not.

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It's a early 2009 2.93ghz with the GT130m GPU. Don't they have the same MXM connector?

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I forgot to mention, the unit I ordered is a ATI 6750M with 512MB memory

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did you have any luck in swapping this 130m with 6750m or another card? i am considering an upgrade too as the imac is only stable within leopard-snow leopard and i am guessing the graphics is the culprit.

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Hello.

I'm having the same problem...

I would like to update to a GPU model which runs the metal API.

Any possible suggestion?

Many thanks

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Lets turn this around... The OS is the issue as you'll need El Capitan or newer to gain access to the Metal API. Keep in mind Metal2 API's are part of High Sierra which is coming out this fall (in Beta now). So that would require you upgrading your system to a newer model that supports the OS which has the API support.

Upgrading your 2009 GPU card alone here won't help.

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I'm running High Sierra on a 2009 iMac 21,5" without any modification whatsoever. Runs great.

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I have tried to install a quadro k1000m into the iMac 9.1 24inch early 2009 with the plastic backside and the smallest processor and I found out it has no graphics card to switch, it must be an onboard model. It seems like only the model with the 2,6 ghz processor has an onboard gpu.

Block Image

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Your Imac has integrated graphics card.

You can't to change it.

And even if you change it, the motherboard does not recognize it, because the MXM slot is disable in Imac with integrated graphics card.

And there is no BIOS to change these settings.

Also you cannot install quadro k1000m into the iMac 9.1 because it is not supported (many have already tried).

You can only overclocking you Imac by Setfsb under Windows (bootcamp) and NVIDIA Inspector.

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Gerry Lindop crwdns2934231:0crwdne2934231:0
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