Can i use an older iMac as a monitor for my MBP?

[DieBeachballDie]

I'm going to buy a new 16" MBP soon. I have planned to eventually have two 31" monitors running from it on my desk when i'm at home. For what i do i can never have enough screen real estate. This MBP's gonna wipe me out financially for a while though, so this might take a year or so.

In the meantime... i have two perfectly good older iMacs; this wretched 2010 21" loaner i'm using now, and a 2009 27" iMac that a friend is willing to give me. Both have excellent screens and work (how well i dont know, but they work). Is there a way to just use these old iMacs for their screens? Plugged into my new MBP? Hell, i have a third old iMac too (2008ish), a 20", and its missing 1/3 of the screen. If this is possible, i could have use of 2 2/3 screens while i wait.

Never heard of anyone doing this. Is it possible?

 

[throAU]

Apparently so, but it needs to be 2011 or later, apparently:

How to use your iMac as an external monitor

If you have an iMac made in mid-2011 or later, here is how you can use it as an external monitor.

www.cnet.com

 

[DieBeachballDie]

DAMMIT!!!


Edit: Now that i know the term i want is 'target display'... a whole world opens up. Apparently... i CAN. On this very site guys are using 2009-2010 iMacs as displays for Thunderbolt 3 MBP's. Just need that fancy adaptor perhaps? Thunderbolt 3 to displayport mini? Is it really that simple?

I have this hopeless (but with a perfectly good screen and graphics) 2010 21.5" iMac here, and i can get another 2009 21.5" for free. Not huge screens, but both are free.

On the other hand, if this works, i can buy a used working 2009-2010 27" iMac for as little as $200. I'd imagine a 10yr old Mac monitor has to be as good as a brand new 27" monitor in the $200-300 range (which was my original idea). Cheapest 2560/1440 27" monitor i can find in the local big box stores is $350. Then i'd also have a second computer kicking around... for whatever comes up (playing my ancient Civ 3? Haha).

 

[profcutter]

Resolution and color gamut are going to be the main sticking points. You can get a 4k monitor for 300 or so USD. If you're not looking for 4k resolutions, then sure, why not use an older iMac display. It won't have the refresh rate of a modern 1440 display, but it will be passable. iMacs didn't go retina until 2014 or so, and they dropped the target display mode, unfortunately!

 

[DieBeachballDie]

Resolution and color gamut are going to be the main sticking points. You can get a 4k monitor for 300 or so USD. If you're not looking for 4k resolutions, then sure, why not use an older iMac display. It won't have the refresh rate of a modern 1440 display, but it will be passable. iMacs didn't go retina until 2014 or so, and they dropped the target display mode, unfortunately!

Heh... your 300Usd is $500 here by the time i leave the store. Thats my budget for TWO monitors.

Yeah, i read that. I'd say too bad, but the cheapest used 5K Retina's are still close to a grand... so not happening. I'm not playing video games here, at most... i'll be watching the occasional movie on it (as i dont have a TV). Mainly LOTS of text, LOTS of open research, a few windows open, LOTS of tabs open, a few pictures, stickies, a Youtube window open and playing while i work. Dont think i need a crazy refresh rate for that. My screen on this hopeless 2010 iMac works and looks great to me. I just want the 27" version. Heh... 2 of them.

I think its hilarious that the cheapest good 27" monitor i can buy is a whole working iMac...

But hey... i miss playing my ancient Civ 3 (on disk). I can always use one of the iMacs for that when i get really bored... I miss burning CD's too. This loaner has a dead drive.