LC 575 Trinitron-CRT swap on LC 580......Possible?

[neptuno1979]

Hi everyone, I'm a recently "hooked-on" fan on 68k Macintosh, and also is my first time posting here..

Well, lately got 2 LC ''specimens'' : One "wrecked" LC 575, plus a Working LC 580......The 575 has no logic board, drives etc, just the crt w/associated circuitry, while the 580 was given to me including the whole package plus goodies (stylewritter ii, system software, claris, keyboard and mouse, and so on). Looking at both cases are pretty much the same thing thought, but I CAN now personally see the differences :lol: between the two.....While the LC575 crt is nicely flat (even the screen frame also looks nicely smooth to me), the LC 580 is more curve and even more clumsy-like, not so smooth as the first one.... From what I've read, this is actually because there's a Sony Trinitron CRT inside the 575 series, while the 580 holds another kind/brand of CRT inside it.

I was wondering if there's any possibility of CRT-swapping between the LC 575 and 580, without involving a major hacking, just the swap. I personally prefer the features of the 580 -with the IDE hard drive and TV-ready logic board, just like the 630 series-, without neglecting any other 68k Macs....

Any experiences, opinions, suggestions, warnings, etc?

Thanks for reading... ;D

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Welcome, to the barracks, trooper!

It sounds like a Reverse CC Takky procedure to me. There are a lot of postings over on Applefritter in the CC Forum that have great info in them that should be pertinent to your very novel project.

I have a minor amount of experience with the Takkification of one of my 575s, but there are plenty of experts around here.

 

[beachycove]

The change would involve putting the 575's CRT into the 580, which might not be nearly as complicated as the aforementioned CC conversion. The 575's CRT is a beauty, whereas the 580's is disappointing, so if it worked or could be made to work easily, it would be worth a small-ish hassle.

You do know that working with CRTs can be real dangerous, do you?

 

[yuhong]

Except that the case had to significantly changed to support the curved CRT. I think it is better to Takky the 575.

 

[neptuno1979]

Hi again folks,

I'm planning to first start 'tinkering' a little bit the 575's case, since there's rust within the motherboard's area (i'd dismantle the whole casing in order to remove that rusty marks and even gray-prime/spray paint the inside of the mobo's case, Willing to do it very soon).

Except that the case had to significantly changed to support the curved CRT.

Mmm, but Which are those parts of the case significantly changed or modified then? (aside from the front bezel/frame) :?: Hope you could spread more about it.

@Beachycove, Thanks for your warning, I realize the shock hazard risk involved, promise to be careful :b&w:.

Thanks all you guys for paying attention to this post. @Trash80, It's a honor to enter the 68kmla ranks :lol:

Please, keep posting here.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

k

 

[yuhong]

Mmm, but Which are those parts of the case significantly changed or modified then? (aside from the front bezel/frame)

Try putting a LC 580 back cover in a LC 575 front, for example.

 

[LC_575]

Wouldn't it be easier to take all of the "case innards" of the 580 and put them in the 575? The only possible problem I can foresee is how to remove the proprietary motherboard/drive connectors from the 575 and replace them w/ the 580 stuff.

 

[Dennis Nedry]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but couldn't you take the big ribbon cable mess out of the 580 and put it in the 575? Then you'd be able to just insert 580 logic board & IDE hard drive into the 575 chassis?

I don't know how many mods that would require, if any.

 

[MacJunky]

Take the board out of the 580 case and stick it in a 6400/6500 case then hook up a nice external 15" or 17" trin!

 

[LCGuy]

Or better yet, a 6200/6300 case - the 6400/6500 are quite decent machines on their own, no point in wasting one of those.

 

[yuhong]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but couldn't you take the big ribbon cable mess out of the 580 and put it in the 575? Then you'd be able to just insert 580 logic board & IDE hard drive into the 575 chassis?
I don't know how many mods that would require, if any.

The Color Classic "Takky" mod was about exactly this. The LC 575 is in the same "family" as the Color Classic (indeed people has put LC 575 boards inside Color Classics). The LC 580 is in the same family as the Quadra 630 and the later 5200/5300/6200/6300.

 

[tmtomh]

Because the 575 and 580 use different CRTs, they also have different analogue board circuitry. On the other hand, most of the trickiest Takky work involves getting the Color Classic's 512x384 display circuitry to run at VGA (640 x480) - which the 575 and 580 both do natively. So it might not actually be that tough.

So if you're thinking of doing this for the fun of the process, I say go for it. But beware that it's a fair amount of work; there are lots of things that can go wrong; and while most mistakes are fixable, the CC-hacking community is a lot less active than it used to be so quick online help is not nearly as available as it used to be. (For example, I've forgotten probably half of what I used to know about this stuff - I've modded about a dozen CCs but the last one I did was around 2005...)

If, however, you're thinking of doing this for a practical outcome - i.e. a simple, more usable upgrade in CRT/display quality - then I'd say it's not worth the trouble. In that case I'd recommend sticking with the stock 580 and keeping your eyes open for another 575 (perhaps one with working logic board and busted CRT).

Either way, good luck and let us know how it works out! :beige:

 

[AppleMacintosh]

I have a WORKING 575 motherboard, a WORKING 575 Sony Trinitron CRT, and a busted 575 analog board. I also have a 575 case that is in shambles and severely cracked in multiple places. If any of these items interest you, send me a PM.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Dang! While I was in a frenzy moving/downsizing last summer, packing to be out by July 1, I chucked TWO 575s into the dumpster, one of which was the one I'd already half Takkified! :I

I hadn't started any of the harness mods, but the plastics were modified so my 6360 MoBo and MedusaMess would fit right in . . .

Sorry about that . . . [V]