New PC monitor vs iMac 27" as PC monitor in Target display mode

xenon20

xenon20

xenon20

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Joined
28 Aug 2013
Posts
62
Hi all

I have a late 2009 27" iMac which has the ability to run in target display mode, and I currently have it connected to my GTX 670 GPU using a display port to mini display port cable.

I only really use the iMac for music production, and I was considering selling it and using my PC for everything, so as to free up desk space and consolidate my gear.

My original thoughts were to sell the iMac and buy a new monitor, but I am unlikely to get much for it now because of its age (maybe around £250?), so I am considering if it might be worth using it as a PC monitor going forwards, allowing me to switch between PC and iMac and hence giving the iMac a purpose, as well as saving me desk space and saving me a significant amount of cash.

The main problem with it currently is that the display seems extremely bright and glary, and I believe this is due to a problem relating to 10.6.8 where the screen switches to full brightness and the brightness keys on the iMac's keyboard don't affect the screen when in TDM. At the moment the only way I have found to change the brightness is to fiddle with the controls in the Nvidia control panel, but this seems to adjust the picture in various ways which ends up looking unsatisfactory when the brightness is at an acceptable level.

Apparently this was fixed in later editions of OSX, so I'm currently trying to decide if it's worth going the OSX update route to try and regain control of the brightness when in TDM, or alternatively selling it and spending the money towards a nice new monitor instead and migrating to PC only.

I know that newer monitors have faster refresh rates and are better for gaming etc, which I do plan to do, as well as basic video editing, music production and general use.

Can anyone help me weigh up the pro's and con's of each method ?
Does anyone know of other ways to control brightness when in TDM ?

Many thanks

Paul
 
I have the budget to be able to buy what I want really, but it's more a question of if the iMac's screen is of good enough quality - it's a 27" 1440p screen that's sat right in front of me so when looking at new 27" monitors that are 5-6-700 quid, it makes me want to try and use it to save the cash and spend it on other components, such as new CPU, GPU, mobo, ram etc.

This morning I updated the OS on the iMac to 10.11 EI Captain. It didn't resolve the issue which had me thinking of reverting, but I've just installed the app store update for 10.11 which has fixed the problem and I now am able to control the brightness when in target display mode :D

I'm going to spend some time over the next week seeing how I get on with it - I doubt that it would be great for gaming as I think the refresh rate is only 60Hz, but then again, I'm not that much of a serious competitive gamer. I'm going to fire up skyrim and stoke up the settings to have a look.

Does anyone know if there are any useful utilities or ways that could help me determine the performance of the screen / or ways that I could compare the experience to what I might get if I were to buy a new monitor ?

Thanks!
P
 
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