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ninjasdu Author

Level 1

4 points

imac 2011 mid(27')issues: 1 beep every 5 sec! defective power board? dying GPU?

Dear iMac talents

A basket of questions to ask, please help:

initial problem is frequent auto restart of imac, even without prior use in the early morning.

*Hardware disgnostic report said no hardware trouble, but i know the report is not conclusive nor definitive.

*I had moved some doubtful windows MS and Adobe softwares to trash bin.

*Already reinstalled high sierra latest OS from internet.

*called Apple hotline, still no big progress.

*called local mac repair shops; technician claimed maybe a defective GPU, a defective hardisk, without inspection of my mac.

2.since this is obsolete model, no longer with parts or maintenance service from Apple. And it is extremely heavy, and i decided to open up the mac, check. Observations:

*heavy dusts in bottom of mac, where 4 ram cards are located

*white detachable powder is around border of power board, as shown in yellow-lined photo

*GPU covered with dry thermal paste, on logic board

*remove dusts by Dyson vacuum, brush. (did not have canned air. )

3.After assembly/reseat every parts, worser observations:

*panic kernel x2 times

*1 beep every 5 seconds; tried to plug 1 ram, 2 rams in top slot; and 4 rams in 4 slots(top + bottom). The Samsung RAMs were normal running before, but after this surgery, looks suddenly defective. photo was taken. correct type RAM was used. i will test if my ram is broken with other computer and report here.

Here are my stupid questions:

can the RAM slots be damaged? the rams and slots seem not tighly contacted with each other before i closed the bottom panel.
what is happening now?
what will you do?
is GPU, Ram slots, logic board, power board at fault? or every parts at fault?
if i open the mac internal again, can LED lights guide me what parts to check?

i feel very frustrated. i have not been employed for 2 years and hence am not ready to spend more until i can diagnose the mac problem(s).

And i bought this 2nd hand mac from an Indian couple half year ago. the mac has been performing quite good until recent 2-3 weeks.

please help, my mac god.