Vertical banding on screen of 2007 iMac

[hooptyuber]

I got an old iMac from a relative. She wanted some data removed and returned to her on a USB drive. She's done with the old clunker and left it with me. I was considering adding an SSD to speed it up and cool it down before using it to tinker or maybe just giving it away. However, there's this vertical banding on the screen. Is that the video card or the screen itself? If it's an easy and cheap fix, I might proceed. Otherwise, it's off to the local recycler.

 

[retta283]

The best way to test if it's the GPU or the screen is by taking some screenshots when lines appear, and viewing them on another computer. If the screenshots have lines, it's the GPU. If not, then it may be the screen. Video card replacement requires major disassembly, but I'm pretty sure it can be replaced. Screen can be replaced too. Both are expensive parts online, IIRC. If this is a 24", the 2007 models are notorious for these problems.

 

[TwoH]

This is just a deformity that the older 20" iMacs can have. Nothing to do with the GPU, this is an issue with the LCD panel.

 

[hooptyuber]

The best way to test if it's the GPU or the screen is by taking some screenshots when lines appear, and viewing them on another computer. If the screenshots have lines, it's the GPU. If not, then it may be the screen. Video card replacement requires major disassembly, but I'm pretty sure it can be replaced. Screen can be replaced too. Both are expensive parts online, IIRC. If this is a 24", the 2007 models are notorious for these problems.

Thank you for the response. I just viewed the '07 iMac screenshots on my 2016 iMac and they look fine. Must be the screen.

 

[hooptyuber]

This is just a deformity that the older 20" iMacs can have. Nothing to do with the GPU, this is an issue with the LCD panel.

Thanks for the reply. Do they just go bad after a year or two? There are some cheap replacement screens online but I suppose they could be as bad or worse than the one I've already got.

 

[TwoH]

Thanks for the reply. Do they just go bad after a year or two? There are some cheap replacement screens online but I suppose they could be as bad or worse than the one I've already got.

Unsure on the timescale, sorry - just remember those machines are around 11-13 years old