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DIY 5k Monitor - success :-)
- Thread starter fiatlux
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@specmedia It looks like a problem with the output of the board and/or the input to the screen...
Do you have a more modern Mac (or PC) to try getting an image on the screen with, maybe with HDMI?
It is possible to get replacement eDP cables, but it would probably best to do further testing before getting one.
Who supplied the R9A18?
User @arw in 2022 successfully used a 2013 Mac Pro with a R9A18 board.
Do you have a more modern Mac (or PC) to try getting an image on the screen with, maybe with HDMI?
It is possible to get replacement eDP cables, but it would probably best to do further testing before getting one.
Who supplied the R9A18?
User @arw in 2022 successfully used a 2013 Mac Pro with a R9A18 board.
I've been testing HDMI and a Windows laptop. The result is the same.
I ordered from a trusted stonetaskin
@specmedia Was the screen panel working OK when you last had the iMac running?
You should be able to see something...
You should be able to see something...
After botching the screen removal from my donor iMac I found a screen (only) on eBay and continued the project using that. Objectives at that point were:
Display board - R9A18, no fan, 5K @ 60 10-bit with 2 DP cables, 10W audio, comes with remote.
Power Supply - I didn't want to mess with iMac power supply and instead went with power brick.
Control Strip - The existing display On/Off button is spliced in. I mounted Control Strip on back of R9A18 facing case vents so I could potentially use IR remote. Otherwise I could get to the buttons through RAM access door. I've found that I never use the Control Strip.
Audio - I wanted to reuse internal speakers and wire up L and R crossover circuit using auto grade components. Crossover was built on a small perf board. I/O wires were pretty fragile where I soldered them in so I added some terminal blocks bought at local MicroCenter. It sounds good and goes up pretty loud. Thanks to @PaulD-UK for figuring out the crossover specs.
Video - OWC TB to 2DP splitter mounted internally. I got this idea from @Kaeslin (Post 1409). A CableMatters right angle USB4 cord comes in through original Ethernet port. I used DP cables with the latching mechanism to lessen likelihood of them coming loose.
Plan B - I can't stand the fact that once you close this up it takes major surgery to access the insides for repair, so I have a few Plan Bs. Currently AC is spliced into the iMac AC wires so I can use the original power cord. If the power supply brick ever goes out I can plug in an external PS through the RAM door. Similarly, if the TB to 2DP splitter ever goes out I can go with an external one and run DP cables through RAM door. Finally, if the audio craps out I can always use external speakers on my desktop. I don't expect any of these things to happen but if they do I can keep using the monitor and just live with the ugly until I feel like opening up the monitor to fix (or not).
I ran it for a couple of weeks with screen held on by painters-tape just to make sure everything was going to hold up. It did, so I put on the adhesive strips and sealed it up. I am very happy with the end result. I feel like this was a prototyping exercise and I find myself thinking about what I'll do when I build "the next one". But for now I'll enjoy this one. Thanks to everyone here for sharing their experiences and creativity.
- 5K at 60 Hz main display for Mac mini
- Quiet operation - no fan, no power supply squeal
- Audio - use original speakers with appropriate crossover circuit
- Maintain original look - no drilling, nothing stuck on the outside, keep RAM door intact, use existing AC cord and on/off button
- Have a Plan B
Display board - R9A18, no fan, 5K @ 60 10-bit with 2 DP cables, 10W audio, comes with remote.
Power Supply - I didn't want to mess with iMac power supply and instead went with power brick.
Control Strip - The existing display On/Off button is spliced in. I mounted Control Strip on back of R9A18 facing case vents so I could potentially use IR remote. Otherwise I could get to the buttons through RAM access door. I've found that I never use the Control Strip.
Audio - I wanted to reuse internal speakers and wire up L and R crossover circuit using auto grade components. Crossover was built on a small perf board. I/O wires were pretty fragile where I soldered them in so I added some terminal blocks bought at local MicroCenter. It sounds good and goes up pretty loud. Thanks to @PaulD-UK for figuring out the crossover specs.
Video - OWC TB to 2DP splitter mounted internally. I got this idea from @Kaeslin (Post 1409). A CableMatters right angle USB4 cord comes in through original Ethernet port. I used DP cables with the latching mechanism to lessen likelihood of them coming loose.
Plan B - I can't stand the fact that once you close this up it takes major surgery to access the insides for repair, so I have a few Plan Bs. Currently AC is spliced into the iMac AC wires so I can use the original power cord. If the power supply brick ever goes out I can plug in an external PS through the RAM door. Similarly, if the TB to 2DP splitter ever goes out I can go with an external one and run DP cables through RAM door. Finally, if the audio craps out I can always use external speakers on my desktop. I don't expect any of these things to happen but if they do I can keep using the monitor and just live with the ugly until I feel like opening up the monitor to fix (or not).
I ran it for a couple of weeks with screen held on by painters-tape just to make sure everything was going to hold up. It did, so I put on the adhesive strips and sealed it up. I am very happy with the end result. I feel like this was a prototyping exercise and I find myself thinking about what I'll do when I build "the next one". But for now I'll enjoy this one. Thanks to everyone here for sharing their experiences and creativity.
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hi all,
i'm thinking to try to use the existing mems microphone and adapt some connection to the 6 wire flat cable...3 for each mems mic. there are located on the bottom behind the camera... by the way is there more mems mic ? i've seen some blog talking about where they are located in the bottom.
does anyone know the voltage that the imac 5k motherboard use ? and how to check the
is it 3volts ? for flat cables like that ?
and according to some researchs, all mems mic use 3 wires...
but i dont know if its general case.. for sur not for APPLE.
thanx guys
i'm thinking to try to use the existing mems microphone and adapt some connection to the 6 wire flat cable...3 for each mems mic. there are located on the bottom behind the camera... by the way is there more mems mic ? i've seen some blog talking about where they are located in the bottom.
does anyone know the voltage that the imac 5k motherboard use ? and how to check the
is it 3volts ? for flat cables like that ?
and according to some researchs, all mems mic use 3 wires...
but i dont know if its general case.. for sur not for APPLE.
- AUD - Audio signal output.
- VCC - Voltage input (1.5V to 3.3V). To power this lil' mic, use a DC voltage with a supply current of about 250μA for ADMP401 or 260μA for ICS-40180. We'll be using 3.3V from an Arduino's.
- GND - Ground.
thanx guys