Power Mac G4

[maxfli]

I was looking at a Power Mac G4 (PCI - M7631LL/A) and it only has a single VGA port for a monitor, it is also running OS X (not sure which revision). So I was wondering if it would be possible to install an additional video card to have two displays? It has open PCI 33Mhz slots.

Here’s a link to more detailed specs: https://everymac.com/systems/apple/powermac_g4/specs/powermac_g4_400.html#macspecs1

 

[commodorejohn]

Yeah, it's possible. There are also a variety of natively dual-headed display adapters available for PCI Macs.

 

[ClassicHasClass]

Just make sure it's a Mac card, or flashed with Mac firmware. Regular PC PCI accelerators won't work. You should be able to find an inexpensive Mac Rage 128 or early Radeon without too much trouble.

 

[Timo W.]

When used for a second display, you can use a regular PC graphics card as well. It must only have Mac-specific firmware when used as the primary card.

 

[maxfli]

Does the card have to have two display ports or can I simply add another video card to the system?

 

[Chuck(G)]

The G4 is 68000-based? (cf. Forum title--perhaps time to change it?)

 

[ignatio]

The G4 is 68000-based? (cf. Forum title--perhaps time to change it?)

I'm a newer member but personally, I think PPC deserves it's own forum. It's definitely 'vintage' at this point seeing as I have an iMac G3 in my garage that is old enough to vote.

 

[maxfli]

That’s a good idea ignatio.

Does the card have to have two display ports or can I simply just add a second PCI card to the open PCI 33Mhz slots?