Feeler: defective iMac CoreDuo 20-inch

[Caezar]

I intend to sell my 20-inch iMac CoreDuo, as it shuts down randomly and the local repair shop can't find out the reason (or so they say...).

The repair shop proposed to buy it from me. What would be a reasonable price for this machine?

Specs:
2GB of memory
Brand new 500GB hard disk

[aandf1978]

they won't tell you because they are going to try to buy it cheap and then fix it cheap and have an apple for practically nothing. Do you have applecare?? Do you have an apple store close to you?? Do some digging on the internet could be simple fix. Them wanting to buy a broken imac smells fishy.

[Caezar]

Yes, I have the same feeling. I suspect the guy did not spend much effort to fix the machine, told me it is hard to fix and intends to resell it with a profit.

But on the other hand, the machine is defective and out of warranty. I live in China and repair shops are scarce. I am not sure I can sell it on the local eBay marketplace.

This is why, I am inclined to sell the iMac to this shop. But at what price?

[gazfocus]

Yes, I have the same feeling. I suspect the guy did not spend much effort to fix the machine, told me it is hard to fix and intends to resell it with a profit.

But on the other hand, the machine is defective and out of warranty. I live in China and repair shops are scarce. I am not sure I can sell it on the local eBay marketplace.

This is why, I am inclined to sell the iMac to this shop. But at what price?

Have you tried simply reinstalling the OS? another thing that may cause it to spontaneously shut down is defective memory.

[uicandrew]

if you have the original install discs that came with it, try running the hardware test. theoretically, it will tell you if the hardware is defective.

then try reinstalling OS X to rule out software problems.

shutting down randomly is usually a ram issue.


but i would be wary of your local repair shop who offers to buy it.

[Caezar]

Yes, I changed the hard disk and reinstalled the OS from scratch (no migration assistant). I did not think about the memory.

[Bobjob186]

memory is the first place i would look. Run Member on it see if it fails.

[blueflame]

part it out or you will not get more than 600

[decksnap]

As someone who has struggled with this issue and never got it solved- I have to say, it is far more likely it is the power supply, processor(s), or even the motherboard.

One remedy you can try is to turn processor performance to 'reduced.' I used to shut down every day, now never, though I resent having to run it at the 'reduced' setting.