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Comment by Eric_WVGG | Hacker News Reader

My utterly unrealistic dream is: now that the first batch of 5k iMacs is approaching “old age,” some business would start selling kits than had the tools and instructions necessary to gut old iMacs, and a new controller board that would convert the remaining screens to basic DisplayPort displays.

At $300 and around $500 for an old iMac on eBay, this could be somehow both more economical and likely more reliable than the displays currently on the market (see my other message in this thread). Also it’s just going to be a pity when those beautiful old computers start hitting the landfills.

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I assume they use eDP[1] internally so it wont be that har to convert them to a monitor[2]

[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DisplayPort#eDP [2]: https://hackaday.com/2019/07/18/put-those-ipad-displays-to-w...

It’s been done, I just don’t have the know-how to acquire the parts or properly do the soldering. I need a kit that says “throw away this, plug in here.” https://9to5mac.com/2021/01/26/apple-5k-display-do-it-yourse...

The 27" 5K iMacs suffer from image retention as they get older. I'm typing this on a Late 2014, and the retention has started to become annoying.

This exists albeit more DIY than your dream: https://www.reddit.com/r/hackintosh/comments/hrlf8x/the_secr...

my current setup consists of 2x imac27 retina sitting next to each other. I use Barrier (a software KVM) to switch mouse/keyboard between those. It works well for my need and is an inexpensive way to get a 2x 5K monitor setup (total cost: 2100 EUR)

I am considering getting a M1 mac mini and use my 2 current imac27 retina as external monitors. My plan is to get a cheap small monitor for the mac mini, then use Barrier to use the imacs as external monitors.

Anyone here has gone that route?

I wouldn't blame you for wanting to remove the Intel innards, but iMacs can already be used as external displays.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204592

Also, you can just spec the panels from Aliexpress most of the time. That's how I got my first Korean Retina IPS display over a decade ago, and I'm doing it again now for a non-standard OLED panel for a project.

Target Display Mode doesn't work on any of the 5K iMacs, from what I understand.

You are correct! IIRC, it wouldn't have been possible (or at least, wouldn't have been very easy) with the external display protocols available at the time the first 5K iMacs came out, and they've never gone back and revisited the idea.

Thanks, I missed that.

Check your local craigslist listings. I bought a lightly used LG Ultrafine 5k in 2019 for $600 in SF.

I did something similar, and sold it for far more during the pandemic. I don’t think they’ve gotten cheap again, though I haven’t looked hard!

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