Late 2009 iMac 27 + 2015 MacBook Pro 15 using Target Display Mode

[pshufd]

I upgraded a Late 2009 iMac 27 to 16 GB of RAM last year. This system has a HDD so I added the RAM to avoid as many HDD access as possible. The system runs YouTube videos, mp4s, and office stuff quite well but I wanted some more horsepower so I hooked up a 2015 MacBook Pro 15 to it using Target Display Mode. I set up Synergy so that I could access both systems with one keyboard and one mouse. I have an Apple Bluetooth keyboard that I use to switch between systems. So I can run some things on the iMac and other things on the MacBook Pro with screen output to the iMac and it works surprisingly well. Things that need more CPU run on the faster system and the 32 GB of RAM between them means that everything runs without lag.

This Target Display Mode is quite a nice feature and allows you to do some interesting things with ancient equipment.

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

By 2021, the late 27" 2009 core 2 duo iMac best serves as a 2K monitor, for both PC and Mac machine.

 

[sashuk]

Hi, I have a mid 2015 Macbook Pro and an older late 2009 iMac (27 inch). I am trying to use the iMac as a monitor for the laptop using target display, but am trying to figure out which wires I need. The laptop has a Thunderbolt2 port, and the iMac has a mini display port but i can't find a cable / adapter that has both?
The laptop also has HDMI so perhaps I can use a HDMI to Mini Displayport cable? I didn't want to get the wrong cable first so any help much appreciated??

 

[pshufd]

Hi, I have a mid 2015 Macbook Pro and an older late 2009 iMac (27 inch). I am trying to use the iMac as a monitor for the laptop using target display, but am trying to figure out which wires I need. The laptop has a Thunderbolt2 port, and the iMac has a mini display port but i can't find a cable / adapter that has both?
The laptop also has HDMI so perhaps I can use a HDMI to Mini Displayport cable? I didn't want to get the wrong cable first so any help much appreciated??

Cable Matters 4K Mini DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort Cable in Black 6 Feet - Not a Replacement for Thunderbolt Cable, Not Compatible with iMac, Not Support Target Display Mode

Cable Matters 4K Mini DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort Cable in Black 6 Feet - Not a Replacement for Thunderbolt Cable, Not Compatible with iMac, Not Support Target Display Mode

www.amazon.com

 

[sashuk]

thanks, but this is mini displayport to mini displayport, right? My macbookpro has a thunderport2 port which I didn't think is compatible with mini displayport?

 

[pshufd]

thanks, but this is mini displayport to mini displayport, right? My macbookpro has a thunderport2 port which I didn't think is compatible with mini displayport?

Thunderbolt 2 will put out a MiniDisplayPort signal. The ports are the same.

I use it from my 2015 MacBook Pro 15 to Late 2009 iMac 27 in Target Display Mode.

 

[sashuk]

ok great, will give it a go. 👍