Spent a major part of yesterday and better half of today looking for a cable allowing for the con...

[G+_Rud Dog]

Spent a major part of yesterday and better half of today looking for a cable allowing for the connection between my Power Macintosh G3 video output and a HDMI flat-screen monitor.

If anyone knows where I can find adapter between the cable and the hdmi please let me know.

The marking are mac=plug into Mac and mon =plugs into monitor or in this case hdmi adapter.

[G+_Steven Atkinson]

Is it possible to convert the db15 connector to VGA and then use aVGA to HDMI convertor. Something like this may work for the conversion to VGA.

ebay.com - Details about PTC MAC to VGA Adapter (DB15 Male to HD15 Female)

 

And then this may work for VGA to HDMI.

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B072NCTBVP/ref=mp_s_a_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1510615570&sr=8-15&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=vga+to+hdmi+adaptor

 

Sorry I'm no expert on older Mac's do I'm not sure if the conversion to VGA will work.

[G+_Rud Dog]

Steven Atkinson thank you. For some strange reason the first one is not available to US customers. Will look into the second one and was wondering if you happen to know what the dip switches do and how to know how to set them?

[G+_William L. DeRieux IV]

Rud Dog

Here's another adapter (just like the ebay link, but from Amazon US)

amazon.com - Amazon.com: MAC to VGA Adapter, DB15 Male to HD15 Female: Home Audio & Theater

 

A female VGA to male Hdmi adapter:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OFQUDR0/ref=asc_df_B00OFQUDR05263969/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=395009&creativeASIN=B00OFQUDR0&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198063088238&hvpos=1o4&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2451753805481999825&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9013302&hvtargid=pla-318768076279

 

 

 

The reason I suggest doing it this way is because the standard way would be this:

1) Mac port (male) to VGA (female)

2) VGA (male) to DVI-D (female)

3) DVI-D (male) to Hdmi (female)

4) Male hdmi to male hdmi cable

 

** this will result in a very long dongle that will put a lot of force on your mac's video port.

 

To correct this issue: I recommend using the first adapter with dip switches to convert your mac's video port to VGA, then use a male to male VGA cable, attached to the second adapter (which would plug directly into your monitor's female Hdmi port).

[G+_William L. DeRieux IV]

Rud Dog

The dip switches are used to set the resolution.

apc.com - What are the dip switch settings for sku 5328, Apple to VGA Monitor Adapter?

[G+_Rud Dog]

William L. DeRieux IV Great input thank you for sharing. Time to chase the links and get a selection made for implementation. After which the search for a keyboard begins, luckily the mouse was found so that will be one less piece of hardware needed to buy.

Oh and great knowledge on the dip switches. Was wondering if a similar adapter was found with out the dip switches how would that impact the resolution?

[G+_William L. DeRieux IV]

Rud Dog I would think that if you could find an adapter without the dip switches, it would mean that the resolution would be "preset" and it would vary depending on this preset.

 

I don't believe that there is such an adapter -- that the only ones available have dip switches, even the original adapters had this.

[G+_Rud Dog]

William L. DeRieux IV Great thank you for the info. Now onward to locate a keyboard that they don't want 50 dollars for 20 year old unit. Trying to find, if it exists, keyboard for PC using adapters.

[G+_Rud Dog]

Thought the most difficult part of hooking up this old PowerMac G3 was going to be the Video. Turns out the keyboard is not going as smoothly as I thought it would. Some outrageous prices on old keyboards combined shipping and price on average comes to 50 dollars. So backup plan try and find some sort of ADB to USB adapter and it is a nightmare.

I ask here if anyone knows how to use/connect a modern day USB keyboard to Apple Desktop Bus please let me know. Something tells me I will spending the money to buy a used 2 decade old keyboard.

[G+_Michael Shalkey]

I have a Mac video to VGA, but I think you will find a hard time Mac to HDMI

[G+_Rud Dog]

Found this adapter thinking I could add one more adapter from VGA to Apples monitor connector but it was a no go. Guessing this will only work on PC VGA output to a HDMI flat-screen monitor.

 

I have to look for video output from G3 connection to HDMI if it exists. Could always buy a monitor for exclusive use with the G3 but would really like to be able to switch from G2 to PC using one Video Screen.

Time to dig up the dizzying array of adapters from the old box in the garage.

 

 

My bet is this cable is for, as you called it, connection for something like an xbox to monitor and not for G3 to monitor. It doesn't work.

 

[G+_Rud Dog]

Whoa, gonna have to retreat and recoup.

The dizzying back and forth of adapters has brought on a humongous headache.

Will attack it again once I have read and assembled the parts for connecting as described.

Will tackle the settings for the dip switches once the parts are ready.

Summary.

So the goal is to connect the video output from G3 Mac computer to a flat-screen with HDMI inputs. Had to simplify the goal so I can get a handle on what I am trying to accomplish.

[G+_Rud Dog]

Came across these two adapters, when mated we have VGA male on one end and HDMI on the other.

 

The only reason I am going this route so far is these items were found in my junk drawer.

 

Now to find adapter or cable to connect from back of G3 to VGA combo adapter set shown below.

 

[G+_Rud Dog]

Unfortunately one of the problems being faced, what did Apple name the video output on the Power Mac G3. It sports a DB15 connector (2 rows of pins)shown in my first pic. There is another that pops up when you search for DB15 and it sports three ping row DB 15 connector as shown in the last pic left portion.

So Apple went with (back then) DB15 two row pins configuration.

PC world went with DB15 three row pins configuration.

HELP?

[G+_Steven Atkinson]

Rud Dog I doubt that will work unless one of those adapters converts analogue into digital.

DVI comes in various flavours. It can handle both analogue and digital signals but on different pins of the DVI plug. HDMI is digital only. So the VGA to DVI adapter will put the signals onto the analogue pins of the DVI side. The DVI to HDMI will take the digital signals of the DVI and put them onto the right pins of the HDMI socket.

 

I'm sure you will need to get a true VGA to HDMI (or DVI digital) convertor. It has the electronics to take the analogue signals and turn them into digital.

[G+_Rud Dog]

William L. DeRieux IV thank you, it turns out the dip switch page did clarify something. Apparently according to the link you posted the VGA on PCs used what is referred to a HD15 connector and Apple uses what they called DB15. Now to test that information.

[G+_William L. DeRieux IV]

Rud Dog I think this graphic sums up what you are trying to do.

I wouldn't hang a long chain of adapters off of the mac, this will put a lot of stain on the DB15 connector.

 

The conversion from VGA to HDMI is handled by the final adapter.

The run of VGA cable in the middle helps to take the strain off of the DB15 connector.

[G+_Rud Dog]

William L. DeRieux IV Thank you for the clear concise presentation of what is needed. Judging from what i see , found everything I need with the exception of the VGA to HDMI adapter. Off I go to find one.

Ordered one but won't be here till Dec 11th. The rush is on is guess.

[G+_William L. DeRieux IV]

Rud Dog the vga to hdmi adatper shown in the photo is from amazon.

 

Scratch that adapter it was for converting hdmi to vga (and you needed it in the other direction).

 

You could try this cable instead and you would need a vga gender changer --

 

VGA (male) to HDMI Adapter (male):

https://www.amazon.com/XF-TIMES-Converter-Adapter-6-Feet/dp/B01N439WG3/ref=sr_1_11?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1511065264&sr=1-11&keywords=vga+to+hdmi+adapter

 

VGA gender changer: male to female (needed if you wanted to connect the male end of the vga cable to it:

https://www.amazon.com/CableWholesales-Gender-Changer-Coupler-Female/dp/B003V7BJ9U/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1511065585&sr=1-1&keywords=vga+gender+changer

[G+_Rud Dog]

William L. DeRieux IV Thanks for the update. Not really sure why the original setup would not work only because the flow appears to be correct.

Here is what I see you saying:

 

 

 

 

 

[G+_William L. DeRieux IV]

Rud Dog Yeah, that's correct.

 

The reason why the original adapter would not work is because it was designed to turn hdmi into vga (and would not work the other way around, it is not bidirectional).

 

PS: the length of the vga to hdmi adapter is 6 feet -- that might be enough such that you wouldn't need the vga cable or the gender changer (the vga to hdmi adapter could just plug directly into the mac adapter) -- this is assuming that 6 feet is enough.

 

There are quite a few vga to hdmi adapters on Amazon (so it means that this one adapter isn't crucial, you could use another).

[G+_Rud Dog]

William L. DeRieux IV Thank you for the followup. Wondering if for my own clarification you could show an application of how the VGA to HDMI Adapter (shown below) would be used. Doesn't seem any difference then the other adapter you are suggesting for use.

 

[G+_William L. DeRieux IV]

Rud Dog That adapter is for converting an Hdmi source into vga.

 

For instance the microsoft xbox360 with hdmi out -- can't be connected to a vga monitor.

 

You would plug this adapter into the hdmi port and then run vga cable to the monitor -- allowing you to convert hdmi to vga.

 

If we're talking about physical connectors (ie what plugs where) -- then there is no real difference.

 

However, you have to take into account that some adapters are only designed to output in one direction and are not bidirectional.

 

Bidirectional means that you could use the device in either direction, but in this case the flow is one-way: from HDMI to VGA.

[G+_Rud Dog]

William L. DeRieux IV After trying this connection and playing with the dip switch settings came to the conclusion the cable is intended for the path you explained in your Xbox 360 setup. Which is the wrong direction. Now will go back and read up on what you suggested cable I use but with the data going in the right direction; G3 to HDMI monitor. Hope they have that little detail in the description.

[G+_Rud Dog]

William L. DeRieux IV OK, the cable came in and my attached pics show how I connected them but still no video. All and any help on this is welcome.

 

As a test to make sure there was a signal coming out the G3 and visible on a VGA monitor setup a working connection using DB15 cable DB15 to HD15 adapter plugged into a VGA port on a monitor and the video was present.