iMac G3 Goes 4K

Years after its legendary contributions to early personal computing and years before the era of the iPhone and the MacBook, Apple was in a very awkward stage. This in-between time was marked by odd product designs, corporate infighting, and an ever-present risk of bankruptcy. It was during these years that Apple produced its all-in-one iMac line of computers.

Released in 1998, these machines were meant to take on a sea of beige boxes and simplify computing for non-technical people trying to figure out that newfangled internet thing. Some people absolutely loved the unusual design and bold colors of the iMac, while others thought it was the most ridiculous thing they had ever seen. There was little middle ground when it came to this computer.

YouTuber Zac Builds is a big fan of the iMac design, but you can’t exactly get by in today’s world using hardware from the 1990s. So Zac Builds did what hackers do, and hacked up an iMac G3. He wanted the build to be useful and authentic, so he didn’t just stuff a Raspberry Pi inside and call it good. Instead, he took a modern Mac Mini and transplanted it into the iMac’s case.

The original machine was toast — all the way down to the speakers — so as a first step, everything was removed. That left only the original case and frame that holds the motherboard. Some of the components that were removed served a dual purpose: in addition to being a part of the computer, they also gave structural strength to the case. To compensate for that loss, Zac Builds 3D-printed some supports to do the job.

The Mac mini is so small compared to the iMac that there was no reason to do much of anything to it. 3D-printed brackets were produced to simply mount it inside the case. A dock with a built-in SSD slot and new speakers were also installed inside the case. The original iMac power supply was reused to keep things looking original from the outside.

As a finishing touch, a replacement for the CRT was needed. Zac Builds went with a 14-inch 4K portable monitor to fill the role. Not only is this easier to hook up to a modern machine, but it also can display much higher resolution graphics than the original screen.

If you have an old iMac sitting around collecting dust, you might want to check out Zac Builds’ video for inspiration. Maybe you could bring yours into the modern era too.