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iMac 2010 21.5" - LCD or GPU?

F

filip.cizek

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 28, 2017
4
0
Hi, I have a problem with my friends iMac.

It is iMac Mid-2010 21.5" A1311 EMC 2389. We were using it in the morning for Youtube, then left it running. It probably went asleep sometime during the day. It seemed that we were unable to wake it up in the evening, but we found out it was running. The fan was humming, hard drive "searching" for something, keyboard was responsive. But there was no image.

Obviously, I have done some googling so I have done the NVRAM reset. I figured I could tell that the LCD was faulty if an external display would show something up. But it did not. Am I guessing right the GPU is faulty? I believe it should be removable in this model, am I right?

The computer is in pretty good shape considering its age. We do not move it or anything. But of course, there could be just a loose cable - I have my fingers crossed.

I will take it apart just to see if I can help it, then I will order some parts. The GPU, I believe...

Any input will be appreciated! Thanks:)
 
I agree. Do you get a boot chime?

Have you tried booting to the diagnostic test? Unplug from power, so you can make sure it is completely off.
Plug in power cord, then press and release the power button, while holding the D key.
You may see video now, and it will boot to the hardware test... Run the test, see if any trouble codes are reported.
 
Would not work DeltaMac. Only available from late 2013 models onwards.

Would do a diagnostic using the original system install disc, with Apple Hardware Test probably on Disc 2. If you don't have that go to this link with another Mac, download the appropriate AHT file and burn to a USB thumb drive, boot from that (if possible) and run the Extended Test.


https://github.com/upekkha/AppleHardwareTest
 
I forgot to write that.

Yes, I do have chime when I power it on. The computer works, I believe it boots all the way into the system. Caps Lock LED turns on and off when depressing the key, computer makes much less noise after a while. Pressing CMD + F1 does not mirror the output to my external LCD. I did not check if the iMac shows up in the list of active DHCP clients on my router, though. I will check that in the evening. I do not have the test DVD, I will download it and try. Can I make a bootable USB out of it using my W7/Debian laptop? I don't have access to another Mac machine.

Thank you.
 
nambuccaheadsau said:
Would not work DeltaMac. Only available from late 2013 models onwards.

Would do a diagnostic using the original system install disc, with Apple Hardware Test probably on Disc 2. If you don't have that go to this link with another Mac, download the appropriate AHT file and burn to a USB thumb drive, boot from that (if possible) and run the Extended Test.
...
Click to expand...
Not quite accurate...
Macs that shipped new with Lion would be able to boot to the hardware test over the internet. Examples would be any of the 2012 Macs.
You are correct about the 2013 Macs, but that is when Apple transitioned from Hardware Test, to Diagnostics test.
Those 2012 Macs (and I'm pretty sure some of the 2011 Macs if they shipped with Lion) use Hardware test, not Diagnostics, through the internet recovery boot. (I also forgot that the OP has a 2010 Mac, which would not do the test over internet, only the local boot. :D )
 
What do you think the problem might be, then?

I am waiting to get my suction cups at the moment and will disassemble the machine during the upcoming week. I don't suppose I will see something obviously burned.. Should I go ahead and order the GPU right away or could it also be someting else?

The computer just works. It chimes, boots up into the system and I can hear the clicking sound when adjusting volume using my keyboard, etc. It also registers itself into the local Wi-Fi network. However, there is no image (or visible backlight or image without backlight) shown on neither the built-in display or my external LCD.

Filip.
 
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