The original PowerBook G4 has a built-in connector for an external VGA, SVGA, or XGA monitor or projection device. An optional adapter allows the user to attach a standard Apple video cable. The PowerBook G4 also has an S-video connector that supplies a video signal for an NTSC or PAL video monitor or VCR. An external monitor or projection device connected to the computer can increase the amount of visible desktop space. This way of using an external monitor is called dual display to distinguish it from mirror mode, which shows the same information on both the external display and the built-in display.
With the included adapter, the PowerBook G4 computer can be used with any Apple monitor except those that have only an ADC or DVI connector. The computer also supports VGA, SVGA, and XGA monitors. The table below lists the picture sizes and frame rates supported.
| PowerBook G4 |
Picture Size
(pixels) | Frame Rate | Pixel Depth
(Flat Panel
Inactive) | Pixel Depth
(Flat Panel
Active) |
| 512 by 384 | 60 Hz | 24 bpp* | 24 bpp |
| 640 by 480 | 60 Hz | 24 bpp | 24 bpp |
| 640 by 480 | 67 Hz | 24 bpp | 24 bpp |
| 640 by 480 | 72 Hz | 24 bpp | 24 bpp |
| 640 by 480 | 75 Hz | 24 bpp | 24 bpp |
| 640 by 480 | 85 Hz | 24 bpp | 24 bpp |
| 640 by 870 | 75 Hz | 24 bpp | 24 bpp |
| 800 by 600 | 56 Hz | 24 bpp | 24 bpp |
| 800 by 600 | 60 Hz | 24 bpp | 24 bpp |
| 800 by 600 | 72 Hz | 24 bpp | 24 bpp |
| 800 by 600 | 75 Hz | 24 bpp | 24 bpp |
| 800 by 600 | 85 Hz | 24 bpp | 24 bpp |
| 832 by 624 | 75 Hz | 24 bpp | 24 bpp |
| 1024 by 768 | 60 Hz | 24 bpp | 24 bpp |
| 1024 by 768 | 70 Hz | 24 bpp | 24 bpp |
| 1024 by 768 | 72 Hz | 24 bpp | 24 bpp |
| 1024 by 768 | 75 Hz | 24 bpp | 24 bpp |
| 1024 by 768 | 85 Hz | 24 bpp | 24 bpp |
| 1152 by 870 | 75 Hz | 24 bpp | 24 bpp |
| 1280 by 960 | 75 Hz | 24 bpp | 16 bpp |
| 1280 by 1024 | 60 Hz | 24 bpp | 16 bpp |
| 1280 by 1024 | 75 Hz | 24 bpp | 16 bpp |
| * bpp=bits per pixel |
The PowerBook G4 includes 8 MB of video memory, which is enough to provide pixel depths up to 24 bits per pixel on all supported monitors when the flat panel display is inactive (display closed). When an external video monitor and the flat panel display are operating at the same time, half the video memory is available for each. In that case, the maximum pixel depth available on the external monitor at the 1280-by-960 and 1280-by-1024 picture sizes is only 16 bpp.
To identify which model PowerBook G4 computer you have, see technical document 88248, "PowerBook G4 Computers: How to Identify Different Models".