Accessing Apple Cinema Display M8149 Control Boards

Written By: Brett Murphy

Comments: 8

Accessing Apple Cinema Display M8149 Control Boards

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

30 minutes

Introduction

If your Apple Cinema Display M8149 control board isn't sending signals—leading to system crashes—use this guide to replace the faulty control board.

The control board is an essential part of the display as it is the component that acts as the nerve center that the CPU sends signals through. When those signals aren't being processed by the control board, that can cause the system to crash.

Before starting the steps be sure to power off the display and disconnect it from any external power source.

Tools

Step 1

Before starting, make sure the display is unplugged.
Place the Cinema Display so that it is lying on its face and the feet are pointed away from you.
Remove the three screws (9.52 x 4.43mm) that connect the back foot to the hinge using the Hex Key.
Remove the back foot from the hinge mount by grabbing the foot and pulling upwards.

Mine had hex head screws instead of Phillips head.

Bill Greene - 17/03/17

Hex 2.0 screws here too!

dietrichbatista - 25/03/18

Step 2

Remove the eighteen (5.25 x 4.43 mm) screws around the edge of the backplate using the Hex key.
Disconnect the small white connector leading to the display's Power button.
Gently lift the backplate off of the display. Completely remove the backplate and set it aside.

AND: Shall we mention right here, there is a small white connector leading to the display's POWER button that should be disconnected to slide the back plate off.

spudmcat - 21/02/17

These screws too were hex head, not PH2, on my display.

Bill Greene - 17/03/17

Exactly: Hex 2.0 screws

dietrichbatista - 25/03/18

Step 3

Use a Phillips #2 screwdriver to remove the four (9.52 x 3.43 mm) screws on the outer rim of the metal cover.
Next, remove the four cover (11.91 x 2.89 mm) screws located at the corners of the metal cover using the Phillips #2 screwdriver.

Here and on the next step you’ll m

need a PH 2 screwdriver

dietrichbatista - 25/03/18

Step 4

Unplug the large brown plug in the center-right, that connects the control board to the rest of the display.
Unplug the blue and gray plug on the right side of the control board. Repeat with the left side.

There are 2 Phillips screws at the center top and center bottom that need to be removed as well. They are parallel to the work surface if the screen is flat. The control board must be lifted slightly to access the screws. There's also a clip holding the disconnected power connector to the mechanisms below.

About This Matt -