Old iMac with Display Out - External Monitor?

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Level 1

6 points

Old iMac with Display Out - External Monitor?

I have a 2006 iMac that's been sitting for a couple years, and the display just went out. I'd like to use it for random stuff (I have a new iMac and MacBook Air!). I was going to get a $10 mini-DVI cable and a cheap, used LCD monitor. My question: is VGA or the higher standard better (can't remember the name right now), and will this even work? If I plug the monitor in, will it automatically switch to the external display? Because the screen being out would prevent me from going to settings and changing the display out...

Thanks for any help!

17" iMac, 24" iMac, 15" MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Sep 19, 2013 4:15 PM

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Answer 1

BDAqua

Level 10

238,973 points

Sep 19, 2013 9:25 PM in response to Daniel Hess

Hi Dniel, actually VGA will give you options than the later DVI stanrd...

Built-in Display:

17.0" Widescreen

Native Resolution:

1440x900

Details:

This model has a 17.0" widescreen TFT active matrix display with a native resolution of 1440x900. Apple also reports a "typical" brightness of 250 cd/m2, contrast ratio of 500:1, and viewing angle of 140 degrees horizontal and 120 degrees vertical.

Also see: What are the differences between the displays used in the iMac "Core Duo/Core 2 Duo" models? What is the viewable angle and the brightness of each?

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2nd Display Support:

Dual/Mirroring

2nd Max. Resolution:

1920x1200*

Details:

Apple reports that this model supports "digital resolutions up to 1920x1200" and "analog resolutions up to 2048x1536".

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/specs/imac_cd_1.83_17.html

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Answer 2

Daniel Hess Author

Level 1

6 points

Sep 19, 2013 11:47 PM in response to BDAqua

The crux of my question though, is this: if I plug in a VGA Monitor via the mini-dvi outlet, will the computer automatically show the picture? I don't want to buy the cable and an old monitor if I have to enable mirroring from a setting in my control panel... Which I can't do with the primary display out.

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