Pseudoworking 22" Cinema Display + DA G4

[IPNixon]

I found a 22" Cinema Display today. Upon powering it, I find out it looks like this: http://i29.tinypic.com/qxwcp2.jpg

I also scored a gigabit ethernet G4, but nothing happens when you hit the power button. I guess the power supply might be bad or something.

Oh, well. Not too too bad for free.

 

[IPNixon]

Oops. It's a digital audio. Not a gigabit ethernet.

 

[Franklinstein]

Let's hope it's not the power supply, but if need be, it's not terribly difficult to hack an ATX power supply and use an external power brick to supply the missing 28 vdc.

 

[IPNixon]

Right now, I'm actually working on getting the lines off that Cinema display. I've found a couple pressure points that make the lines show up and disappear, so I'm trying to find (inside) where those points are.

 

[Christopher]

Man what a score.

 

[IPNixon]

I just dropped the PSU from my Quicksilver into the DA, and it started right up!

It took 20 seconds from the moment the Apple logo appeared to boot to a Leopard fresh install desktop.

 

[TylerEss]

Is the +28VDC actually necessary for the G4 to run? I thought it was only used as a power source for the ADC monitors...

 

[Quadraman]

Is the +28VDC actually necessary for the G4 to run? I thought it was only used as a power source for the ADC monitors...

There is some voltage needed on teh +28v line to get the Mac to start up. Someone on Applefritter, I think, has a mod where you can get it going on less than +28v. The Quicksilver has 2 +28v lines, though, so I don't think you can do the voltage trick on both of them.

 

[Dan 7.1]

oh awesome score! I love my digital audio, its been one of the more reliable machines i've ever owned.

 

[IPNixon]

Well, I didn't change anything on the QS's PSU. I just did a straight up swap-in, and it worked fine.

 

[Dan 7.1]

well the only difference between the QS PSU and the DA one is the QS has an additional 4pin molex connector which is not present on the DA's motherboard.

 

[Mac68000]

Cool, perhaps it is a loose connection that is making the display dead?

 

[IPNixon]

Cool, perhaps it is a loose connection that is making the display dead?

Well, it's not totally dead, and I've identified the problem as the solder joints on the cables attached to the boards surrounding the LCD. In other words, it's not repairable.

 

[Unknown_K]

Why is it not repairable, don't have a soldering gun?

 

[techfury90]

Its not that as much as the fact the solder joints are ridiculously precise, on the order of surface mount chips.

 

[Unknown_K]

Might as well try with a fine tipped soldering iron, not like screwing it up is going to matter if you are junking it anyway.

 

[IPNixon]

I never said I would junk it, I'm actually really hesitant to throw it out.

 

[Unknown_K]

is it worth taking to a shop to get fixed? 23" Cinema displays do not grow on trees.

 

[Byrd]

I never said I would junk it, I'm actually really hesitant to throw it out.

With enough practice and a good (fine-tipped, temperature controlled) soldering iron, it should be more than fixable. If not confident, take it somewhere to get repaited.

JB