iMac 5K conversion using SA1 board

2026-04-19: Bill of Materials (BOM)

Life has pulled me into multiple directions and I finally  got time to update this post with a bill of materials (see below). This is the full electronics list and video adapters used. There're 2 DisplayPort adapters, one goes inside the adapter box, and the other is needed to allow for the curve of the cable to flow more naturally.

I don't have the list the cables that I used internally because it was a combination of cables (male to female) that I had on hand and several tries with different length combinations with Amazon (I changed my mind multiple times with regards to location and scope).  

My suggestion is to try to mount everything and take measurements of where/how to run the cables (there're 2 boards with multiple holes that can be used with zip ties to route/make cables look pretty). Since you'll eventually close down the iMac, make sure you use very high quality and flexible cables.

I still need to upload the Arduino program (it's in a very old laptop that I need to find).

Electronics

1. Arduino Nano Every with headers [https://store-usa.arduino.cc/ products/nano-every-with-headers]

2. Nano Screw Terminal Adapter [https://store-usa.arduino.cc/products/nano-screw-terminal]

3. Adafruit ADG728 1-to-8 Analog Matrix Switch - Stemma QT [https://www.adafruit.com/product/5899]

4. PW-D Control Buck Converter 6-24V to 5V 1.5A Step-Down Regulator Module Power Inverter Volt Stabilizer [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076P4C42B]

5. IR Wireless Remote Control Module Kits DIY Kit HX1838 for Arduino Raspberry Pi [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09ZTZQFP7]

6. Five Direction Navigation Button Module for MCU AVR Game 5D Rocker Joystick Independent Keyboard Switch Button with Dupont Cable for Arduino [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B82GLQQ5]

7. Camera Module OV5640 5MP 25921944P Auto Focus OTG UVC USB Camera Module [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XGCBG36]

Connectors

1. 8K 90 Degree HDMI 2.1 Adapter 2 Pack, (Up and Down) Right Angle HDMI Male to Female HDMI L-Shaped Connector Extender Support 8K@60Hz,4K@120Hz ((Up & Down) 90 Degree HDMI Male to Female) [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BN697DWH]

2. Cable Matters 4K@240Hz Right Angle DisplayPort 1.4 Adapter, 8K DisplayPort 90 Degree Adapter, Black [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CZ5GQVVN]

3. 8K DisplayPort 1.4 Adapter Flat 90 Degree and 270 Degree Adapter 2 Pack, Right Angle DP Male to Female Vertical Connector Converter DP L Shape Extender, Support 8K@60Hz，4K@144Hz，4K@60Hz，4K@30Hz [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CL4S53N5]

4. Cable Matters 2-Pack 40Gbps Right Angle USB C Adapter, Up to [4K@240Hz Video, 240W Charging, 40Gbps Data Transfer] 90 Degree USB C Adapter, Compatible with Thunderbolt 4, iPhone 16, Steam Deck [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D33RWK75]

2025-08-10: Project Completed

I have finally completed my iMac 5K conversion using the SA1 board (took me aprox 7 months due to huge scope increase and lack of time due to work commitments).

I mention scope increase, and there were 3 main factors driving it:

1 - I have a Mac Mini M4 as my home computer, but also have a need to connect a work laptop, an iPad Air, my wife's laptop, son's laptop, gazillion Raspberry Pis, etc (my house is nerd paradise), so needed to use all the ports.
2 - I wanted to be able to have as clean as possible solution, meaning, having have ports accessible from the outside in a plug&play manner (didn't want dangling cables).
3 - Wanted to be able to easily switch between all ports, and if possible, to minimize switching time (I have several docks at home that will be using to connect computers to the iMac 5k)..

So, first, ended up spending a lot of time learning Fusion to model my parts, and then even more time to model the outside ports so that they can be plug&play (I think I did 57 different iterations of that part only).

Also, I didn't like the regular Control Strip so I replaced it with a 5D rocker

Decided then that I needed an IR port to more easily switch between ports and adjust settings; the most common ones are Arduino based, so decided that I also needed to learn Arduino. Of course, then I decided to also plug the 5D rocker, and have Arduino handle all inputs, etc....

One more thing, I had also decided from the get-go that I wanted to convert 2 iMac 5K, since I was replacing 2 very old Apple Cinema monitors. I haven't glued the screens yet (using masking tape right now), will wait for a couple weeks (or a month) to ensure everything is working fine before

At the end, I'm happy I'm done, however, I'm now going to focus on rebuilding all my cabling using UnderWare 2.0, and probably add some twists to my computer desk (my wife rolls her eyes when she hears me, but she's awesome and let me play around with my ideas).

I'll try to upload a list of materials In the Printables page.

Thanks a lot to everybody at the MacRumors website (especially PaulD, you rock!) since your successes inspired me, and your knowledge empowered me. Link to more than 120 pages of discussion at https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/diy-5k-monitor-success.2253100/

PS: I'll upload shortly the Arduino program

2025-03-23: Updated SA1 model

Updated SA1 base model to reduce the profile - original model had a problem in that Display Port would not fit.

2025-02-23: Project Started

Work in progress!

This page will contain the models that I'm currently creating to convert a part of late 2015 iMac 5K into standalone monitors, using the adapter board JRY-W9RQUHD-SA1.

Additionally, will provide more information on some of the parts used.