imac G3 use as an external screen

is it a trayload or slotload?
the crt in the trayload is connected to the main board by a mac db-15 connector. if you put a db-15-vga adapter on the board and then connect the cable to another computer you can actually use it as a standalone crt.

However I've read that you need a card that can output to the non-standard sync/refresh rates of the iMac's CRT, and that ppl have had more success with this under Linux than Windows. You need drivers that can access all different video settings.

Don't quote me though, just remembering off the top of my head.

If you google for one of the hacks where people have put ATX or MiniITX boards into iMacs that should tell you all you need.

Have an slot loading blue and white imac. And a new mac mini. Want to use the imac as monitor. The mac mini comes with a VGA adapter.

So does anyone know if you can pop the shell, unplug the monitor from the imac board, and stick it in the mac mini? It looks like it. There may be some cabling needed and how should the power run. If anyone knows please reply. Otherwise I'll find out soon.

On a slotload it likely wouldn't work easily. Only the trayloaders used a Mac video plug inside the machine. On slotloaders it uses a direct ribbon cable connection through the PAV board. If your iMac has a VGA plug inside on the mobo, it is for video out, NOT in.

However, if you do adapte the internal connector, the iMac uses high refresh rates for 640x480 and 800x600 modes, and for 1024x768 it uses pretty standard 75Hz. On top of that, you'll have to hack in a way to get the CRT to power up. It might be do able, but the ease of finding a used 17"+ CRT for very cheap makes it impracticle.