[Nobody]

Hi there. I have a feeling the correct answer to my question is "get a new monitor," or "take it in for service," but since I've never had this problem before I wanted to put it out there. (I also am not wild about the service idea since the thing cost about $400 bucks originally and is several years old.) We're a two computer household, the first of one of the original G4's, when they first came out on the market. With it was purchased a 17-inch Apple brand CRT. Obviously not one of the newer snazzier flat-screens but one of the old cumbersome weighs 60 pounds and gives off heat like a blow dryer on a low setting screens.
So, after making some crackling noises for a few weeks and generally being cranky about producing the desktop after being turned on, it now no longer does at all. And yes, I've checked the connections. Is there anything one can do for this? (doubt it, but had to ask)
A further wrinkle in this situation is that the computer in question is still very much worth using, but most of the monitors out on the market today seem to be those flat-screen things, and since this computer was produced prior to that technology gaining hold in the market, I think there might be compatibility issues. Maybe there's an upgrade for that? I'm sure there are some older CRT's I could get for it, but I'm also loathe to do that because my suspicions re: why this monitor died an early death is due to the large surface area on top, that warmth thing, and the fact we now have 4 cats. Any fellow cat owners out there should need no further explanation.
So, basically . . . ideas, anyone? /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Ramona.

[Quaker1]

My advice would be to replace the Apple CRT with a CRT from BestBuy or CompUSA. I use a 19" flatscreen CRT made by Envision with my MDD G4, and it works great. CRT's are quite cheap nowadays, so buying one shouldn't bust your wallet.
I don't think the death of your monitor has anything to do with your cats. I had a 15" CRT which went out in a similar way, and I have no pets.

[rockinphotog]

First of all, your original G4 is still very much worth using. It should be able to power any monitor out there, while I would recommend upgrading the video card to a 32 or 64MB ATI.
Do you have the "Yikes" (PCI) or "Sawtooth" AGP graphics G4? What Mhz processor do you have? Check in Apple System Profiler (utilities folder) if the processor is A " PowerPC 7400 v.2.6 or v.2.9...
I could recommend a video upgrade card for you, not too expensive.
Also you may consider a processor upgrade if you are interested, making it feel like a new machine for cheap.
As far as the CRT, they generally have a optimall life of about 3 years, maybe an active life of a few more, depending on usage. They can also lose their lives unexpectedly and without much warning. That is the great thing about having a tower as opposed to an all-in-one system. You don't want e to kill youself if the display dies.
I can recommend some lovely CRT's also, If you re interested... Give me the specific machine info first...

[Nobody]

Hey, thanks for the input, rockingphotog and Quaker1! /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Unfortunately I'm not able to view anything like the Apple System Profiler via the computer screen at the moment because I don't have one for it that works. At all. The difficulty is not periodic. It seems to be total and permanent.
I just went ahead and bit the bullet and called Apple after I first posted (they were very nice, I just didn't know if I could get them to talk to me since the monitor is WAY out of warranty) with the serial number of the G4 (from the back of the machine). They said that since this computer actually came out right before the new video technology enabling the snazzy new monitors (and yes, "snazzy" is my technical term), I'm unable to even use an adaptor to use any digital flatscreen (but maybe a flatscreen CRT, didn't know about those??) and unable to replace the video card because the way it's connected to the logic board would require replacing that as well, which is basically replacing the computer. I think those new adaptors they have work with everybody's G4 except the poor people that got them when they FIRST came out, which = me.
Apple Tech Guy recommended repairing the monitor, said it might just be one bad component.
However, I don't think I'll ever find out, because I then called my local Apple Store and asked them about it, and they said they'd have to ship it to Apple because they can't do the repair locally, and the shipping would be about $200 with no guarantee it would be fixable (again, on a $400 monitor). No uh . . NO!
But here are the specs on my computer I got from Apple Tech Guy:
ATI 120 Rage Pro Graphics Card
VGA and 2x AGP Monitor connection only
I THINK 400 Mhz, I don't know which version, didn't ask the guy that, and can't tell at the moment
Apple Store guy said I'd need to just buy it a new CRT, but didn't have any recommendations there because he was only familiar with the digital flatscreens because that's all Apple makes anymore. So YES PLEASE, I would very much like recommendations of a compatible CRT that won't be too expensive.
I'm happy to hear it might not have been the cats. I figured I should really devise some clever way to keep them off of it, but they seemed to be having such a good time and I'm such a sucker for anything cute and fuzzy . . . .

[rockinphotog]

I don't know how to recommend "bargain" hardware, since I believe that you get what you pay for.
I have a Lacie 22"electron blue IV. It a top choice, gorgeous, flat screen CRT. BTW, most quality CRT's these days are flat or "virtually flat".
That Lacie uses a Misubishi Diamondpro tube, which is what I am getting to. You can get the 19" Mitsubishi Diamond Pro 930SB Monitor with the same tube for
$309.00 @ ClubMac or
$309 @ PCMall (same as Macmall)
compared to the 19"Lacie for $400.
Someone mentioned that PCMall Macmall and ClubMac all have the same parent company, so you are safe with any. If you are in CA and they charge tax, choose someone else that doesn't.

[rockinphotog]

I f you have ATI 120 Rage PRO Graphics Card, than I think that you have a AGP Graphics "sawtooth" 400Mhz G4, since according to Mactracker, the Yikes only had ATI 128 Rage graphics, not PRO.
Look at this page at OWC of all the great
upgrade options you have.

look at the ATI Radeon 9000 , which would allow you to enjoy Quartz Extreme Graphics in OSX. half of what the apple tech said is true. As OWC notes,
"AGP capable Macintosh required to use this card. To use the ADC (for Apple flat panels) connector, you must have a Power Macintosh Gigabit Ethernet or later system. AGP based "Sawtooth" machines do not have the physical logic board connection for the 28v output required. The VGA port will still function normally .) " So, it's like having a second Graphics card for CRT's only in your computer.

Or go for the cheaper 32Mb Radeon 7000. The 9000 is a better investment, since you could move it later into a new machine.

Or maybe you fancy a Sonnet Encore 800 Mhz processor upgrade w/2Mb L3 cache.? Sweet! /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[JackMac]

You can use almost any CRT monitor available today. The only real consideration is what do you need, want or afford. The only other thing that concerns me is proper disposal of the old monitor. I have two old Apple monitors that I would love to junk, but I want to do it responsibly.

[rockinphotog]

I don't know if NJ is like NYC, but all you have to do is leave it outside, and it will be gone within the hour! /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[rockinphotog]

Oh! Don't forget to save the power cables off of the old monitor if they are removable. They are usually standard cables that can be used on anything...

[Nobody]

I didn't realize I had so many options, 'cause I haven't shopped for this kind of stuff in a while. I'm hearing that anything that tickles my fancy will work as long as it is:
1) a CRT
2) uses a "VGA Connection"
Please correct me if I'm wrong on this. (The Apple Tech Guy definitely said my computer was a "ATI 120 Rage PRO Graphics Card." These words mean very little to me, but I did carefully write down what he said word per word.)
Thanks for the tip on saving the power cables. And also thanks for the heads up on the upgrade options, good to remember for the future, but don't think I can afford right now what with already having to get the new monitor and all. But I'll remember they're there!
And as for disposing of my old monitor, how bout battering and deep-frying it? No, not really. Probably not so tasty. But really, is there a protocol? I hadn't gotten that far in my thought process. All my trash either goes in the dumpster or the recycling dumpster (glass, cans, paper). Am I going to be taking this someplace special?
But, THANKS FOR THE RECOMMENDATIONS! /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Scott2]

May I suggest that you play around with a number of monitors at a big store before buying one. Some are better in color restitution, others better in resolution, etc. Your eyes are the best judge.

[Bob_B]

Here's a link to an Apple spec page that shows how to tell which G4 (and which graphics card) you have by looking at the back of the machine. The very first G4s had the Rage 128 (not 128 'Pro') card.
http://docs.info.app...ml?artnum=58418
My 2, if your monitor has vents on top to allow heat out, and your cat(s) covered them up, that could have contributed to the demise of the monitor. Maybe you could put a shelf above your new monitor? (Or maybe placement of vents becomes a consideration in which monitor you get.)

[Nobody]

Yes, I think we'll be going to a store soon. And vents the cats can't sit on would be nice.
Thanks for that chart with the spec page, I've identified ours as the AGP, not the PCI. I THOUGHT it was one of the first G4's, but perhaps I'm remembering wrong. At any rate, I'm guessing that chart is accurate. Apple Tech Guy told me no on the DVI, though, so I guess we'll be looking for a CRT.

[texas_macman]

Read this article.
Put a PC Monitor on Your Mac
http://www.lowendmac...ive/2k1031.html

Cheers, Tom
http://www.geocities.com/texasmacman/MacTroubleshoot.html