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Model A1181: 1.83, 2, 2.1, 2.13, 2.16, 2.2, or 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo processor

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Screen is too dim to use

This question relates to an "Early 2008" model.

I had to replace the screen because the backlight went. The new screen was matched to this model but despite the System Preference telling me it's on full brightness I would say anecdotally that it's only 25% bright. In fact in daylight it's almost unusable.

Is there any alternative to another screen change and hoping this one works?

Thanks in advance, Jules

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3 Comments

Did you try resetting the SMC?

Review Apples Tech Note: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964

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Yes, and PRAM. This machine had a failed backlight and the screen was replaced along with a known good invertor-board. I was wondering if I've ended up with a screen that expects ambient light input and in its absense is running in economy/night mode? Is such a thing possible? Jules

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LCD's are known not to be very readable in daylight in general.

Liquid paper displays used in the Nook and Kindle are reflective and are great to read in the brightest of light - even with dark sunglasses on!

Not sure if your expecting more out of the display than what it can give you or if you truly have a problem here.

Double check your system settings as you can setup profiles for when your plugged in Vs on Batt that can dim your display. Click on the battery menu icon to get to the power setting preferences. Do you have it at full brightness when on batt? You can also use the function keys to up the brightness at anytime as well.

If that is not helping - As you installed a new display and the inverter logic then I suspect you still have something amiss if it's not equal in brightness to a new system. Is it possible the display unit was used? And was already having problems?

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Hook it up to an external monitor. If this is good, move your screen up and down to see if there is any change. I suspect your inverter cables at this point or that you got a bad inverter board. Here's a guide for replacing the inverter quickly: MacBook Core 2 Duo LCD & Inverter A1181 (fast method) Replacement

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5 Comments:

Mayer - He stated he has already tried a new inverter and display. If it was the inverter cable it would be flakey not dim. I don't think his problem is hardware anymore. He could have a settings issue or has a greater expectation on what the LCD can do (given what he stated in his reply). If it is hardware I'd bet its the tubes in the display.

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I've seen more than one bad inverter

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OP should boot the computer with an external volume (installation disk, external hard drive or firewire target mode with another mac) then he'd know if it's a hardware or software issue.

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lemerise - Don't think using an external disk or running this system in target mode off a different system would help here. The issue is hardware Vs settings not software.

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Dan, you're just a little arrogant for a newbie around here

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Julianps will be eternally grateful.
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