Is my iMac on it's way out?

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Is my iMac on it's way out?

Hi there, please let me know if i'm in the wrong section. I'm new to this forum and it's not laid out like others.

I've got an imac early 2008 8.1 2.66ghz iMac. It's all original.

I've been having trouble booting lately. and if the computer does boot, after a while, I get some crazy atrifacting on the screen.

Here's the weird part, when I do a screen shot, the artifacts are saved to the screenshot so, it's not a monitor issue.

Earlier today the artifacts started spazzing out (for lack of better terms) and eventually ended up turning the computer to a black, back-lit screen.

Where do I start troubleshooting? Since the artifacting started, I've updated from 10.7 to 10.8 successfully. So i doubt it's an installation issue or a hard drive problem.

I'm thinking... logic board or ram. Any ideas? I've tried searching but, this does not seem to be a common problem.

[IMG]http://i1020.photobucket.com/albums/af321/burgurboy/IMG_20130428_211957_zpsc6031 e56.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1020.photobucket.com/albums/af321/burgurboy/IMG_20130428_211025_zpsb16c8 c37.jpg[/IMG]

Posted on Apr 28, 2013 7:00 PM

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Answer 1

MichelPM

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Apr 28, 2013 7:22 PM in response to burgurboy

Could be an overheating or failing GPU.

Have you vacuumed out/cleared out the dust, lint and dirt for. all of your iMac's vents, ports and slots?

You have to power down your iMac, disconnect everything and unplug your iMac.

Use either a small electronics vacuum or a standard vacuum with hose and crevice tool attachment and slowly and carefully vacuum out all of the various vents, slots and ports around your iMac.

Then, reconnect everything, startup your iMac. Download and install iStat Pro temperature monitor and report your iMac's new temperatures here.

Also, post if your graphics issues go away.

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Answer 2

burgurboy Author

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Apr 28, 2013 7:59 PM in response to MichelPM

Awesome, I hadn't thought about that. I'll be a happy camper if this works. I'll try it out tomorrow. Thanks for the quick reply!

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Answer 3

burgurboy Author

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Apr 29, 2013 8:48 PM in response to burgurboy

After cleaning out the heatsinks, unfortunately, this did not help. The first time I plugged it back in, it produced some bad artifacting, right off the bat.

Plan B?

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Answer 4

MichelPM

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Apr 29, 2013 8:56 PM in response to burgurboy

Time to call and schedule a trip to Apple for diagnosis and repair/replacement.

The damage is already done.

If this is a GPU issue, hopefully it can still replaced.

Good Luck!

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Answer 5

burgurboy Author

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Apr 30, 2013 6:44 PM in response to MichelPM

Hmmm. well i'm wondering if it's a premature failure. For one, the fans/heatsinks were not very dusty. Secondly, After installing a fan control software, and cranking the fans to full tilt, I realized that the fans NEVER cranked up that high on their own.

Oddly enough, before I cleaned the comp out, it cranked up fine. I even watched a 45 second 180p movie trailer and the fans never broke a sweat. Temps never reached 60c anywhere. So, the computer was not overheating.

i've replaced the logic board on my macbook once so, if that's what it comes down to, I'll do that. I really can't afford shelling out the cash to take this out-of-warranty machine down to the apple store.

Any other tips for troubleshooting on my own? I was under the impression that the GPU is integrated with the motherboard. Will this force me to swap out the entire board?

And last of all, what are the chances this is a memory problem. Sometimes, the computer gets hung up and wont boot at all.

thanks again,

Cody

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Answer 6

MichelPM

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Apr 30, 2013 7:30 PM in response to burgurboy

Yeah,

Not sure about the 2008 models, but later iMacs had the GPU soldered to the Logic board.

I am not sure if the 2008 models used a separate video card with the GPU mounted to it or not.

If this was a RAM issue, it would either beep at startup or sometimes not start at all.

The graphics issues are definitely GPU related and this could, also, be what keeps your iMac from booting, too!

If the GPU is soldered to the logic board in these models, too, then you are looking at a complete logic board replacement.

As far as RAM goes, does this iMac use its original RAM or did you add/replace RAM?

If you added or replaced RAM, did you purchase from a reliable Mac RAM source such as Crucial memory or OWC (macsales.com)?

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Answer 7

burgurboy Author

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Apr 30, 2013 7:31 PM in response to MichelPM

as far as ram goes, this computer has the stock RAM in it. in fact. It's completely 100% factory at this point.

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Answer 8

MichelPM

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Apr 30, 2013 8:05 PM in response to burgurboy

You can check if it's a RAM issue by removing one module at a time and restart your iMac and also check to make sure the RAM is also properly seated in its slot. Can also try swapping RAM slots to rule out a bad RAM slot, too!

If this turns out not be be a RAM issue, then you will have to take this in to Apple.

If you have a bad RAM module, then you can purchase new RAM from the online Mac RAM sources I have indicated.

Good Luck!

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Answer 9

Oct 21, 2014 9:35 AM in response to burgurboy

ive just come across this issue on a early 2008 intel core 2 duo 2.66ghz screen was really distorted everytime i rebooted it seemed to look even worse so i gave a try at resetting the pram and was shocked to see it reboot all perfect again and its still going strong

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Answer 10

MichelPM

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Oct 21, 2014 1:36 PM in response to michelle92

If you are starting to have screen graphics issues and, potentially, a problem with your Mac's GPU, a PRAM and/or SMC reset will only be a temporary fix for a, potentially, more serious hardware issue.

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