🖥️ Can I connect TWO 24 inch Apple Cinema Displays to my 2013 21.5 inch iMac?

[DigitalAR]

Bought a 21.5 inch iMac from late 2013 I believe.

Wondering if I can connect two Apple cinema displays to it and have 3 Apple monitors on my desk in Front of me. If so I feel that would be cool and I’d actually go for it.

 

[Basic75]

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2013) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support

support.apple.com

 

[DigitalAR]

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2013) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support

support.apple.com

I know the iMac can support two extra external monitors but am not sure how I would connect two specific 24 inch cinema displays.

2 FireWire ports? Just straight up?

Or hdmi on one perhaps would have to get involved?

 

[Basic75]

I'm not familiar with that particular iMac's interfaces and limitations, but FireWire is never for displays.

 

[redheeler]

Yes this is possible. If it's the newer Cinema Display with the black front bezel you should just be able to plug it into the iMac's Thunderbolt ports (it has two).

 

[DigitalAR]

Yes this is possible. If it's the newer Cinema Display with the black front bezel you should just be able to plug it into the iMac's Thunderbolt ports (it has two).

It is the 24 inch black bezel cinema displays.

I'm not familiar with that particular iMac's interfaces and limitations, but FireWire is never for displays.

I confused thunderbolt with FireWire.

the iMac I have does indeed show 2 thunderbolt ports on the back.

which means connecting these two monitors to my iMac will most likely be classic Apple plug and play So am excited.

I know the cinema displays also contain two other cables, a usb cable and a MagSafe. Obviously the MagSafe will go unused but am wondering if the usb cable bave any proprietary value plugged in.

 

[Slix]

It is the 24 inch black bezel cinema displays.

I confused thunderbolt with FireWire.

the iMac I have does indeed show 2 thunderbolt ports on the back.

which means connecting these two monitors to my iMac will most likely be classic Apple plug and play So am excited.

I know the cinema displays also contain two other cables, a usb cable and a MagSafe. Obviously the MagSafe will go unused but am wondering if the usb cable bave any proprietary value plugged in.

The specs listed on that Apple doc shows it can only support 1 external display, but it's worth trying two. The only bad thing that might happen is one won't work. According to EveryMac.com, it supports two displays via Thunderbolt, but I believe that doesn't always mean that Mini DisplayPort = Thunderbolt for these types of things. Let us know what works.

The USB connector on those displays are for the extra USB ports on the back, the iSight camera, and the speaker. If you don't need those, you don't need to connect the USB to the iMac.