iMac display flickering/blinking

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Hi,

I have a iMac 24 inch Core 2 Duo (Early 2009). I installed a new SSD drive a year ago and it's been working great since. But recently the display started to flicker or blink. By flicker, I mean the display going from lit normally to completely black rather quickly and randomly. It starts doing it shortly after booting or waking up after warming up. I can then also make the display to flicker by banging on the sides.

I opened it and checked the display connector to make sure it was connected properly. The connector seems just fine. It looks like a hardware issue but I don't know what to look for. Any idea?

Watch the issue in this video: YouTube

Machine Model: iMac9,1
Family name: A1225 EMC 2267
Model Number: MB419LL/A
 

Raz0rEdge

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That's a failing backlight on the LCD and since the backlight is built into the display, you'll need a full new display to get that fixed. With the age of the machine, I wouldn't recommend bothering to fix it. You are better of taking that money and putting it against a newer machine.
 
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2011 27" iMac, 1TB(partitioned) SSD, 20GB, OS X 10.11.6 El Capitan
You might want to read over this site and see if you might have some alternative fix and repair solutions:
[GUIDE] Fix iMac flickering and dark scre… - Apple Community

BTW: I'm not sure, but you might want to check whether the early 2009 actually uses an LED backlight or not as the late 2009 iMac does:
[url]https://everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/imac-aluminum-faq/differences-between-imac-intel-white-aluminum-displays-viewable-angle-brightness.html]What are the differences between the displays used in the Intel-based "Aluminum" and "White" iMac models? What is the viewable angle and the brightness of each?: EveryMac.com[/U][/url]


- Patrick
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Thanks Patrick,

This repair guide applies to the late 2009 27" iMac which is quite different from the display of the early 2009 24".
 
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Thanks Patrick,

This repair guide applies to the late 2009 27" iMac which is quite different from the display of the early 2009 24".


I'm sorry about that and I didn't really check the details.


- Patrick
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chscag

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Replacing the display panel on that model does not look all that difficult, however, as Ashwin pointed out, it's just not worth the expense since that particular model iMac is 10 years old.
 
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as Ashwin pointed out, it's just not worth the expense since that particular model iMac is 10 years old.


I would tend to agree but depending on the situation and the cost of Macs where was lives, I would sure think twice when I see one can purchase a replacement display screen for that model for around the $50.00 mark(plus shipping), and that machine still holds of value of over $500.00 according to Mac2Sell - Argus, Evaluation, Guide to used Mac, iPad, iPhone & iPod.

Not all Mac users need or want an almost new machine, and neither can a lot even afford one.

So that's not too bad a price to get an older Mac back up and running properly, at least in my opinion. And that iMac model can still run Maximum MacOS: X 10.11.x.


- Patrick
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Thanks Patrick the suggestion. Yes, I'll look for some sort of replacement, used or not. This is one a the few Macs I used and, with the SSD, it was working better than newer Macs. I may also use it with an external monitor that has been sitting around.
 

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