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How to turn a iMac Intel into an External Monitor

  1. How to turn a iMac Intel into an External Monitor, Gut the iMac: stap 1, afbeelding 1 van 1
    • Firstly, I completely gutted the iMac, safely keeping the LCD screen to one side. I also repaired any torn EMI shielding and shielded all holes, with the exception of the power in, vent above this. (I also left the 3x USB ports free to fit a USB hub, but this didn't work great, so ended up being removed).

  2. How to turn a iMac Intel into an External Monitor, Find a LCD display driver board: stap 2, afbeelding 1 van 1
    • I next found out that my screen was a Samsung LTM201M1-L01 and after scouring eBay with this model number, I managed to find a display driver for this screen from eBay - just search for your screen model number

    • My LCD driver board has VGA, DVI and HDMI in and is powered by a 12V 4A external PSU - the eBay seller also sold PSUs, but I had one kicking about from another LCD screen.

  3. How to turn a iMac Intel into an External Monitor, Test driver board: stap 3, afbeelding 1 van 1
    • Before assembling it all, it is worth testing the driver board works fine - I had some issues with the Mini Display port to HDMI cable I bought, so returned this and bought a 1M Mini Display port to DVI cable instead which worked fine.

    • I also bought a 1M white HDMI cable to have as an extra input cable for everything else and a 0.5 Metre 2.1mm DC Barrel Extension Cable, to allow me to connect and disconnect the PSU from outside the case.

  4. How to turn a iMac Intel into an External Monitor, Assemble! - Part 2: stap 4, afbeelding 1 van 2 How to turn a iMac Intel into an External Monitor, Assemble! - Part 2: stap 4, afbeelding 2 van 2
    • The various mounting posts inside the iMac were not suitable, so I purchased some PCB self-adhesive mounting posts (9.5mm) to mount the driver board, inverter and controller board.

    • To ensure the mounting posts were mounted correctly, I cut squares out of the EMI shielding before attaching the posts to the inner of the iMac casing. I also drilled holes for the power / adjustment board, so the buttons could be accessed from the rear of the machine.

    • From here it was a just a matter of attaching the boards to the PCB posts, hooking up the various cables and feeding through them through the former power in cut-out. I also insulated under the LCD driver board, as it was a bare circuit board. The inverter came contained within a clear plastic case.

    • As with the original setup, the LVDS cable and bottom inverter cables could only be attached with the screen in place.

  5. How to turn a iMac Intel into an External Monitor, Complete!: stap 5, afbeelding 1 van 2 How to turn a iMac Intel into an External Monitor, Complete!: stap 5, afbeelding 2 van 2
    • I then reassembled the iMac, attaching the screen, repairing EMI tape then putting the front on! It now works perfectly with the Mini DisplayPort output of my screen-less MacBook Pro and I have an available HDMI cable to attach any other device.

    • The only thing that was not changeable was the CCFL brightness, but using Shades preference pane solves this satisfactorily for me.

  6. How to turn a iMac Intel into an External Monitor, Bonus stage - rear mount MacBook: stap 6, afbeelding 1 van 2 How to turn a iMac Intel into an External Monitor, Bonus stage - rear mount MacBook: stap 6, afbeelding 2 van 2
    • To keep everything neat, and as I had a separate keyboard and Magic Mouse, I also wanted to rear mount the Macbook - I created a mount from wood in a similar style to the AluRack, mounting onto the cable hole on the iMac stand - perfect!

  7. How to turn a iMac Intel into an External Monitor, More info on the mount: stap 7, afbeelding 1 van 3 How to turn a iMac Intel into an External Monitor, More info on the mount: stap 7, afbeelding 2 van 3 How to turn a iMac Intel into an External Monitor, More info on the mount: stap 7, afbeelding 3 van 3
    • I have added a few further images of the MacBook mount I made - hopefully they are decipherable / useful!

Conclusie

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

31 andere personen hebben deze handleiding voltooid.

Michael

Lid sinds: 05/13/16

1.223 Reputatie

1 Handleiding geschreven

75 opmerkingen

Hi, Michael!

I found this guide while searching for re-usability of my iMac. I have iMac of late 2006, and I want to use it as an external monitor or as TV.

So, is it possible to make it using this guide?

Thanks.

Kirtan Patel - Antwoord

Hi there, yes it was a late 2006 model I used, so yes it is possible. I would recommend checking what LCD screen you have inside the iMac first though, then whether you can get a driver board. You can use it with any device with a HDMI/DVI/HDMI output :-)

Michael -

Hello Michael!

I need your help, because Im trying to do the same with my imac, I have all the components, but I am having some issues with the inverter, Can you show me how you connect yours?

Brandon - Antwoord

Hi Brandon,

What are the problems you are having?

Do you have the exact same looking inverter and controller board? I have some photos of the controller connection to the inverter at both controller and inverter side, would this help?

I have no photos of the inverter cables connected to the inverter though - I do remember that the red dot on the converter cables should be facing you when looking at the inverter board.

Michael -

Can we convert imac display as TV

Vasanthakumar - Antwoord

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