Old Aquablue G3 iMac as a monitor?

I'm not sure if it will work exactly. The VGA port on iMac DVs & later G3 CRT iMacs was for outputting the video signal to a monitor or LCD or projector using a VGA cable. I'm not sure if you can hook the Mac mini up to it. Even if you could you'd probably need a gender changer that goes from male to female or vice versa. I'm not saying it can't be done. I just don't know if Apple designed the G3 CRT iMacs to work that way.

Don't be surprised if it doesn't work. That VGA port is probably for video mirroring. You might need a real monitor or LCD display for the Mac mini. Some LCD TVs can be used with computers but not all are compatible with computers or they may require a adapter. If you decide to use a LCD you need to make sure the resolutions are compatible with the Mac mini's video card.

Thorviking, Welcome to the discussion area!

Sorry but there is no video input on any iMac. The salesman was either incompetent or deceitful.

Well theoretically this would be possible and it really depends on which iMac we're talking about.

On the iMac tray loader CPU speeds 233-333 the video comes out of the back of the mass store/logic sled. It's the old Mac standard connector and to make this work you'd need to feed the male plug that plugs into that sled. So you'd need a VGA to Mac female adapter. I actually think I have one of those. That would be easy to make work.

Now for the iMac Slot loaders CPU 350 - 700 that would be a much bigger problem. You could probably make it work but it would require extensive disassembly of the iMac. The feed to the video section of the iMac comes off the back of the logic board from underneath and feeds RGB Cable 992-4034 which is normally screwed to the divider panel. So to make that work a special cable would have to be made up. So probably not worth the trouble.

I'd just look for a regular VGA monitor. Around here Apple Studio monitors and the old large CRTs are going for nothing and even first generation LCD monitors are going for very cheap. That would be a great way to go. Otherwise go out and buy a Apple Cinema monitor like the 20" and really go in style.

Richard