iMac CRT Graphics Card faulty - DIY fix?

[richardv9]

Hi from London

I've been offered a CRT iMac 500mhz SE but am told the graphics card needs replacing. It has (I believe) an ATI RAGE Ultra 128 16mb video according to specs I've got from the net.

My questions are:

1. Is this a DIY job or do I have to go to an Apple repair shop? I'm not a techie but I have done a couple of inner surgery jobs on my 350 imac (new HD & DVD-ROM) so am not scared of cracking open the wondrous plastic. The guy selling says that the repair is about £250 ($400+) ... I know our prices are higher but .......

2nd Q - Is it possible to get hold of the part i need from somewhere ?   - I've done a few Google searches but to no avail.

Thanks for any help you can offer.


Richard

[Mrious_be]

I think the graphic card is fixed to the motherboard in such a way that DIY will be really hard.
Sending it in for repair would be much better and would give you some garanty.
First, i would go hear myself how much it is to replace the graphics card, than... if it cost more than that guy say, try to get some of the price off

Not sure if you would ever find a replacement graphic card for iMac CRT's online, anless someone sells his iMac off cheap for spare parts.

Others might have better info

[kelly]

Richard. Hello. Welcome to the Forum.

I've never heard of anyone doing that.

It would probably involve a soldering iron.

When you say offered, you mean for free?

That's the only way this could ever be worthwhile.

[richardv9]

Hi Kelly & Mrious_be (how do you pronounce that?)

No - not for free. £100 approx. Thing is I'm not even sure that that is what the problem is. It might even be something really simple........ PRAM .....crashed HD ??

Looks like I'll give this one a miss as  getting a new or S/H logic board would also cost £££££s

thanks for your help

Richard