Original iMac as DVD monitor
April 11, 2007 4:51 PM Subscribe
(Standard Google-Fu failure disclaimer.) How can I use my old Rev. B iMac as a monitor for a DVD player?
The hard drive is hosed, so I'd like to just bypass (preferably remove) the whole motherboard, drives and other guts. I need to power the monitor, and find a way to plug in a standard video device. I may try and fit a small DVD player into the case, but I can figure that part out once I get the other part figured out. (I already know how to take the case apart and removed the motherboard, btw.)
The hard drive is hosed, so I'd like to just bypass (preferably remove) the whole motherboard, drives and other guts. I need to power the monitor, and find a way to plug in a standard video device. I may try and fit a small DVD player into the case, but I can figure that part out once I get the other part figured out. (I already know how to take the case apart and removed the motherboard, btw.)
Response by poster: Thanks, you. However, it looks like the other AskMe is talking about using the old iMac as a computer monitor. I want to use mine as a funky-looking TV. I can indeed replace the hard drive easily enough, but I don't want to use it as a computer at all. And, as a computer, it doesn't play DVDs. To clarify, this is the old bondi blue iMac with the CRT monitor.
posted by The Deej at 5:09 PM on April 11, 2007
posted by The Deej at 5:09 PM on April 11, 2007
However, it looks like the other AskMe is talking about using the old iMac as a computer monitor. I want to use mine as a funky-looking TV
The difference between a TV and a (CRT) monitor isn't great, except that it already functions as a CRT. That is just about impossible, so I'm pretty sure making a TV-type device would be more so.
posted by niles at 5:12 PM on April 11, 2007
The difference between a TV and a (CRT) monitor isn't great, except that it already functions as a CRT. That is just about impossible, so I'm pretty sure making a TV-type device would be more so.
posted by niles at 5:12 PM on April 11, 2007
"That is just about impossible" refers to the using of old iMacs as monitors.
posted by niles at 5:15 PM on April 11, 2007
posted by niles at 5:15 PM on April 11, 2007
Best answer: I'm not familiar with how the monitor hooks up to the motherboard inside the iMac, and I don't feel like getting my rev. B iMac out of storage, but if it is a regular VGA connection, this may help. You will need an external tv tuner to hook your DVD player up to, though.
posted by doublesix at 5:24 PM on April 11, 2007
posted by doublesix at 5:24 PM on April 11, 2007
If I remember coorectly, the connection between the motherboard and the CRT is a male VGA connector. So you if you can find a device to convert your DVD's output to VGA you've got a start. The problem you may encounter is I remember the CRT drawing power off the motherboard through a non-standard connector, sou you're going to have to find a way to splice a new power supply onto it.
posted by lekvar at 5:32 PM on April 11, 2007
posted by lekvar at 5:32 PM on April 11, 2007
The internal connection on a revision B iMac is indeed a VGA connection (it's the newer flatscreen iMacs which can't easily be converted to use an external source). A converter in the style to which doublesix linked will do the trick.
Only difficulty I could see would be whether or not the CRT power supply turns on without a load from the computer (the same power supply powers both the screen and computer, obviously). I don't have any insight into that.
posted by j.edwards at 5:34 PM on April 11, 2007
Only difficulty I could see would be whether or not the CRT power supply turns on without a load from the computer (the same power supply powers both the screen and computer, obviously). I don't have any insight into that.
posted by j.edwards at 5:34 PM on April 11, 2007
Response by poster: Hey, wow, thanks for the quick replies everyone. I think doublesix is on the right track! And I may be able to keep the motherboard in place just to power the monitor, but send the signal to it from another source.
posted by The Deej at 5:41 PM on April 11, 2007
posted by The Deej at 5:41 PM on April 11, 2007
After buying a device to turn TV/DVD signals into VGA, you'll have spent more money than buying a similarly sized television, and it probably won't look good. I'm just saying, is all.
posted by RustyBrooks at 6:21 PM on April 11, 2007
posted by RustyBrooks at 6:21 PM on April 11, 2007
But after all of my nay-saying, you'd better post pictures if you pull this off
posted by niles at 6:34 PM on April 11, 2007
posted by niles at 6:34 PM on April 11, 2007
Cut out the middleman - here's a DVD player with VGA output. No, I don't work for cnet.
posted by doublesix at 6:38 PM on April 11, 2007
posted by doublesix at 6:38 PM on April 11, 2007
Wait a sec...couldn't you just replace the CD drive with a DVD drive, load a PPC variant of Linux (Ubuntu and Yellow Dog come to mind), and install DVD/media player software? You proabaly even have a IR port, which I'm sure you could set a remote up for. IIRC, Mac OS responds to most Sony remotes, as a holdover from the Mac TV days, but it looks like there's Linux support for it.
I know this probably isn't in the spirit of what you were thinking, but this could be easier. Come to think of it, I have an old iMac lying around. If I can figure out why it doesn't turn on all the time, I might have to give this a try.
posted by niles at 9:22 PM on April 11, 2007
I know this probably isn't in the spirit of what you were thinking, but this could be easier. Come to think of it, I have an old iMac lying around. If I can figure out why it doesn't turn on all the time, I might have to give this a try.
posted by niles at 9:22 PM on April 11, 2007
Response by poster: I will FOR SURE post photos and an update if I pull this off.
True, I can buy a little TV for cheap. But I am not doing this because I NEED a little TV. My little 2 bedroom apartment already has a 27 inch TV in each bedroom and a widescreen 55 inch in the living room, which can also be seen from the kitchen. I am doing this because an iMac converted to a TV will look so cool on my kitchen counter! :) I even thought of buying a little TV and fitting its guts into the iMac case, but I don't think it would be a good fit.
niles, I like the Linux idea. In fact, it does boot up from an Ubuntu CD right now, so I know it will work. Not sure if running a DVD on a 233mhz processor would be any good though.
doublesix... now THAT looks interesting! Hmmmm
Thanks again everyone!
posted by The Deej at 5:06 AM on April 12, 2007
True, I can buy a little TV for cheap. But I am not doing this because I NEED a little TV. My little 2 bedroom apartment already has a 27 inch TV in each bedroom and a widescreen 55 inch in the living room, which can also be seen from the kitchen. I am doing this because an iMac converted to a TV will look so cool on my kitchen counter! :) I even thought of buying a little TV and fitting its guts into the iMac case, but I don't think it would be a good fit.
niles, I like the Linux idea. In fact, it does boot up from an Ubuntu CD right now, so I know it will work. Not sure if running a DVD on a 233mhz processor would be any good though.
doublesix... now THAT looks interesting! Hmmmm
Thanks again everyone!
posted by The Deej at 5:06 AM on April 12, 2007
Response by poster: Oh, niles, maybe your iMac doesn't turn on all the time because the PRAM battery is dead. Give that a shot. Radio Shack carries the battery. (Just my way of letting you take the lead on this so I can copy your success.)
posted by The Deej at 5:07 AM on April 12, 2007
posted by The Deej at 5:07 AM on April 12, 2007
Response by poster: Also... just so my fellow geeks know my while thinking: IF I can't get the DVD angle to work, I will use it for photo slide shows, or for looping QuickTime videos of family stuff. If I get the DVD to work, my plan was to use DVDs to play the slide shows, in addition to playing movies. Think of it as a decorating accessory.
And, I am not against replacing the hard drive if it makes the end result easier. They are under $20 on eBay.
posted by The Deej at 5:51 AM on April 12, 2007
And, I am not against replacing the hard drive if it makes the end result easier. They are under $20 on eBay.
posted by The Deej at 5:51 AM on April 12, 2007
Response by poster: Alright, I have marked 2 contrary answers as best.
doublesix is correct: I could use the converter as shown in the video and it should work. I would also have to get a 3-row, 15 pin adapter to make it fit the Apple 2-row, 15 pin video connector. The cost: around $150 for the TVBox-9 as shown in the linked video, plus whatever DVD player I have laying around. Using a DVD player with built in VGA is another option doublesix mentions, for about $80.
The key is: you can't just adapt the connections and make it work, it MUST go through a converter. Which is why you's answer ends up being correct, even though he is actually referring to a different question. :) As it turns out, I can get a later version of funky, CRT iMac on ebay for around $120 including shipping. The later versions have a slot-loading, built-in DVD drive.
Sooo.... thanks everyone. And I hope this is helpful to anyone else with the same idea. If I do manage to make my Rev B iMac work, or indeed if I do any kind of converting to it, I will post a link here as promised.
Ah well..... good times...
posted by The Deej at 5:13 AM on April 13, 2007
doublesix is correct: I could use the converter as shown in the video and it should work. I would also have to get a 3-row, 15 pin adapter to make it fit the Apple 2-row, 15 pin video connector. The cost: around $150 for the TVBox-9 as shown in the linked video, plus whatever DVD player I have laying around. Using a DVD player with built in VGA is another option doublesix mentions, for about $80.
The key is: you can't just adapt the connections and make it work, it MUST go through a converter. Which is why you's answer ends up being correct, even though he is actually referring to a different question. :) As it turns out, I can get a later version of funky, CRT iMac on ebay for around $120 including shipping. The later versions have a slot-loading, built-in DVD drive.
Sooo.... thanks everyone. And I hope this is helpful to anyone else with the same idea. If I do manage to make my Rev B iMac work, or indeed if I do any kind of converting to it, I will post a link here as promised.
Ah well..... good times...
posted by The Deej at 5:13 AM on April 13, 2007
Response by poster: Late follow-up for posterity.
I bought an iMac 400MHz, DVD-ROM, 20 GB Hard Drive, 512MB Memory. It's orange and includes the matching mouse and keyboard. It was about $140 including shipping. There were many others available for a little less, but I wanted one of the more unusual colors.
So, $140 isn't bad for a combination DVD movie machine, stereo, internet appliance, recipe server, game machine, and funky decorative accessory for my my kitchen/dining counter. Plus I can link it into my home network.
posted by The Deej at 11:26 AM on April 29, 2007
I bought an iMac 400MHz, DVD-ROM, 20 GB Hard Drive, 512MB Memory. It's orange and includes the matching mouse and keyboard. It was about $140 including shipping. There were many others available for a little less, but I wanted one of the more unusual colors.
So, $140 isn't bad for a combination DVD movie machine, stereo, internet appliance, recipe server, game machine, and funky decorative accessory for my my kitchen/dining counter. Plus I can link it into my home network.
posted by The Deej at 11:26 AM on April 29, 2007
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If only the hard drive is hosed, why not just replace that?
posted by you at 5:00 PM on April 11, 2007