Apple imac 17 inch User Manual

							
Procedure 
1.	Unplug all cables from the computer except the power cord. 
2.	Important: To avoid electrostatic discharge, always ground yourself by touching 
metal before you touch any parts or install any components inside the co\
mputer. To 
avoid static electricity building back up in your body, do not walk arou\
nd the room until 
you have completed the installation and closed the computer. 
3.	Touch a metal surface inside the computer to ground yourself. 
4.	Unplug the power cord. 
5.	Push the tabs outward to release the memory. 
8  iMac (Flat Panel) Take Apart	
 Memory, SO-DIMM (user-installable)  
						

							
6. Remove the memory from the slot. 
Memory, SO-DIMM (user-installable) iMac (Flat Panel)  Take Apart -
9
 
						

							
Bottom Housing

Tools 
This procedure requires the following tools: 
• Torx-15 screwdriver 
Part Location 
Preliminary Steps 
Before you begin, do the following: 
• Position the computer in the service stand. 
• Remove the user access plate. 
10 iMac (Flat Panel) Take Apart
 Bottom Housing  
						

							
Procedure 
1. Remove the four torx screws. 
Replacement Note: These torx screws must be tightened to at least 17 in.-lbs. If 
you do not have a torque driver, you will have to make sure these screws\
 are 
tightened by hand FIRMLY, BUT NOT FORCIBLY. Or, purchase the service too\
l 
(076-0899) in order to ensure the thermal pipe is firmly mated with th\
e top 
base. If the bottom housing is not securely attached to the base in this\
 fashion, the 
CPU may overheat and become damaged.
 For more information, refer to   “Thermal Paste 
Application’” in this chapter.Rotate the base so that the optical drive door is on the right. 
iMac (Flat Panel)  Take Apart - 11  
						

							
2. Rotate the base so the optical drive door is on the right. Gently open the bottom 
housing in the direction of the arrow.  Note: Cables are still attached to the logic board. 
Important:  Diagnostic service cables allow the unit to run while the bottom housing is 
open (as shown above). However, the computer cannot run for more than five minutes with 
the bottom housing open. If it is open longer, the CPU may overheat and become 
damaged. 
12  iMac (Flat Panel) Take Apart  
						

							
3.	Disconnect the following: 
A
 Power supply connector 
B Hard drive/optical drive data cable 
C  AC line filter connector 
D  AirPort antenna connector 
E  Plastic cable retainer and video cable 
F Grounding screw 
Note:  View the document at a larger size to enlarge this graphic . 
4.	Set the bottom housing aside. 
Warning: Whenever the bottom housing is opened for service, you must do two things: 
1.You must clean the original thermal film from the surfaces joining the\
 thermal 
interface layer and reapply thermal paste to the thermal pipe. 
2.You must tighten the four torx screws on the bottom housing to a minim\
um of 17 
in.-lbs. If you do not have a torque driver, you will have to make sure \
these 
screws are tightened by hand FIRMLY, BUT NOT FORCIBLY. Or, purchase the \
service tool (076-0899) in order to ensure the thermal pipe is firmly \
mated with the top base. If the bottom housing is not securely attached \
to the 
base in this fashion, the CPU may overheat and become damaged.
 Failure to 
follow either of these steps could cause the computer to overheat and da\
mage 
internal components. 
Refer to the topic, “Thermal Paste Application” for detailed infor\
mation. 
iMac (Flat Panel)  Take Apart - 13  
						

							
Thermal Paste Application

Tools 
This procedure requires the following tools: 
• Plastic stylus or plastic spatula to remove the old thermal paste 
• Plastic stylus or plastic spatula to spread the thermal paste 
• Thermal paste (922-4757) 
Part Location 
14 iMac (Flat Panel) Take Apart
 Thermal Paste Application  
						

							
Procedure 
1.	Thoroughly clean the original thermal film from the mating surfaces (circled below) of 
the bottom housing and thermal pipe. Use a plastic stylus to scrape the surfaces 
clean.  Note:  Do not use an abrasive material or liquid cleaner. 
2.	Squeeze a thin film of thermal paste onto the thermal pipe. Spread the paste evenly. 
3.	Replace the bottom housing.  Warning: The bottom housing has four torx screws 
that must be tightened to at least 17 in.-lbs. If you do not have a torq\
ue 
driver, you will have to make sure these screws are tightened by hand 
FIRMLY, BUT NOT FORCIBLY. Or, purchase the service tool (076-0899) in \
order to ensure the thermal pipe is firmly mated with the top base. If t\
he 
bottom housing is not securely attached to the base in this fashion, the\
 CPU 
may overheat and become damaged. 
Important:  Diagnostic service cables allow the unit to run while the bottom housing is 
open (as shown above). However, the computer cannot run for more than five minutes with 
the bottom housing open. If it is open longer, the CPU may overheat and become 
damaged. 
Thermal Paste Application	 iMac (Flat Panel)  Take Apart -
15 
						

							
RJ-11 Modem Filter Board

Tools 
This procedure requires the following tools: 
• Torx-6 screwdriver 
Part Location 
Preliminary Steps 
Before you begin, do the following: 
• Position the computer in the service stand. 
• Remove the user access plate. 
• Remove the bottom housing. 
16 iMac (Flat Panel) Take Apart
 RJ-11 Modem Filter Board  
						

							
Procedure 
1. Remove two screws and disconnect the cable from the modem. 
2. Remove the RJ-11 board from the I/O port. 
Warning: Whenever the bottom housing is opened for service, you must do two things: 
1. You must clean the original thermal film from the surfaces joining the \
thermal 
interface layer and reapply thermal paste to the thermal pipe. 
2. You must tighten the four torx screws on the bottom housing to a minimu\
m of 17 
in.-lbs. If you do not have a torque driver, you will have to make sure \
these 
screws are tightened by hand FIRMLY, BUT NOT FORCIBLY. Or, purchase the \
service tool (076-0899) in order to ensure the thermal pipe is firmly \
mated with the top base. If the bottom housing is not securely attached \
to the 
base in this fashion, the CPU may overheat and become damaged.
 Failure to 
follow either of these steps could cause the computer to overheat and da\
mage 
internal components. 
Refer to the topic, “Thermal Paste Application” for detailed infor\
mation. 
RJ-11 Modem Filter Board  iMac (Flat Panel)  Take Apart -
17