Skip to main content

How to turn a iMac Intel into an External Monitor

  1. How to turn a iMac Intel into an External Monitor, Gut the iMac: step 1, image 1 of 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: step 2, image 1 of 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: step 3, image 1 of 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: step 4, image 1 of 2 How to turn a iMac Intel into an External Monitor, Assemble! - Part 2: step 4, image 2 of 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!: step 5, image 1 of 2 How to turn a iMac Intel into an External Monitor, Complete!: step 5, image 2 of 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: step 6, image 1 of 2 How to turn a iMac Intel into an External Monitor, Bonus stage - rear mount MacBook: step 6, image 2 of 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!

Michael

Member since: 05/13/16

1,223 Reputation

1 Guide authored

View Statistics:

Past 24 Hours: 45

Past 7 Days: 284

Past 30 Days: 1,433

All Time: 130,649