Christian Calzadillas ([info]fanless) wrote in [info]macosx,
@ 2004-12-27 13:30:00
Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Jacked up display on a 20" iMac G5. (please don't tl;dr!)

After viewing these images...




Would/could/should a person conclude that this is the result of a failing video card?
I have a 20" iMac G5, and until a few hours ago, it has been running great. I was sitting there, checking my email when all of a sudden my screen flickered a bit and then I got a snowy white screen. I was like, "Fuckin' Shapeshifter!" because the pattern that filled my screen looked like something used in the theme I had selected in Shapeshifter.
I held down the power button and started up again. It ran for a few minutes, but it would freeze for a few seconds and then come back to life and work seemingly fine for a few more seconds, and then freeze for a few seconds again. Also, the screen wouldn't draw correctly. I took a screenshot. I disabled Shapeshifter, logged out and back in and the screen got all snowy again. I created a new user, logged into that account, and my computer did the same thing... Froze for a few seconds and then came back and then eventually the screen got snowy and it would freeze for good or give me a kernel panic.
I put the Hardware test CD in and started up on that. The pics were taken while I was running the test. I was never able to finish it because my computer would kernel panic. That made me think that there really was something wrong with my computer (busted video card), and not something hosed with my OS, thanks to Shapeshifter.
I swapped the hardware test disc with my system install disc and started up on that. My screen seemed to look fine. I ran disk utility on my drive, and it said it couldn't be repaired. I ran it again, and it said it was ok. I tried to start up on the HD and the wonky display was back. Kernel panic... Restart... hosed display... kernel panic...
I started up in safe mode and everything looked fine. I uninstalled Shapeshifter and backed up a few things from my hard drive in preparation of sending my iMac to Apple or reinstalling my OS.
I went to start up as normal, and straight away my screen was messed up. This should be the gray Apple logo a person sees when they boot their Mac. Just for kicks, I put my iMac into FireWire target mode. The screen was fucked then too.
SO... Is my video card hosed or is it my OS? Why would my display be messed up when I start up on the hardware test disc and in Firewire target mode, if it's not my video card? But if it is my video card, why does everything seem to run perfect in Safe mode and on the system install DVD?

(Post a new comment)


[info]mfree
2004-12-27 10:46 am UTC (link)
Check the cable.

It looks like it definitely could be video card issues... that second pic looks like it's off sync. But, that could be the monitor too.

Best bet is to eliminate equipment... plug the monitor into another computer, or plug another monitor into the G5.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]fanless
2004-12-27 10:49 am UTC (link)
It's an iMac G5... I can't plug the monitor into another computer. (AFAIK)

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]mfree
2004-12-27 11:12 am UTC (link)
I know, you've got that silly ADC connector. doesn't mean you don't have friends with G5s :)

There are boxes that let you use anything down to VGA with the 20" cinema but they're too pricey to worry about for troubleshooting purposes.

The G5 *does* have a regular DVI connection on it as well though.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]mertzen
2004-12-27 11:16 am UTC (link)
Hello .. anybody in there .. this is an iMac G5 .. not a Powermac G5 ..

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]mfree
2004-12-27 11:25 am UTC (link)
Christ... where's my coffee. Monday? wha?

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]joham
2004-12-27 11:26 am UTC (link)
The iMac G5 has no such ports.

Nor do you have eyes it seems, or the ability to read. :o)

The original poster has a 20" iMac G5 with a broken video card. This card is soldered to the logic board, and if faulty will need a new midplane assembly from Apple. There is a cable connecting the logic board to the screen inside, and it could be this that is faulty, and can be replaced.

However, there is no way to connect the iMac G5's screen up to an external video card in a Powermac G5

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]mfree
2004-12-27 11:33 am UTC (link)
I apologize profusely, as I had seemingly slipped into a caffeine-deprivation induced coma-like haze where my reality was 6 months ago and all that existed were the new G5 and I was happy, and kind again.

Today, I am a dumbass :)

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]joham
2004-12-27 11:46 am UTC (link)
It happens to us all :o)

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]mertzen
2004-12-27 11:09 am UTC (link)
I'd be on the phone with AppleCare ASAP .. the lines make a pretty strong case for a GPU issue ..

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]coolstring
2004-12-27 12:28 pm UTC (link)
Or a failing logic board. That's what the iBooks used to look like.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]ex_ebb439
2005-05-06 03:39 am UTC (link)
Yeah - that's a scary picture for me. Had to have my iBook logic board replaced twice.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]kareila
2004-12-28 03:00 am UTC (link)
My 17" G5 iMac developed similar symptoms a few weeks ago, after I'd had it maybe 6 weeks. I was able to run the hardware test with no problem, and the video test did fail, so I wrote down the error and sent it in. Haven't heard anything more yet.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]jenocyber
2004-12-28 08:53 pm UTC (link)
You should call Apple or bring the computer to an Apple Store, not send them an error message.

If its under warranty (which I think it is because I don't think the iMac G5s have been around long enough not to be) they will fix it no charge to you, but you need to be proactive.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]kareila
2004-12-29 12:15 am UTC (link)
I should have been clearer. It's actually my employer's computer, so it's their job to get it fixed. I gave them the error message and told them to deal. :)

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]jenocyber
2004-12-29 10:28 am UTC (link)
Good, i mean... well better. :) good luck with that.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

Create an Account
Forgot your login or password?
Login w/ OpenID
English • Español • Deutsch • Русский…