Q: Apple store will not repair my iMac!!!
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Nov 21, 2012 4:44 PMby babowa,Do you have any Mac repair centers nearby? They might still be able to get a card and replace it for you. The problem with the video cards on iMacs is that on most models (do not know about yours), the card is soldered onto the logic board, which means the whole thing has to be replaced and that is the single most expensive replacement on an iMac.
@ Ziatron:
great idea, but not everyone has the deep pockets for a Mac Pro plus monitor, etc, LOL (nor the space for it) - I've considered it and have not because I couldn't even pick up such a monster to put it in place - I'm waiting for a Mac Pro Lite (literally)!
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Nov 23, 2012 3:51 PMby 7209rolando,My iMac has a separate video card so can be replaced without having to replace the logic board in theory but because the card has been discontinued by Apple is proving almost impossible to locate one anywhere. I have found a couple on eBay but they are in the USA and cost nearly £200, but I am a little wary because they could be faulty. Also on eBay there is a company offering a service to fix iMacs with video card issues which involves removing the old chipset by heating the old solder then refitting a brand new updated nVidea chip using leaded solder. This process is called reflow and reball using specialist equipment and costs £179, but I would need to pay extra for shipping. Does anyone know if this would work?
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Nov 23, 2012 4:24 PMby michaelsip4,speaking candidly, I would be concerned with the ebay option (both situations)....I would hate to see you loose the computer some how some way. I would touch base with a local apple repair shop and present to them what you discovered and what was suggested and find out the overall costing.... it may be less expensive
as for reflow, I am aware of it....never did it.
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Nov 23, 2012 4:39 PMby den.thed,The other problem your going to have, is that the stock Late 2006 24" iMac only had a GeForce 7300GT and that 7600GT only came in the configure to order model.
see > AppleComponents.com - 661-4180 - Card, Video, NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT, 256 MB VRAM
This one is OOS > 661-4180-R 24" iMac NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT VRAM 256MB Video Card
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Nov 23, 2012 5:12 PMby Klaus1,I feel your pain but read this:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1752?viewlocale=en_US
Particularly:
All Apple Retail Stores and the Canadian, European, Latin American and Asia-Pacific operating regions follow the U.S. product list, but make no distinction between vintage and obsolete. When applied to Apple Retail Stores and these operating regions, products on the U.S. Vintage list (all models) are considered obsolete.
The necessary parts can be very hard to find.
