Apple M1212

Matt Ross
August 24, 2024, 3:58 am
October 2, 2024, 5:49 pm

Summary

Sold as the Macintosh Color Display, the M1212 was introduced in 1992. It has the same tube and scan rate as the M0401, but with an updated appearance and built in swivel stand. Like its predecessor, it was manufactured by Sony and uses a 14" Trinitron tube. It has a fixed horizontal frequency of 35 kHz, and was meant to be used with a resolution of 640x480 at 66.7 Hz.

Literature

Notes

Like many Apple monitors, the M0401 uses a DA-15 connector for video. It accepts analog RGB and composite sync. While its fixed horizontal scan rate does limit its usefulness, it can be used on a modern PC with custom 35 kHz resolutions. In this case, a sync combiner such as an Extron RGB unit must be used to convert from H/V to composite sync.

In order for Macintosh computers to recognize the monitor, pin 4 on the DA-15 connector must be grounded. The other two sense pins (7 and 10) should be left open.

Potentiometers for geometry and convergence adjustments can be found at the back of the monitor once the cover has been removed.

The monitor in the photos was missing the stand when I found it; it was replaced with one from a Gateway PC monitor. The original stand is flatter and matches the contour of the monitor's case.

DB15 Pinout

  1. Ground
  2. Red
  3. Composite Sync
  4. Sense 0 (must be grounded for Mac to recognize monitor)
  5. Green
  6. Ground
  7. Sense 1 (leave open)
  8. Blue
  9. Sense 2 (leave open)
  10. Ground

Gallery

Apple M1212 Apple M1212 Apple M1212 Apple M1212