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15" ADC Cinema Display on IIsi possible?

Von

Well-known member
Hi All,

I am about to start in on several vintage Mac projects and one of those is my IIsi.  I had it using a generic 15" LCD display with a VGA adapter.  This setup worked fine on both native video as well as video card I could run out of the PDS slot (I think it is a Video Spigot). In my collection exists a 15" Apple Cinema Display that uses the proprietary ADC connection.  On eBay are several Apple DVI to ADC adapters...I'd need one of those to start.  That would get power to the monitor and the video signal to DVI. I then need to get that signal to the IIsi.  There are DVI to VGA adapters and I have VGA adaptor on my IIsi which I think is VGA to DA-15 (see towards the bottom under "Connectors...Original DA-15 -- commonly but incorrectly known as a DB-15 -- used on all desktop Macs without a built in monitor up until the 1999...").

Questions:

1. Does a DVI to DA-15 adapter exist? There seem to be plenty of DVI to DB-15 however I'd like to avoid 3 adaptors in a row...

2. Has anyone been successful in getting an ADC monitor working on an IIsi or similar?

THx!

~Von

 

Byrd

Well-known member
Hi Von,

For stock video the IIsi requires a monitor that is capable of sync on green (SOG), that only a small amount of CRT monitors and fewer LCD monitors support.  In other words, it's unlikely and yes you will need the ADC to DVI adapter, DVI to VGA, then VGA to DB15.  I wouldn't consider ADC monitors to be particularly compatible compared to a generic VGA LCD.

If you are really keen, you could install a NUBUS graphics card (that outputs DB15 signal) in your IIsi with the appropriate riser card.

JB 

 
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Von

Well-known member
Not a great photo but there is the IIsi on its native video at 256 colors on my Envision LCD monitor which apparently does SOG.

2017-12-19_23_35_23.jpg

 

Trash80toHP_Mini

NIGHT STALKER
You NEED the Radius Color Pivot 2/IIsi. The horrid IIsi Vampire Video kluge is to be avoided at all costs  .  .  .  and that cost is negligible. ;)

 
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Cory5412

Daring Pioneer of the Future
Staff member
The ADC monitors almost certainly will not accept analog input, it's unlikely to work unless you add a second converter which can 1) accept a fixed-sync input from a Mac II (or you get a VGA adapter that can create an appropriate VGA signal) 2) output DVI. That will be an active, powered device.

Regarding the IIsi's onboard video: The IIsi and IIci have one of the first integrated graphics solutions that use system RAM. I had a IIsi and never noted specifically that it was significantly slower than contemporary systems with dedicated video RAM, like the Performa 600.

 

Von

Well-known member
This is the video card that will ultimately end up up in the machine...supermac video spigot:

2017-12-20_21_22_56.jpg

That will be dealt with after the work on the SE/30...

 
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Trash80toHP_Mini

NIGHT STALKER
Sweet card, fabulous twin PDS riser! Box appears to be a mismatch with the card which ROM tag reads to be the same as alaska's.

IIRC, Video Spigot only has a single composite connector for input.

Did SuperMac make provision for mounting a NIC's Thin/ThickNet breakout board on that bracket? Pretty slick!

 

Von

Well-known member
Here is my update...

I wanted to see what was possible so and Apple ADC to DVI converter. I know that the converter works as I can take the the DVI output to a PC with a DVI video card and all works:

2018-01-05_22_34_44.jpg

I then went to the local Frys to get an adapter that was DVI F to VGA M.  This is what I ended  up with.

3471233_01_prod.jpg.8b099fff91cc5df4e0248293004bc3b2.jpg


Product description, "This adapter extends and converts an existing DVI-I cable to a VGA plug. DVI-I ( Integration of digital + analog signals) end is female and VGA end is HD15 male connector. The VGA connector converts all of the signals from the DVI-I analog signals."

Using this adapter, tried:

  • Going to the IIsi video port via a NEC VGA adapter
  • Going to the Video Card shown above via the same NEC VGA adapter
  • Going to an old PC that has a VGA video card
  • Go to the PC that was woking and using its DVI to VGA adapter and using is 2nd head which is VGA (Card is an ATI all in Wonder Pro)
None of these worked. With all options, I hit the power button on the display and it would light up for a second but no picture. The only thing I didn't try was using the VGA port on the ADC & VGA video card in the G4 system that the ADC display came from.

I am thinking of trying some additional adapters from AMZN before I give up on this.  I'd welcome any input as well.

Also, the video card shown doesn't have its video input daughter card installed. I had this running previously with an Asante network card and a Daystar 040 accelerator.  This is where I am working to get this system back to. I read through manuals and there was nothing about fitting a network card however that might be possible with some drill & Dremel work on the extra backplane that came with this card...this one has no openings for the daughter card so one could cut in any that would fit...

 
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Daniël

Well-known member
That passive VGA DVI-I adapter just passes through analog signals, the ADC monitor probably only takes digital signals. Look for an active VGA DVI-D adapter that actually converts the analog signals to digital ones.

 

Von

Well-known member
THx for this Daniël.

I went looking on AMZN and these three look promising as they mention signal conversion:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M0FL4WF

Description:

  • 1, Convert your PC's VGA output single onto a DVI enhanced LCD flat panel display
  • 2,Cost-effective solution for connecting an analog Flat Panel Display to a PC or Mac computer with VGA output
  • 3,Quick and easy installation. No settings and no software required.
  • 4,Convert a VGA signal into a DVI-I Signal
  • 5,Performance-high speed digital data transmission delivers the signal faster and stronger




https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004I6IYIW

Description:

  • Cost-effective solution for connecting an analog Flat Panel Display to a PC or Mac computer with VGA output
  • Backed by StarTech.com lifetime warranty
  • Convert a VGA signal into a DVI-I Signal
  • Molded Connector with thumbscrews
  • Quick and easy installation. No settings and no software required.


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006HSM2

Description:

  • PLEASE NOTE: This adapter is for DVI-I ports only, and will not fit a digital DVI-D cable.
  • Convert a DVI-I cable to use with a VGA device; maximum resolution is 1600 x 1200 pixels
  • Perfect for converting a DVI-I cable connector to VGA for use with a device
  • Supports resolutions up to 1600 x 1200
  • Use with analog VGA port on device


I will wait until I get to the free shipping minimum and see if I can get any of these to work...

 
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Daniël

Well-known member
They are all just passthroughs. If it doesn't take any power, it doesn't actually convert it. You need to find an active VGA to DVI-D converter, or an active VGA to HDMI converter. You can connect a HDMI to a DVI port with a passthrough, as they both use the same digital standard of video, HDMI just supports some more features like audio and DRM, but those are irrelevant for your use.

 

Cory5412

Daring Pioneer of the Future
Staff member
This could be costly. Just off hand, here's one I found on monoprice for $120.

The route I would personally consider taking is to buy an older 15" LCD with VGA input from a PC maker or generic monitor company. I happen to have a Dell UltraSharp 1505 at home that I got for almost nothing at the local university's surplus store. (The size doesn't really matter, although 15" may look least weird.)

For a Mac IIsi, you will need to use a video adapter that specifies modes. 640x480 is the highest normal resolution that system will output.

 

Von

Well-known member
They are all just passthroughs. If it doesn't take any power, it doesn't actually convert it. You need to find an active VGA to DVI-D converter, or an active VGA to HDMI converter. You can connect a HDMI to a DVI port with a passthrough, as they both use the same digital standard of video, HDMI just supports some more features like audio and DRM, but those are irrelevant for your use.
Confirmed. My AMZN order shipped before reading your post. The 3 connectors arrived and none worked.

This could be costly. Just off hand, here's one I found on monoprice for $120.

The route I would personally consider taking is to buy an older 15" LCD with VGA input from a PC maker or generic monitor company. I happen to have a Dell UltraSharp 1505 at home that I got for almost nothing at the local university's surplus store. (The size doesn't really matter, although 15" may look least weird.)
Yeah the $120 converter is not a path I am looking to go. I was hoping to use the Cinema display with the ADC converter at the end of my Belkin 4-port KVM to display my G4, the IIsi and then 2 PCs. It is such a nice looking monitor I have fingers crossed that this would work...

In my 2nd post in this thread is shown my generic CompUSA 17" EnVision LCD. It works perfectly with all of the machines mentioned so it will end up as the monitor on the KVM.

That said, I do have a very nice ADC to DCI converter that still has its factory plastic cling on it. It works and could be yours for $35 + shipping...

THx all for the input. Case closed.

 

AlpineRaven

Well-known member
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