I was only looking to buy ram, but got the entire computer, ram plus a 256gb ssd for $50. He claims there is an i7 inside (i see no proof of that though), which has motivated me to try to fix the following damage caused by dropping the screen out with cables connected: destroyed LVDS connector, sheared vertical sync cable, destroyed lcd temp sensor socket. The LCD power socket is chipped, but all pins are there and it fits snug enough. The LVDS connector is replaced and it seems all the pins are good, but I have my suspicions. The temp sensor has been bridged to keep it always "cool." I have ordered a new LVDS cable. In the meantime...the following:
After resetting PRAM, it will come on, white screen, stable, then start to load my boot install USB. Entire screen lit and stable. About 30-60 seconds in, it will start to flicker and darken, go black except for the very top dialog on the installation screen. Then it flashes all kinds of color bands vertically, except where the installation dialog would be. Some parts of images come back but then fade to black. If there are diagnostic LEDS, I have not found them. Even in the dark, I have not seen any leds in that area. Previous owner claims that he used it with an external monitor, so I am assuming the video card is still good.
What I don't understand is why does the screen come up normally at first? I would think a fault is a fault. But this seems intermittent. Is this a symptom of a bad graphic card? Is it a vertical sync problem? If the lvds cable was bad, wouldn't it stay bad or does it depend on which part of the screen is being addressed? I have ordered a new lvds cable just to see.
What about the cmos battery? The realtime clock showed the right date and time when I got that far, so I think it is still good, but if it is bad, could it cause these symptoms? I'm reluctant to throw in the towel. I have gambler's syndrome. I keep thinking that if I throw in just a little bit more money, I'll "win" it all back. $50 for the ram and computer, $10 for an old motherboard to practice the lvds connector repair, $10 for a used temp controlled soldering iron, $10 for low temp solder and flux, $8 for a new vert sync cable (they sent the wrong fold, but it fits anyway),$7 for 5 lvds 30-pin connectors. I think I will draw the line at graphics cards.
-B
After resetting PRAM, it will come on, white screen, stable, then start to load my boot install USB. Entire screen lit and stable. About 30-60 seconds in, it will start to flicker and darken, go black except for the very top dialog on the installation screen. Then it flashes all kinds of color bands vertically, except where the installation dialog would be. Some parts of images come back but then fade to black. If there are diagnostic LEDS, I have not found them. Even in the dark, I have not seen any leds in that area. Previous owner claims that he used it with an external monitor, so I am assuming the video card is still good.
What I don't understand is why does the screen come up normally at first? I would think a fault is a fault. But this seems intermittent. Is this a symptom of a bad graphic card? Is it a vertical sync problem? If the lvds cable was bad, wouldn't it stay bad or does it depend on which part of the screen is being addressed? I have ordered a new lvds cable just to see.
What about the cmos battery? The realtime clock showed the right date and time when I got that far, so I think it is still good, but if it is bad, could it cause these symptoms? I'm reluctant to throw in the towel. I have gambler's syndrome. I keep thinking that if I throw in just a little bit more money, I'll "win" it all back. $50 for the ram and computer, $10 for an old motherboard to practice the lvds connector repair, $10 for a used temp controlled soldering iron, $10 for low temp solder and flux, $8 for a new vert sync cable (they sent the wrong fold, but it fits anyway),$7 for 5 lvds 30-pin connectors. I think I will draw the line at graphics cards.
-B