Model: iMac (21.5-inch Late 2009)
Codename: Kalahari
Model Identifier: iMac 10,1
Model Number: A1311
Order Number: (MC413LL/A)
Serial Number: W89536R2B9U
EMC Number: 2308
Processor: 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (Penryn)
Graphics Card: ATI Radeon HD 4670 256 MB
I'm new to this forum but must have visited it often in the past for solutions. I have plenty of experience dismantling and assembling 2008 to 2011 iMacs of various configurations. Most of the Macs I've worked on have lived to see another day, except for perhaps the one I currently have on my work space...
I recently obtained a late-2009 iMac (see details above) which was offered for repair or parts. I have attempted to revive it.
Initial testing showed great promise. With a blank HDD installed (ready for os installation if all went well) it was starting with audible startup chimes, diagnostic lights active and the display working. However, the LCD was showing repeated patterns over the entire display indicative of graphics failure. The LCD panel did not come with the iMac and is known to work.
In an attempt to address the graphics issue, I replaced the ATI Radeon HD 4670 with a known working ATI Radeon HD 5670 512MB card. I suspect that was a mistake due to firmware incompatibility issues which I'm not too strong on. Reassembly went well - the case interior looked clean and in good order. However, the iMac now starts with audible chimes but the LCD remains blank.
I tried installing an SSD with High Sierra pre-installed, just in case the startup screen was inactive but video working from the login screen on. I've seen this behaviour in the opposite scenario with an ATI Radeon HD 4670 256GB video card installed in a mid-2010 iMac. The 2010 accepted the older video card but the startup display remained blank. Unfortunately though, in this instance the SSD made no difference.
I also tried replacing the backlight controller card, just in case, although I was pretty certain this had nothing to do with the problem.
Another issue is PRAM reset not working. I have a known working wired Apple keyboard attached via USB port but the option-command-P-R keys held on startup does nothing. The Mac starts up, chimes and sits doing nothing. I've tried the keyboard using different USB ports with no luck.
Video cards are not easily obtainable in this part of the world other than buying and dismantling other similar iMacs. And it's a risk investing in parts if there's something more serious wrong with the logic board. So I'm thinking of retrieving the ATI Radeon HD 5670 512MB card and sending the logic board for e-recycling.
The reason for posting here is to make sure I haven't missed something important or obvious before heading to the recycler.
Has anyone else similar experience and advice to share?
Codename: Kalahari
Model Identifier: iMac 10,1
Model Number: A1311
Order Number: (MC413LL/A)
Serial Number: W89536R2B9U
EMC Number: 2308
Processor: 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (Penryn)
Graphics Card: ATI Radeon HD 4670 256 MB
I'm new to this forum but must have visited it often in the past for solutions. I have plenty of experience dismantling and assembling 2008 to 2011 iMacs of various configurations. Most of the Macs I've worked on have lived to see another day, except for perhaps the one I currently have on my work space...
I recently obtained a late-2009 iMac (see details above) which was offered for repair or parts. I have attempted to revive it.
Initial testing showed great promise. With a blank HDD installed (ready for os installation if all went well) it was starting with audible startup chimes, diagnostic lights active and the display working. However, the LCD was showing repeated patterns over the entire display indicative of graphics failure. The LCD panel did not come with the iMac and is known to work.
In an attempt to address the graphics issue, I replaced the ATI Radeon HD 4670 with a known working ATI Radeon HD 5670 512MB card. I suspect that was a mistake due to firmware incompatibility issues which I'm not too strong on. Reassembly went well - the case interior looked clean and in good order. However, the iMac now starts with audible chimes but the LCD remains blank.
I tried installing an SSD with High Sierra pre-installed, just in case the startup screen was inactive but video working from the login screen on. I've seen this behaviour in the opposite scenario with an ATI Radeon HD 4670 256GB video card installed in a mid-2010 iMac. The 2010 accepted the older video card but the startup display remained blank. Unfortunately though, in this instance the SSD made no difference.
I also tried replacing the backlight controller card, just in case, although I was pretty certain this had nothing to do with the problem.
Another issue is PRAM reset not working. I have a known working wired Apple keyboard attached via USB port but the option-command-P-R keys held on startup does nothing. The Mac starts up, chimes and sits doing nothing. I've tried the keyboard using different USB ports with no luck.
Video cards are not easily obtainable in this part of the world other than buying and dismantling other similar iMacs. And it's a risk investing in parts if there's something more serious wrong with the logic board. So I'm thinking of retrieving the ATI Radeon HD 5670 512MB card and sending the logic board for e-recycling.
The reason for posting here is to make sure I haven't missed something important or obvious before heading to the recycler.
Has anyone else similar experience and advice to share?
