Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Target Display Mode on PPC macs?

r6mile

r6mile

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Feb 3, 2010
1,004
505
London, UK
Hi,
I have a 27" 2010 iMac with a mDP port. I use TargetDisplayMode on it to connect it to my work PC laptop using a USB-C>mDP cable, and that works very well.

I am just maybe maybe considering playing around with PowerPCs again (damn you Macrumours, I only came here to find out how to upgrade the GPU in my iMac, and I've ended up getting stuck back in...), but would rather not have to go through the effort of also procuring an external monitor. Could I use my iMac to connect a PowerMac (say, a G4) with a DVI port and use my iMac as a monitor, using a mDP-DVI adapter (I already own this)? Given it works with a PC (only the 2009-2010 27" iMacs can do this), I don't see why not, but I wanted to check people's views?
 
Yes, it will work but:

1) You need the following adapter to convert DVI to DP. A "normal" mDP-to-DVI adapter will not work. The iMac will not accept DVI.

atlona.com

AT-DP400 ***Discontinued*** - Atlona® AV Solutions – Commercial & Education

• • • Discontinued • • • The Atlona AT-DP400 is a DVI to Mini DisplayPort converter designed to convert every Mac or PC computer's with a dual link DVI output to a digital signal over a Mini DisplayPort connector. The AT-DP400 is specifically designed to work with iMac 27" which can support...
atlona.com atlona.com

2) If your PPC Mac doesn't have a dual-link DVI output, you can only get a 1280×720 resolution. The iMac will not display 1920×1080.
 
Thanks a lot, it looks like that adapter is going to be quite expensive. I assume the GPUs on the PowerMac G4 (I am looking at the MDD for example, one of the better looking PowerMacs IMO) didn't have dual-link DVI output anyway?
 
You should be able to find used DP400s for significantly less. I paid less than 10 bucks for mine including shipping. If you're fine with 1280×720 anyway, the DP200 is also an option. And you're correct that no G4 tower has DL-DVI out of the box.
 
Amethyst1 said:
You should be able to find used DP400s for significantly less. I paid less than 10 bucks for mine including shipping. If you're fine with 1280×720 anyway, the DP200 is also an option. And you're correct that no G4 tower has DL-DVI out of the box.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I will have a closer look, everything I am seeing is quite pricey but maybe I'll get lucky. Re your second point, is there a G4-compatible GPU that does have DL-DVI?
 
r6mile said:
Thanks, I will have a closer look, everything I am seeing is quite pricey but maybe I'll get lucky.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately I still need mine, otherwise I'd be more than happy to let you have it. :)

The Dr. Bott Digital Video Link DL is a clone of the DP400. Gefen also have a DL-DVI-DP converter (although I have no experience with that one).
[automerge]1591977374[/automerge]
r6mile said:
Re your second point, is there a G4-compatible GPU that does have DL-DVI?
Click to expand...

Officially, the Radeon 9600 PC&Mac Edition fits the bill. Additionally, cards such as a 9650 from a G5 can also be made to work. However, I have no experience with that so better wait for others to chime in :)
 
DVI is similar to HDMI so any HDMI to DisplayPort converter should work. Club 3d has one that does HDMI 2.0 4K 60Hz (600 MHz). The HDMI 1.4 converters do up to 4K30 (or 1440p60) 340 MHz. DVI single link limit is 165 MHz so either type of adapter will work up to 1080p60.

I have heard of the Gefen adaptor for Dual Link DVI input 1440p60 (330 MHz). The Dr. Bott Digital Video Link DL and DP400 are new to me.

You can go to https://everymac.com , find your Power Mac, and see what GPUs came with it.
There's a list of AGP graphics cards: https://lowendmac.com/video/agp/

The 9800 is twice as fast as the 9600 Pro but doesn't have dual link DVI? Or does the ADC connector support dual link DVI? Wikipedia shows the Apple Display Connector has enough TMDS signals for Dual Link DVI.

The Apple Display Connector (ADC) | Low End Mac

lowendmac.com lowendmac.com
The Apple DVI to ADC adapter M8661LL/B appears to be single link. Belkin has an ADC to DVI adapter but I'm not sure if it's dual link.
 
joevt said:
DVI single link limit is 165 MHz so either type of adapter will work up to 1080p60.
Click to expand...

The 27" iMac will not display "1080p" via Target Display Mode. It's 1280×720 or 2560×1440. So those single-link adapters are useless.

joevt said:
The Dr. Bott Digital Video Link DL and DP400 are new to me.
Click to expand...

I have used both of them, they work fine. I believe the DP400 was the first to be released (not that this matters).

joevt said:
The 9800 is twice as fast as the 9600 Pro but doesn't have dual link DVI? Or does the ADC connector support dual link DVI?
Click to expand...

None of the run-off-the-mill Radeon 9x00 cards have dual-link DVI, they're simply too old. But the 9600 PC&Mac Ediiton that was released in 2005 (!) and the 9650 that shipped in the "early 2005" G5s do.

ADC does not support dual-link DVI as far as I know - and why would it, given ADC displays topped out at 1920×1200?
 
Last edited:
Thanks a lot! It's all looking a bit more difficult (/expensive) than I envisaged to be honest... So either I just try to find a way to make it work, give up on the PowerMac G4 idea, or get it with an extra monitor (which would clutter my desk so I'm not so keen).
I can't even see any 9600 PC/Mac or Mac 9650 GPUs on eBay, so I'd have to find the right kind of G5 with a 9650 (looks like it only came in the early 2005 G5 2.7 DP according to Everymac), and gut the GPU as well as any other parts that might be compatible in an MDD - ie it looks like it's still DDR ram so the G5 RAM should run on a G4 just at a lower speed, hard drives, etc. A challenge, or more trouble than it's worth? We'll find out...
 
So... I have spotted an MDD that is peaking my interest... It has this card at the back, does anyone know what this might be? The one that says Channel 1 / Channel 2.

s-l1600.jpg
 
It vaguely reminds me of SCSI.

external-connectors.gif

[automerge]1592057156[/automerge]
Forgot to say that if you have not bought a Mac yet, you might want to consider a PowerBook. You wouldn't need a monitor for it. :) And the last-gen 15/17s have dual-link DVI to boot.
 
Last edited:
Amethyst1 said:
It vaguely reminds me of SCSI.

external-connectors.gif

[automerge]1592057156[/automerge]
Forgot to say that if you have not bought a Mac yet, you might want to consider a PowerBook. You wouldn't need a monitor for it. :) And the last-gen 15/17s have dual-link DVI to boot.
Click to expand...

Thanks :) I've actually owned Powerbooks before (I had a 12" 1.33Ghz for a little bit), I'm not really buying to actually use for anything, just for the nostalgia and the aesthetics. I quite like the look of the MDD and don't think I've ever had one. Like I said though, I'm still in two minds about whether it's worth the hassle!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Amethyst1
Argh, a 2003 MDD 1.25 (the single CPU model) has just come on eBay and is tempting me... Just to check, I need something like that adapter to display anything at all right? I've found some online but they're not cheap, still £50-60.
IF I go for it, I think I'll not bother with hunting down the right type of GPU for the sake of a higher resolution though, especially when I'm unlikely to use this computer really...
 
Thanks, this also looks like it might do the trick? I know it's not one of the brands you listed above, but it looks like it would work? At £14 I'm willing to take a punt!

www.amazon.co.uk

LINDY 41998 3m DVI-D with USB to Mini DP Active Adapter Cable - Black

This adapter cable accepts video signals via DVI-D input and converts it into a Mini DisplayPort signal. This allows DVI-D equipped workstations or PC’s to be connected to modern Mini DisplayPort monitors, with support for DVI-D single link resolutions up to 1200p 60Hz (1920x1200). Due to its low...
www.amazon.co.uk
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
  • Like
Reactions: Amethyst1
r6mile said:
That is what I like to see!!
Click to expand...
Yeah :) It works great with my 2006 and 2007 MBPs via dual-link DVI and the Atlona converter, as expected.

Problem is it doesn't want to work with my PPC Macs (800MHz TiBook; 1.5GHz 17" PB, both single-link DVI) - I get a solid grey screen while the Apple logo and spinner are shown which is good, but as soon as the GUI loads it goes black and OS X (Jaguar or Tiger) doesn't even see the second monitor. Gonna try OS 9 and Puma on the TiBook next.

(I have a 15" 1.67GHz PB with DL-DVI and a faulty RAM slot and it works with that too but the machine requires Panther which is too similar to Tiger IMO - I was really looking forward to seeing Jag on there!)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back