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HarryWhitehurst

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 4, 2013
6
0
I have a baseline, Mid-2010, 21.5" iMac, and have been using it primarily for Final Cut and Logic, whilst gaming on a Bootcamp partition. However, I have recently decided to build my own gaming PC. For this build, I would like to use my iMac as a display.

I know this is impossible using the Mini Dusplay Port, however, I was wondering whether it would be possible to use Target Display Mode with a signal from the Ethernet port, carried by a CAT6 cable. HDMI-Ethernet adapters exist, so I was wondering if this is actually possible?

I know it's extremely unlikely, as I could not find anything concerning this scheme after hours of scouring the Internet, but I decided I would ask here before giving up hope and buying a second display.

Thanks!
 

AppleNewton

macrumors 68000
Apr 3, 2007
1,697
84
1 Finite Place
As you expect it wont be possible.
The 21-inch 2009 and 2010 models do not support Target Display Mode. and TDM is only supported on (2009 & 2010) 27-inch using MiniDisplayPort and no other method is available.

you may try to use a VNC type connection, however latency and non-native resolution will be the drawbacks and wont provide the best experience.
 

HarryWhitehurst

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 4, 2013
6
0
Thanks for the reply! I still don't understand why Apple couldn't have just used the same two-way port available in the 27" iMac in the smaller model, but oh well. Just wish I'd held on for a bit when I originally bought so I had the Thunderbolt port!
 
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