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20" iMac with cracked LCD - possible to use external monitor?

K

karenajane

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Hello. I searched the forums, but it doesn't appear as if this question has ever been sufficiently resolved...so I am going to raise the question again. I apologize in advance if I somehow missed a thread.

I have an iMac (20", 2006 model, Intel Core Duo, etc.) that is in excellent, working condition...aside from the fact that it didn't like having its face smashed in. 🙁 The screen is almost completely covered with the weird leaf-like pattern that forms in such situations...and is thus, unusable at this point.

Can anyone tell me, without a trace of doubt, if it is possible to hook up a new LCD monitor to the iMac and use the old, broken unit as a CPU? If so, what will I need? Has anyone actually done this?

Conversely, would I be better off simply selling the iMac for parts on eBay and putting the $$ toward a shiny new Mac?

Any input is greatly appreciated!
 
Here's a picture of the poor thing, just for reference:

3268412842_b93f46a1ed_o.jpg
 
karenajane said:
if it is possible to hook up a new LCD monitor to the iMac and use the old, broken unit as a CPU? If so, what will I need? Has anyone actually done this?
Click to expand...

The thread you quoted was regarding opening up your imac and putting in an LCD panel removed from a Dell (or similar) display.

It sounds like you just want to hookup another display to the mini-dvi / mini-vga (not sure which you have) port of your imac? All you would need is the appropriate cable.

It looks like enough of the original screen works that you could configure the settings to make the 2nd display the main display (i.e., contain the dock).
 
Use the appropriate cable (mini dvi or VGA) and mirror the screens so that the same video is on each screen. Search the apple store for more information about the correct cable for your machine. The Apple video cables are quite expensive. However, there are aftermarket cables available that work just fine and are less than half the price.

Cheers.
 
Hawkeye411 said:
Use the appropriate cable (mini dvi or VGA) and mirror the screens so that the same video is on each screen. Search the apple store for more information about the correct cable for your machine. The Apple video cables are quite expensive. However, there are aftermarket cables available that work just fine and are less than half the price.

Cheers.
Click to expand...

Thanks to both of you! Sorry about the other thread -- I swore someone mentioned using another monitor in the same way there. Whoops.

Can you explain how I would go about determining which adapter I would need? I found these...

http://store.apple.com/us/product/M9320G/A#overview

http://store.apple.com/us/product/M9321G/B?fnode=MTY1NDA3Ng&mco=MzE3OTYxNA

...but I am not sure which one I would need. Also, they look kind of short. Am I missing something?

Thanks a bunch for your help!
 
karenajane said:
...but I am not sure which one I would need. Also, they look kind of short. Am I missing something?
Click to expand...

They are short because they convert the mini-vga or mini-dvi port on your iMac to the standard sized vga or dvi port your 2nd display would use. So you use that short cable in conjunction with the longer cables that your display will come with.

As for which one you need, do you know if your iMac has an Intel or G5 processor in it? If its an iMac G5 w/iSight then its mini-vga according to this information:

http://apple-history.com/?page=gallery&model=imac_isight&performa=off&sort=date&order=ASC&range=

If it is an Intel-based iMac, then it has mini-dvi:

http://apple-history.com/?page=gallery&model=imac_mid_06&performa=off&sort=date&order=ASC&range=

Also, here are pictures of the mini-vga and mini-dvi connectors:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini-VGA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini-DVI

Also, do you already have an LCD picked out to connect to your iMac? Does it have a VGA or DVI cable on it? Many have both, in which case using DVI is preferable. I ask because if the LCD is ONLY VGA, and your computer is mini-DVI, then you'll need the "mini-DVI to VGA" cable. If your LCD has DVI, and your iMac has mini-dvi, then you can use the "mini-DVI to DVI" cable. If your iMac only has mini-VGA, then your only option is the "mini-VGA to VGA" cable, and use the VGA cable from your LCD.
 
djc6 said:
As for which one you need, do you know if your iMac has an Intel or G5 processor in it?

Also, do you already have an LCD picked out to connect to your iMac? Does it have a VGA or DVI cable on it?
Click to expand...

Intel processor...and no on the new monitor, but I definitely feel better informed at this point. Thank you so much for all of your help!
 
Nearly the same scenario as has been disccussed

Hello everyone,
I am a Windows guy that was given a free 20" IMAC (all in one, (G5 I think)) this weekend. It has a monitor that is not supposed to work (cat knocked it off a table (visually, it looks perfect but I have not powered it up yet), and the hard drive is dead). I have never used an Apple before so this is all new to me. I have a heavy Windows/moderate UNIX background and wanted to ask a few questions. The specs are 20", 2.16 GHz processor, 1 Gig RAM, had a 250 Gig HD, 3 USB/2 Fire-wire ports, mini DVI connection, mouse, and a remote control along with a pretty cool looking keyboard.

1) Is there a (clean) way of transferring the internal parts to a PC-style computer case because the new replacement monitor is around $800+, that I found?
2) Can I use a 5400 or 7200 regular SATA hard-drive in or does Apple use some proprietary drive?
3) If the monitor is dead, can I use the "mini DVI to DVI or VGA connector" discussed in the previous postings to one of my monitors (I have both a DVI and VGA connector on one of my monitors) to load the IMAC software CDs (operating system).

Thanks a ton for any help that can be given.
Jesse
 
simply take your PC monitor and plug it into the back of the iMac.

If the HD is dead, look at the DIY procedure and replace it with a cheap drive or the right type IDE or SATA. Standard desktop drive.

Hopefully you got the DVDs that came with the machine, or you will have to call apple and pay $20-25 for a new set.
 
Thanks,
I know how to rebuild Windows/Unix boxes but with no experience in the Apple arena I do not know what is the same and what is different with how an Apple does or does not work (internally). I have the disks and while I'm waiting to pick up a drive this week I was thinking about booting off an Ubuntu CD just to see that everything else is working the way it should.

Thanks again,
Jese
 
britainj4129 said:
1) Is there a (clean) way of transferring the internal parts to a PC-style computer case because the new replacement monitor is around $800+, that I found?
Click to expand...

I've been planning a plastic/plexi case to house the logic board and power supply from a early 2006 Core Duo iMac that has the "vertical lines of death" LCD. Presently it's under a desk driving a Samsung 22" LCD panel, but the location of the power switch and Superdrive slot make it a challenge.

Without an LCD, I'm hoping to shrink the footprint and have the SuperDrive act like a toaster slot. 🙂
 
MTI,
I was thinking about doing the same thing but then I thought about using it as a desktop. I could remove the base, create some sort of bracket, and then atach it (monitor side to the desk) to an outside or underside area of my desk where it is out of the way but useable. I am still deciding on how I want to proceed. I have looked at a few creations that some people have performed and even though they work, I do not think I would be happy with the same appearance.
I was really hoping that there would be a "Mini-ATX" (shoebox) style case that was available for purchase just for this type of change-over. With the number of reports that I have seen on-line since starting to look this past weekend I am quite sure there would be a nice demand for it.
 
Laying the iMac, face down, is a pretty big footprint to deal with on a desktop. Moving the logic board/ps/drives to a smaller case or enclosure would require some cable extensions to be used to allow a more compact placement.

I agree that given the number of failed LCD iMacs, an alternative case would answer a need. Of course, we can all hope that the outcome of the lawsuits covers some portion of the price of a fix or new iMac. 😉
 
However, as tennis player & Davis Cup coach, Tony Trabert used to say "Never change a winning game, always change a losing one."
 
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