A CRACKED IMAC HIDES A 5K PANEL BETTER THAN A 1,599 DOLLARS MONITOR - DEAD HARDWARE TURNED INTO A HIGH-END PC
A cracked iMac hides a perfect 5K panel, and a dead gaming laptop still has 32 GB of RAM and an RTX GPU—Matt Perks shows how to build a high-end all-in-one from hardware everyone threw away.
by Matt Perks (DIY Perks)
WorkshopOpen-hardware
- difficulty
- ●●●●○
- time
- a weekend-plus
- license
- license not specified
- repo
- repo 0 stars
●●●●○ · a weekend-plus · license not specified · 0 stars · repo
Partner
COMPAREE VERDICT
This is upcycling at its most ambitious: take a cracked 5K iMac, a dead gaming laptop motherboard, and some old TV speakers, then build a wooden easel frame to hold it all. The payoff is a 27-inch 5K all-in-one PC that would cost over two thousand dollars new, assembled for the price of an eDP driver board and some plywood. The hardest part is not the woodwork—it is finding the right donor hardware. You need a specific generation of 5K iMac with a cracked front glass but an intact LCD underneath, and a laptop motherboard that still boots and has accessible eDP output. Matt walks through the entire delamination process, the wiring, the custom frame joinery, and the eDP adapter setup in his video, and the forum thread answers the usual compatibility questions. What will go wrong: if your iMac panel has internal damage beyond the front glass, you will not know until you have already peeled it, and there is no return path. This is for someone who likes the hunt for dead hardware as much as the build itself, and who has woodworking tools and patience. If you want a parts list and a cut sheet, this is not that project.
IN THE REPO
NOT IN THE REPO
- —This is a video build guide with a forum FAQ thread, not a repository with downloadable files.
- —No CAD files for the wooden frame—you design and cut your own based on your donor hardware dimensions.
- —No formal BOM—parts come from scrap hardware you source yourself (cracked iMac, dead laptop motherboard, old TV speakers).
- —The eDP adapter board is a commercial product (specific model shown in the video); you buy it, you do not build it.
- —Documentation is the 24-minute YouTube video plus the forum thread—both are thorough, but you adapt measurements to your specific donors.
- —No licence restrictions—it is a how-to guide, not licensed code or hardware.
Can I build this?
Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.
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Videos
Recycling Destroyed Tech into Beautiful PCs24:00
Full build walkthrough uploaded 17 July 2026, 1.19M views. Covers iMac delamination, eDP wiring, frame construction, and final assembly.
Gallery
Start here
Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.
- 1.Watch the main video (The entire build is documented here—delamination technique, eDP adapter setup, frame joinery.)
- 2.Read the forum FAQ thread (Step-by-step answers to compatibility questions and donor hardware sourcing.)
- 3.Source your donor hardware(You need a cracked 5K iMac (2014-2019 Intel models), a dead laptop motherboard that still boots (ideally with GPU), and speakers from an old TV or monitor. Local classifieds, e-waste centres, and repair shops are your best sources.)
- 4.Buy the eDP driver board(The board must match your specific iMac panel model—check the panel's model number before ordering. Common suppliers are AliExpress and eBay; expect 4-8 weeks shipping from Asia.)
Resources
Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.
KNOWN ISSUES
- The single biggest trap: buying a cracked iMac without confirming the LCD underneath is intact. Cracks often propagate internally, and you will not know until you peel the glass off. Ask the seller for a photo with the backlight on if possible.
- eDP driver boards are panel-specific. If you order the wrong board for your iMac generation, it will not drive the display. Write down the exact panel model number (visible on a sticker at the back once disassembled) before ordering.
- Delamination is slow and requires even heat. If you rush it or apply too much heat in one spot, the adhesive will not release cleanly and you risk cracking the LCD. Budget an hour for this step alone.
- Laptop motherboards from gaming machines often need custom power supplies or barrel jack adapters—the original laptop PSU will not work once the board is removed. You may need to solder a new power input or buy an adapter.
- The wooden frame dimensions are entirely custom to your specific panel and motherboard. There are no cut files—you measure, design, and cut your own. If you have never done joinery before, this will take longer than the electronics.
- If your laptop motherboard has a soldered eDP connector (common in thin-and-light models), you cannot easily tap the video signal without a breakout board or direct soldering to the connector pads. Thicker gaming laptops usually have a removable cable, which is much easier.
Can I use a 4K iMac instead of a 5K one?
Yes, the process is identical—you just need the matching eDP driver board for the 4K panel. The 5K version is harder to find but gives you 5120×2880 resolution instead of 4096×2304.
What if my laptop motherboard does not have eDP output?
Most gaming laptops use eDP internally to drive their own screen. You need to locate the eDP connector on the motherboard (usually a fine-pitch ribbon cable socket) and buy or make a breakout cable. If the laptop used LVDS instead (older models), you need an LVDS-to-eDP converter, which adds cost and complexity.
Do I need the iMac's original logic board?
No—the iMac logic board is discarded. You are only keeping the LCD panel, and you drive it with the eDP board. The rest of the iMac (logic board, PSU, HDD) is scrap.
How do I power the laptop motherboard outside the laptop chassis?
You need a barrel jack adapter or direct solder connection to the motherboard's power input, then feed it from a desktop PSU or a high-wattage laptop brick. The video shows a bench PSU; most builders use a spare ATX PSU with the motherboard's required voltage tapped from the 12V rail.
Can I skip the wooden frame and just mount it in a monitor stand?
Yes, if you only want the panel working as a standalone monitor. The wooden easel frame is for the all-in-one aesthetic and to hide the motherboard and wiring behind the screen. You can VESA-mount the panel alone if you prefer.
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Discussion1
FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM
The entire build depends on finding the right cracked iMac and dead laptop locally—Matt sourced his from e-waste and repair shops. Where would you start your hunt, and what would you pair with that 5K panel?
Matt Perks (DIY Perks)
Matt Perks runs DIY Perks, a YouTube channel known for high-end upcycling builds that turn e-waste into beautiful, functional hardware. His projects often involve custom metalwork, woodwork, and electronics integration—previous builds include a silent water-cooled PC in a desk and a 4K projector from a phone screen. The message behind this build: tech is getting expensive, but dead tech is everywhere and mostly free.
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- Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
- Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
CompareeTEAM4d ago
Practical notes from our verification: This is not a downloadable project—it is a video guide and a forum thread, so every build will be different depending on your donor hardware. The eDP driver board is the only thing you buy new (around $50-80), and it must exactly match your iMac panel's model number or it will not work. The wooden frame has no template—you design and cut it to fit your specific panel and motherboard, so if you have never done joinery, budget extra time. The video is thorough and the forum thread answers the usual compatibility questions, but the hardest part is not the build itself—it is finding a cracked 5K iMac with an intact LCD underneath. Cracks often go deeper than the front glass, and you will not know until you have already started delamination. If you like the hunt for dead hardware as much as the building, this is a weekend well spent. If you want a kit with a parts list, it is not that kind of project.