Spanning to DVI on Rev. B iMacs?

First post. Yes I know some think Screen Spanning Doctor might possibly/likely void the warranty etc. Save your posts.
I've got a 12" powerbook which came with two dongles to interface with external displays - one for VGA and another for DVI. I got to thinking, 'those new (Rev.B) iMacs have the same video card as the low-end PowerMacs' and Apple refers to the plug on the powerbook as 'Mini-DVI'. I know for sure that the gizmo that I use to connect to VGA (video projector - Keynote absolutely rules!) is referred to as 'Mini-DVI-to-VGA adapter' in Powerbook literature, and that it's the same unit that can be purchased for iMacs to enable VGA mirroring (or spanning for the more ambitious). Apple VGA Display Adapter M8639G/A (http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore?productLearnMore=M86 39G/A)
So the physical plug is the same between the Mini-DVI-to-VGA and Mini-DVI-to-DVI on the Powerbook, so I know I could physically fit my Mini-DVI-to-DVI into the back of the iMac - but could I get the 'doctored' iMac to actually transmit the digital image? Am I dreaming? The video card is beefy enough to handle it, and we know the video card is very capable of producing a DVI output... anyway to do this? Better yet, anyone doing it?
My 19" Costco LCD has both VGA and DVI inputs, but looks way better over DVI. I understand that the iMac screens are great (as opposed to my lackluster 12" PB screen) but I'd love to keep my second spanned monitor digital if at all possible.
Your input (digital or otherwise :P ) is appreciated!
Alex

Well a couple weeks have passed without a response (although I did have a similar chat in another topic in the same sub-category on this site) and I think I have figured out why I can't get a definative answer:
Maybe no one has tried this before. I realized that while the mini-DVI to VGA adapter is quite common and most people spanning with the iMac are using it , the mini-DVI to DVI adapter is specific to the 12" PowerBook and thus, very hard to find. Looked froogle, ebay, only mini-DVI to VGA adapters (got one for $11 shipped btw). So, I'll try it out! I bet there will be some happy people if they realize that the spec 'supports VGA output in mirror mode' not only means 'or spanning mode if you hit a switch in the bios' but also full DVI output. In my thinking, that does a lot towards eating into PowerMac marketshare. I saw a dual 2.0 PowerMac with 20" Cinema display (160gb 512, lowly combo drive) on a deal site for $2400. Obviously the dual 2.0 G5s would give a decent performance boost, but the bigger hard drive and better optical drive and $700 cheaper would more than make up for it with all but the most expansion-minded users! Ordered my 20" iMac btw, $1715 shipped (also ordered 2gb kit) from buy.com. Then the next day I saw a 5% off coupon, ouch would have saved another $85. Such is life in computing.
Anyway, I'll continue my monologue one way or the other once I get to test my DVI out theory.

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Is it possible to input itunes into DVI/HDCP input from imac with Apple mini display port? Or is there another way?

The problem with itunes is needing a computer running it. or continuous internet connection.
A Time Capsule is AC mains powered.. no battery. Although you can certainly buy an older Gen4 TC and modify it ...
https://sites.google.com/site/lapastenague/time-capsule-power-supply-repair-kits
I have run my TC on a 12V SLA battery.. which would neatly meet that part of the functionality you want. But it is heavy and not really the rugged sort of device I think you want.
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External storage for iPad?
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I would like to extend the screen from my circa 2013 27in iMAC with thunderbolt onto my circa late 2006 imac using the DVI port on that iMAC. Is this possible? If not is there another approach I can use? My 2006 iMAC is showing it's age but I figure I can use it as just a monitor just fine. Assuming I can connect the two together.

That older iMac isn't designed to receive video input through the mini-DVI connection. Only certain newer iMacs are able to be used as displays.
Your only options are to use something like ScreenRecycler mentioned above.
~Lyssa

Firmware for Rev B. iMac

I have a Rev B iMac, running System 9.1, 512 MB RAM, HARMONi 500MHz upgrade. The Boot ROM is 3.0.f2 which I THINK was installed by Firmware Update 1.1. I've read that I would need version 1.2 of the firmware if I want to install OS X.
However, on reading the description, it looks like the 1.2 update is only for machines that are used in a NetBoot configuration which mine is not. So my questions are:
1. Is the 1.2 update really required for OS X or is the 1.1 version good enough?
2. Would Mac OS 10.3.9 work on a Rev B or should I drop back to 10.2.x?
3. Will I even be able to update either the firmware, Mac OS X, or both since I have the HARMONi card upgrade?

This Apple article
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1395
clearly states that firmware update 1.2 needs to be installed before updating to Mac OS X 10.2 or later. Despite the description of the update itself, it is the correct update to install. Doing so will NOT prevent future use of Mac OS 9; you can switch back and forth between X and 9 (or even Mac OS 8.x).
Mac OS X 10.3.9 works fine on stock tray-loaders. I think it runs faster than 10.2 on the same hardware because of the optimization effort by Apple for 10.3. Since you have the max 512mb RAM, it should work quite well for you.
You'll have to check your documentation or the Sonnet web site for question 3. If the upgrade was produced before Mac OS X (or a specific release of Mac OS X such as Jaguar or Panther), it probably was never tested to see if it was compatible. Someone with a Sonnet upgrade installed may pop by here, hopefully, with hands-on experience.

Rev C iMac and dust accumulation

Hi Folks,
This is my first post and hope I'm doing this right.
My wife has 20" Rev B iMac and she loves it. But being a material girl, she really really wants a Rev C iMac. The kids will get her old one. The only thing I'm worrying about is dust accumulation, since it seems that you can't open a Rev C case. I open up her Rev B (and my PC desktop) about every 3 months and vacume and blow them out. I'm amazed at the amount of buildup we get so quickly. We live in a very dusty place and our cheap carpet sheds like a collie.
Any thoughts? Can you easily open a Rev C?
iMac Rev B, home made PC with Linux Mac OS X (10.4.3)

No, actually its all been flipped around. You will lay it down screen side up, and undo the screws and pop the front off, instead of the back. The screen is first, then there is a brown piece of heavy plastic between the back of the screen and the back of the internals.
But the thing is if youre looking for the fans to be like they were in Rev A and B, they are different now. The fans arent open like they were. Youll only see the very center of the fans now as shown here-->
http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/trurlpagecontent?lp=ja_en&trurl=http%3a%2f%2fwww.kodawarisan.com%2fimacg5isight%2fimacg502i.html
But i guess you can still blow it out. Another idea for y ou if you live in a dusty place is adding a piece of very thin cheese cloth or something to the vents under the screen. Cheese cloth is extremely small pored and will filter out even the smallest duct particals. Just cut urself a thiin, long piece and fasten it to the bottom using maybe a light glue on the edges. Just an idea. Could work for you tho.

Netbooting Rev A iMacs Possible?

Got some old iMac Rev A's lying around and some RAM so I thought I'd have a go at updgrading them and getting them to boot from a network 10.3.9 image disklessly. They don't seem to want to do it, just get a grey screen. Checked their fimware Apple's latest 3.0 as far as I know. Built the image from a drive that comes from a Rev A iMac.
Have managed to disklessly boot slot loading iMac's no problem, am I just wasting my time or is there some trick to this. Not desperately urgent but would like to know one way or the other.
Thanks in advance

I thought the tray loads were based on an older version of NetBoot (Version 1?) anyways I know they can be netbooted because I used to have to do that in the past. I was using OS X Server v 10.2.8 on a firewire drive connected to a slot load imac with a small switch between the two. Maybe find a copy of 10.2 Server and install it on a spare machine (G4 Tower or better would be cool) and use that just for imaging. The tray load will be able to find the correct NetBoot server. Also note that I was using NetRestore version 1.2.2. Hope that helps.

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Hi folks,
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How do I go about getting the iMac set up for the wireless keyboard and mouse? Is it an internal part I need to buy or will it be an external receiver for the Rev A's?
Cheers.

Optimus...I use Logitech's MX 700 wireless keyboard and the MX 1000 Laser mouse. It is 'RF' technology instead of Bluetooth...both have worked flawlessly for over a year now.
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I have a GREAT Rev.B iMAC... I'll tell you why I do preffer it over Rev.C..

I have an iMac G5, 17", 2GHz - rev.B - 2GB RAM. wireless Mouse and KB and I do love it... silent... no dead pixels... no problem. But I'll tell you my concerns about the new models:
1. Now if you wanna go 17" you have to go back to 1.9GHz.
2. And also, you can't have paired RAM that would bring it to 128bits any more... (I have two 1GB RAM)
3.The 2GB RAM itself is SOOOO expensive... you can almost buy another computer...
4.The new iSight doesn't give you a chance of pointint it to another place in your room... I'd have to move the whole iMac if I wanted to show my mum (who lives in another country) my kids playing in the living room.
As I said I don't have any of the problems related to Rev A or B... I believe there might be many users just like me... with a quiet iMAC... and I use Photoshop, Flash, Dreamweaver, iPhoto, iMovie... Internet... all at the same time... It just works!!!
I have no need for Front Row... I am happy with my iMac being 2GHz and having 2GB RAM...
Give your oppinions...
Cheers!

Well I got my daughter a 17-inch ALS Rev B iMac in June, 2 GHz processor, and it is a spectacular computer. However, I read in Macworld that the new 1.9 GHz iMacs are actually a bit faster than the Rev. B 2 GHz iMacs due to other improvements. So going "back" to 1.9 GHz here would actually be an improvement. Given what I have read about these newest iMacs, of course I would prefer one over the "older" one we got in June. But that's how it always is with computers, cars, etc. The newer ones are almost always nicer.
I agree that the older iMacs are more user servicable and the memory set up is more flexible (and maybe cheaper). But the matched pair RAM chips has turned out to be an almost invisible advantage, perhaps measurable in special tests, but not visible in real world situations, from what I have researched on this topic (I looked into this before we purchased our computer without a matched pair). And my daughter's Rev. B iMac came with 512 Meg, we simply added 1 Gig for a total of 1.5 Gig RAM. We will probably never open the computer and will probably use it like this for its entire life. I would bet it would be the same if we had bought a newest iMac, and I'm guessing that most iMac users are like us. Tinkerers and customizers almost always get a PowerMac which have true expansion capabilities. But for the majority of home users who do stuff like email, web browsing, games, MS Office, graphics, iPhoto, iTunes, Adobe Photoshop and the like, the imac is great and the newest ones probably are a shade faster and nicer (and I would guess a bit more reliable since Apple has probably learned some lessons in that area as well).
imac G5 Mac OS X (10.4.2)

Adding a DVI port onto my Imac

I want to to display another computer onto my imac. It only has a mini dvi out. Is there a way to install a dvi in port??

jessylee13 wrote:
Is there a way to install a dvi in port??
For all practical purposes, NO.
The LCD panel is driven by LVDS signals, while DVI uses TMDS signals.
So, you'd have to add TMDS receiver chips and LVDS driver chips, plus
whatever logic might be required to convert from one to the other. The
conversion is non-trivial; a monitor is much more than an LCD panel.
You'd also have to add video switching to select between internal and
external sources.
Looby

Use DVI PC with thunderbolt iMac (target display)

Hello everybody,
I'm looking forward to buy the amazing new iMac.
My concern is that I use also a PC (it's my companie's choice) and I would like to use it with my iMac as a second display.
I found articles on the web that indicate target display only works with thunderbolt PC.
My old pc only have a DVI connection.
Is there a way to convert my DVI output to thunderbolt in order to use the target display on my future iMac ?
Does the Apple convert from DVI to Mini DisplayPort is a good way to do what I want ?
Thank you for your help.

Hi Gregoare,
Nope, you can't do any of that conversion(s).
Try ScreenRecycler...
http://www.screenrecycler.com/ScreenRecycler.html

Rev B iMac Quieter with 10.4.3?

Does anyone else think the fans sound different after applying the update? My Rev. B sounds about the same as my Rev. C. Let's compare the before and after.

For what it is worth, I agree with Peter. My iMac rev. B is running quieter after the update to 4.3. It will be interesting when I erase and re-install everything in about two weeks if I notice a change stepping up again through the update.
iMary

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hey guys,
I'm about to purchase my iMac, in about 28 days or so And I was wondering about what would be the best way to set up a network with a Mac. I've never done it before, and I've never done anything with more than two computers (so not using a hub or anything else). At the moment we have two desktop PCs:
- PII 400mhz running XP
- P4 1.5ghz running XP
And there is just one network cable to share the internet and printer.
Ok, so what do you suggest would be the best way to share internet and printers. Go wireless or go wired. Ok lets say the budget is $100-$200. I'm thinking about setting it up now, so I can just connect my iMac and it's on the internet and connected within 30min.
If Wireless:
What are the benefits of going wireless, and what products would I need to purchase? The products that I can think of is airport. But then I'd need to buy wireless cards for those other computers.
Go Wired:
What are the benefits of going wired, and what products would I need to purchase? All I can think of is a hub and some more cables, but I'm not sure how much it should cost and whether or not this is the best solution.
Thanks guys!
- leighton

Networking PCs and Macs isn't as hard as you think it might be. I have mine setup with a PC and have a printer attached to the PC that can be used by both and it works great. Files sharing is enabled also.
I assume you have a broadband connection to share also.
What you will need is a router and if you want the PCs to be wireless, then 2 wireless cards (or USB adapters) for the PCs. If any of the computers are going to be within a reasonable distance of the broadband modem and router, then you can use cables for those and wireless for those computers that are farther away.
If you use cables, then wireless security isn't a concern, but be sure to enable WEP or WPA if you use wireless so that no one can tap into your setup.
Once you buy the equipment, check back in the networking forum if you have any questions. Lots of guys there will be able to troubleshoot you from a distance and walk you through things.

Wondering how many folks are still happy with there REV A iMac 20"

I've had my iMacG5 20" (1st gen) now for 11 months and the only thing that has gone wrong is the power supply failed and had to be replace back in July 05. Apple sent me a NEW....Lacie D2 250 GB external hard drive for my troubles....Thanks Apple.
I have had other issues......but only ones I seem to have created on my own.
QUESTION:
So......how's "YOUR" iMacG5 20" (FIRST GENERATION) holding up.
Thanks

I bought my Rev A in November of last year. Up until a few weeks ago I was very happy with it, however it began doing strange things like switching itself off when it felt like it, now sleeping from the pre-set, then when I tried to sleep it from the Apple menu it would restart instead. (My daughter reckons as it was a year old it was probably teething, that's why it wouldn't sleep!)
Anyway, after several calls to Apple and finding that none of their suggestions worked, I took it in to be looked at. That was last week. They reckon it's a logic board failure and I could be waiting quite some time to get it back as there is a backlog and a wait for parts.
I feel a bit peeved about the wait as this is a problem Apple have know about for a while and I would have thought they would have stocked up on parts.
On a more positive note, I have been using Macs since my first computer - a Mac Plus - back in the 1980s and this is the first time I have had something go wrong with one. I'm also please I have the trusty iBook otherwise I would be suffering major withdrawals by now.
Cheers
NikkiG

Bad noise/ fan speed problem with Rev B iMac

Like a lot of other people, I'm having problems with ridiculous fan noise. I've read through the forum and tried the following (with no success):
1) Reset SMU (x2)
2) Ran Maintenance Scripts. (x2)
3) Removed the back and blew dust from fans, ports, etc.
The processor is set to automatic. The problem occurs whether or not I have any peripherals plugged in. I get the noise/rpms when all I have running is Safari and XRG.
On certain websites, the CPU fan will climb to 5600, CPU temp to 79C, with CPU usage at 80-90%.
Does this sound like a logic board problem? Something else, possibly?
Basically, I'm trying to cover all of my bases before I get on the phone with AppleCare. I'd like to try to keep that as short as possible. Thanks in advance for any help/comments.
iMac G5 (ALS) 17" 2.0GHz 512MB RAM Superdrive Mac OS X (10.4.8)
iMac G5 (ALS) 17" 2.0GHz 512MB RAM Superdrive Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Just an FYI. During my iMacs motherboard replacements (3) I was never asked for a case number once. I spent hours on the phone with Applecare when in reality I already new I had a hardware problem and if I would have just taken it in it would have been fixed quicker. The third time I took my iMac G5 in for service the local tech told me to call up Applecare (3rd time then call) and ask for a replacement stating that if they need to call me he would explain that I had a lemon. In everyone of the three bad motherboards the fans spun out of control so I have more experience than I would prefer on this subject. They did step up and as you can see in my profile I have a new Intel iMac courtesy of Apple.
Also a utility to measure your fan speeds is here: http://www.gauchosoft.com/Software/X%20Resource%20Graph/

Camcorder as WebCam for Rev B Imac g5?

Hey everyone,
Does anyone know if I can use a Sony MiniDv camcorder (or something like it) to double as a webcam for Ichat video conferences? I don't wanna shell out 150 bucks for an Isight, and would much rather pay another 50 bucks to have a video camera/web cam.
Also if not, is there a cheaper webcam than the isight thats mac compatible.
Thanks

Check Sony's website to find out if their MiniDv camcorder can double as a webcam. Better yet, they should have a toll free # for you to call.
If you don't want to shell out $150 for a mac compatible webcam then you will not have much choice in webcams. Suggest you do a Spotlight, Google and/or MacGoogle search for mac capatible webcams.
This should get you started-->Webcams
Good luck!

Spanning to DVI on Rev. B iMacs?

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