iBook G4 (12", 2004) DVI Monitor Query

[d0od]

Hey folks,

Is it possible to connect an iBook G4 (12" late 2004 = mini-VGA out) to a DVI-D monitor?

I'm aware the iBook output is analog and the monitor input is digital. I was hoping (now it's 2025) a simple bit of daisy-chaining will take care of the disparity and allow me connect to the iBook to the monitor (a Formac Gallery 2010, if anyone remembers those from back in the day).

The Formac has a hard-wired DVI-D (male) cable.

In my head it'd go:

[iBook*] mini-VGA -> VGA female (adapter) to VGA male -> DVI-? female (cable) to DVI-D male [monitor]

The "?" is what I'm stuck on. I'm not sure what the various DVI spec adapters/cables I see on Amazon et al support, and though they're not expensive, I'd rather buy the right thing, with the correct pins in the correct positions, first-time.

Can an analog VGA output even be converted "in cable" to a digital source the monitor can detect?

Google is useless at surfacing any relevant help, it's just a sea of mini-DVI to DVI cable shopping results, which aren't what I want/need, the AI summary answers are vague to the point of unhelpful (and likely incorrect at that), while DVI cable product info is, understandably, focused on modern device compatibility.

*I'm aware I need to use an app called Screen Spanner (?) to "unlock" support for the monitor's 1200x1600 resolution. The iBooks of that era were firmware-blocked from doing anything other than mirroring.

 

[Doq]

Refer to this chart to see what kind of connector you're looking at:

Spoiler: DVI CHART

If you have DVI-I (instead of DVI-D as you've stated), you might be able to use a passive cable to connect your monitor as you've outlined.

If you actually have DVI-D, you'll need an active signal adapter to make it happen.

It might be more cost-effective to get two adapters: one to adapt VGA to HDMI (actively), and another to adapt HDMI to DVI-D (passively).

 

[joevt]

I don't think I've ever seen a DVI-I display. Did such a thing exist? I know there were VGA LCD displays but I don't know if they had a DVI-I input.

 

[salamanderjuice]

I don't think I've ever seen a DVI-I display. Did such a thing exist? I know there were VGA LCD displays but I don't know if they had a DVI-I input.

Yes, for example this one: https://www.ebay.ca/itm/156780249079

I think it was pretty common on business monitors of that era, ~2005ish.

 

[joevt]

Yes, for example this one: https://www.ebay.ca/itm/156780249079

I think it was pretty common on business monitors of that era, ~2005ish.

Oh, interesting. You can get an adapter to split the input (DVI-I) into digital (DVI-D) and analog parts (VGA). The display lets you choose which input of the splitter to use.
https://www.pcmag.com/archive/sharp-ll-172g-138397

Here's a couple examples from StarTech (couldn't find Sharp LL-172G specific info):
https://www.startech.com/en-ca/cables/dvi92030202l
https://www.startech.com/en-ca/cables/dvivgaymm6