Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

one sick puppy · Oct 28, 2006, 05:55 PM

Hi,

I'm thinking of buying an iBook 12" 1.33ghz. It's out of warranty and I want to make as sure as I can that I don't buy one with a bad logic board or one that will probably develop a logic board problem.

With that said, are there any signs that the logic board will fail or is faulty? What can I do to test?

hookem2oo7 · Oct 28, 2006, 06:22 PM

The G3 iBooks were the ones with the serious logic board problems. This isn't saying that this G4 won't have problems, but it is a lot less likely...

Simon · Oct 29, 2006, 01:52 AM

The install DVD normally carries the Apple Hardware Test. Insert the DVD, boot the machine and hold d. Run the AHT. If the motherboard's bad, AHT should let you know. Other than that, check the serial number and Apple's extended repair programs. If you're within the serial no. range they specify, chances are you're in for a repair.

Sherman Homan · Oct 29, 2006, 05:48 AM

Ditto what Simon says! I had a client who bought 15 of the infamous 12" iBooks. I can't tell you how many went in for repairs. Ultimately, the hassle of repairing them wasn't worth it. We replaced them and threw the dead ones out. At the end I think only two of them survived. Ironically, the two that lived never went in for repairs. They worked perfectly from day one. The rest were worse than duds.