Black Screen, Light on Steady, No Chime, Fan & HD Spin up

[GII]

Hi,

I have an iMac 1.83 Intel Core Duo. The screen went black during use about a week ago. Upon restart the power light is on steady, there is no chime, and the fan and HD spin up.

The machine will not boot. It will not receive a DVD from which to boot.

I have checked the HD and it works fine.

I checked the logic board for leaky capacitors and did not see any.

I was referred to look for diagnostic LEDs next to the ram chip but there are no LEDs next to the ram chip. There is one thing that looks like an LED above the ram chip but it does not illuminate.

Any ideas about what else to check / replace or ways to diagnose would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[flopticalcube]

Try some of the suggestions in the link in my sig.

 

[GII]

Reading your post it sounds like a failed logic board - which is what I suspected. Do you think there is any value in trying to replace the logic board? Or would you recommend just parting it out?

Advice appreciated.

 

[flopticalcube]

None whatsoever. Part it out or sell on eBay "for parts".

 

[GII]

Thank you!!!

 

[taylortm]

Computers more than a few years old typically aren't worth the trouble

Hi. I've been here before (failed logic board -- different machine) and asked myself the same questions. Here's the information I didn't have at the time.

Do you think there is any value in trying to replace the logic board?

Not sure what you think the machine is worth. I haven't priced them lately. But I received the same machine last year as part of an estate/inheritance. It was "professionally appraised" at something like $250 in July 2010. I didn't care enough to question the value. I just set it up for my 65-year-old mom and left it there. I don't think she's touched it since! But, based on the fact that the cheapest new iMac is $1200 and the shape of computer depreciation curves, I'd say the machine's not worth too much more than a few hundred dollars. And, that's of course, for a working one.

Here is a link to the part you're thinking you need to replace. (Obviously, double-check that it's the right part and shop around. This is the first one I saw, to get an idea of the cost.) It looks like it's almost $500.

Here is a link to my favorite DIY site's instructions for performing the repair. Very good step-by-step instructions for doing the repair yourself. Interesting to note, the "headline" for that page/set of instructions says "Like Brain Surgery? Use this guide to replace your logic board." Needless to say, it's not for the novice electronics repair person.

Of course, you could take it somewhere to have it done, but I would imagine that parts and labor would be at least $600 - $700. In that case, I'd opt for a new quad core 2011 iMac for $1200 -- less with discount.

Or would you recommend just parting it out?

I didn't do any homework here. I would be curious to see what you can get for parts on this machine. In fact, I'd be curious for a follow-up post to provide advice on parting machines out. When my G5 iMac lost its will to live (due to failed logic board #3... first time it was out of warranty), I went through this same exercise I've outlined above. I ended up recycling the computer. Wonder if/what I could have gotten for parts.

I hope this helps a little bit.

 

[GII]

Not sure what you think the machine is worth.

It's not worth much. It was my wife's machine. I bought a replacement - 2GHz core duo - for $400.

I have found logic boards on ebay ranging from $90 - $165.

And I had the logic board out to inspect it - thanks to the guys at iFixit.com - it wasn't that big of a deal.

I will mull this over - do some research to see what I can get for parts or the whole machine or maybe I have another use for it? If I part it out, I will let you know how that goes.

Thanks for your input.