Today On The Healing Bench: Two iMacs With Dead GPUs

[iamdarkyoshi]

I think this style of post should be a thing I do. Everytime I do a repair log of something, I do it like this. Anyway....

 

My dad found a PC store and talked to the owner, and he told him about my fixed 270x GPU. The owner said that he had two iMacs with bad videocards, and if I can fix one, I can keep the other.

 

 

The two machines' EMC Numbers are 2267 and 2211.

 

So today I have basically made no friggin progress at all. I got the two macs and four videocards, all of which apparently do not work. Originally I was going to just bring home the videocards to try to fix, but I have no way of testing them, thus why he sent me home with two of his iMacs. So I took one of the crapples apart to put a videocard into it and confirm that the card does not work. However, the store owner forgot to give me the heatsinks for the videocards

 

So that is as far as I got today. 

 

No @thekeemo I am NOT making a heatsink for it.

[thekeemo]

I didn't tell you to.. I just said slap normal heatsinks on em after taking out the mobo..

[PlayStation 2]

You know, LTT just needs a basic like button for scenarios like these.

[iamdarkyoshi]

1 minute ago, thekeemo said:

I didn't tell you to.. I just said slap normal heatsinks on em after taking out the mobo..

What is a "normal" heatsink?

[thekeemo]

Just now, iamdarkyoshi said:

What is a "normal" heatsink?

Desktop CPU heatsink

[AlTech]

5 minutes ago, iamdarkyoshi said:

Snipity Snip snip

If their GPUs are dead then go to apple?

 

IDK.

 

Why does their GPUs being dead pose a problem? they have integrated graphics ( I grant you they are abysmal but they work)

[iamdarkyoshi]

Just now, AluminiumTech said:

If their GPUs are dead then go to apple?

 

IDK.

 

Why does their GPUs being dead pose a problem? they have integrated graphics ( I grant you they are abysmal but they work)

Wait. These particular units have onboard video? How can I test this?

[AlTech]

Just now, iamdarkyoshi said:

Wait. These particular units have onboard video? How can I test this?

they should have Intel GMA graphics.

 

Ummmm., do you know what year these are? If not i'll have to use a guess of 2009.

 

[iamdarkyoshi]

Just now, AluminiumTech said:

they should have Intel GMA graphics.

 

Ummmm., do you know what year these are? If not i'll have to use a guess of 2009.

 

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/specs/imac-core-2-duo-3.06-24-inch-aluminum-early-2008-penryn-specs.html First one (the one I have apart) seems to be this one.

[AlTech]

Just now, iamdarkyoshi said:

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/specs/imac-core-2-duo-3.06-24-inch-aluminum-early-2008-penryn-specs.html First one (the one I have apart) seems to be this one.

It says that they have a dedicated gpu. If it's a 24 inch it either has a Nvidia 8800 GS or an ATI Radeon 2600 Pro.

try and plug it in and turn it on.

Tell me what happens (also plug in a keyboard and mouse)

[iamdarkyoshi]

1 minute ago, AluminiumTech said:

It says that they have a dedicated gpu. If it's a 24 inch it either has a Nvidia 8800 GS or an ATI Radeon 2600 Pro.

try and plug it in and turn it on.

Tell me what happens (also plug in a keyboard and mouse)

Meaning put it back together with no GPU and plug it in. Got it. I will update when I get back from pizza.

[iamdarkyoshi]

38 minutes ago, AluminiumTech said:

It says that they have a dedicated gpu. If it's a 24 inch it either has a Nvidia 8800 GS or an ATI Radeon 2600 Pro.

try and plug it in and turn it on.

Tell me what happens (also plug in a keyboard and mouse)

You sure it would work? https://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/197824/Will+my+iMac+run+without+nvidia+card

[AlTech]

20 minutes ago, iamdarkyoshi said:

You sure it would work? https://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/197824/Will+my+iMac+run+without+nvidia+card

Actually it appears that for whatever reason it doesn't have it.

 

Ummmmmm. IDK what to do. Do you know why the GPUs are dead?

[iamdarkyoshi]

44 minutes ago, AluminiumTech said:

Actually it appears that for whatever reason it doesn't have it.

 

Ummmmmm. IDK what to do. Do you know why the GPUs are dead?

Overheating. They need a reflow. Probably. So far I have had 100% success on the three things I tried fixing in the past. Our attitude towards the dead cards is: "If its already fucked, no harm in fucking it up further"

 

I will be stopping by the store tomorrow to obtain the heatsinks... And some thermal pads, because I left them on the counter

 

Also I opened up the second one... Nice "HDD"

[AlTech]

36 minutes ago, iamdarkyoshi said:

Snipity SNiptiy Snipty Snip snip

So how do you propose to "bring them back to life"?

[iamdarkyoshi]

35 minutes ago, AluminiumTech said:

So how do you propose to "bring them back to life"?

My hot air reflow station

[iamdarkyoshi]

Update so far: The first machine powered on, screen was very washed out and there were lots of "artifacts" everywhere. So I tried to reflow the GPU. Nothing. Tried it again for longer and hotter, no change again. So I reseated the LCD ribbon cable and the video issues are gone

 

So thats one fixed, the other is mine now

 

So I powered up the other machine. Artifacts EVERYWHERE. So I reflowed the GPU and put it back in. No artifacts at all yet, running unengine heaven as we speak! These GPUs are PATHETIC.

[AlTech]

16 minutes ago, iamdarkyoshi said:

Update so far: The first machine powered on, screen was very washed out and there were lots of "artifacts" everywhere. So I tried to reflow the GPU. Nothing. Tried it again for longer and hotter, no change again. So I reseated the LCD ribbon cable and the video issues are gone

 

So thats one fixed, the other is mine now

 

So I powered up the other machine. Artifacts EVERYWHERE. So I reflowed the GPU and put it back in. No artifacts at all yet, running unengine heaven as we speak! These GPUs are PATHETIC.

Hey. they're 7+ years old.

[iamdarkyoshi]

1 minute ago, AluminiumTech said:

Hey. they're 7+ years old.

Ehh... fair enough

[thekeemo]

Specs of the one you are keeping? (I'm assuming you are movie g the ssd to the one you want) (also assuming you are taking the 09 one)

[iHardware Shelden]

Not bad, quite an awesome pick up

[iamdarkyoshi]

Just now, thekeemo said:

Specs of the one you are keeping? (I'm assuming you are movie g the ssd to the one you want) (also assuming you are taking the 09 one)

Ya I am taking the newer one with the SSD. Lets just say the GPU in the newer one runs unengine heaven at like 10x the framerate

[AlTech]

1 minute ago, iamdarkyoshi said:

Ehh... fair enough

You might want to mark your update as the "mark solved". cos it contains how to fix it.

[Vivilacqua1]

who we gonna call?

 

gpu fixer!

[thekeemo]

Just now, iamdarkyoshi said:

Ya I am taking the newer one with the SSD. Lets just say the GPU in the newer one runs unengine heaven at like 10x the framerate

The GPU is that much better?