iMac is this normal?

[Big Jim]

We don't get too many Macs in here so I don't know if this is normal.
The picture doesn't show it too well but if you look around the top left screw hole and left side of the board also down the right side of the board you can see a white residue.
Also the dust on this board looks a bit different, also kind of like it has got wet/damp.
This is the power board by the way.

To me this looks like water ingress/damp but not sure, the front of the board with the components on looks fine.
The machine is also working fine (apart from a dead HDD) so it isn't actually causing a problem (well up to now at least)

 

[sapphirescales]

Gross. That thing is really dusty. What is that white crap? Mold? I've never seen it before on any computer. The board on the left side doesn't seem to have it. Maybe that middle board was refurbished? Apple has been known to used refurbished parts in new computers in the past. Maybe that white crap is a byproduct of whatever they did to "fix" the board? I dunno. If it were me I'd clean it up and make sure to show this to the client so that if fails after you've touched it they're less likely to blame you.

 

[phaZed]

IMO, it looks pretty normal.

The middle board is statically charged by high voltages - this is why that board has a bunch of dust... you can see it 'adhering' to the traces on the board.

The white stuff does look like a bit of liquid was present at one time, perhaps from where the back cover/fan shroud touches the unit? The same effect could be had if the computer was dragged out of a cold house and placed in a hot and humid outdoors for a small time.

 

[Markverhyden]

I've seen white stuff like that and it's not always related to humidity, etc. One time was on one of my own machines so I know it never had a bath. I think that sometimes there is a oxidation type reaction if the boards are coated. So are and some are not.

 

[timeshifter]

What problem is the machine having now? Just the dead hard drive?

Looks like the machine belongs to a smoker the way that dust seems to stick everywhere.

 

[trevm999]

I've seen white stuff like that and it's not always related to humidity, etc. One time was on one of my own machines so I know it never had a bath. I think that sometimes there is a oxidation type reaction if the boards are coated. So are and some are not.

Yeah, it's normal. I saw it all the time when I was an Apple tech for an AASP. More often than not, if I remember correctly.

 

[sapphirescales]

Yeah, it's normal. I saw it all the time when I was an Apple tech for an AASP. More often than not, if I remember correctly.

Weird. I do a lot of Apple stuff and I've never seen it before. Maybe it's environmental? Maybe it just doesn't happen where I live. Do you have any idea what that white stuff actually is?

 

[trevm999]

Weird. I do a lot of Apple stuff and I've never seen it before. Maybe it's environmental? Maybe it just doesn't happen where I live. Do you have any idea what that white stuff actually is?

Not sure, I didn't even really think about it. I suppose I've never actually seen the board in a regular desktop PSU before, so I might have just assumed those boards look like that too.

 

[cyabro]

Yeah, it's normal. I saw it all the time when I was an Apple tech for an AASP. More often than not, if I remember correctly.

Can confirm, we see it all the time too in the iMacs.
I always think liquid damage when I first see it but then remember that it's pretty normal.

 

[Big Jim]

Ok good to know. Thanks guys. And I assume you leave it alone? Or do you clean the board up?

Don't think this is a smokers machine, I don't open that many Mac's but the dust didn't look abnormal to me, they don't have a lot of space or ventilation so I expect the dust to stick to everything to be honest. And it's not like it's easy for your average owner to open it to dust inside either

 

[Markverhyden]

If it was or had been a smoker you'd have noticed right away as soon as you cracked it open.

 

[trevm999]

If it was or had been a smoker you'd have noticed right away as soon as you cracked it open.

Before you crack it open, at least with the iMacs with the removeable glass