iMac G4 + Mac Mini = Sneaky Awesome Monster

Question

Level 1

8 points

iMac G4 + Mac Mini = Sneaky Awesome Monster

So here is my project. I recently inherited a 17-inch 1GHz G4 iMac from a family member who wasn't using it anymore. The whole screen on a swivel neck would work great for me at work. Since the machine is currently too slow for my needs, and the upgrades I've been able to find still won't boost it enough for my work; I have something different in mind.

I was thinking of gutting the innards and putting a _Mac Mini_ inside the dome of the iMac. A coworker made me realize the screen's resolution is pretty bad, so I was also thinking of switching out the screen for a newer one.

Does anyone have any info that can help me with placing the Mac Mini inside the G4 and/or replacing the screen?
Any info on other aspects of the project is appreciated as well!

iMac's, MacBooks, Mac Pro's, Mac Mini's, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Jan 7, 2010 10:19 AM

Reply

Answer 1

⚠️

Top-ranking reply

punkyou1

Level 1

4 points

Jan 14, 2010 3:43 PM in response to varjak paw

its actually not that hard just going to cost more unless you already have the mini all you need is an A/D board and controller kit like i did.
i bought one on eBay from a Korean company called Pelco the complete kit is $65.00 plus shipping make sure you order longer TMDS and Inverter cables so that you could run them threw the neck oh get it with power adapter and inverter YOU WILL NEED IT!
take the screen off get a razor blade and carefully cut the around the aluminum tape make sure you disconnect cables before you do this. this will help find the make and model of your LCD next unbolt the center cap removing LCD frame next open the base of imac g4 take everything out leaving just the metal shell.
assuming you order the kit.
remove the fan to get to the neck bolts and save them.
to open the neck i used an Alan-wrench and a small hammer and hammered it counter clock wise "they are Not tight" split the neck open make sure you open it from the right side as if you were looking at LCD take old cables out and run new ones in TMDS & Inverter make sure they are not tight put neck and LCD frame back together plug LCD. bolt or Velcro it down mac mini tape A/D board ontop of mini connect VGA cable adjust resolution.
kit model
"AD Board PMB200X"

http://cgi.ebay.com/TMDS-LVDS-TTL-Driver-for-PC-HDMI-and-AV-input-PMB200XW0QQitemZ220540511307QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain0?hash=item33593d244b

pics and more info.
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=224698&page=8

Reply

Answer 2

varjak paw

Level 10

182,536 points

Jan 7, 2010 12:53 PM in response to P_HEFLIN

It's almost certainly not going to work. Even if you could get the mini's logic board into the dome (which would require a lot of case hacking), the power supply would probably have to be replaced so you'd have to find one that would work with the mini's logic board and fit in the case. And even then, after all that work, the Mac mini doesn't have a socket on the logic board for direct connection of a screen, so there would be no way to power and drive the screen.

I would suggest selling the iMac G4, and the mini if you already have one, and putting that money toward a newer-generation iMac. You won't have the swivel screen, but turning a G5 or Intel iMac on it's foot isn't a big problem.

Or use the Mac mini and just get a screen and a mounting arm that can pivot. A number of companies make those.

Message was edited by: Dave Sawyer

Reply

Answer 3

P_HEFLIN Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 7, 2010 2:33 PM in response to varjak paw

Thanks for taking the time to read my question.

No, I wasn't going to take apart the Mac Mini. I was thinking of just placing the whole thing inside the cleared out dome. And if I had a new screen I was thinking of running its wires through the arm, down to the Mini.

Reply

Answer 4

Jan 7, 2010 2:54 PM in response to P_HEFLIN

I'm sure some crazy modder could do it. However, it would be a very complex project.

You would also have to account for the space needed for the power supply you would need to power the LCD and the CCFL backlighting. Also, the AirPort and Bluetooth antenna on the Mac mini is the top surface. Putting it inside the dome would affect the range. And the optical drive would not be accessible inside the dome, unless you cut an unattractive slot; the optical drive in the iMac G4 is tray-loading, and uses a door opens and closes.

You'd also have to route the power connection and ports from the Mac mini to the dome somehow, or again have some unattractive holes in the dome. And the Mac mini may have cooling issues, if airflow was restricted inside the dome.

So I don't think it would be worth the effort. Better to preserve the iMac G4 for what it is, a memorable iMac design. You can run it normally and use it as a second display, with this clever program

http://www.screenrecycler.com/home.html

Then, you can have a real display as your primary and extend your Desktop to the iMac's screen.

Reply

Answer 5

varjak paw

Level 10

182,536 points

Jan 8, 2010 6:47 AM in response to P_HEFLIN

I was thinking of just placing the whole thing inside the cleared out dome.

It probably won't fit, would almost certainly overheat if it did, and you couldn't get access to the DVD drive or the ports on the mini.

And if I had a new screen I was thinking of running its wires through the arm, down to the Mini.

Again, the mini will have no capability of driving a raw screen, which would have to draw its power from the computer.

Again, if the swivel screen is what attracts you to the iMac G4, just get a separate screen for the mini and mount the screen on a swivel arm. There are lots of them available.

Reply

Answer 6

jberg44

Level 1

0 points

Feb 1, 2010 12:39 PM in response to punkyou1

I have had a lot of problems with these TMDS boards to be honest. I replaced the monitor with one that uses a standard LVDS connection and replaced the wiring. Let me know how it works for you and good luck.

You can check out my approach at:

http://dremmeljunkie.blogspot.com/

Reply

Answer 7

jberg44

Level 1

0 points

Apr 5, 2010 6:08 PM in response to P_HEFLIN

It took some time, but I have wired connections for a new screen down the neck and placed all the monitor components into the base. It is probably possible to put a mac mini in the base, but it would have to be removed from its case and some components removed. Because I don't have a mac mini that I feel like tearing apart I'm connecting it to an external computer, but I think a mac mini could be concealed externally as well. Using extenders it VGA or DVI can plug into the back. I also wired a touch screen down the neck as well.

I detailed the process here:
http://dremmeljunkie.blogspot.com/2010/04/17-imac-g4-external-touch-screen.html

Reply

Answer 8

Apr 8, 2010 10:33 PM in response to jberg44

Beside the possible yet ambitious solution of putting a mini-ITX board inside the dome there has to be solution easier to implement.

How about keeping the G4 innards and just use it as a client to power the screen and the mini be the brain. Like with the ScreenRecycler software except that the G4 would be the main screen and not the secondary screen.

I am no techie but there are several path to be explored. First one would be to convert the HDMI signal and cabling into something that can be sent to one of the g4 port. The other one would be even more simple. It would be to send the mini's main display's signal through the network to the G4. There should be a boot screen with a timer that would revert the signal to the HDMI port so when tings go wrong the mini can still be accessed.

Anyway that would be much easier than anything else I have seen (well read) attempted. I would actually be willing to spend money on this because I love my iLamp to death.

Greg

Message was edited by: Gregounours

Reply

Answer 9

Mar 2, 2010 6:47 AM in response to P_HEFLIN

Let me know how it is going, I am interested in the same thing.

Reply

Quick Links

iMac G4 + Mac Mini = Sneaky Awesome Monster