Recycling an Intel iMac Early 2006 -- A1174

Hey guys,

I got a little burned on ebay thinking I could repair a 20in A1174. Dead power supply turned into dead logic board, I'm sure you guys know the story. It was cheap enough that I'm not too bitter about it (can you tell?) but I'm disappointed. This was going to be my first iMac, and the polycarbonate white is such a beautiful look, I can't let this go to waste.

I want to give it new life as an external monitor. The panel seems to be in great condition (I don't know if it powers on or not, here goes nothing), so I'm going to closely follow: http://www.dremeljunkie.com/2011/08/isight-g5-as-external-monitor-with.html

from my understanding the late G5s are very similar to the early intel iMacs.

My goals for this project are:
Functioning display using http://www.ebay.com/itm/191074533722?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
Superdrive functionality via USB hub
iSight/Microphone functionality via USB hub // 3.5mm audio cable depending.
Original speaker functionality via 3.5mm audio//USB depending.
Possibly USB hub inputs in the back I/O ports if I'm feeling extravagant.

The display controller board requires it's own power supply. One cable running into the AC socket.
The USB hub will be powered because of all its attachments. Two cables running into the AC socket.
DVI will also run through the AC socket. Three cables (How will I make this fit through the hole?)
I'll most likely run the USB cable for the hub out of the ethernet i/o hole and through the stand hole.
I'd also run the potential 3.5mm audio cables out of the mini displayport i/o hole and through the stand.

Everything will be inside the iMac itself, barring the power bricks for the various attachments. (I wonder if I can put a multi tap inside the imac itself and power that? Like at the bottom where the logic board would sit?)

Ive never case modded anything, but I'm fairly familiar with PC parts and components. Less so about electricity and splicing wires and all that. It'll be a learning experience.

But are all my assumptions correct? The display controller powers the display without the need for the original PSU/Inverter? Will the monitor go to sleep when the PC sleeps? Am I going to burn my house down?

Is everything I'm asking possible? Is the Intel imac too slim?

Good news everyone. I haven't update in ages but I got the LCD Controller in and tested my panel, it works!

I tried to roughly fit everything in the case, which was a success, but I shorted it out because I grounded nothing and I didn't even think of doing so. Luckily nothing was damaged other than my nerves and a quick scare.

As of right now I've decided to halt this project, as I don't have the power tools I need at university to complete this. I sent the iMac back home.

The screw standoffs are getting in my way a bit, so I need to cut those out. I'm also interested in dremeling out the AC adapter area so it's a larger circle, allowing me to fit DVI and power though it. I also need to find a way to ground the controller boards, but I think I can just strip out the EMI aluminium and let it sit on the plastic. I also need to make sure it won't touch the panel itself.

Hey Skyfall,
I got the exact same problem as you. I got an old iMac as well, this time it's the PowerPC iMac G5. The screen is a LM201W01(A6)(K1), so kinda the same display. About that controller, the cable you get with it, does it fit in the display?

I got an idea on how to get the superdrive working! You can try to place a 50pin IDE to SATA controller/converter along with the superdrive.

Thanks in advance,
Thomas

Yeah, the one my panel has is a standard LVDS cable. For some reason it slips out fairly easily (I think the locking mechanism on the panel was damaged), so I'm going to just tape it in when I finish the build.

As for the sata drive, I actually found a laptop SATA to USB converter on eBay. The USB devices make me a little nervous, so I'm just tackling the screen for now.

That sounds really good. Thanks for telling me that. What exact panel have you got? (What A numbers? like A5?) I will challenge myself to build a laptop motherboard into the iMac then! Let's see what is possible. About the inverter, will it work nicely with the panel, and what about the brightness control? About the cable you had in your panel: is it the black cable from Apple itself, with the 30 pin input?
Thanks!

My panel is the one exactly in the ebay description I believe. As for the cable, its standard LVDS, but mine feels a little loose. It was possible the socket was damaged by the previous owner; I'll tape it in when the build is complete for security.

As for the controller, all functions work. I believe brightness and everything works like that, I don't remember thinking it didn't. Regrettably, it's now a few states away and out of my hands.