PowerBook 5300 FAQ

AlkSoft / Contents / Hardware / Graphics/Video

2.2) Graphics/Video

2.2.1) What screen configurations are available for this computer?

There are four different types of screens that work with this computer. They are 640x480 pixel supertwist DualScan greyscale 9.5" display, 640x480 pixel DualScan (passive) color 10.4" display, 640x480 pixel Active Matrix color 10.4" display, and an 800x600 pixel Active Matrix TFT color 10.4" display. To make matters more complex, the screen capabilities are dependent upon the amount of VRAM on the motherboard... The impact is that the 640x480 Active Matrix display sometimes only displays 8-bit color, but in other cases it can display 16-bit color. And as if that weren't enough, there were at least two different manufacturers for the displays, so not all the display components are 100% interchangeable... Confused yet?

2.2.2) How many colors can I display on my screen?

The number of colors available is dependent on the amount of VRAM on the motherboard and the type of screen.

2.2.3) Can I upgrade the built-in display?

Probably. Any 5300 display should work with any 5300 logic board. If you have a greyscale display, you can pick fom passive matrix color, active matrix VGA, or active matrix SVGA dispaly as an upgrade. Similarly, a 5300c can be upgraded with an SVGA active matrix display (giving 800x600 pixels as opposed to the 640x480 of VGA). Of course, the 5300ce can't be "upgraded," since there is no better display option that will work with the 5300 logic board that what comes with the 5300ce. And by the same logic, you can "downgrade" your 5300 by installing a so-called lesser screen.

2.2.4) Can I upgrade the built-in video ciruit?

No. Well, maybe. If you are handy with a soldering iron, you may be able to expand from 512kB of VRAM to 1MB of VRAM, but that really requires some very delicate board-level soldering. Otherwise, there is no way to upgrade the video circuitry, since it is all soldered onto the motherboard.

2.2.5) Can I use an external monitor?

Maybe. Some 5300s came with an Apple video card installed that allowed video to be output to a second monitor or display. All 5300s can be outfitted with such a card. Additionaly, Focus Enhancements made a series of very handy PDS expansion cards that occupy the same PDS slot as the Apple card and offer 16-bit or 8-bit external video and an optional 10base-T ethernet connection.

2.2.6) What size/resolution monitor can I use and how many colors will I see?

The 5300 originally shipped with a Apple provided video card in the PDS slot that will provide a signal for an external monitor (the video card has no impact on the built-in display). The card has 512kB of VRAM and will display 256 colors (8-bit) on displays up to 832x624. It will do 4-bit color up to 1024x768. The video-out port provided by the card is of type "Micro DV-14" (a custom Apple design). It requires the use of an adapter to plug in a standard Apple DB-14 monitor cable. The adapter can also be adapted to a standard VGA type connector.

Focus Enhancements also made an upgraded card for this slot. Focus Enhancements long ago ceased production (and support) of these cards. There are some 4 varieties. They are called the Focus Lapis MV-8, MV-8e, MV-16, and MV-16e. The cards with the "e" also feature 10base-T ethernet connections. The MV-8(e) cards have 512kB of VRAM and behave similarly to the Apple card. The MV-16(e) cards have 1MB of VRAM. The 1MB card will do 16-bits up to 1024x768. It has been a long time since I've seen a bad card or bad drivers, but in the early days of the card, the driver software was extremely buggy (causing crashes, problems with audio, failure to produce a video signal, and/or failure to produce an ethernet signal). The 5300 itself also had some logic board incompatiblities with the cards, but the problems were eventually worked out.

2.2.7) Can I output video to a TV, VCR, or NTSC/PAL/SECAM monitor?

Not directly. This requires the use of a scan converter. That is, you can hook up a special box to the PowerBook's video out port that will convert the Mac monitor signal to a signal that can work with a TV (either via an s-video or RCA connection). Such boxes include the Apple Presentation System and a similar setup from Focus Enhancements.

2.2.8)Are there any 3rd party video cards for this computer?

As discussed in 2.2.6), Focus Enhancements made a few. They are called the Focus Lapis MV-8, MV-8e, MV-16, and MV-16e. The cards with the "e" also feature 10base-T ethernet connections. For details, please read question 2.2.6) above. I am unaware of any other 3rd party video cards for the 5300. The IXMicro Road Rocket PD Card doesn't work with the 5300, to the best of my knowledge.

2.2.9) How do I upgrade my built-in display?

First, locate a display you want to install. Make sure it comes with the entire display assembly (cables, hinges, and entire PowerBook lid). When buying such a display, take care to make sure that the display works perfectly BEFORE buying it. Many sellers will try to pawn off a display that has broken display cables or otherwised damaged plastics that will either cause intermittent failure or cause the display to fail entirely. Below are directions for swapping displays. This procedure is very delicate. If you aren't comfortable working on the interior of your PowerBook, you should find a friend who is. Better yet, take the PowerBook to a service professional. This how-to only covers swapping entire display assemblies (LCD and lid). It does not cover swapping only the LCD electronics.

I take no responsiblity for damage that you cause by following these directions. If you decide to swap your display for another one, you do so at your own risk.

  1. To start off, you'll need a Torx T-8 type screw driver. You can pick one of these up at Sears for less than $3.
  2. Turn off your PowerBook and disconnect all cables connected to it (including the power adapter).
  3. Remove the main battery and whatever you have in the expansion bay.
  4. Close the lid, and turn the computer onto it's back so that the bottom faces up.
  5. Remove the three Torx T-8 screws that for a row across the middle of the computer.
  6. Put the screws (each about 1 inch long) in a place where you won't lose them.
  7. Turn the computer back over and open it up to it's maximum angle.
  8. Lift the front edge of the keyboard (the edge with the space bar) up vertically about 1/4".
  9. Now pull the keyboard towards you (towards the trackpad) about 1/4" or 1/2" until the four tabs at the top are loosened from the back of the computer. Be careful not to pull too far as the ribbon cables that attach the keyboard to the motherboard are extremely fragile and easily damaged.
  10. Place a soft cloth or piece of paper over the display to protect it from scratches, then lift the keyboard out of it's assembly and place it (keys up) on the cloth.
  11. Touch the metal interior of the PowerBook right over the expansion bay/floppy drive in order to discharge any built up static electricity you might be carrying.
  12. If you have a card in the RAM expansion slot (located over the PC Card slots), grasp it by the edges and carefully lift it straight out until it comes free.
  13. Now move the keyboard from the display and place it, keys down, over the trackpad.
  14. Remove the "clutch covers" (the rounded pieces of plastic that cover the display hinges). Grasp the clutch cover under the display. With a fingernail, pull up from the seam in the back plastics, gently rocking the cover until it releases. When the clutch cover releases, pull straight up, watching to clear the bottom of the display.
  15. Tilt the display forward to make a 90-degree angle or so. This will give you some extra slack in the display cable.
  16. Disconnect the display cable from the logic board by gently grasping the hardened plastic backing of the cable over the connector and pulling straight up. Be very careful doing this - a damaged, bent, or torn display cable is the number 1 cause of display failure.
  17. Tilt the display back to it's maximum angle.
  18. Remove the screws securing the display to the case stiffener (there's one on each display hinge).
  19. Lift the display up and away from the bottom of the PowerBook. Be careful to make sure that the display cable is disconnected from the logic board, or you could tear it. Also make sure that the ferrite block over the cable isn't stuck to the case.

You should now be ready to install the "new" display. Reverse the directions above, and you should be golden.

2.2.10) How do I install/remove a video card?

The best advice I can give you here is to get a professional to do it for you. Installing such a card requires a significant dismantling of the PowerBook. This is extremely complicated and has a significant risk of causing component failure by way of static discharge. But don't worry. If that wasn't enough to scare you off, here are some directions:

  1. To start off, you'll need a Torx T-8 type screw driver. You can pick one of these up at Sears for less than $3.
  2. Turn off your PowerBook and disconnect all cables connected to it (including the power adapter).
  3. Remove the main battery and whatever you have in the expansion bay.
  4. Close the lid, and turn the computer onto it's back so that the bottom faces up.
  5. Remove the three Torx T-8 screws that for a row across the middle of the computer.
  6. If you already have a card in the PDS slot (you can tell by seeing if there is a connector located on the back of the computer above the reset button), unscrew it from the back of the computer at this time.
  7. Put the screws (each about 1 inch long) in a place where you won't lose them.
  8. Turn the computer back over and open it up to it's maximum angle.
  9. Lift the front edge of the keyboard (the edge with the space bar) up vertically about 1/4".
  10. Now pull the keyboard towards you (towards the trackpad) about 1/4" or 1/2" until the four tabs at the top are loosened from the back of the computer. Be careful not to pull too far as the ribbon cables that attach the keyboard to the motherboard are extremely fragile and easily damaged.
  11. Place a soft cloth or piece of paper over the display to protect it from scratches, then lift the keyboard out of it's assembly and place it (keys up) on the cloth.
  12. Touch the metal interior of the PowerBook right over the expansion bay/floppy drive in order to discharge any built up static electricity you might be carrying.
  13. If you have a card in the RAM expansion slot (located over the PC Card slots), grasp it by the edges and carefully lift it straight out until it comes free.
  14. Now move the keyboard from the display and place it, keys down, over the trackpad.
  15. Remove the "clutch covers" (the rounded pieces of plastic that cover the display hinges). Grasp the clutch cover under the display. With a fingernail, pull up from the seam in the back plastics, gently rocking the cover until it releases. When the clutch cover releases, pull straight up, watching to clear the bottom of the display.
  16. Place the keyboard back on the display and cloth.
  17. Remove the palm rest and trackpad by tilting the far edge up and rotating the whole assembly towards you about 5 degrees. Now slide the palm rest assembly forward/away from the computer about 1/4", disengaging the tabs along it's inside leading edge from the front edge of the computer's bottom. Be careful not to pull it too far as the cable that connects it to the motherboard is extremely fragile.
  18. At this point, you may decide to disconnect the track pad cable. It isn't entirely necessary, however, and if you can keep the palm rest out of the way to do the remaining steps, you might decide to keep it connected. Just be careful not to twist, crease, or tear the cable.
  19. Remove the three screws holding the hard drive bracket down along the inside front edge of the PowerBook.
  20. Lift up the entire bracket (with hard drive inside) about 1/2" and, holding the left end in place, tip it over on it's back (like turning the page of a book) so that it is lying on it's back at the left side of the PowerBook.
  21. Lift out the power supply board with the battery cable (and PRAM battery) still attached. Watch out: the battery likes to stick in it's receptacle.
  22. Lift up and pull forward slightly on the metal heat sink. Set it aside somewhere convenient.
  23. If you have a PDS card installed, it should now be exposed. Otherwise, the connector and empty space where the PDS card should go should be exposed. If a card is already installed, loosen the screw holding down to the case bottom. The screw probably won't come out all the way, but it should wiggle a little.
  24. Pull up on the forward end (not the end that connects with the back of the computer) until the connector comes free.
  25. Pull forward (toward you) on the card, gently sliding it out from under the back of the computer and under any cables that may be crossing over the top of the card. Be careful not to snag the card on the infrared card's cable or the cable to the expansion bay LED.
  26. Slide the new card under the IR cable and into position above the connector. It might be difficult to get everything exactly lined up, especially if you have to manually position the board spacer over the hole for the screw.
  27. Push down on the card to fit the connectors together. Tighten the connection by screwing in the fastening screw (if you have one). Be careful not to apply too much torque to the screw as the receivor on the case bottom tends to strip and crach extremely easily!
  28. Once you are satisfied that the PDS card is firmly in place, replace the heat sink and reverse the above instructions to reassmble the PowerBook.
    • A couple of reassembly cautions -
    • Make sure the Power Supply board shield is present and correctly positioned before replacing the board.
    • Before replacing the hard drive bracket, be sure that the PRAM battery cable is positioned in it's slot correctly.
    • If you disconnected the trackpad cable, before reconnecting it, make sure that the ferrite bead is on the cable and that the cable and bead fit correctly under the palm rest.