GPU Downgrade / Interchange Info For Mid 2010 iMac 27"?

Good Day Community,
This is a great forum you guys have here - I enjoy surfing often. I finally got to a point where I needed to ask a question so I registered.

I have a Apple iMac "Core i5" 2.8 27-Inch (Mid-2010) Specs

Identifiers: Mid-2010 - MC511LL/A - iMac11,3 - A1312 - 2390




I looking to downgrade the graphics card from the Radeon HD 5750 to something cheaper.
I know this machine uses a standard type of connection for the video card but can I put something else in its place?

Like perhaps a 661-5579 ATI RADEON HD CARD, VIDEO, 5670 512MB GDDR3 SDRAM FOR MID 2010 IMAC, 27INCH, A1312


661-5579 ATI Radeon HD Card, Video, 5670 512MB GDDR3 SDRAM for Mid 2010 iMac, 27inch, A1312



.. Would i need to re install the OS or anything? Firmware mods..

My SN is w9049158db5


Thank you so much

ENRKyle20 said:

I looking to downgrade the graphics card from the Radeon HD 5750 to something cheaper.

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Why?? Without more info...this seems like a totally unnecessary project!

- Nick

Artifacts and GPU Failure. But I dont use the GPU power. Just web surfin.

ENRKyle20 said:

Artifacts and GPU Failure.

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Ok thanks for the info. Sounds like the real reason for "downgrading" the video card is "artifacts & GPU" failure. Artifacts & GPU failure should have been mentioned in post #1...makes the whole reason for doing this project make much more sense.

As far as the video card replacement. I would go with a video card that was available in Mid-2010 27" iMac's. This way you are assured of the best fit and compatability.

If you want to experiment with other videos cards that were not available for Mid-2010 27" iMac's you're more than welcome to. But this is where information can get VERY THIN. Since folks rarely replace the video card in their iMac's. And when they do...it's usually with an exact original replacement. If replacing with a non-original video card...and compatability info on this is EXTREMELY rare.

- Nick

Thank you for the quick replay. Yes there is artifacts on the screen (green & red). Its getting worse.
I have tried a OS reload and other things and I know at this point its not software. I even ran it on a Windows XP Live CD and it did it there too.

So you think any ATI card from mid 2010 should do.
Do you know what options came at that time for ATI?
Any idea what the least expensive option would be,
How about how much replacing this card with an identical would be (I cant seem to find a part number to look it up). I wish there was more info on stuff like this!
Thanks Again

ENRKyle20 said:

So you think any ATI card from mid 2010 should do.

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I think that there's a very good chance that any video card that was available for Mid-2010 27" iMac's should work.

ENRKyle20 said:

Do you know what options came at that time for ATI?

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There seems to be just two videos cards that came with Mid-2010 27" iMac's:

- Radeon 5670
- Radeon 5750

ENRKyle20 said:

Any idea what the least expensive option would be...

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Probably the 5670.

ENRKyle20 said:

How about how much replacing this card with an identical would be (I cant seem to find a part number to look it up).

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First you need to know that replacing the video card in an iMac is not inexpensive. I've dealt with this sort of project rather recently...and you would be surprised how much used replacement video cards can be for iMac's.

In any case...here's a 5670 on eBay for around $210:

Apple iMac 27" A1312 Mid 2010 Video VGA Card ATI Radeon HD 5670 512MB 661 5579 | eBay

I'm not saying you should get this exact one. But this is what you would be looking for.

HTH,

- Nick

That is more helpful thank you know. Thank you so much! GOD BLESS

You're welcome!

Just so you know (if you decide to do this project). I recently did a project similar to this on a 24" Early 2009 iMac. Items you will need to do the project are:

- proper tools
- thermal grease
- thermal pads
- patience

iFixit.com has procedures (with photos) for doing various DIY repair jobs on Mac computers. Unfortunately they don't seem to have one specifically written for 2010 27" iMac's (this is what I mean by this sort of DIY project info being RARE).

But...iFixit.com does have video card replacement procedures written for other iMac models. So you "may" be able to follow them as a general guide.

- Nick

Do you think it matters if it says it for a i3 or i5 Imac?

Thank you Pigoo3. I do have the tools and I had the card out yesterday to attempt a reflow on the card. It helped but still getting artifacts. I may try a longer cook before I order a replacement card. It just may work. If not, no loss as I am going to need to replace it anyway. Thank you

Here's a photo (below) of the inside of your 27" Mid-2010 iMac (from iFixit.com). The video card & video card heatsink is either the:

- silver/chrome colored stuff in the lower left area (greenish circle near it)
- silver/chrome colored stuff in the upper right area (yellowish circle near it)

You usually need to remove the whole logic board to get to the video card (to separate the video card from the logic board).



- Nick

WOW, you are a rock star. Thank you for your contribution to this forum. Your the best!

ENRKyle20 said:

Do you think it matters if it says it for a i3 or i5 Imac?

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As far as I know. The 5670 was available for both the i3 and i5 based 2010 27" iMac's. So it should be fine.

- Nick

OK that is what I thought. I think the one I was looking at was just saying it came from a machine with an i3. Sweet. Thanks again. GOD BLESS

ENRKyle20 said:

Thank you Pigoo3. I do have the tools and I had the card out yesterday to attempt a reflow on the card. It helped but still getting artifacts. I may try a longer cook before I order a replacement card.

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I was going to try a "reflow" on the 24" 2009 iMac I worked on. BUt when I replaced the thermal grease & thermal pads...I got it working. So I didn't need to attempt the reflow.

Which reflow method did you try?:

- the oven method
- the torch method

If the oven method. I know sometimes folks play around a little bit with the time & temp. Sometimes increasing the temp. a little...sometimes increasing the time a little...or a little bit of both.

- Nick

ENRKyle20 said:

OK that is what I thought. I think the one I was looking at was just saying it came from a machine with an i3.

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Yeah...sometimes folks just list what machine it came from. Even if it may work with more than one model.

- Nick

I did it in the oven. It was a short cook. I am going to increase the temp and time slightly. if that does not work I will go for broke and keep it in there for 10 mins. I have done this on several Nvidia GPU with great success. And a few other video cards and electronics. Its always worth a shot before you toss something.

ENRKyle20 said:

I did it in the oven. It was a short cook. I am going to increase the temp and time slightly. if that does not work I will go for broke and keep it in there for 10 mins. I have done this on several Nvidia GPU with great success. And a few other video cards and electronics. Its always worth a shot before you toss something.

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Awesome...glad to hear that you've had previous success with the oven reflow method.

Sometimes it's just bad solder joints...and sometimes it REALLY is a bad/failing card!

- Nick

Not to knock some of the excellent info posts here but I just thought I'd mention a site that usually has excellent info on upgrading/downgrading most Mac's chips and processors, but not often one reads a post of someone wanting to actually downgrade a GPU.

Have a look here:
Apple/Mac/OS X News, Tips and Tech Articles - xlr8yourmac.com

pm-r said:

...I just thought I'd mention a site that usually has excellent info on upgrading/downgrading most Mac's chips and processors, but not often one reads a post of someone wanting to actually downgrade a GPU.

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Most definitely a great "techy" website. Lots of little details (if on the internet) you don't/won't find anywhere else!

- Nick