Steps 1–21: Teardown
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Step 9
We wanted to see how the iMac clock battery (190 mAh) stacks up with the 17" Unibody's behemoth (12,820 mAh), so we put them next to each other:
17" Unibody wins.
Step 10
Most components are buried beneath the LCD assembly. This isn't a new design for Intel iMacs, but is certainly not as convenient as the rear-accessible iMac G5.
Unscrewing the two T6 screws securing the display data cable.
After removing the two screws, we pulled the connector straight up, wiggling back and forth as necessary.
Step 11
The LCD panel is held in place with eight 11.8mm T9 Torx screws.
The LCD in this iMac is not LED backlit, but uses the more traditional CCFL backlight.
There are five cables (four inverter cables and one temperature sensor) to disconnect before the LCD panel can be removed from the iMac.
This display is an AU Optronics M302EW02. The manufacture date shown on the back of the LCD is 09/04, that's probably the 4th week of 2009.
Step 12
Removing the desktop 320GB SATA hard drive.
After disconnecting the temperature sensor cables, we rotated the long black clip toward the drive to unlock it, then swung it to the side.
We then unplugged the SATA cables and pulled out the hard drive without removing any additional screws.
This screw-less design for the hard drive is nice, but unfortunately getting to to this point requires removing 21 screws.
Step 13
Each speaker is attached by one screw and one connector cable.
Only the right speaker needs to be removed to gain access to the logic board, but we removed them both.
The Bluetooth board is the blue board in the top center.
The 802.11n card is on the right with two antenna wires running to it from below the logic board.
Step 14
Removing the logic board.
First off, let's disconnect 13 connectors.
Next, we remove 10 T10 Torx screws... (Second image)
...and 2 T8 Torx screws.
It's out! (Third image)
Step 15
Apple's flat-panel iMacs have always been an interesting cross between a laptop and a desktop. This iMac features a laptop-style optical drive and RAM, but a desktop hard drive.
This is a 12.7mm SATA 8x double-layer SuperDrive.
As far as we know, this leaves the AppleTV as the only shipping Apple product with a PATA drive.
Step 16
As we mentioned earlier, this iMac still uses an LCD with a CCFL backlight. This particular display features four backlights, each of which require their own high-voltage AC power.
All four are powered by a single large inverter.
I always wondered if you could utilize just the monitor of an iMac once the machine becomes obsolete. Maybe there is a way to connect to the LCD and plug it into a Mac mini?
You can kinda-sorta do that if the computer still works using the prefpane teleport - it connects via VNC and relays all mousing and keypresses to the other computer. Save for network lag and and the fact that you cannot really move windows between the screen it works like a computer in extended desktop mode. Of course, it also means that the old computer has to run your apps - which has the benefit on the other hand that your main machine won't have to.
I suppose, 09/04 means "4th week of 2009", that's more likely.
Greets, Harry
iFixit Staff
You're right, good point. I've updated the info on the guide. Thanks for your help.
Is this the same type of LCD as used in previous 20'' iMacs???
Just curious, but what processors and chipsets are in the new iMacs? Are they still using the core2duo mobile chip and the santa rosa chipset? How about the 24" models with better graphics?
Dude, not to ruin your game,but it think is is made in the fourth month of 2004. These things are planned for the later generation computers along time before before it comes out for consumer sale. In this case it took Apple 4-5 years to remove the iMac to the masses.
Can I have more information about this new tft panel? It works at 8 bit? The first monitor series was very cheap, only 6 bit! :-(
Greets, Mauro
"The LCD panel is held in place with eight 11.8mm T9 Torx screws."
The 2006 model iMac LCDs were held in place with T10 Torx screws. Every model since then has had T8 Torx screws holding the LCD.
Is your T9 Torx driver very well worn, or was that entry really just a typo?
could you make a wallpaper of the 20" imac's guts like you did for the 27"?
Boy that is smart engineering... I wonder how important it really is to make the iMac so narrow. The area behind the screens is wasted space anyway. This computer is not a laptop or an iPhone. This is a dealbreaker for me.
I'm wondering what make and model is that HD?
Where does the cable for the SATA drive connect on the logic board. Is there room to attach a card to give us two SATA ports then run a cable out to a drive enclosure?
iFixit Staff
The SATA power cable is integrated into the bundle of cables leading to the large black connector on the face of the logic board and the SATA data cable connects to the logic board above the left RAM slot, next to the IR sensor.
Doesn't AppleTV still use a PATA drive?
iFixit Staff
Good call, I think you're right. I completely forgot about the AppleTV. We haven't opened one recently, but I'm pretty sure they're still using PATA drives in the AppleTV.
Slightly off topic, but I'd love to see an AppleTV guide (hardware AND software) from you guys. I bought a 40gb apple tv about a year ago figuring I could just buy a new hard drive and install it myself. Then I started researching and found out that a. it was a PATA drive and b. required unix command line hacking to do the job. I'm sure your team could put together an easy to follow guide for it.
Now - I need to turn off my late 2008 MBP to replace the hard drive using your guide again - I'm going to a 500gb that I just bought to replace the 320 I put in there about 7 or 8 months ago... Great guides guys...
I am replacing my optical drive in my early 2008 iMAC desktop (already removed it thanks to your guide), but now am unsure of what replacement to order. How do I know if it is PATA, SATA or otherwise? Probably a dumb question for you guys, but I'm just learning. I know you should be able to tell by the connector. Any help?
The drive says: Model UJ-875 Super 875CA Manufactured: January 2008 Its a Panasonic
The optical drive, in my early 2008 24" Imac, is not grabbing discs anymore. I was wondering if you ever found the answer to your question. After some research, I found someone that had the same problem as me and changing out the cable was all that was needed. Does anyone know which cable I need to purchase? Thanks in advance, Shannon
I have the same problem i actually had a CD stuck inside my Imac early 2008 as well and brought it to the genius bar paid $85 dollar for them to take the drive apart and remove the CD from the drive. Now the control arm is stuck in the down position. The drive is constantly trying to read a CD that isn't there and is just making noise all the time. I really need to find out how to purchase a new one. Thanks to the new tear down pics i can do it myself instead of being without a computer for a week and paying $85.
i wonder why apple is not moving faster to LED screens? it would see with all these power supplies that you could have some serious space savings - assuming and LED screen has less power supply requirements.