Apple M4551 (Apple Studio LCD) Failure and Repair

[eraser]

Hi all,

I have an M4551 that I need help with. This monitor displays a series of vertical lines and 'garbage' when connected to VGA. I have disassembled this unit and attached another known good LCD panel and I got the same result so my assumption is that the main board has failed.

After disassembly of the monitor I have found that Apple has 'protected' the controller board substantially. The wiring harnesses are glued in place internally and may require cutting the wires free (at least on my monitor) in order to open the cover on the controller board module.

Does anyone happen to know what on the controller board is failing and how to fix it?

As a sidenote the panel itself is manufactured by LG and is an LG LM151X1 panel. The M4551 uses the C2MN version of the panel and the later graphite model (M7613) uses the D2MN version. The two panels have identical dimensions and connectors and I assume that the D2MN will work with the older M4551 but I don't think the C2MN panel will work with the later monitor. Any information on this would also be welcome.

Thanks!

 

[eraser]

I 'liberated' the control board but I can't spot anything obvious. xx(

Anyone have a theory?

 

[techknight]

Check the capacitors with a blowdryer to heat them up then attempt to power-on and see if it makes a difference. If ok, bad Scalar IC. I have seen it a few times on older monitors.

 

[mectojic]

Has anyone done a teardown of this model, and could help me out? I can't work out how to remove the front bezel.