Q: how do I use the VGA output on my iMac G3

Generally the port should supply video to a VGA adapter

and to find the correct one is important; perhaps difficult.

If the port is a basic Mini-VGA, then you'd need to find a

good MiniVGA to VGA to use a regular VGA display.

Not sure if a DVI could do anything there.

The oldest tray-loading iMac G3 does not have a VGA port.

There are images of the ports online, with some details.

The port may be a Mini-VGA or other, in later slot-load

optical drive models; the older tray-load models, nope.

There had been some way of adapting an external display

to these, but the native one had to be up running; this is

to say a headless early iMac needed it CRT working, too.

You may have to check with some online sources of Mac

parts to see what may still be out there for ancient models.

If a firmware update was not applied in some models, then

the internal display could fail. The workaround was tedious.

Good luck & happy computing!

Your Mac model should have a regular VGA port,

so all you need is a VGA cable, and a monitor with a VGA input. VGA cables are very common in any computer store, and most monitors have a VGA input at their most basic.

Been several years since I owned an iMac G3 400DV model with a hidden display

port behind the computer near an access point door. Yet certain features changed

as they advanced the product line, and then was dropped in advent of eMac series.

The last model eMac 1.42GHz was a superior machine, but had fan(s) that ran and

it was heavier, and did not dual boot; so long as it had Tiger 10.4.11, Classic mode

allowed use of earlier Mac OS 9 applications. It had a better display.

There had been some information on the iMac G3 models online for awhile, as they

have gone more obsolete, many sites no longer have that content, if they exist at all.

LowEndMac and others were a source of information. Parts and adapters may be

hard to nearly impossible to find.

If the G4 Mac Mini could be upgraded in RAM past 1024MB, I'd recommend one.

Because I have one, that is the last model before they went to Intel hardware,

my familiarity with it is such that without the ability to add more RAM, it dogs...

But it can use several available displays and can use a few adapters. Also it

does kinda run Leopard 10.5.8 OK with only 1GB RAM max. The uptick on this

model would be to get an SSD (non-patter solid-state drive) from OWC in their

Mercury brand for ATA-IDE Legacy SSD line, then the computer would fly.

Not sure if a vintage Apple specialist still exists... Sorta like non-GMO corn?

A Mini G4 shipped with Tiger 10.4, so that could use older Mac OS 9 applications.

And does not dual boot between X and 9. They can be found inexpensively and

a random sample of repaired used vintage models maybe found among later ones

at places such as wegenermedia.com, powermax, and others who've been around

awhile with real stores and an online presence. Probably is time for a larger display.

But be wary of iMac G5 and some others. Read about their issues, failures, costs.

As obsolete vintage,  extensive repairs are difficult; most AASP won't touch them.

The MacBook series (circa 2006 to 2010) is available in used market, some are

good, support external displays, not costly, and display adapters still exist...

An answer to better visuals would include a different specification hardware.

And a budget would suggest resellers who offer restored or guaranteed Macs

such as those who repair them for a living. Accessories may be harder to get.

A vga display should be inexpensive, the port shouldn't be hidden as mine was

in the iMac G3 400DV.

Sorry to not have a specific answer to your question, though.

Good luck!

I'm not sure what model of iMac g3 that is.  It doesn't have firewire so it isn't the later 400 to 700's.  I'd say it is the original bondi blue with an underboard.

My iMac g3 600 had a little pop-off hatch in the back bottom.  Came with two covers.  The vga plug isn't near the other ports. MacTracker says 1 - vga port.  Video mirroring only.

Robert

rccharles wrote:

 

I'm not sure what model of iMac g3 that is.  It doesn't have firewire so it isn't the later 400 to 700's.  I'd say it is the original bondi blue with an underboard.

 

My iMac g3 600 had a little pop-off hatch in the back bottom.  Came with two covers.  The vga plug isn't near the other ports. MacTracker says 1 - vga port.  Video mirroring only.

 

Robert

You are correct. As far as I can tell the VGA port which appears to be a standard sized one is located on the back under a hatch and not near the other ports.

As rccharles indicated, the iMac's external VGA port supports "video mirroring only."  This means that no matter what display that you connect to the VGA port, the image will be exactly what's seen on the iMac's display.  This includes the same resolution, refresh rate, and color depth settings as the those selected for the internal display.  If these settings aren't compatible with the external display's optimal settings - such as those needed for a widescreen LCD - there's nothing that you can do.  You can't adjust the settings to support an externally-connected display, if those same settings aren't supported by the iMac's built-in display.

Your advice on the 'mirroring' of a VGA monitor connected to an iMac G3 seems at odds with advice I have received.

My iMac G3 500 was working fine in 10.2 when I bought it a year ago. Annoyingly I tried to update it to 10.4.11 and the screen went grey though the disk is still trying to boot.

The advice I have been given is that a VGA connected Monitor will show what you should be seeing on the built in screen. I am on the verge of buying a via monitor to resolve the problem. The only alternative is apparently to remove and connect the ATA disk to another machine.... which will mean buying an ATA converter - I fortunately have a number of working Apples, Macs and Powerbooks. The PISMO seems likely to be the best bet as its running 10.4.11 already.

Can you or any OKS please advise?

Thanks

Colin