iMac as external display

PR. · 10 Dec 2010 at 22:14

So went and bought a 27" iMac last week, loving it.

Tonight I decided to hook up my PC (for gaming) to the iMac and use it as a monitor. I press Cmd+F2 the screen goes blank for 5-30seconds then returns to OSX.

I setup logmein on the PC to watch it, when I press Cmd+F2 the PC screen flickers but never displays.

So I do some reading and the ATI Radeon HD 5800 in the PC isn't compatible with the iMac over displayport!

I'm using a mini-displayport > displayport cable.

Anyone aware of this, or any fix?

Majorly annoying, as I spent ages checking what I had was going to work with no fuss...

Thanks

Lynx24 · 11 Dec 2010 at 15:29

it will not work sorry you need a card with mini display-port something like the 5770/5970 but the new 6850/6870 work with a display-port to mini-display-port

Guitarman0 · 12 Dec 2010 at 17:35

Lynx24 said:
it will not work sorry you need a card with mini display-port something like the 5770/5970 but the new 6850/6870 work with a display-port to mini-display-port

Exactly what he said. It is very annoying as I was going to do the same with my 5850

PR. · 13 Dec 2010 at 00:03

Thanks, I've bit the bullet and ordered a 6870. An expensive month

Johnny|lucidcomposure · 14 Dec 2010 at 11:03

Can you use that belkin thing and play your xbox 360 through it?

Alpherah · 14 Dec 2010 at 11:34

Wont accept console's through a normal adapter unfortunatly.

Johnny|lucidcomposure · 14 Dec 2010 at 14:31

http://store.apple.com/us/product/H0360LL/A
?

Alpherah · 14 Dec 2010 at 14:49

^ is one of the 'special' adapters required

thought you were talking about a standard DP/Mini DP adapter, of which Belkin do also make

Although Apple do sell (that one) and the spec says 1080p, unless something has changed recently it only accepts 720p resolution, and then will upscale to the correct rez for your screen.

-edit-
Should also add that it looks terrible on the 27" Imac screen, really really poor.
There's a different adapter available which does a much better job but unfortunately 1) the name escapes me at the moment and 2) its more expensive.

Lynx24 · 14 Dec 2010 at 15:20

there are a few out there like the Dr. Bott Digital Video Link and the kanex xd but you will be paying £100/150 and only does 1280x720

Kainz · 15 Dec 2010 at 13:13

PR. said:
Thanks, I've bit the bullet and ordered a 6870. An expensive month

Warharhar

grahamjenks · 15 Dec 2010 at 17:35

Alpherah said:
^ is one of the 'special' adapters required thought you were talking about a standard DP/Mini DP adapter, of which Belkin do also make
Although Apple do sell (that one) and the spec says 1080p, unless something has changed recently it only accepts 720p resolution, and then will upscale to the correct rez for your screen.

-edit-
Should also add that it looks terrible on the 27" Imac screen, really really poor.
There's a different adapter available which does a much better job but unfortunately 1) the name escapes me at the moment and 2) its more expensive.

I've got the AV360 to play PS3 through Imac screen, ok its only 720p, but it looks great to me for PS3 games.