iMac graphics card replacement

[warksfarmer]

Has anybody ever done one? How easy is it to do? My trusty 27inch iMac from 2009 is having its very first breakdown and the symptoms suggest a new graphics card is needed. Don’t fancy going via Apple due to the cost and age of the machine. Thinking if I try and fail I’ve lost nothing or anybody got any idea of what the trade in value would be via apples program? The sites down presently so I can’t check.

 

[Cowabunga]

Has anybody ever done one? How easy is it to do? My trusty 27inch iMac from 2009 is having its very first breakdown and the symptoms suggest a new graphics card is needed. Don’t fancy going via Apple due to the cost and age of the machine. Thinking if I try and fail I’ve lost nothing or anybody got any idea of what the trade in value would be via apples program? The sites down presently so I can’t check.

Trade-in value through Apple will be 50% of bugger-all. My 2011 21" was priced at £200 when they sell for about double that on ebay with over 8GB RAM.

I doubt whether a GPU from Apple is available any longer apart from used scrap models. You need the genuine article because you otherwise lose the boot screen and the ability to boot from USB if I remember correctly. If you source one, while the screen is off you really should replace the hard drive with a solid state drive. If you can get around the lack of boot screen [turn off the password protection on boot before dismantling], then you can use a Nvidia GTX765M model apparently and it should work as I described.

There are probably plenty of YouTube videos on upgrading your model of machine. I wouldn’t bother ‘upgrading’ anything other than the hard drive, which is dead simple as long as you clone your current drive to it first, although you could boot and use Time Machine to completely restore from the external drive you normally back up using time machine. Otherwise just repair or replace whatever is causing you problems.

Perhaps you might consider upgrading to a newer or new model? You have had great service from a 2009 machine. Anything older than a 2012 [ultra slim models] are no longer supported by Apple and the newest OS you can use is High Sierra. The younger the model the longer support will remain. Having said that, my mid-2011 21" still works like a champ and it is has been used fairly intensively over the years, certainly almost every single day apart from about a week a year, some years, if I go on holiday. It auto wakes at 7.30am and generally sleeps automatically after being idle for a while and generally by 12pm.

 

[warksfarmer]

Trade-in value through Apple will be 50% of bugger-all. My 2011 21" was priced at £200 when they sell for about double that on ebay with over 8GB RAM.

I doubt whether a GPU from Apple is available any longer apart from used scrap models. You need the genuine article because you otherwise lose the boot screen and the ability to boot from USB if I remember correctly. If you source one, while the screen is off you really should replace the hard drive with a solid state drive. If you can get around the lack of boot screen [turn off the password protection on boot before dismantling], then you can use a Nvidia GTX765M model apparently and it should work as I described.

There are probably plenty of YouTube videos on upgrading your model of machine. I wouldn’t bother ‘upgrading’ anything other than the hard drive, which is dead simple as long as you clone your current drive to it first, although you could boot and use Time Machine to completely restore from the external drive you normally back up using time machine. Otherwise just repair or replace whatever is causing you problems.

Perhaps you might consider upgrading to a newer or new model? You have had great service from a 2009 machine. Anything older than a 2012 [ultra slim models] are no longer supported by Apple and the newest OS you can use is High Sierra. The younger the model the longer support will remain. Having said that, my mid-2011 21" still works like a champ and it is has been used fairly intensively over the years, certainly almost every single day apart from about a week a year, some years, if I go on holiday. It auto wakes at 7.30am and generally sleeps automatically after being idle for a while and generally by 12pm.

I’m not against a new one. Mine when new was the top spec one at £1500 so for 11 years use and zero trouble until now it’s cost less than the crappy windows machines. It’s actually still working fine although I’m getting little pink boxes appear in the top half of the screen occasionally so I know there’s an issue looming.
They look to be around £2,200 now for a top spec 27 inch iMac Which if it lasts another 11 years I’ll be happy with.
I was half wondering if one of the new iPads with plug in monitor and keyboard/mouse would do the same job ?

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

I’m not against a new one. Mine when new was the top spec one at £1500 so for 11 years use and zero trouble until now it’s cost less than the crappy windows machines. It’s actually still working fine although I’m getting little pink boxes appear in the top half of the screen occasionally so I know there’s an issue looming.
They look to be around £2,200 now for a top spec 27 inch iMac Which if it lasts another 11 years I’ll be happy with.
I was half wondering if one of the new iPads with plug in monitor and keyboard/mouse would do the same job ?

IPads are very useful for browsing and reading stuff but not much else. What do you use your imac for?

The screen on our 2009 27" started playing up last year, going blank after a few minutes use. I just plugged in an external monitor.

 

[warksfarmer]

IPads are very useful for browsing and reading stuff but not much else. What do you use your imac for?

The screen on our 2009 27" started playing up last year, going blank after a few minutes use. I just plugged in an external monitor.

Sounds like you had a display issue then. I think mines the graphics card so a plug in monitor won’t sort it but it’s worth a try I guess.

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

Sounds like you had a display issue then. I think mines the graphics card so a plug in monitor won’t sort it but it’s worth a try I guess.

And not wasted, when we replace the iMac it can be used as an extension monitor.

 

[Cowabunga]

There's a new range of iMac to be launched next week. Or is it this week? Anyhow, it will have more Thunderbolt/USB C ports and a thin or no bezel according to rumours. Things that are of no consequence to me.

If specifying a new one today, go for a 27" with 2TB of SSD.

You can source from corporate suppliers who discount sunstantially compared to the high street.
Have a look at what Deecies offer on eBay. I'm waiting for one off them.
The advantage of the 2019 [current] model is that it is well proven, discounted, has no T2 chip and still looks fantastic and the screen is 5k. More USB C/Thunderbolt ports can be added, if necessary, using an external dock.

iPad is a complement to a desk or laptop, not really a replacement. Use the same Apple account and they and the iPhone synchronise nicely. I also have the bigger iPad Pro and it is great. Maybe for some people, with a keyboard and pencil it could be the main computer, but you really should make sure that Cloud backup is switched on on all devices and that you also back up to an external drive at home. The latest iPads can use external storage, read and write. Older ones cannot. New ones also have a proper file system viewer.

If anyone wants a great all in one windows computer, then the HP Edge is the machine. 32" display. Price is over £2000 but like for like it is cheaper than the iMac and has certain advantages, like better speakers and wireless phone charging built in.