Using iMac as monitor?

big4000 · 15 Feb 2012 at 07:54

Hi guys,

I want to use my iMac as an external monitor for my PC.

I know this has been done many times - but usually the user either has a video card with displayport or has a displayport --> mini displayport cable.

I was wondering would it still operate if i used a mini displayport --> hdmi adapter on the imac end and then used an hdmi cable from that adapter to the hdmi in on my 9800GX2 video card?

Anyone had a similar setup?

Thanks,

Phil

Fragil1ty · 15 Feb 2012 at 09:23

Is this a troll post?

lamboman · 15 Feb 2012 at 11:26

Fragil1ty said:
Is this a troll post?

Yes it is. The OP's post, however, is not.

To the OP, you can use an HDMI adaptor to do what you want to do, provided that the iMac is a DisplayPort iMac, and not a Thunderbolt iMac.

skyrim · 16 Feb 2012 at 09:58

a iMac is fare more expensive than a monitor for PC... Sure, you can do this though.

lamboman · 16 Feb 2012 at 12:12

skyrim said:
a iMac is fare more expensive than a monitor for PC... Sure, you can do this though.

Yes, but an iMac is also a hell of a lot cheaper than a second display for your PC, if you have both (or if you have a desktop and a laptop).

ng93 · 18 Feb 2012 at 16:51

Fragil1ty said:
Is this a troll post?

What on earth makes you think it's a troll post?

quickshot89 · 18 Feb 2012 at 16:56

I dont think you can tbh. The imac only has an output display port / thunderbolt port

rogan · 18 Feb 2012 at 18:08

yes its called target display mode

Somnambulist · 18 Feb 2012 at 20:04

ng93 said:
What on earth makes you think it's a troll post?

Probably because the iMac is a computer itself, so why would you want to hook another computer up to it? That said, if I had an OTT machine exclusively for gaming, and an iMac for general use/everything else (less of a power hog, quieter, etc), and wanted to use both, it would be handy to use the same panel.

233 · 18 Feb 2012 at 20:05

is there any way to get the thunderbolt imacs to accept an external source?

VaderDSL · 18 Feb 2012 at 21:03

Delta12 said:
is there any way to get the thunderbolt imacs to accept an external source?

Only from other thunderbolt sources.

Apple said:
iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2011) and iMac (27-inch, Mid 2011) support Target Display Mode via Thunderbolt to Thunderbolt cable (2 m) when the source is another Thunderbolt-equipped computer.

iMac (27-inch, Mid 2011) computers do not support Target Display Mode via Mini DisplayPort cables.

startrek2 · 19 Feb 2012 at 20:48

you need a 2010 iMac to use as external display for a pc or laptop

IxD3ViiLx · 7 Mar 2012 at 21:22

Why would you use an iMac as a monitor? If you wanted the look of a iMac you could just buy the Apple display for a cheaper price.