20" iMac G5 iSight SSD and other HW options

[Bug-Creator]

Am in the mood for some HW hacking so.....


Would this iMac take any SATA SSD or is it just as picky as as some G5 PowerMacs?

Does the connector to the screen follow any common standard?
Would be interesting to connect it to some FullHD or better screen (which may or may not fit into the case, but thats not the issue).
Using the (Mini)VGA is sadly no option....

 

[Traace]

It needs to be SATA I (1.5Gb/sec) compatible . At least on my iMac G5 17" rev.A

Some SATA drives will auto negotiate speed, others have jumpers to force SATA I or can do it via a firmware tool, some dont work at all.

 

[laurihoefs]

The panel is LG-Philips LM201W01-STB2. I could not find the datasheet, but it has been available online at some point, so a bit of googling might do the trick.

Anyway, according to panelook.com it uses Single Link TMDS signalling. So you may be able to replace the panel with another one with similar or lower resolution, or even make an adapter to Single Link DVI. However larger resolutions would require more TMDS channels, which may not be available on the logic board, as the iMac G5 never shipped with higher resolution panels.

So some TMDS panels may work, LVDS panels would require a converter.

There are some other gotchas though:
-the panel parameters might be hard coded (no EDID)
-if EDID is used, the logic board may still only understand a handful of configurations and parameters
-driving the backlight may be an issue

 

[Bug-Creator]

So I bought a "SanDisk SSD PLUS 240GB" and it works (mounted with only 1 screw.....).

As to the panel stuff, thanks for the info but I'd guess it's a bit to steep for me atm.

Might be interesting if the FullHD panel in my dead 2010 iMac is of the compatible kind. Would require massive hacking.

 

[Traace]

So I bought a "SanDisk SSD PLUS 240GB" and it works (mounted with only 1 screw.....).

As to the panel stuff, thanks for the info but I'd guess it's a bit to steep for me atm.

Might be interesting if the FullHD panel in my dead 2010 iMac is of the compatible kind. Would require massive hacking.

I wonder whats broken with your iMac ?
(my solder iron needs work)

 

[Bug-Creator]

I wonder whats broken with your iMac ?
(my solder iron needs work)

The 2010? Will just crash after a while, guessing broken solder on one of the main chips (Northbridge, CPU, GPU that kinda stuff).

 

[Traace]

The 2010? Will just crash after a while, guessing broken solder on one of the main chips (Northbridge, CPU, GPU that kinda stuff).

Oh sounds interesting. I like to revive that old boy