Cheap monitor for my older imac

Just looking for a cheap monitor to use as a display for my older imac (g5 ppc) which has recently gone dark. I believe the display went bad but it's possibly a graphics card issue. Just would like to find a cheap temporary solution to be able to load up my iPads and iPhones with music and movies and basic computer functions until I can afford a new Imac or possibly MacBook. Is there anything that I need to know about compatibility issues or is it just as simple as hooking it up via the USB ports on the back of the Imac?

I connect my MacBook Pro at work to various different external monitors, and my daughter uses a Samsung external monitor sometimes with her MacBook Air. With our laptops, the default has been that the external monitor shows up "mirrored," which is what you want, since that means the external monitor shows the same thing that is on the built in monitor. Not so good would be to come up in the extended desktop mode since that might not give you access to various menus, the dock etc. on the external display (those things would be on the built in monitor, which isn't working for you.
I can't promise you which it will be for you, but my experience has been that mirrored is the default (which is what you need), and to get extended desktop you need to go into the Displays Preference Pane and explicitly set that up.
If you really are going to try an external monitor, I'd get one at Best Buy or Amazon or somewhere like that who offers a no questions asked return policy in the first 14 or 30 days. So if you are stuck with your Mac in a mode that doesn't allow you to use the external monitor, you can return your purchase.
I also have a G5 iMac, and frankly, if the monitor went out, I'd simply replace the computer. The other parts inside are probably wearing out also. The February 2013 issue of Macworld discusses the latest Mac Mini's, which cost only $599 or $799 and are extremely fast and capable machines. These are Apple's "low end," and they are really superb machines. And if you get an external monitor, you can use it also with the Mini. By the way, if you buy an external monitor, I recommend staying away from the cheap loss leader units that are often advertised and instead spend a little more to get a quality Samsung or other good brand name monitor, possibly an LED one. The quality of the screen and images and resolution do make a big difference in the use experience. I got my daughter a low-cost ACER monitor first, and she is a photographer and demands high quality images on her screen, eventually we traded it back in at Best Buy (Best Buy has a nice trade in policy where you get a credit) and replaced it with a high quality (costlier) Samsung LED monitor.
The G5 iMac is so limited, both in its hardware and software, that I'd say if you can afford it, look at the latest Mac Mini or iMacs. Even the low-end ones are probably x10-x20 times faster and more capable than the iMac G5 and you can do all the latest things with them.

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I'm trying to set up a dual monitor for my new iMac. I'm using a second display I used with my old G5. My iMac recognizes the second monitor but the monitor won't turn on. Power button doesn't do anything on the monitor itself.

I'm trying to set up a dual monitor for my new iMac. I'm using a second display I used with my old G5. My iMac recognizes the second monitor but the monitor won't turn on. Power button doesn't do anything on the monitor itself.

If it won't turn on then the monitor is dead (power supply?, video circuits?). Not worth repairing.
If you have a new iMac then it has thunderbolt. So exactly what is that monitor you are trying to connect? For TB you can connect a mini-displayport monitor. Probably (not 100% sure with TB) can use dvi or vga too if you have the appropriate adapter.

Can I use my old iMac(late2009) as a monitor for my new iMac i.e. dual screens?

I have a iMac late 2009, just purchased this week,but not received a brand new iMac, i want to use both iMacs,the older one as a second screen.
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Pre-Installed MacOS:
X 10.4.7 (8K1106)
Maximum MacOS:
X 10.7.5*
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/specs/imac-core-2-duo-1.83-17-inch-sp ecs.html
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Snow Leopard/10.6.x Requirements...
General requirements
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http://snowleopard.wikidot.com/
It's been pulled from the online store & Apple Stores, so you have to call Apple to buy it, last I heard.
Buy Snow Leopard > http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard
Call Apple Sales...in the US: 1-800-MY-APPLE. Or Support... 1-800-275-2273
Other countries...
http://support.apple.com/kb/HE57
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I'm not positive but I do not think there is any software that can report the power usage of your iMac. To my knowledge you need something that plugs inline with your power supply. The newest APC UPS systems have power meters built into them. There have been a few topics where people have plugged in a power meter and reported their iMacs power consumption. http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=6160596&#6160596
George

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usually I am wired (I have 3 computers)
For a few years now I have felt my router is substandard (its an older netgear router I think I paid $20 for)
What would be the best router?
Thanks for all info and opinions.
Ps. if anyone has any clues as how to speed up my cable internet that would help too.
Right now I am using Tinkertool pro to help with the speed.
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If I buy a new Macmini, would I be able to connect to the existing iMac to use it's screen?

When upgrading system software, these are paid upgrades involving installation discs or paid downloads.
If you are using OS X Software Update feature to check for system "upgrades", this doesn't work.
Software update for OS X only looks for system "updates" like from OS X 10.5.7 to 10,5.8.
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These are new OS X upgrades that you need to pay for. They are not free.
If you want to upgrade your OS X version to a more recent one! you need to start by purchasing and installing OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard found here.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573Z/A/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard
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Correct and reliable Mac RAM can be purchased from online Mac RAM sources Crucial memory or OWC (macsales.com).
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Hi !
I was wondering if it were possible to connect an older imac to my new imac to use as a second monitor?
My older imac is from 2006. The new one is a 2012 imac.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks,
JC

http://support.apple.com/kb/PH4469
Look this article over, the key is to connect either mini display port or thunderbolt and using CMD+F2, let me know if this helps or if it doesn't work out. I'll find another solution if this doesn't work Joel ^_^

Using Remote Desktop on older iMacs

If I buy the current Remote Desktop will I be able to monitor my kids' older iMacs? Their max OS is 10.7.5. The mac that I am using is running Yosemite. Or would I have to find an older version of Remote Desktop?
Once upon a time I lived with an IT person who installed Remote Desktop on all of our Macs and now that the kids are older and we've traded up computers … I've lost the ability to monitor them without their knowledge. (Yeah. I am that controlling.)

OpenVPN might work for you, though getting it installed and set up doesn't appear to be trivial. You can find some instructions for 10.3 here; they might be useful for 10.4 as well. Tunnelblick might make things a bit easier. Otherwise you'll need Mac OS X Server or a hardware VPN such as come from Cisco.
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Message was edited by: Dave Sawyer

Using latest Airport Extreme with older iMac and 10.4.11

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(Another Ethernet cable runs from Cable Modem to Airport Extreme.)
Looking to have a wireless network for WiFi enabled devices.

Not the first time I've seen this type of scary issue with Tiger. The OS is so old, looks like we are going to have issues setting up the extreme. We could find a work around... by using either an iOS device, or even a PC. What else do you have there that's handy?

Use older 2008 iMac as second monitor for new iMac

Hi all,
I have one of these older machines that has no real purpose
http://support.apple.com/kb/sp485
but would serve me very well as a second monitor for my brand spanking new iMac.
The specs seem to note that there is a video output - but I'm not seeing anything about video IN.
Is it possible to use this older iMac as a monitor?

that looks cool, and there is a free trial.
I am not keen on using the WiFi to do this - my old iMac has firewire but the new one doesn't.
Besides using the ludicrously expensive Thunderbolt <-> Firewire 800 convertor
http://store.apple.com/uk/product/MD464ZM/A/thunderbolt-to-firewire-adapter
is there any other way to create a wired connection between these devices? I'm not sure if there is such a thing as a USB <-> USB network connection.

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Hi,
I want to switch from my Windows Pc to a mac for private use.
I prefer the new iMac (2011) 21,5" but I could not get an definite answer (not even in my local apple store) if it is possible to connect an existing Notebook (with VGA Mini-d-sub or DVI connector) to the new iMac in order to use the iMac as an external monitor for the Notebook.
I definitely need this for my business work in my home-office so this information is vital.
If ist is not possible I have to take the macMini and stay with my standard monitor.
Can please someone tell me if it is possible at all and if so, how it can be done.
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Thank you in advance for your Support.
Celindir

Hi,
Sorry to say, but ...
The 2011 iMacs (21.5" and 27") can only be used as a second display via a Thunderbolt-to-Thunderbolt cable.
The 2009 and 2010 27" iMacs can be used as a second display via a DisplayPort connection.
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3775 andhttp://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Thunderbolt/10.6/en/30822.html
Stefan

I'm sorry, you probably get a lot of questions similar to this, but how do I use my 09 27" iMac as an external 1440p monitor for a PC in TDM?

Hello all,
Firstly, let me apologise. You probably see a lot of these questions. However, I've had a look through and I haven't been able to find a solution to my problem.
I have an '09 27" iMac which I use for the creative side of my life. (I'm training to be an architect.) However I'm also really into gaming, and so I've just bought a brand new PC. The GPU is a GeForce GTX 780 Ti with two DVI, an HDMI and a DisplayPort output. My iMac has a Mini DisplayPort jack.
I'm basically wondering if there's any way of using the iMac as a 1440p monitor for this new PC. I tried connecting the PC to the iMac with an HDMI cable using an HDMI to MDP adapter and hitting cmd+f2 on the iMac to initiate Target Display Mode, but that hasn't worked. I'm now thinking of buying an HDMI to MDP direct cable to see if that works but I'm also wondering if a DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort cable might work too? I was under the impression that the 780 Ti had a MDP output but the version of mine only has the outputs listed above.
Is any of this even possible? I've heard reports in the past of people having success with MDP to MDP from PC to iMac but of course I can't do that. Am I wasting my time and money here?
At present I'm using my 37" HDTV as a monitor on my desk but as you can imagine, it's far too big to use in the long run! It's annoying because the 780 Ti is capable of running max settings easiliy in 1440p and having to downgrade from the iMac to a 1080p HDTV is disheartening.
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I know this is old - but did you ever get this working. Thinking of getting a 780 ti card and I have an older mac with the mini-displayport too.

Cheap monitor for my older imac

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