Air Intakes on my iMac ?

[pendlewitch]

Hi everyone,

I understand where the exhaust vents are on my iMac (top rear) but can anyone explain where exactly the intakes are and what route they take through the machine?

I am assuming that the intakes are up through the down firing speaker ports but the reason why I ask is that I have a faint dark, broken, vertical smudge approximately 1/4" wide 6" in from the right of my screen.

My thoughts are that this is staining from unclean air, so this must mean that the vent must at some point divert between the front screen and the LCD.

Does anyone else have this and is the fix perhaps a front screen removal and general clean or is it something more deadly ?

 

[chscag]

The ifixit web site has the take apart instructions for most Macs including the iMac series. The air intake on the newer iMacs is right below to the left and right of the Apple symbol at the bottom of the aluminum bezel. (That's correct, the speaker area.) iFixit: The free repair manual

You'll need several fairly strong suction cups to remove the glass and a set of torx drivers. The ifixit site will tell you what tools that are needed. You should be able to purchase whatever you need locally in the UK.

 

[pendlewitch]

OMG iFixit is awesome!

Thank you very much chscag

 

[pendlewitch]

chscag, I've not opened things up yet but having studied the images of the 'tear down' and done further research it looks likes Apple don't do filters on the air intake.

I am hoping that this is exhaust trail at the back the screen or on the front of the LCD, anything else is going to be costly and would be a huge disappointment.

It's a fundamental design error in my opinion.

 

[chscag]

I've not opened things up yet but having studied the images of the 'tear down' and done further research it looks likes Apple don't do filters on the air intake.

Unfortunately you're correct. In an environment that's prone to dust and dirt that can lead to problems. My home here in Fort Worth has central air conditioning with several large filters so the air remains fairly clean. But even at that our home gets an accumulation of dust in the very hot humid Summers we experience here.

 

[pendlewitch]

Ok thank you.