Use iMac as monitor? How you can get an affordable Studio Show

With some cautious modding, you should utilize an iMac as a show — and save greater than $1,300 to get a high-end monitor just like Apple’s dear Studio Show.

Apple’s Studio Show is considered one of solely a small handful of 27-inch Retina 5K shows in the marketplace, boasting a decision of 5,120 × 2880. Sadly, it prices fairly a handful — $1,599. In case you have an outdated iMac 5K sitting round, you have already got a pc with the very same show panel inside. So in case you are keen to spend about $190 in components and might convert it to a Studio Show, you save a giant chunk of change.

Right here’s how one can mod it your self — however be warned, it’s not for the faint of coronary heart.

Use iMac as monitor: Make your individual high-end show

Convert outdated iMac

Substitute show management board for 27-inch iMac 5K

This show management board for the 27-inch iMac with 5K Retina show permits to make use of the outdated pc as a high-end exterior show. The iMac with 5K Retina show makes use of the very same panel as Apple’s high-end, $1,600 Studio Show monitor. The management board has two HDMI enter ports and two DP ports.

Energy it up

Join the audio system

iMac speaker crossover equipment

This speaker crossover equipment permits you to join a substitute show controller board to the inner audio system of a 27-inch iMac 5K.

iMacs used to have the ability to work as a secondary show, utilizing one thing referred to as Goal Show Mode. Sadly, after the swap to Retina shows, this function was dropped and by no means returned.

In case you have an outdated iMac 5K sitting round, this mod can provide it a brand new life. Nevertheless it isn’t simple. You’ll have to rigorously disassemble it and take away all its components, order a substitute show board and energy provide, wire all of it collectively, and put the pc again in a single piece once more. It’s not a straightforward afternoon facet mission. The components will nonetheless run just a few hundred {dollars} and it might take just a few days of labor.

Watch the video beneath or learn the instructions to see what you’re signing up for.

Desk of Contents:

1. Purchase an iMac 5K
2. Take away its show
3. Purchase the substitute components you want
4. Take away all of the iMac inner parts
5. Wire collectively your substitute components and check
6. Safe your parts contained in the case
7. Check it extensively earlier than gluing the show again collectively

Purchase an iMac 5K

First, you’ll want a sacrificial iMac 5K. As of December 2024, you should purchase outdated iMacs on eBay for about $250 – $500.

Among the instruments you’ll want for to make use of the outdated iMac as a monitor:

Take away its show

Sadly, you must partially disassemble the machine earlier than you may make your full buying listing. That’s as a result of you must get the half quantity in your actual show panel in an effort to purchase a substitute board, and the half quantity is printed on the within.

In the event you purchase a substitute adhesive equipment in your show, it’ll possible include the instruments you must pry the panel off. Rigorously run your opening device across the fringe of the show, like a pizza cutter, and run the cardboard behind it to separate the glue. For detailed directions, observe iFixit’s steps.

Purchase a substitute controller board, energy provide, speaker equipment and lead weights

Now with the show off, check out the sticker on the underside of the show panel. There’s a component quantity that begins with LM270QQ1(SD), and you must be aware of the revision quantity — A2, A3, B1, C1, E1 or F1. Be sure to purchase an identical substitute board, that are priced at about $170.

You’ll additionally want to purchase an influence provide. Within the instance video proven above, they bought a 12V 6A energy provide (about $19) from the identical vendor — double test whether or not or not the controller board you purchased requires the identical voltage and amperage.

Optionally, if you wish to reuse the inner audio system, you’ll additionally want to purchase a speaker crossover equipment. Within the instance video, this part didn’t work very nicely, however your mileage could differ.

Your substitute parts shall be a lot lighter than the pc beforehand residing within the case. The tilting display received’t be as balanced, tilting itself upwards. Including three one-pound lead weights to the within of the case will right for the distinction.

Take away all of the iMac inner parts

You’ll have to rigorously unscrew and take away all the inner parts of the iMac 5K. Most of the components might be resold, which might make you again a bit of cash, so take care. I like to recommend sporting gloves if you take away the ability provide.

For extremely detailed directions, seek the advice of this iFixit information. Comply with alongside by means of eradicating the logic board from the case.

Wire collectively your substitute components and check

Take the 2 cables hanging off the iMac show panel and join them to your substitute show board. Plug the show board into your energy provide, and plug that into an outlet.

You’ll wish to check it at this stage by plugging one other pc into the DisplayPort connectors on the again. (Earlier iMacs require two DisplayPort cables.) In case your pc efficiently connects to the iMac as an exterior show, nice!

In the event you purchased the speaker crossover equipment, join the left and proper iMac audio system to the 2 boards and plug these into your show board.

Optionally, should you’re comfy with soldering, you possibly can wire the iMac’s built-in energy cable port and energy button into your individual energy provide cable and controller board. This may make the general package deal feel and look nicer, as you’ll be capable of use the button and port constructed into the case. You should definitely check it once more after you’ve carried out this earlier than continuing.

Safe your parts contained in the iMac monitor case

Now it’s time to place all of it again collectively.

As an alternative of utilizing sizzling glue, just like the video reveals, I like to recommend Velcro strips — energy provides generate a number of warmth and will soften common glue. It’s heavy, so use a giant piece. Safe the substitute show board with Velcro strips as nicely. Cables might be secured in place with tape.

Route the show cable (or each of them) by means of the opening within the again.

Glue within the lead weights into the underside of the chin.

Optionally, in order for you the cable(s) to look nicer popping out of the again, you possibly can drill a round gap within the metallic RAM plate and put a rubber grommet on it. You may additionally cowl up the rear ports of the iMac with a trackpad cowl.

Check your iMac monitor extensively earlier than gluing it again collectively

Put the show again in place, and tape it on for now — you wish to check it once more with every thing in place earlier than it’s sealed. The extra testing, the higher. Within the video above, they stored it like this for just a few days to ensure nothing breaks.

Glue the show again collectively everytime you’re assured in your work. Be completely certain the show is centered on the metallic body earlier than you seal it on.

Your management board could include a distant management that may let you regulate the brightness, distinction, temperature and different settings on the iMac show. If that is going for use as a second show in a setup, you possibly can exactly match the colour and configuration of each shows.

Use iMac as monitor: Give outdated tech new life

After all of your handiwork is finished, you’ve possible saved between $1,000 and $1,300 — and picked up just a few DIY electronics abilities. And your use of an outdated iMac as a monitor possible saved it from the landfill. Congratulations!

Convert outdated iMac

Substitute show management board for 27-inch iMac 5K

This show management board for the 27-inch iMac with 5K Retina show permits to make use of the outdated pc as a high-end exterior show. The iMac with 5K Retina show makes use of the very same panel as Apple’s high-end, $1,600 Studio Show monitor. The management board has two HDMI enter ports and two DP ports.

Energy it up

Join the audio system

iMac speaker crossover equipment

This speaker crossover equipment permits you to join a substitute show controller board to the inner audio system of a 27-inch iMac 5K.