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oKUtItyp

macrumors member
Original poster
Apr 30, 2019
36
8
Saw a few screen broken 2019 listed at eBay at very low price, and I have a working 2017 upgraded with ssd and memory.

Thinking of buy the screen broken 2019, take out logicboard, upgrade ssd, and then put it in my 2017 case. Doable? Exact match and direct replacement? Case match prefect?

Thanks,
 

TwoH

macrumors 6502
May 19, 2019
446
267
Yeah it’s doable, only real difference is the backlight cable being at an angle on the 2019 LCD compared to straight on the 2017. But you can just angle it into place and forcefully push the screen back for it to be okay, or just swap the backlight cable over if you wish.

Cases are identical
 

oKUtItyp

macrumors member
Original poster
Apr 30, 2019
36
8
Yeah it’s doable, only real difference is the backlight cable being at an angle on the 2019 LCD compared to straight on the 2017. But you can just angle it into place and forcefully push the screen back for it to be okay, or just swap the backlight cable over if you wish.

Cases are identical
Thanks! Do you by chance know is iMac Pro 5k 2017 also interchangeable with iMac 5k 2017?
 

TwoH

macrumors 6502
May 19, 2019
446
267
Thanks! Do you by chance know is iMac Pro 5k 2017 also interchangeable with iMac 5k 2017?
Nah, there’s a plastic mount where the camera is on the iMac Pro screen that will get in the way on any other iMac (excluding 2020, as both these machines have the camera attached to the screen itself.)
 
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realeoin

macrumors newbie
Aug 4, 2010
7
4
Nah, there’s a plastic mount where the camera is on the iMac Pro screen that will get in the way on any other iMac (excluding 2020, as both these machines have the camera attached to the screen itself.)
I'll be that guy and say nobody mentioned iMac Pro

But yeah I'm looking to do the same thing here more or less

I have a damaged 2019 iMac 5K that I ant to house in a old 2017 iMac 5K
 

PaulD-UK

macrumors 6502a
Oct 23, 2009
547
255
The backlight cable of a 5K iMac screen (all years) is fixed to the screen electronics. There is no detaching it.
FWIW the iMac Pro backlight cable (fixed) and eDP cable (removable) are in totally different positions.
 

TwoH

macrumors 6502
May 19, 2019
446
267
The backlight cable of a 5K iMac screen (all years) is fixed to the screen electronics. There is no detaching it.
FWIW the iMac Pro backlight cable (fixed) and eDP cable (removable) are in totally different positions.
Untrue, they all can be removed
 

PaulD-UK

macrumors 6502a
Oct 23, 2009
547
255
Maybe 😉
By breaking the seal and dismantling the screen pcb protective cover?
Please link to a repair guide - google shows nothing.

On a device notorious for dust ingress problems us amateurs don’t venture so far.
I ‘ll take your word.

iMac2020Backlight.jpg
iMac22020Backlight2.jpg
 
Last edited:

TwoH

macrumors 6502
May 19, 2019
446
267
I’m not entirely sure what you mean.

The backlight cable is that black cable, which is stuck down with adhesive to the assembly, you can easily pry it off. Then it is simply connected in both bottom corners which can be lifted up after removing small bits of tape.

I don’t have any pictures on hand of the process
 
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mikas

macrumors 6502a
Sep 14, 2017
888
645
Finland
Looking for a replacement screen for iMac 2017 27". According to this thread 5K 2019 is not entirely compatible regarding the cable, how about 5K 2015, 5K 2014. Are they identical to 2017?

I'm thinking of buying a used/damaged iMac with a known working screen, replacement screens seem to cost the same or more than a working 27" iMac.
 
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