iMac crashed with weird screen, won't get passed boot logo

[crazzy88ss]

Was just using the computer normally when this weird checkered pattern popped up on the screen.  No response for ~5 minutes so I hard booted it.  Same checkered pattern on the boot screen, and it won't get passed the grey logo.  I've let it completely cool down and tried again, although it's never overheated.  No luck.

 

iMac is from 2009.  Core i7, 12gb RAM, 512mb video "card" but I can't remember which card (nor can I look it up on the computer right now).

 

Any ideas?  I'm assuming it's hardware related.

 

See attached file.

 

[COKid]

Hard drive dying? Regardless, I hope you've been backing up your important data.

[The Evil Overlord]

I'm guessing it's motherboard related, but like I said it's a guess.

 

Might need to take it to a reputable computer repairer (unless you have an apple store nearby)

[123456789A]

Take it to the closest Apple Store and tell them you need a new Logic Board for your iMac.

[+Warwagon MVC]

To me, judging by the screenshot it looks like video card artifacts!?

[Sikh]

Was just using the computer normally when this weird checkered pattern popped up on the screen.  No response for ~5 minutes so I hard booted it.  Same checkered pattern on the boot screen, and it won't get passed the grey logo.  I've let it completely cool down and tried again, although it's never overheated.  No luck.

 

iMac is from 2009.  Core i7, 12gb RAM, 512mb video "card" but I can't remember which card (nor can I look it up on the computer right now).

 

Any ideas?  I'm assuming it's hardware related.

 

See attached file.

 

IMG_5768.JPG

 

This is your GPU, I would take it to the apple store asap. They will diagnose for free and tell you how much itll cost. Seen 3 of our 2009's finally die this year after 8 years of use almost. 2 were hard drives, 1 was this, which was GPU and not the display. Thats why the computer wont boot because its a direct motherboard defect and not just the screen going bad.

[DirtyLarry Veteran]

Agree with warwagon and Sikh. I myself am 99% positive that is GPU related, those are artifacts and I have seen them on my own PC and two XBox 360's, it is a very distinctive look. What you have is the look.

Since it is GPU related that really means Logic Board related as on the iMac pretty much everything is soldered together. Unfortunately it is out of warranty if it is from 2009, even if you purchased Apple Care, so you pretty much have a decision ahead of you if you want to continue using a Mac.

Spend the money on a new Logic Board, which I am guessing will be around $400-$500, or take that money and put it towards a new iMac.

I would probably do the latter although it sucks.

Good Luck.

[crazzy88ss]

yea GPU was my guess too.  Thanks guys.  $500 repair for a 6 year old iMac is probably too much.

 

Next question:

What do do with a GPU fried iMac?  There's still value in this thing somewhere. 

[DirtyLarry Veteran]

yea GPU was my guess too.  Thanks guys.  $500 repair for a 6 year old iMac is probably too much.

 

Next question:

What do do with a GPU fried iMac?  There's still value in this thing somewhere. 

I was only guesstimating the price of the LogicBoard but I do have a reference point. They wanted that price for a Macbook Pro replacement. Might be a bit less.

 

I hate to say this, but not all that much value if the GPU does crap out. You could pick up an adapter to hook up a second monitor and have it work as the primary monitor by mirroring the desktop, but that would probably be a pretty damn clunky setup.

6 years is actually the pretty standard lifetime for Mac computers from my own experience with them. They either have a fatal hardware failure and/or just become incredibly outdated. 

[crazzy88ss]

I really don't want a new one cuz I don't like OS X 10.10, but I guess I'll have to deal.

 

Well... the aluminum has to be worth something? lol

 

But seriously... how much would a 2009 iMac Core i7 512mb card, 12gb ram 1TB drive be worth?  Is it worth fixing and then selling?  I'm guessing ... not?

[The Evil Overlord]

I really don't want a new one cuz I don't like OS X 10.10, but I guess I'll have to deal.

 

Well... the aluminum has to be worth something? lol

 

But seriously... how much would a 2009 iMac Core i7 512mb card, 12gb ram 1TB drive be worth?  Is it worth fixing and then selling?  I'm guessing ... not?

If you're competent in soldering, and can source the parts, it should be pretty straight forward (I had to repair <re solder in 3 capacitors> my old Samsung monitor, with no training, and it runs great for it's age)

And you'd have the added bonus of your old computer back, or wipe it and sell it.... Repaired, you would, in theory, get back than more than the cost of the parts if done yourself.

[crazzy88ss]

nope, no soldering or part sourcing skills

[Biohead]

You don't say exactly what iMac you have, but some of them you can replace the graphics card. If it's the 27" one in your sig, you almost certainly can replace it.

 

Typically, iMacs use MXM graphics cards - which version they use is entirely dependant on your model.

 

 

Looking into it, only the 27" Late 2009 "High" model came with an i7 processor - A1312. If this is your model, then you can definitely pickup a new card off eBay. Originally they came with ATI 4850s but I think you can use a more modern one as long as you get an Apple version (be aware of that).

[crazzy88ss]

You don't say exactly what iMac you have, but some of them you can replace the graphics card. If it's the 27" one in your sig, you almost certainly can replace it.

 

Typically, iMacs use MXM graphics cards - which version they use is entirely dependant on your model.

 

 

Looking into it, only the 27" Late 2009 "High" model came with an i7 processor - A1312. If this is your model, then you can definitely pickup a new card off eBay. Originally they came with ATI 4850s but I think you can use a more modern one as long as you get an Apple version (be aware of that).

 

Is it as easy as opening up the iMac and swapping our the card like any ol' PC?

[winrez]

EBay it, I'm sure someone will pick it up for parts and you could get a couple hundred towards a new system.

[Brian M. Veteran]

Depending on the GPU it might be a separate card, you might be able to pick up that card on eBay pretty cheap.

 

If you post the exact GPU model we can check.

 

It's impossible to solder the GPU - the stuff is far too small.  If you get a new one, it's not *that* difficult to replace, but it'll take a while if you've not done it before - the logic board will need to come out as the GPU is connected to the back. Check iFixit to see if you'll be able to do it.

[Intersect]

Is it as easy as opening up the iMac and swapping our the card like any ol' PC?

yeah its pretty easy to work on to get this fixed assuming that the GFX card is of the MXM type (cards of that type can be interchanged) a lot of gaming laptops use that type of card

other wise you will be looking at replacing the entire Logicboard, but my feeling from working on imacs that have had this issue before its the card that you can replace.

  Please post back with your post your model number we can try and locate a maintenance manual for you and

[crazzy88ss]

I know it's a late 2009 iMac, so according to Wikipedia, my graphics card is: ATI Radeon HD 4850 with 512 MB of GDDR3 SDRAM

 

Is there a way to connect to my iMac through my Macbook?

[Intersect]

yes it does look like your card is of the MXM type so changing this is not a problem, a little tricky as you need to dismantle the unit and remove the main logic board to get to the MXM card

but can you get the model number from the back of the unit, it may also be underneath where you would put more memory. Then we can diagnose for sure what type you have.

 

A diagnostic might be a good thing to run and report back with the code or google it,

 

hold down D while cold starting the Mac

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201257

[crazzy88ss]

Looks like the cards are going for about $270 on eBay.  I read some threads from people doing upgraded cards... those cards are going for about $500-750.  Not worth it in my opinion, especially since they now experience over heating issues.  I don't want to have to manage things like that.

 

I'll try the diagnostic thing in a bit.

[Intersect]

Yeah thats the thing about Mac hardware it costs a small fortune to fix it, do you have apple care on this unit? as that should be covered by that.

you could look at getting a lower spec card (as long as your not looking for the performance of the current one) for the mac as long as its the correct MXM type and is designed for Mac hardware

[crazzy88ss]

no apple care.  I don't think they cover stuff that's 6 years old, anyway.

 

A lower spec card?  This card was underperforming the day it launched!  I think that's why it died; it was always over taxed.  The few Blizzard games I would play were always on the lowest settings... don't even start me on Cities Skylines

[DirtyLarry Veteran]

Just coming back to the thread, apologies for the misinformation I shared, I truly did think all iMacs had soldered on GPU's, but apparently there are models that do not.

 

I would say if you can, take whatever money you would have put towards fixing this and put it towards a new iMac. I agree with you, the iMac's always struggled on any graphics related stuff, and as time goes on that is only going to get much, much worse. My iMac from around the same time was slow as hell just when I updated OS X, that was on a clean install.

[Intersect]

no apple care.  I don't think they cover stuff that's 6 years old, anyway.

 

A lower spec card?  This card was underperforming the day it launched!  I think that's why it died; it was always over taxed.  The few Blizzard games I would play were always on the lowest settings... don't even start me on Cities Skylines

ok the next best thing you can do is to remove the card and send it off to some one who can "re-ball" the GPU, on ebay it costs about $70 thats only if you really want get the unit up and running again.

 

if you do decided to do that, once you get it back use some artic silver on it as the paste that apple use totaly suxs

[Biohead]

Is it as easy as opening up the iMac and swapping our the card like any ol' PC?

 

On paper, yes. However opening an iMac is nowhere near as easy as opening a typical PC and replacing a PCIe card.