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Just inherited a 2008 iMac

All Intell based iMacs except for two models (not your model) has a separate removable graphics card. Are you able to test an external display with it?
 
Intell said:
All Intell based iMacs except for two models (not your model) has a separate removable graphics card. Are you able to test an external display with it?
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I have to obtain the mini-dvi adapter. Am I understanding you in that my iMac has a non-removable graphics card? If so that's very lame.
 
forty2j said:
No, yours is removable. The 2006 model had a non-removable.
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The ones that don't are the have the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M as the only option. These include the early 2009 20", the mid 2009 20" educational model, and the late 2009 21.5" model. However, few know about the educational model. The 2006 models all have removable graphics cards.
 
It very likely will. The mid 2007 and the early 2008 iMacs are almost identical. The only difference is the firmware is slightly better on the 2008 ones and they have faster CPUs with a faster bus speed.
 
Intell said:
It very likely will. The mid 2007 and the early 2008 iMacs are almost identical. The only difference is the firmware is slightly better on the 2008 ones and they have faster CPUs with a faster bus speed.
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Their support person told me it wasn't compatible and cancelled the order. Should I order it again? It's the cheapest card I can find anywhere.

edit -- Reordered it. They said I can return it within 60 days if it doesn't work.
 
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antisomnic said:
Their support person told me it wasn't compatible and cancelled the order. Should I order it again? It's the cheapest card I can find anywhere.
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They are different part numbers. But the part includes the heatsink which is different. The card itself is the same, but you'll have to switch the heatsink from the 24" card to the 20" card for it to fit.
 
It should be coming tomorrow. If not tomorrow Wednesday. I did next day shipping because I'm so impatient lol. Thank you for all your help, especially you Intell. I know I've been asking a lot of questions and flip-flopping but I'm new to the whole Mac world. I hope this fixes it because I've wanted a Mac my whole life but could never afford one!
 
The ati card is smaller than the nvidia card. The nvidia heatsink screw holes do not line up. The ati heatsink will not fit in the system. I'm kinda stuck
 
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Well I can tell you the video card was the probalem. It boots all the way.... But nothing displays on the LCD panel. Am I missing something? I plugged in the power cable, data cable and the temp sensor cable. Is there something else I could be missing?
 
What's happening is when I screw the Logic board back in the video card pops out of the socket. I also realized I screwed something else up because the chime now plays over and over repeatedly. I'm done for tonight. This is quite the dyi lol.
 
One more status update. Packaged up the card I ordered and requested RMA and it was accepted. Will be sending back tomorrow. Put the old card back in and put everything back together and now when I turn it on I get 3 beeps -3secondpause- 3 beeps. I've read online it has to do with memory. I reseated it twice and I still get it. I wonder if it's just the video card is finally completely fried.
 
When I had the video card removed it booted fine. I could tell because when I pressed volume up on the keyboard it made that pop sound it does.
 
yeah gonna take a break from it for now. have to return the ati card and try to find an nvidia one for cheap since apparently that's the only one designed to go into the 24" properly. the 20in ones won't fit.
 
The mid-2007 and early-2008 24" iMac did come with the ATI 2600 card. One of those should be cheaper then the Nvidia card. Just make sure you get the 2600 for the 24" and not the 20".
 
Intell said:
The mid-2007 and early-2008 24" iMac did come with the ATI 2600 card. One of those should be cheaper then the Nvidia card. Just make sure you get the 2600 for the 24" and not the 20".
Click to expand...

I ordered the 20" version thinking I could get it to work. I sent it back and have to lose 50 bucks for my mistake. I found a site that has the right one for 200 bucks. Ill get it when I have the money. I hope they'll still have it because it's a used item.
 
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