iMac Power PC G5 connected to TV

collincl · 18th January 2008, 08:47

Hi All,

I have a iMac G5 Power PC (pre isight) which I was hoping to connect to my LCD TV and use as a multimedia system in the near future when I purchase the new i Mac 24 inch.

So off I went to the iStore and bought a mini DVI-DVI cable and a DVI-HDMI cable to connect to the TV.

To my horror when I came home to connect it the mini DVI cable does not fit the port at the back of my iMac.

After doing some research it seems my iMac can only be mirrored to an external screen but I am still not sure if I can connect to my HDMI port or if i can only use the VGA port.

If anyone has some advise to give me on this and if you can tell me where I may be able to find the relevant cable to attach my iMac to my TV, I would be most grateful.

fangpyre · 18th January 2008, 10:07

You're best bet is to connect using the S-Video port.

Does the TV support VGA connections?

You might be able to use a VGA-DVI converter and connect it to the DVI-HDMI cable.
I'm not sure what you will get after so many conversions.

Also note that you can Mirror or Extend to a second monitor.
Mirroring gives an identical image on both screens.
Extending allows you to use them as one big screen.

collincl · 18th January 2008, 10:36

Hi fangpyre,

Thanks for your response. Yes the TV does have a VGA port. What you say sounds like an option but it seems the mini DVI port on my iMac is different from the current iMac and as a result the mini DVI cable I have bought does not fit. Any idea where I could find the right cable.

fangpyre · 18th January 2008, 13:41

To my knowledge, the iMac G5 doesn't support DVI
iMac G5 - Technical Specifications

Video
VGA output port for video mirroring on external display or projector
S-video and composite video output to connect directly to a TV or projector
Output resolutions: 640 x 480 pixels at 60Hz, 800 x 600 pixels at 75Hz and 1024 x 768 pixels at 75Hz

If you go for the VGA option, all you need is a regular VGA cable. This can be bought from most computer stores and hypermarkets, including Carrefour and Panda.

The new iMac uses mini DVI, which is a format of DVI.
DVI offers a better connection and quality than VGA.

collincl · 18th January 2008, 16:37

Thanks fangpyre, you have pointed me in the right direction now. It is not a mini DVI port it is a mini VGA port on my iMac. Here's hoping I can get this outdated cable from the iStore.

fangpyre · 18th January 2008, 21:12

What the specs state is that its a regular VGA connection.
There is no such thing as a miniVGA connection.

iStyle should have it. However if you try the sources I noted earlier, you can get them at cheaper prices and at longer lengths.

iStyle stocks Monster cables, which really aren't worth the money in my opinion, especially for VGA.
Good luck.

collincl · 19th January 2008, 07:47

Hi fangpyre,

It is definately a mini VGA connector. Please see specs for cable below.

The Apple Store (U.S.) - Apple VGA Display Adapter

fangpyre · 19th January 2008, 14:55

Collincl
Sorry about that.
You are correct.
I'd completely forgotten about it till I saw it in the link.

18th January 2008, 08:47	#1 (permalink)
collincl Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 7	iMac Power PC G5 connected to TV Hi All, I have a iMac G5 Power PC (pre isight) which I was hoping to connect to my LCD TV and use as a multimedia system in the near future when I purchase the new i Mac 24 inch. So off I went to the iStore and bought a mini DVI-DVI cable and a DVI-HDMI cable to connect to the TV. To my horror when I came home to connect it the mini DVI cable does not fit the port at the back of my iMac. After doing some research it seems my iMac can only be mirrored to an external screen but I am still not sure if I can connect to my HDMI port or if i can only use the VGA port. If anyone has some advise to give me on this and if you can tell me where I may be able to find the relevant cable to attach my iMac to my TV, I would be most grateful.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

18th January 2008, 10:07	#2 (permalink)
fangpyre Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Dubai Posts: 1,417	You're best bet is to connect using the S-Video port. Does the TV support VGA connections? You might be able to use a VGA-DVI converter and connect it to the DVI-HDMI cable. I'm not sure what you will get after so many conversions. Also note that you can Mirror or Extend to a second monitor. Mirroring gives an identical image on both screens. Extending allows you to use them as one big screen.

18th January 2008, 10:36	#3 (permalink)
collincl Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 7	Hi fangpyre, Thanks for your response. Yes the TV does have a VGA port. What you say sounds like an option but it seems the mini DVI port on my iMac is different from the current iMac and as a result the mini DVI cable I have bought does not fit. Any idea where I could find the right cable.

18th January 2008, 13:41	#4 (permalink)
fangpyre Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Dubai Posts: 1,417	To my knowledge, the iMac G5 doesn't support DVI iMac G5 - Technical Specifications Video VGA output port for video mirroring on external display or projector S-video and composite video output to connect directly to a TV or projector Output resolutions: 640 x 480 pixels at 60Hz, 800 x 600 pixels at 75Hz and 1024 x 768 pixels at 75Hz If you go for the VGA option, all you need is a regular VGA cable. This can be bought from most computer stores and hypermarkets, including Carrefour and Panda. The new iMac uses mini DVI, which is a format of DVI. DVI offers a better connection and quality than VGA.

18th January 2008, 16:37	#5 (permalink)
collincl Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 7	Thanks fangpyre, you have pointed me in the right direction now. It is not a mini DVI port it is a mini VGA port on my iMac. Here's hoping I can get this outdated cable from the iStore.

18th January 2008, 21:12	#6 (permalink)
fangpyre Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Dubai Posts: 1,417	What the specs state is that its a regular VGA connection. There is no such thing as a miniVGA connection. iStyle should have it. However if you try the sources I noted earlier, you can get them at cheaper prices and at longer lengths. iStyle stocks Monster cables, which really aren't worth the money in my opinion, especially for VGA. Good luck.

19th January 2008, 07:47	#7 (permalink)
collincl Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 7	Hi fangpyre, It is definately a mini VGA connector. Please see specs for cable below. The Apple Store (U.S.) - Apple VGA Display Adapter

19th January 2008, 14:55	#8 (permalink)
fangpyre Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Dubai Posts: 1,417	Collincl Sorry about that. You are correct. I'd completely forgotten about it till I saw it in the link.