27" imac in the space ... faulty graphics card........now fixed ..........for now

#1

ok… I have given up,

I have managed to get it working fine for short periods but eventually the graphics card fails again.

I have done a bit of research, and found somewhere that has a few options.

  1. replacement card £400
    2.if we send in our old one will repair it for £199
    3 if we send in our old one will replace it with a new one for £295

when it is working it is by far the most powerful/fast computer we have in the space and it is nice to have something with iOS on it.

I think also that when we get illustrator we will be able to use the software both on the windows machine by the laser and on the iMac.

I am happy to take it apart and get the card out. (have done HD/ssd upgrades on my own at home)

so…

what are peoples thoughts?

#2

I’d be interested to know what the “repair” actually involves. If it’s just a matter of improving the cooling (re-seating the heatsink? better thermal paste?) then we can probably DIY it.

#3

We can always try to do it ourselves and if that fails then send it off

2 Likes
#4

This was already agreed by the directors previously when it last came up about 10 months ago, but for what it’s worth I agree.

#5

Have you got the model number of it? should be on the back , just to have an idea of “how fast is”.

Who is going to make the repair?

Just to make sure that everyone is on the same level a quick “nvidia f*ck-up 101” :

Q: People usually sticks the motherboard in the oven and they works, I saw that made on the Xbox 360 too!

A: This is just a temporary solution, the problem is related to the solder balls underneath the graphic chip, heating and cooling che chip makes generate a mechanical stress that breaks the balls and interrupt the communication between the chip and the board, reworking the board just with heat works , but not as a long term solution.

Q:what about reballing the chip, taking chip out of the board, solder new balls and place it back in place

A: that doesn’t work as well, sometime the chip is damaged by the malfunctioning , some time, like for xbox 360 the problem is inside the chip, this are called [Package on package] (https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/32586/package-on-package-and-flip-chip-what-is-the-difference) and in that case you have balls in the middle of the package as well.

Q:So, what’s the solution?
A: It appear that using a brand new chip with the right balls could lead to a long lasting machine, but some dodgy high street shops use recycled chips and/or not ok balls so the machine could work for a long time but ultimatelly fail again.

#6

Spec
https://support.apple.com/kb/sp689?locale=en_GB

1 Like
#7

Permission to take the card out?

#8

You could have a look at sellers who specialise in pc cards with mac firmware. Still expensive but much less of a rip off than £400 for something so outrageously outdated

#9

It’s not a standard PC part though. Special board for imacs only (hence the price)

#10

All out … not that easy, motherboard had to come out to access gpu

Now it is down to electonics to either repair or decide it needs replacing.

@emuboy

IMG_1346.JPG3024×4032 2.22 MB

#11

oh! is on a module! that’s lovely , can’t we just swap that?

#12

is actually possible to buy an off the shelf upgrade for that :

not the cheapest solution :

#13

450 for a second hand gpu that requires drivers installing and its bigger than the original seems a risk considering the original is plenty fast enough and half the price

1 Like
#14
#15

this old card seems like a good candidate for chucking into the new reflow oven.

1 Like
#16

From the photo the GPU looks dry lacking thermal past .

Maybe clean and and resemble and see how it goes?

#17

@lewisss - I need to know who I’m sending this graphics card to!

#18

A working graphics card has just been delivered to me at work. I’ll drop it off at the space on my way home this evening.

2 Likes
#19

excellent``, i will fit it this week… just hope I still have the photos and can find the website i used to dismantle it!

#20

Let me know if you need any silicon thermal paste or thermal glue, I have some here !

Courty