Replacing the iMac G4 screen.

Hmm I guess folks around these parts are kind of polite.... I have to ask, why?

I guess if you are really set on doing something like this you will have to do some serious research.

First I would figure out what the display is that Apple used on the iMac you own, then cross reference this to other monitors that used the same or very similar part and see if there is a way to reconfigure your display to something else.

If Apple used a 'common' part then it might be possible to take the cabling from a different version that was used in something else. If not and it's proprietary which is typically the case then you are done.

Another approach would be to use Google to try and figure out what brands of LCD screens Apple uses and then cross reference that. In other words it's going to take some real work and possibly real splicing so if you aren't keen on either of these situations now might be the time to reconsider....

Kevin

Well I guess half the battle is getting the p/n...

Did you try calling or emailing LG? That's probably a long shot
since that Apple p/n might not cross reference to anything else
they have but it might be a start.

The 17" iMac screen looks like it's a widescreen so this LG Monitor
might be close. LG L177WSB 17-inch LCD Monitor

Kevin

When you replace the original LCD panel in the iMac G4 with a
complete display (not just the panel with inverter, etc inside) the
combined weight of the new or different display may offset the
designed balance the chrome arm's internal springs & dampener
were intended to compensate for, with the original panel.

This may (or not) be a problem. You may have to find the take-
apart images of the chrome arm - posted in another link here,
and see if there is a way to modify the friction dampeners. Or
use a chrome arm from a 20" iMac G4 since it holds a heavier
LCD than the 17" arm was intended to support.

Hopefully some liquid crystal panel display that fits the 17"
display frame won't weigh much more. Or, perhaps some
of the components could be moved into the base of an
otherwise defective iMac G4 if the machine is gutted and
used only for a display support platform.

Sharing a display to expand the desktop of one to the other
can be done, with two healthy Mac computers. Either in a
third-party software or in a display option in Leopard.

In any event...
Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

School project? You stuck in summer school?

Actually was thinking about it a bit. How's your soldiering skills and circuit tracing skills? On top of finding the correct part don't forget that all monitors are pretty much self contained in that the housing for the LCD also contains the power supply, and video circuitry.

Therefore you would have to reroute or build a new rear cover for the original iMac screen casing since all that stuff won't fit since the back panel of the iMac screen is form fitting. All of that stuff is in the base of an iMac lampshade so you would have to trace wires to see if it was possible. Then install the circuitry from the new monitor in the base which may also be impossible since it's probably a long thin circuit board which will not fit in the base of the iMac....

Kevin

Frankly though, why in the world would you butcher a perfectly good iMac???????????????

K