Trying to rebuild an iMac [VIDEO INCLUDED]

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2013, November 15 - 2:00pm

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Joined: 2009 Nov 14

Trying to rebuild an iMac [VIDEO INCLUDED]

The weather's cooling down and traditionally, this is the time to play old Mac games (for me). But I can't really, and while I can fire up SheepShaver and/or Basilisk II for a glimpse of what things were like, it causes the processor to scream, and it's not the same. So what I want to do is put the iMac back together.

As you may remember, the machine would shut off spontaneously, giving a "whuff-whuff-whuff" noise as the fan wore down.

But not much progress has been made.

To that end, I made a video showing what I've done, which includes some parts I've made. There are other parts upstairs with some other components, but I have no idea what's useful and what's not.

It is tilted, as it was originally shot on an iPhone and I had to re-encode to get from about 400MB to 14, plus it really did not record my voice well (it sounds like I'm mumbling)

http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/8243916/TemporaryJoeImac.MOV

My end product will be something designed like a game console. Imagine a G3-powered Pippin that goes straight to the desktop. Given how much I put on here, I think having the Launcher open with all my stuff would be most awesome.

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2013, November 15 - 3:54pm

24bit

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Joined: 2010 Nov 19

Max1zzz did some nice work modding iMac left overs into a X- box.
Maybe a starting point?
http://macintoshgarden.org/forum/project-classic-mac-gameing-box-in-a-xb...
He also started a thread over at 68kmla

2013, November 15 - 6:40pm

Temporary Joe

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Joined: 2009 Nov 14

Well, I actually linked to that thread and was a catalyst in starting the project.

68kmla would be a better place, me thinks.

2013, November 16 - 12:15am

MikeTomTom

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Joined: 2009 Dec 7

Your voice sounds OK, I only needed to up the volume level.

Most mods for G3 iMacs seem to be for keeping the existing case and replacing the internal CRT with an LCD.

Here's instructions for replacing dead iMac PSU's with an ATX PSU, with good pin-out pics:
iMac DV on ATX. The person who did this mod placed the iMac mobo into an old VCR unit, pictured at top of his page on this conversion (click VCR pic for some great pix).

And a youtube video of an iMac board with ATX PSU + Video out to LCD (probably following the advice found in above link): Converting an old G3 iMac to ATX.

The no-brainer mod for me tho' is instead, moving a "beige G3" mobo into an ATX case with ATX PSU (no PSU cable rewiring required).

2013, November 16 - 1:52am

Protocol 7

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Joined: 2010 Aug 7

For PSU rewiring it's best to use a ATX extension cable. Even a short one will do. That way you can leave the PSU alone. I did this with my first rescued G4. Later I got another one for parts and swapped out the PSU.

2013, November 17 - 3:59am

Temporary Joe

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Joined: 2009 Nov 14

I honestly thing that the PSU is damaged beyond repair. Remember, the symptoms were an abrupt shutoff of the monitor, the power button to flicker down to death, and a distinctive "whuff-whuff-whuff" sound from the fans.

I was a bit hopeful about this whole "ATX board" thing but my heart sank when he mentioned "a bunch of random parts coming in from Hong Kong". If I managed to get a replacement board for the iMac G3 (which I'm not even 100% sure if that little board is the problem, the capacitors aren't obviously bulging or whatever), I'm afraid that if I try to rewire it for standard VGA connection, the power that would supply the monitor has nowhere to go, and the whole thing might blow. Admittedly, I'm not too strong on power issues...

2013, December 16 - 6:23pm

Temporary Joe

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Joined: 2009 Nov 14

[continuing on 68kmla...]