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drugal · Jul 20, 2003, 02:31 AM

Sorry if I'm beating a dead horse here, but I'm looking around for information on getting a PCI slot connected to the original iMac's Mez slot.

There's a few old posts here that deal with the subject, but they don't seem to have gone anywhere. Has anyone ever had any success with this project?

Crimson · Jul 20, 2003, 02:53 PM

afaik, it's not doable... read all them posts

drugal · Jul 20, 2003, 03:47 PM

Originally posted by Crimson:
afaik, it's not doable... read all them posts

All the posts I've read here never came to any conclusion, except that the Mez slot was in fact a PCI slot, according to Display Name Registry.

I've also been comparing pictures of PCI Voodoo II cards to a dead iMac Game Wizard I have here, and they're basically the same card with different connectors. What I need is a high-res scan of a PCI Voodoo II to thoroughly compare them.

Who knows, might be a pipe dream...

The Godfather · Jul 20, 2003, 07:13 PM

Can you share the pics?

The philosophical mezzanine-PCI connector should be very useful, but will Panther run in it?

drugal · Jul 20, 2003, 10:31 PM

Originally posted by The Godfather:
Can you share the pics?

The philosophical mezzanine-PCI connector should be very useful, but will Panther run in it?

I've sent you an e-mail on how to get the pictures (they are fairly big).

I managed to get a normal PCI Voodoo II today, and both cards do seem to be identical in almost every way, except for the connectors. What I'm going to do is see if I can match the PCI connections of the PCI card to the mezzanine connections of the iMac card. A few components are in different locations, but all are named the same, and have the same values.

As for OS X, I guess the only way to find out is to try...

Crimson · Jul 21, 2003, 02:02 AM

well, that part is true. but one needs to solder it through several layers of PCB, thus it's not an easy task. There was a company in germany that did those jobs, don't know about that really. Oh, now I understand: you want to make an adapter for normal PCI card to mezz?

permanent68 · Aug 6, 2003, 06:44 PM

I'm interested in this. The voodoo2 is alright, but getting a Radeon in there would be BADASS.

- Rob

permanent68 · Aug 6, 2003, 06:46 PM

I was one of the people originally up for doing this.... and I'd still like to. Everything I've seen and read suggests that this IS possible, I've heard the Pinout is even the same on the mezzanine, so it shouldn't be hard, just time consuming. The only problem would be disabling the on board 2d card and attempting to get the iMac to accept the new card as its primary.

- Rob

THE MAC GOD · Aug 7, 2003, 10:14 AM

Im in the process of further modding my Rev. A iMac ... I have had the Voodoo2 card in my machine since it was available... BUT, the ONLY problem I see for someone making a card (a good one) for the iMac is that it isn't cost-effective. There are not in production any more and their gaming/graphics market are not really on those machines... Plus making a special connector for that machine would shoot the price up... SO, it's ALWAYS possible... but is its cost worth it...

permanent68 · Aug 7, 2003, 03:40 PM

You don't understand, they wouldn't have to make a card for the iMac. Nobody will, because it would not sell. But... there is a chance we can build a Mezzanine to PCI adaptor.... in which case, ANY PCI VIDEO CARD WOULD WORK.

Course... it might be more effective to just buy a cube and put its guts inside the iMac... hrm.. >shrug<

- Rob

Link · Aug 7, 2003, 04:31 PM

From what I know the voodoo 2 is pass thorugh.. anything stronger will not work with the internal CRT (but you might be able to have a second monitor).

I believe I read about this on applefritter.. it IS indeed a PCI slot with modifications.

permanent68 · Aug 11, 2003, 03:39 AM

The voodoo2 is a pass through card, correct. But ever seen an older tower Mac with a voodoo2? It is also a pass through card, and it uses the computers on board graphics for 2d, and the voodoo2 for 3d. But if you take out the V2, and throw in any other mac compatible PCI based video card, it still works.

Hence, if you could get a PCI based vid card (like a radeon), and hook it up to the mezz slot, it SHOULD work.

- Rob

blackbird_1.0 · Aug 28, 2003, 02:52 AM

i would be interested in this also, but i'm not into soldering, if someone made a couple of adapters, i'd be willing to buy one

THE MAC GOD · Aug 28, 2003, 11:22 AM

Yeah... it would be nice if someone retrofitted the fastest possibly PCI card so it would work in the iMac... There is enough room under the board for a large card... those who have taken it apart know :)

permanent68 · Aug 29, 2003, 05:10 PM

I actually think there's more room (and more ventilation) inside the side of hte case, next to the CRT.

But hey, whatever works for you. I'm not going to school this semester so I'll have some free time.

- Ca$h

THE MAC GOD · Aug 29, 2003, 06:37 PM

true... just sticking the fan in there... BUT, hey... i'll let someone else figure it out and at least get it working... then I'll worry about placement.. .