You are looking for something generically called a Mac Sync adaptor or Mac DB-15 - VGA adaptor. Some of them have switches or dials to set the desired resolution. Any local Apple dealership should have some of these kicking around for $10 or less.
G3 PowerMac OS9
G3 PowerMac OS9
This is my first serious attempt to get back into the Mac environment and escape from the Microsoft environment - after many years of career based usage of PCs while pining over the memory of my first serious computing experiences on the first macs.
I'm making this changeover and once I've restored the data I'm planning to work on I will be helping a number of other associates to start the migration but I have to go through the process myself first - obviously. I've just totally had it with the -virus driven planned obsolesence- of the pc world.
I have many cds of data made inaccessible by virus laden pc environments - which I want to resurrect.
Starting out I have a G3 PowerMac which I've been told has OS9 server software running and that it also functions as a workstation. Trouble is I have no cable to connect the old crt monitor with the CPU - so I'm not even sure if it works at this point.
15-pin cable (one end is 1/2 inch with 3 rows of five pins each- and the other end is 1 inch 1 row of 7 pins and the other of 8 pins) I don't know what this cable is called, but the (two row) 1 inch long end plugs into the G3 Power Mac CPU and the (three row) 1/2 inch end plugs into the CRT Monitor.
I have to get one of these cables to find out if the equipment works as I was promised by the former owner. If there is anyone with this cable and other accessories, software etc that they are no longer using and would be willing to part with for a reasonable price - please contact me.
NOTE: The suggestions made by VEXEL in the Troubleshooting Guidelines are appreciated and I will follow them, at the moment, however I have no more info than copied above until I can first of all see if it works.
Thanks,
Please respond to [email protected]
This is my first serious attempt to get back into the Mac environment and escape from the Microsoft environment - after many years of career based usage of PCs while pining over the memory of my first serious computing experiences on the first macs.
I'm making this changeover and once I've restored the data I'm planning to work on I will be helping a number of other associates to start the migration but I have to go through the process myself first - obviously. I've just totally had it with the -virus driven planned obsolesence- of the pc world.
I have many cds of data made inaccessible by virus laden pc environments - which I want to resurrect.
Starting out I have a G3 PowerMac which I've been told has OS9 server software running and that it also functions as a workstation. Trouble is I have no cable to connect the old crt monitor with the CPU - so I'm not even sure if it works at this point.
15-pin cable (one end is 1/2 inch with 3 rows of five pins each- and the other end is 1 inch 1 row of 7 pins and the other of 8 pins) I don't know what this cable is called, but the (two row) 1 inch long end plugs into the G3 Power Mac CPU and the (three row) 1/2 inch end plugs into the CRT Monitor.
I have to get one of these cables to find out if the equipment works as I was promised by the former owner. If there is anyone with this cable and other accessories, software etc that they are no longer using and would be willing to part with for a reasonable price - please contact me.
NOTE: The suggestions made by VEXEL in the Troubleshooting Guidelines are appreciated and I will follow them, at the moment, however I have no more info than copied above until I can first of all see if it works.
Thanks,
Please respond to [email protected]
1 - 8 of 8 Posts
Been looking and no luck yet
Thanks for your reply and thanks for the name of this cable.
I was told before by a used computer store but forgot.
I'm in Montreal and did contact the Mac Stores that I know of (there are two MicroServe outlets here that specialize in Mac) and they had none of these cables and couldn't tell me where to find one.
This is why I'm asking here.
Thanks for your reply and thanks for the name of this cable.
I was told before by a used computer store but forgot.
I'm in Montreal and did contact the Mac Stores that I know of (there are two MicroServe outlets here that specialize in Mac) and they had none of these cables and couldn't tell me where to find one.
This is why I'm asking here.
Check to see that there are not two video outputs on this machine. These typically came with on board video with a proprietary connector between it and an RBG monitor. It is located on the back, at the bottom roughly 1/2 way across the machine.
The second video was via separate video card pluged into the PDS slot and housed beside the PCI slots. This output is a standard ( for mac at that time) RBG. If this one is there, you justs need an RBG to VGA converter which is what Ibelieve CanadaRam is referring to above. If not, ie someone has used the PDS slot for something else, you need both the proprietary cabe and the adapter.
I am referencing this from our G3 desktop powermac. It you have the tower or the all in one, the positioning may differ and the features may be different.
The second video was via separate video card pluged into the PDS slot and housed beside the PCI slots. This output is a standard ( for mac at that time) RBG. If this one is there, you justs need an RBG to VGA converter which is what Ibelieve CanadaRam is referring to above. If not, ie someone has used the PDS slot for something else, you need both the proprietary cabe and the adapter.
I am referencing this from our G3 desktop powermac. It you have the tower or the all in one, the positioning may differ and the features may be different.
Thanks Lichen Software
Thanks http://www.ehmac.ca/vbulletin/icons/icon14.gif for all these details, and very helpful information, Lichen Software.
My G3 PowerMac is also a desktop model. On the back is written:
PowerPC G3
300MHZ
1MB Cache
64MB SBG
HD/24x CD/zip
I can build a PC but I know Nada about Mac. I'm starting from scratch. I haven't even opened it up to look inside - because I doubt that I'll have any understanding of what I'm looking at.
You said: Check to see that there are not two video outputs on this machine. These typically came with on board video with a proprietary connector between it and an RBG monitor. It is located on the back, at the bottom roughly 1/2 way across the machine.
I can see that connector - almost 1/2 way across the back at the bottom.
You said: The second video was via separate video card pluged into the PDS slot and housed beside the PCI slots.
How do I find this - do I have to look inside for this? What does the connector look like in the box?
You said: If not, ie someone has used the PDS slot for something else, you need both the proprietary cable and the adapter.
So here you are referring to the (Mac Sync adaptor or Mac DB-15 - VGA adaptor) as well as the proprietary cable (does it have a specific unique name?)
The Monitor is called a: Mac Multiple Scan 15 inch display.
There are two connectors on the back. In the middle of the back of the monitor is one small (1/2 inch wide) 15 pin male receptacle with three rows of pins. Beside it is one small circular sound plug.
So, if I understand this correctly I probably have to find not only a cable with one end that has a small (1/2 inch wide) 15 pin male receptacle with three rows of pins, and the other end with ? ( which is a proprietary cable) which needs an adapter (Mac Sync adaptor or Mac DB-15 - VGA adaptor) which will convert ? to a (1 inch wide 15 pin male receptacle with three rows of pins).
Have I understood this correctly, Lichen Software?
Joss
Thanks http://www.ehmac.ca/vbulletin/icons/icon14.gif for all these details, and very helpful information, Lichen Software.
My G3 PowerMac is also a desktop model. On the back is written:
PowerPC G3
300MHZ
1MB Cache
64MB SBG
HD/24x CD/zip
I can build a PC but I know Nada about Mac. I'm starting from scratch. I haven't even opened it up to look inside - because I doubt that I'll have any understanding of what I'm looking at.
You said: Check to see that there are not two video outputs on this machine. These typically came with on board video with a proprietary connector between it and an RBG monitor. It is located on the back, at the bottom roughly 1/2 way across the machine.
I can see that connector - almost 1/2 way across the back at the bottom.
You said: The second video was via separate video card pluged into the PDS slot and housed beside the PCI slots.
How do I find this - do I have to look inside for this? What does the connector look like in the box?
You said: If not, ie someone has used the PDS slot for something else, you need both the proprietary cable and the adapter.
So here you are referring to the (Mac Sync adaptor or Mac DB-15 - VGA adaptor) as well as the proprietary cable (does it have a specific unique name?)
The Monitor is called a: Mac Multiple Scan 15 inch display.
There are two connectors on the back. In the middle of the back of the monitor is one small (1/2 inch wide) 15 pin male receptacle with three rows of pins. Beside it is one small circular sound plug.
So, if I understand this correctly I probably have to find not only a cable with one end that has a small (1/2 inch wide) 15 pin male receptacle with three rows of pins, and the other end with ? ( which is a proprietary cable) which needs an adapter (Mac Sync adaptor or Mac DB-15 - VGA adaptor) which will convert ? to a (1 inch wide 15 pin male receptacle with three rows of pins).
Have I understood this correctly, Lichen Software?
Joss
You'll be looking for one of these Griffin Technology: Monitor Adapters -
A standard VGA port has 3 rows of pins. The old Mac ports had 2 rows of pins. It looks like your monitor has the standard VGA port common to PCs and newer Macs. Your G3 has the older Mac video port. The Griffin adapter you need would be the Mac PnP Adaptor. You'll also need to get a VGA video cable. The cable should be available at just about any store that sells PC computer hardware.
There used to be lots of companies that made similar adaptors, but they're hard to find now since all newer Macs have the standard VGA plug or DVI plug.
I'm assuming you have a beige G3. They're great machines if you're familiar with the older style Mac quirks, but they're a poor choice for a newbe. There's no USB or Firewire either unless they were PCI card add-ons. These boxes have no resale value at all, so be careful how much money you're going to dump into it.
You could save youself a lot of grief by getting a used G4. They'll all have the standard stuff that you're already familiar with. A couple of hundred bucks should get you a nice 450 or 500 MHz model with a respectable amount of ram.
A standard VGA port has 3 rows of pins. The old Mac ports had 2 rows of pins. It looks like your monitor has the standard VGA port common to PCs and newer Macs. Your G3 has the older Mac video port. The Griffin adapter you need would be the Mac PnP Adaptor. You'll also need to get a VGA video cable. The cable should be available at just about any store that sells PC computer hardware.
There used to be lots of companies that made similar adaptors, but they're hard to find now since all newer Macs have the standard VGA plug or DVI plug.
I'm assuming you have a beige G3. They're great machines if you're familiar with the older style Mac quirks, but they're a poor choice for a newbe. There's no USB or Firewire either unless they were PCI card add-ons. These boxes have no resale value at all, so be careful how much money you're going to dump into it.
You could save youself a lot of grief by getting a used G4. They'll all have the standard stuff that you're already familiar with. A couple of hundred bucks should get you a nice 450 or 500 MHz model with a respectable amount of ram.
Joss: Check your private message folder.
wow i didnt know a g3 b&w came with proprietary video i thought they all cam with ati rage vga cards
1 - 8 of 8 Posts
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