Okay, so I'm new here, and I'm a bit of a noob (compared to most of you anyway), and I've been reading up on the "holy grail"
My problem isn't quite as complicated as using a laptop display though, I have an iMac G4 display I'd like to turn into a desktop monitor.
Now, LVDS cable aside, how would one wire up the inverter? How would I get the voltage to it? I have the original iMac G4's power supply if that'll do the trick, but I can't figure out how to signal it on.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks.
Yes it is. That's a laptop display
This is a question I am asked all the time, and wish to never be asked again. "Can I just use my iMac as a monitor?" or "Can I shove a Mac Mini in the base and drive the internal display with that?" are the two questions I am constantly asked and tired of hearing.
Fact of the matter is that, as DrBunsen so kindly pointed out - it is a laptop display - only made worse by the fact that there is a horrific loom of wiring and mess. Considering that the panels used in the iMacs were not 1st tier lcd panels (those are traditionally used in the pricier panels Apple sells), I doubt that I'd want to use one with a newish computer.
An easier approach would be to gut an iMac, buy a 15" flat panel, and figure out how to route those wires through the neck assembly (not exactly an easy prospect as just removing the neck itself is no day in the park. You're not likely to be able to route the wires you need to route through the neck, if only because of the space constraints.
It's something that can be done, but figuring in the cost of parts and the level of research, time and skill required to accomplish it puts it beyond something I'd go near.
As our FAQs point out, it's not a "this wire to that wire" operation.
I don't want to discourage you if you're really intent on trying this, but selling a working iMac monitor and carcass would get you a substantial amount of the cost of a 'real' LCD monitor.
I meant that it was less complicated in the sense of the size of the connectors and the amount of room i have to work with.
I disassembled a 15" Dell monitor as well, but unfortunately the cables would need to be extended, and the inverter is on the same board as the video controller, so i'd need to run those high-voltage wires through the neck.
Is there any reason (aside from the obvious danger) that the inverter is always located so close to the LCD? will having a longer inverter cable degrade the power?
Aside from that, the panel seemed to fit nicely in the LCD housing, and if i extended the cables I could probably fit the gut in the base and run a fan off some +12v on the video board.
Really, i could care less about salvaging the LCD display from the iMac, i mean you can get a 15" LCD for a little over a hundred dollars nowdays, but I really just love the design of the iMac G4.
The Ballad of Brave Sir Robin
Bravely bold Sir Robin rode forth from Camelot.
He was not afraid to die, O brave Sir Robin!
He was not at all afraid to be killed in nasty ways,
Brave, brave, brave, brave Sir Robin!
He was not in the least bit scared to be mashed into a pulp,
Or to have his eyes gouged out, and his elbows broken;
To have his kneecaps split, and his body burned away;
And his limbs all hacked and mangled, brave Sir Robin!
I left the last third out of it, for family-friendly reasons. Love that movie though.
-- Macinjosh
Updated the Holy Grail page to note that it also applies to iMac monitors.
You and just about every other iMac G4 fanatic out there. I support a lab who refuses to upgrade because they love their 15" iMac G4's. Sure, they're five years old and in pretty horrible shape - but they refuse to move on - because they love the form factor. I've been working on putting together LCD panels on VESA mounts, or VESA mounting contemporary iMacs for them. They seem to be getting more and more receptive to the idea of a vesa mounted iMac 20".
Bah!, tis but a flesh wound.
If thy is seeking the Holy Grail;
Follow the yellow brick road, turn left at the emerald castle then follow signs for ye olde eBay
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VGA-TFT-LCD-Panel-LVDS-Controller-back-Light-Inverter_W0QQitemZ160145346340QQihZ006QQcategoryZ3320QQssPageName
ZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Also I have access to a working iMac G4 so when I get a minute I will attempt to disect it and check out the inverter wiring for you.
It'd be very interesting to know what make/model of controller that is.
Brave Sir Robin ran away - No!
Bravely ran away, away - I didn't!
When danger reared its ugly head
He bravely turned his tail and fled - No!
Yes, brave Sir Robin turned about
And gallantly he chickened out
Bravely taking to his feet
He beat a very brave retreat
Bravest of the brave, Sir Robin
--From the Ballads of Nit
Sing along. Full lyrics and chords here.
"Look, that rabbit's got a vicious streak a mile wide! It's a killer!"
Hey, you guys started it.