iMac 27" as external monitor

carrot1401 · 2 Apr 2013 at 21:41

Long story short, looking at an iMac. I see the latest new versions don't allow them (easily) to be used as an external monitor. My 680 graphics card has 1 x DisplayPort and 3x mini HDMI. Basically, what's the newest iMac I could connect my PC to and have it working as my main PC monitor? I have seen that the mid 2010's had mini display port, but no idea if that is out or in...

lamboman · 2 Apr 2013 at 21:44

Latest model with mDP. Anything before the mid-2011 model.

ninja2000 · 3 Apr 2013 at 10:58

The 2010 is the last imac you can use for external display for a PC as the 2011 and 2012 use thunderbolt ports and can only use another mac in target mode. Mine is about to go on MM if you are interested as I have just bought a 2012 iMac

Skully · 3 Apr 2013 at 11:39

I had the 2010 and I used it for target display with Mini Display Port cable.

Worked very well, but the only downside was that the actual iMac had to be turned on to work. So OS X was always running, even if I didn't need it.

Skyboat · 3 Apr 2013 at 12:28

It's possible, but only with a select few motherboards that sport a Thunderbolt port such as the Gigabyte and ASUS brands.

Seems someone has managed to a get a TB display to output UEFI and Windows with an MSI motherboard: http://www.edugeek.net/forums/mac/1...rbolt-displays-new-gigabyte-motherboards.html

There's quite a bit information you can find online if you search for "thunderbolt display gigabyte". ASUS do an add-in card for select motherboards as well, called Thunderbolt EX, although without knowing your exact PC specs it's impossible to say anymore than that.

Basically, you need at least some sort of Thunderbolt port on your PC for it to work with any iMac later than mid-2010. DisplayPort/DVI/HDMI ports on their own won't work with the the latest iMacs/Thunderbolt Displays.

carrot1401 · 3 Apr 2013 at 13:08

Thanks everyone for the replies, may go down the cheaper/easier route with a mid 2010 iMac to be honest. Annoying that the mac bit has to be booted to then work as an external display though...

ninja2000 · 3 Apr 2013 at 13:14

Yeah, I know what you mean. The only plus side is as the mac is on it is very quick to switch between them. I often switch to osx to browse the net in-between rounds in bf3

Oh another plus is it can also push the audio through the imacs speakers from the displayport.

last consideration is you always need to have the imac keyboard handy to switch displays, change brightness and volume.