connect thunderbolt macbook pro to 27" mini displayport imac?

This should work.

Thunderbolt ports can output a signal over a mini-displayport connection just fine, but they only accept thunderbolt signals as an input.

I often have my 2011 iMac connected to an external monitor, and that connection is via a DVI cable and a DVI/mini-displayport adapter, so your connection between the laptop and the iMac should work fine.

I'm fairly certain this will not work. I believe that both machines need to have Thunderbolt ports for target display mode to work. I recall this being a bit of a sticking point when Thunderbolt ports were introduced last year.

While Thunderbolt ports can output a displayport signal which works with regular monitors, I don't believe this works for target display mode.

Perhaps someone with first-hand experience will be able to confirm either way.

phairphan said:

I'm fairly certain this will not work. I believe that both machines need to have Thunderbolt ports for target display mode to work. I recall this being a bit of a sticking point when Thunderbolt ports were introduced last year.

While Thunderbolt ports can output a displayport signal which works with regular monitors, I don't believe this works for target display mode.

Perhaps someone with first-hand experience will be able to confirm either way.

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I'm not sure on target display mode. I just wanted to add that not all cables perform alike. If a proof of concept can be determined, it's important to note the cable used. Some of the cheap ones are a bit flaky and there are a lot of things where something works with a cable but not the adapter or a mini displayport cable works while the Apple thunderbolt cable will not work. The point being if someone with a working solution is found, it's important to note the full details of what worked.

jmck said:

That does make it sound like it should work. I really need to borrow a newer Macbook Pro from work to try this out… my work Macbook Pro is pre-thunderbolt)

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Did this work?