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jackoatmon

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Sep 15, 2011
617
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Obscure and discontinued (but excellent) feature.

I'm planning to use my 2011 27" iMac as a Target Display for my new MBP, when i receive it.

Has anyone sucessfully done Thunderbolt Target Display with a new USB3-C port?

I assume it would require:

Thunderbolt 3 -> Thunderbolt adapter (or hub)
Thunderbolt Cable

Perhaps someone's done it with a TB3 Macbook or a 2016 13" MBP?
 
Obscure and discontinued (but excellent) feature.

I'm planning to use my 2011 27" iMac as a Target Display for my new MBP, when i receive it.

Has anyone sucessfully done Thunderbolt Target Display with a new USB3-C port?

I assume it would require:

Thunderbolt 3 -> Thunderbolt adapter (or hub)
Thunderbolt Cable

Perhaps someone's done it with a TB3 Macbook or a 2016 13" MBP?

It's still supported in Sierra, so I don't see why not. As you stated, you'll need the TB3 to TB adapter. I just picked up one today for my external hard drive, but no TB display to test this.

https://support.apple.com/kb/PH25670?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US
 
Well, I personally can see one reason why not (potentially):

Target Display through TB (not MiniDisplay) has only ever worked TB -> TB across TB cable.

Now we're introducing a signal converter in the TB3->TB adapter. No telling whether that signal conversion supports whatever protocols were used for Target Display. Or whether TB3 sends it out in the first place.

For the record, this is a question the techs at my local Apple store did not know the answer to, so real-world testing is the only way to find out.

Hoping it still works!
 
No telling whether that signal conversion supports whatever protocols were used for Target Display.
Most likely the TB3 to TB adapter is just a plug shape adapter and not a signal converter. I suppose the TB3 ports are backward-compatible and can speak TB2 and TB1 protocol if needed. Being able to serve as a display is a property of the iMac. The MacBook Pro needs to be able to send a DiplayPort stream via Thunderbolt port anyway.
 
I'm curious about this as well. I'm getting a new 13" MacBook Pro this week and have a 2010 27" iMac. What cable(s) would I need? Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter ( http://www.apple.com/shop/product/MMEL2AM/A/thunderbolt-3-usb-c-to-thunderbolt-2-adapter ) paired with a Thunderbolt cable ( http://www.apple.com/shop/product/MD861LL/A/apple-thunderbolt-cable-20-m ) that plugs into my iMac's Displayport?

Pretty sure the new machine does not output DisplayPort. It would have to be a 2011 or '12 with the TB port. Don't quote me but I've read that elsewhere.

Basically, the weird thing about target display, was it only worked between Tb -> TB or Displayport -> displayport, but not between TB and displayport devices.

Or something. It was complicated, as I recall.
 
Actually I'm writing this on my Non-TouchBar 2016 13" MBP right now. Power plugged into one of the TB3 ports, and a mono price USB-C to Displayport cable with a Displayport to Mini-DP adapter on the other end on the other. It's plugged into my 2009 iMac and Target Display is working fine.

This CABLE: http://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=12908
This Adapter: http://www.monoprice.com/Product?p_id=5714

Setup works on my 2015 12" MacBook too (though without the extra port for power)
 
Actually I'm writing this on my Non-TouchBar 2016 13" MBP right now. Power plugged into one of the TB3 ports, and a mono price USB-C to Displayport cable with a Displayport to Mini-DP adapter on the other end on the other. It's plugged into my 2009 iMac and Target Display is working fine.

This CABLE: http://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=12908
This Adapter: http://www.monoprice.com/Product?p_id=5714

Setup works on my 2015 12" MacBook too (though without the extra port for power)

Excited to report after a misguided purchase of some HDMI adapters (oops) at MicroCenter, I am now posting from my 13" touchbar MBP on my 2010 27" iMac in Target Display Mode.

Monoprice Adapter on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002YQYCUM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
This USB-C Male to DisplayPort Male cable: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E9RTEI8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
 
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