connect early 2009 imac to older imac mini?

[AngS]

I was going to buy new imac but decided to wait a few years.
Problem: I need to keep Snow Leopard running on my early 2009 imac because I have design programs that wont work with a system upgrade. But I also need an updated system (High Sierra at minimum) to run some newer programs.

I contemplated buying another older imac (2013ish) as a second machine for cheap to get me through the next few years until I splurge on a whole new set up. But then I thought I may be able to connect an old imac MINI that can run a newer system to my early 2009 imac. Is this possible? What MINI model will work? Special adapters?
Thanks.

 

[Juicy Box]

Target Display Mode was introduced the iMac model after the Early 2009 (Late 2009).

There are other options, like video capture and some other SW solutions, but it sounds like you want Target Display Mode.

But......

Why not just have a second drive or a second partition of your current boot drive for High Sierra? Just boot into the OS you need at the time.

 

[AngS]

Target Display Mode was introduced the iMac model after the Early 2009 (Late 2009).

There are other options, like video capture and some other SW solutions, but it sounds like you want Target Display Mode.

But......

Why not just have a second drive or a second partition of your current boot drive for High Sierra? Just boot into the OS you need at the time.

I wanted to install a newer OS into my second partition but I was told the that high Sierra would struggle with the 2009 iMac speed. No?