Early 2009 iMac graphics issue

[ks-man]

My early 2009 24" iMac is suffering from some major graphics issues. I see stuttering images and stale images which often requires a restart to resolve. Often if I don't restart and just deal with the stale images the computer will eventually freeze. After a restart it will sometimes work for a while and other times only a few minutes.

Is it even worth considering a repair part or do I need to accept this computer has lasted it's lifespan? This is a third or fourth computer in my house and is still fast enough for my needs when it works but not sure if there is any way to fix the current problems.

If anybody has any thoughts I'd appreciate it. I'd hate to spend $1500 for a new iMac when I could possibly fix a part for far less and still have the old computer serve my needs.

Thanks.

 

[SaSaSushi]

The symptoms you describe sound like a failing video card which would be a very expensive repair.

 

[Mrsceager]

My early 2009 24" iMac is suffering from some major graphics issues. I see stuttering images and stale images which often requires a restart to resolve. Often if I don't restart and just deal with the stale images the computer will eventually freeze. After a restart it will sometimes work for a while and other times only a few minutes.

Is it even worth considering a repair part or do I need to accept this computer has lasted it's lifespan? This is a third or fourth computer in my house and is still fast enough for my needs when it works but not sure if there is any way to fix the current problems.

If anybody has any thoughts I'd appreciate it. I'd hate to spend $1500 for a new iMac when I could possibly fix a part for far less and still have the old computer serve my needs.

Thanks.

Funny I have the same Computer but 27 inch and just recently this week started having this problem. Never had a problem before. I wonder how many other early 2009 iMacs displays recently have gone on the fritz and I almost just chalked it up to old age but I think it has something to do with one of these updates from sierra. If yours using Sierra? I really can only get it to sort of work semi normal in safe mode hold down the shift while it starts up then it sort of loads the page in a cascading pattern but not the usual glitch. Let me know if this is whats going on with yours too.

 

[ks-man]

Funny I have the same Computer but 27 inch and just recently this week started having this problem. Never had a problem before. I wonder how many other early 2009 iMacs displays recently have gone on the fritz and I almost just chalked it up to old age but I think it has something to do with one of these updates from sierra. If yours using Sierra? I really can only get it to sort of work semi normal in safe mode hold down the shift while it starts up then it sort of loads the page in a cascading pattern but not the usual glitch. Let me know if this is whats going on with yours too.

Mine is on El Capitan rather than Sierra. The early 2009 only had 20 and 24" so you must have the late 2009 version.

 

[Mrsceager]

Mine is on El Capitan rather than Sierra. The early 2009 only had 20 and 24" so you must have the late 2009 version.

Yea Late 2009 but still glitchy display just this week.