Chosen Solution
No way!!! I’m so happy. I have a working 2011 27” i7 imac with 16gb ram for $76 USD plus paste and pads. It must have been the LVDS flex cable. By fully removing it from the lcd panel for the photos and then putting it it back I reinstalled the panel and was going to do the flash light test on the desktop when to my delight a white screen ? I have had that panel in and out so many times but had never full removed the flex cable, maybe it was loose at the connection to the lcd but it looked sweet and taped down ECT. If this problem persists I’ll buy a new cable, until then im happy mac’n. Thanks for everyone’s input and i hope this might help others in the future.
Focus on the GPU board, your screen is likely OK. But you hit a wrinkle! It does sound like the systems firmware was not updated to the newer version which supports APFS boot volumes. Your SSD with High Sierra was upgraded to APFS during the install process (the firmware would have been as well) on the system which you had it installed. As the current firmware on this system can only hand HFS+ bot volumes.
LCD side
MLB side
I appreciate the help, thanks everyone, keep the suggestions coming. EDIT: looks like maybe some pulling on the back of the MLB side connector?
It would be nice if they sold an adaptor to go from 2010 to 2011 connected type, wishful thinking.
EDIT: logic board socket
