Apple iMac graphics failure...

Danorak

Hi guys.

Basically, I have a 2008 Apple iMac. It has been problem free, or so I had thought up to now.

I had noticed that running vertically across the entire screen were a series of white lines. They aren't dead pixels, but they look like a kind of hue. I've tried to take a picture unsuccessfully, but did find an image on the internet that had (look at the ends of the arrows, sometimes helps if you stand or sit back a bit):

(I can't post a link apparently!)

I was actually looking into something else when I stumbled upon this, and as it turns out it was a bit of an issue back in the day. Now, when I bought the iMac (around May/June of 2008), I also took out Applecare which added an additional 2 year cover on the item. This obviously has expired.

I first noticed the lines in August 2009, where some photo's I had taken had a bit of a hue to them, but this was because I was shooting through a fence, or so I thought: I noticed the lines, and simply (and upon reflection) foolishly, put it down to the make up of the screen: I figured it was the back lighting or something. As it transpires, it's actually the graphics card which is attached to the logic board that is the problem.

As I've since found out that there was an issue, and with nothing to lose, I called Apple, filled them in. They were really helpful, listened to my problem and really looked into it. The guy acknowledged that their had been a known problem, that it would affect my iMac as the serial number was in the right range. He then went on to tell me that the repair scheme for this fault ended in 2011, and there was no way I would qualify as the cut off was the end of 2011. Ultimately, there is a possibility that this part will fail. At the same time, it has been no problem thus far.

I know that this May, the iMac is 5 years old and electronics aren't designed to last forever, and ultimately there will come a point where the iMac is redundant. However, I also feel that perhaps I should have received some form of notification that my product may have had a defective part: all the information was on their database.

I'm not out to try and wangle a new computer, or compensation, or stir up loads of trouble-what I would like to do is try and get this component replaced as it clearly was an issue. I didn't buy the item from an Apple store, I bought it from a PC World. I would hate for a perfectly good and working iMac to end up beyond economic repair (a new logic board is around £500 new, false economy buying used in this instance), and if this was the case, I wouldn't be able to replace it. I was considering replacing my iMac later this year, but only because I'd be part funding it with the sale of this iMac (still fetches between £300-£400). On a moral level, I wouldn't want to sell it on knowing that this part could fail, but subsequently, if the iMac did die, then I would have no way to fund a new one or I would lose a substantial amount of money by having to declare this when selling.

I understand my chances are slim, but is there any advice anybody could give me to help me try and get this repair done?

Thanks in advance,
Dan

macman

As you say, unless you can source a used logic board, it's not economic to replace it. Though of course it can be done if you want to spend the money. Otherwise split the Mac and sell for parts, it'll probably be worth more that way than as a working but faulty machine.
Try Mac Upgrades/2nd Chance PC in Sawston if you want a repair quote (no connection, I have used them in the past for Mac repairs).
Apple have no liability, as it's out of warranty, and the chance of a successful claim under SOGA against PCW 5 years on is less than zero.