Base 27" Imac with external monitor

[Hungerartist]

I just ordered the base model 27 inch iMac and was wondering if anyone had any experience using this with an external monitor. I still have a 24" from my Dell and wanted to use it with the iMac, but someone had mentioned that the video card in the base 27 isn't enough to properly run two high-resoution displays.

I wouldn't be doing a ton of gaming (Civilization mainly) Mostly I want to be able to use Aperture and photoshop on the iMac, and view webpages and itunes on the external. Will this work?

 

[Papanate]

I just ordered the base model 27 inch iMac and was wondering if anyone had any experience using this with an external monitor. I still have a 24" from my Dell and wanted to use it with the iMac, but someone had mentioned that the video card in the base 27 isn't enough to properly run two high-resoution displays.

I wouldn't be doing a ton of gaming (Civilization mainly) Mostly I want to be able to use Aperture and photoshop on the iMac, and view webpages and itunes on the external. Will this work?

Who said the basic video cards won't run the displays?

The only thing you'll have to do is run the resolution lower than the iMac.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

According to the tech specs Apple published on their official iMac website, any current (and past iMacs too) can run an external display of up to 2560 x 1600 pixel additional to the already big resolution of 2560 x 1440.
But as you 24" display has most likely only 1920 x 1200 pixels, it will work even better with the appropriate MDP to DVI adapter.

Mini DisplayPort (MDP)

Mini DisplayPort is the current digital standard on all current Macs to transfer video to an external display or TV. It has been introduced in 10/2008 with the release of the Unibody MacBook and MacBook Pros and has gradually been adopted on all other Macs.
MDP is capable of transmitting video, and since 2010, audio too. MDP is a miniaturised version of DisplayPort. It is also license free and can support resolutions of up to 2560 x 1600, which Mini DVI and Micro DVI are not able to do.

MDP adapters can be bought online from:

MDP to VGA adapter from Apple
MDP to DVI adapter from Apple
MDP to Dual-Link-DVI adapter from Apple

Moshi Mini DP to HDMI Adapter with Audio Support adapter from the Apple Online Store

Mini DisplayPort + USB to Dual-Link DVI adapter from Monoprice
Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter from Monoprice
Mini DisplayPort to VGA adapter from Monoprice
Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter from Monoprice - *NOTE* This product will support audio on Mac computers capable of outputting audio through mini-displayport.
Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter from Monoprice - *NOTE* This product does NOT support audio for Macs that outputs audio through the Mini DisplayPort.
Mini Displayport Male and USB Male/Toslink Audio to HDMI Female Converting adapter from Monoprice
Mini Displayport Male and USB Male Audio to HDMI Female Converting adapter from Monoprice - *NOTE* Will only support 2 channel stereo. Will not support 5.1 Dolby Surround like the above adapter.

Mini DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort Cables from Monoprice
Mini DisplayPort to VGA Cables from Monoprice
Mini DisplayPort to DVI Cables from Monoprice
Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Cables from Monoprice​

Also of interest: "What is "Mini DisplayPort"? Is it an industry-standard? How is it different from or better than Mini-DVI and Micro-DVI?"
​

 

[Hungerartist]

It wasn't that it necessarily wouldn't work, only that it would kill performance.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

It wasn't that it necessarily wouldn't work, only that it would kill performance.

Depends on what you display on the internal and external display.
What will you display?