Apparently screwed up my iMac....

[Hawk108]

This is so embarrassing lol...


A few weeks ago I attempted to upgrade my 27" Late 2012 iMac to a 500gb ssd.
Well for the short period of time it worked after that was amazing! until I found the screws of the left speaker lying on my carpet...
I read that it can cause vibrations and stuff, plus I liked to listen to music and stuff.
So I popped it open again and screwed the screws back in! While reattaching the display cable I screwed the cable up. The next day...
I inspected the motherboard after the Cable saga and it was burnt. BRO LIKE WHAT THE HELL!!. It had to be the cables fault. I raged and took a break from the project. Later I got a replacement motherboard without the cpu from eBay, it was supposed to be working!
It came I carefully installed it transferring the godamn cpu. DAMN that back braket was a real nightmare it moved around a bit, but I got it in there with the after feeling I screwed some of the pins up. It was go time, I fired the machine up without the display. Diagnostic light 1 is on.. but nothing else.. So the power supply was detecting the trickle power, but the motherboard wasn't getting proper power!
I made sure all connections were tight and ram was seated properly.. After hours off doublechecking just the first light was there... any help is appreciated.

 

[TwoH]

Okay. First thing you really need to do here is ensuring that you have the power button plugged into the power supply, and both cables of the power supply are connected to the logic board. And also check that you haven’t damaged the power button cable accidentally.

Really need to be certain these aren’t the reasons for your issues before suggesting you take the whole logic board out and take the CPU out, and inspecting the CPU and the pins on the logic board and we can go from there

 

[Hawk108]

Okay. First thing you really need to do here is ensuring that you have the power button plugged into the power supply, and both cables of the power supply are connected to the logic board. And also check that you haven’t damaged the power button cable accidentally.

Really need to be certain these aren’t the reasons for your issues before suggesting you take the whole logic board out and take the CPU out, and inspecting the CPU and the pins on the logic board and we can go from there

Well I am not sure, because the cable itself seems to be in good condition, but it's pretty wiggly at the connection to the logic board. But I don't know, maybe its just the size of it that makes it like that?
It would be nice if there was some alternative way to start the iMac up so I can check if the problem is in the power button or elsewhere!

 

[TwoH]

Well I am not sure, because the cable itself seems to be in good condition, but it's pretty wiggly at the connection to the logic board. But I don't know, maybe its just the size of it that makes it like that?
It would be nice if there was some alternative way to start the iMac up so I can check if the problem is in the power button or elsewhere!

Realistically I'm expecting the power button and power supply connection to all be good - I was just hoping there would be something obvious you were missing that was causing your issue.

I do honestly think your issue will be to do with your CPU not being seated correctly on the logic board. If you take it apart and can confirm you have a bent CPU/pins/(or more hopefully)small amount of thermal paste left over on the pins, then either of these three things have a good chance of being fixable and hopefully preventable on your next time seating the CPU. I should be able to give you instructions on how to install the CPU without issue

 

[Hawk108]

Ok... I'll get back to you later today.
But still, the second diagnostic light won't light up unless the cpu is installed correctly?
And also, what if the pins are bent, what would I do then?

 

[TwoH]

Ok... I'll get back to you later today.
But still, the second diagnostic light won't light up unless the cpu is installed correctly?

It has usually been the case for me, other than the odd occasion it has just been an actual issue on the board itself or the power supply - but this has rarely happened to me on an iMac.

 

[Hawk108]

More than a bit of damage on the cpu pins. Probably gonna try to fix it myself. Here are some images:

 

[TwoH]

It’s possible to do, good luck!

 

[Hawk108]

man this Is near impossible. any tips?

 

[TwoH]

Typically the pins do not need to be perfect, just raised well enough and in line with the other pins enough that they would make contact on the CPU.

A pie of tweezers and either a good eye or microscope will help a lot.

 

[Hawk108]

Typically the pins do not need to be perfect, just raised well enough and in line with the other pins enough that they would make contact on the CPU.

A pie of tweezers and either a good eye or microscope will help a lot.

But with tweezers can break those tiny pins easily?

 

[TwoH]

But with tweezers can break those tiny pins easily?

Just have to make sure to be careful

 

[FreakinEurekan]

But with tweezers can break those tiny pins easily?

It’s &$#@ed up already, you’ll either fix it or &$#@ it up worse… no harm in trying ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[PaulD-UK]

Instead of using tweezers I find using a thin metal tube, like the hypodermic syringe used to refill inkjet printer’s cartridges, is easier to control and less likely to slip and cause more damage.