I have a Performa 520 that sorts of work. No matter what I put in, it would only recognize 8MB max in one slot. (4MB soldered onboard) When I got it sometime ago, the previous owner tried to upgrade the RAM, dropped a heavy object on the motherboard and the SIM got ripped out of its socket. I didn't find any bent pins so I suspect cracked solder joints or cracked PCB traces. Or maybe I had incompatible RAM somehow?
Since it's an old machine I don't think it's really worth the effort to fix it. Instead I wanted to use the internal display and plug in a different motherboard, probably a PC board so I could run Linux. I do need something to replace my amnesic router (everything reset at power failure) and linux isn't easily broken into like Windoze is. Plus Linux is supposedly easier to set and configure than a cheap router
Does anyone know where could I find the connector pinout for the internal power and video, and if the video display is capable of 640x480 and/or 800x600 at 60hz? I have a spare 1.6GHz P4 on a mTX board that will fit inside. Unless someone knows of a Mac capable board of that size that doesn't use odd or non standard drive connectors.
If the display can't run at VGA or SVGA mode, is there anything I could do? finding a 14" VGA monitor isn't easy nowday since most stores won't carry anything smaller than 17" (or used monitors smaller than 15)
See that link in the top right corner that says FAQ? I'd suggest you have a look there.
If your miniITX motherboard has LVDS, you might be able to find a bare LCD (ie no VGA controller card) in the right size that will work with it. Consult the mobo manufacturer.
Or, yes, find a smaller VGA LCD on ebay and case strip it. One of the small VGA/TVs with VGA/S-video/composite inputs and a TV tuner would be a fun hack.
Performa 520 uses CRT not LCD and the FAQ doesn't mention anything about hacking Mac's internal CRT to work with PC boards.
I've gone ahead and picked up a 14" triniton VGA monitor since the CRT are virtually the same size and shape as the original and got it to fit inside the 520.
Oh, my apologies. I misread that as a Powerbook 520. Then I started imagining a 520 'book with TV antennas above the LCD and thought "Yeah!".
A miniITX Performa sounds like a fun hack. Meanwhile, my misunderstanding has got me looking funny at my Powerbook stack and thinking "Hmmmm..."
They're getting nervous.
If you offer your Performa's leftover guts on the For Sale/Trade forum, I'm sure someone will pick them up.
According to lowendmac.com the 520 was only capable of 640x480 at 8 bit colour depth. I don't know if that is a restriction of the motherboard VRAM, video chipset, analogue board, or CRT.
I'm thinking of buying a DEAD 520 series to drop a Mac Mini into. I've already got one stuffed into a Plus case, along with an 8" touch screen LCD/TV. Works great in the kitchen for my recipes, light internet use, and TV watching while cooking/eating.
Doing the same with an early all-in-one would let me use a larger screen, which would be nice. Spray painted flat black, it might even pass at first glance as one of the Mac TVs.
Pleeeeze