Clamshell XGA Mod - Possible on the 4MB VRAM models?

[3lectr1cPPC]

If you don't know, it's possible to install a 1024x768 resolution display in an iBook Clamshell with a special LCD cable and an open firmware command to get everything set. I've heard conflicting info on whether this is possible on an original 4MB VRAM model (Blueberry/Tangerine), which happen to be the models that I have. I already have a donor screen from a dead G3 Snow 12", all I'd need is the cable to do it if it's possible. Anyone know the rundown on this? Best I've seen is "not recommended" or "may or may not work" along with "doesn't work". Has anyone actually tried the mod on one of these models? Who knows how long it would be before I find a 8MB model at a good price.

 

[stevesontheroad]

I am attempting to do this mod right now, myself. I got an XGA screen from eBay (661-2773) but could not locate a cable, outside of the one on eBay in Tunesia (no thanks). I then won an auction for 6 complete Blueberry display units (dare I hope?) and one of them had the unobtainable LG cable. I installed the cable and panel into a graphite 466, and nothing. The backlight lit, and the screen flashed white for a fraction of a second, but then no image, no matter how I booted (cd, dvd, os9, panther, nothing, and I have 4.1.7). I had ALSO obtained a 700mhz donor iBook, so I swapped panels with that, and my eBay panel worked with that computer, and the panel from it works with the graphite, but I can’t get the resolution to work- screen artifacts, the 800x600 up in the corner. I have done the OF thing (maybe incorrectly) to no avail. Any help from anyone would be greatly appreciated. ANYWAY, thanks for reading this far- last night, while scouring google, I found this fascinating video that pretty clearly states that ANY clamshell should be able to do it, also regardless of firmware

 

[MacUp72]

I wonder how that mystic LG cable actually looks like..

 

[Byrd]

Looks like a significant modification is required for for 4MB VRAM boards. Keep in mind it’s very much a hack, even on supported 8MB boards it’s very glitchy at startup until the OS loads.

 

[3lectr1cPPC]

We’ve went over this video over on a thread on TinkerDifferent. I suspect (but cannot cannot confirm) that the extra circuitry may be in order to force those open firmware commands at every boot. Maybe being because that guy was selling these, he didn’t want the end user to have to rerun the commands if the NVRAM ever got reset for any reason. Maybe? We don’t know. The extra chip he soldered in appears to be an EEPROM. I’m still going to try the mod on my own blueberry clamshell at some point.

 

[stevesontheroad]

Figured out my resolution problem. I was editing OF as it appeared on my phone screen :

 

[3lectr1cPPC]

Great!

 

[stevesontheroad]

Figured out my resolution problem. I was editing OF as it appeared on my phone screen : View attachment 56483

TO BE CLEAR TO ANYONE WHO FINDS THIS IN THE FUTURE- do NOT follow this pic. It adds an extra return because of the size of the phone screen and therefore does not work.