Inverter or Screen replacement?? Please help

[klegger]

Hey there:

So, after a recent power outage this iMac would not start at all. After some troubleshooting, I replaced the power supply and viola .. it started right up. Now I get this on the screen. As you can see there are wavy lines all over. This does not happen when I send to an external monitor. I am wondering is this the inverter or the screen? Thoughts? Hoping the pic is included in this post. Would appreciate any input you can offer.



Thanks,

 

[chscag]

Which iMac? Year and model? It helps if you include specs when posting a question to a forum.

As a guess.... it's probably neither an inverter (if your iMac even has an inverter?) nor the display. It may be a loose cable or connector or something to do with a video connection. You might want to look at instructions at www.ifixit.com for changing the PS.

 

[klegger]

Which iMac? Year and model? It helps if you include specs when posting a question to a forum.

As a guess.... it's probably neither an inverter (if your iMac even has an inverter?) nor the display. It may be a loose cable or connector or something to do with a video connection. You might want to look at instructions at www.ifixit.com for changing the PS.

The PS replacement seemed pretty simple really. 3 connections and the machine started up normally. Nothing seems crimped or out of place, and I was very careful removing the LCD and putting it back in place. All connections seem fine.

 

[klegger]

Which iMac? Year and model? It helps if you include specs when posting a question to a forum.

As a guess.... it's probably neither an inverter (if your iMac even has an inverter?) nor the display. It may be a loose cable or connector or something to do with a video connection. You might want to look at instructions at www.ifixit.com for changing the PS.

It is an A1224 model EMC 2210

 

[chscag]

Go back and check everything again. Check the video connectors and cables. I’m on my iPad right now so I can’t look up your model iMac but I suspect the display is lighted by LEDs unless it’s a very old model. I’ve seen that on a display before and it’s usually a video cable problem. You might also have a worn cable which will look OK on the outside.

 

[klegger]

Go back and check everything again. Check the video connectors and cables. I’m on my iPad right now so I can’t look up your model iMac but I suspect the display is lighted by LEDs unless it’s a very old model. I’ve seen that on a display before and it’s usually a video cable problem. You might also have a worn cable which will look OK on the outside.

Triple checked everything and all seems well. I am seeing some youtube vids about the screen being the issue. Power spikes, which is I think what fried the power supply. Recent power outage and the machine would not even start up afterwards. No issues with cables from what I can see, and the machine was fine before the outage. Anymore feedback or input is welcome from you or from anyone else though. Thanks

 

[chscag]

OK... Let's try this: Attach an external monitor to your machine or you can use a TV. You'll need the proper adapter to use an external display. If the external display looks OK, then we can eliminate graphics and the logic board. That will narrow it down to either the display itself or something that we can't easily see.

 

[IWT]

This does not happen when I send to an external monitor.

From OP's first post; which I guess probably rules out GPU/Logic Board??

Sudden power cuts (outages, I think you call them) can play havoc with the "electronics", particularly when power is re-established.

I only know this from our local newspaper when 45 homes were cut off - no problem at that point as they were forewarned - but when the power was returned, a power surge literally burnt out the power supply & electronics of a large number of computers and other electrical equipment in these homes.

I'm not very sophisticated when it comes to these things, just my thoughts.

Ian

 

[dtravis7]

https://everymac.com/ultimate-mac-lookup/?search_keywords=2210

 

[klegger]

From OP's first post; which I guess probably rules out GPU/Logic Board??

Sudden power cuts (outages, I think you call them) can play havoc with the "electronics", particularly when power is re-established.

I only know this from our local newspaper when 45 homes were cut off - no problem at that point as they were forewarned - but when the power was returned, a power surge literally burnt out the power supply & electronics of a large number of computers and other electrical equipment in these homes.

I'm not very sophisticated when it comes to these things, just my thoughts.

Ian

Yeah I believe I have a bad inverter or a bad display. As the inverter is fairly cheap, I will start with that and then the display. Will order some parts this week and see where I sit afterwards. The display to a monitor is perfect .. no lines at all.

 

[chscag]

The display to a monitor is perfect .. no lines at all.

That eliminates the GPU and logic board. The inverter for your model should be inexpensive but I don't know if 20" displays are still easy to find? Keep in mind that your machine is a 2008 model now going on 10 years old. Might be time to consider something newer?