Mini to iMac connection

[NCMau]

I have a Mini 2014 to be connected to a 27" iMac, 2010. The iMac does not have a Thunderbolt port, but it has a mini display port. The Mac mini does have a Thunderbolt and HDMI but not a mini display port.
My question is, can I use a Mini display-Thunderbolt cable for connecting the Mini and iMac?
Or for that matter a Mini display-HDMI cable? I would think it work, but I can't seem get a positive answer in the search.

 

[redheeler]

You can use a simple Mini DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort cable for Target Display Mode, simply plug it into the Thunderbolt port on your Mac mini and into the Mini DisplayPort on your iMac. Thunderbolt 2 is backwards-compatible with Mini DisplayPort, uses the same connector.

 

[NCMau]

I would have never guessed you can use the same connector. Thanks a bunch!!!!

 

[chrfr]

My question is, can I use a Mini display-Thunderbolt cable for connecting the Mini and iMac?

What's the purpose of your connection? You can connect the iMac to use it as a display with the Mini if you use a mini Displayport cable, not a Thunderbolt cable, but you cannot transfer any data between the computers through those connections regardless of which cable you use.

 

[treekram]

Take a look at the following link if you haven't already:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204592

If you look at the System Requirements, your computers meet the stated requirements and as mentioned, you need a MDP-MDP cable.

 

[NCMau]

What's the purpose of your connection? You can connect the iMac to use it as a display with the Mini if you use a mini Displayport cable, not a Thunderbolt cable, but you cannot transfer any data between the computers through those connections regardless of which cable you use.

The purpose of this connection is to use the mini for Snow leopard and use the iMac for display. Because I have few applications that I still use occasionally, I have a partition set up in the iMac for Snow Leopard but I hate to change the startup disk every time. So if it works as stated, the mini would make my work easier. I don’t care about transferring data, I can use a flash drive for that.

 

[treekram]

The purpose of this connection is to use the mini for Snow leopard and use the iMac for display. Because I have few applications that I still use occasionally, I have a partition set up in the iMac for Snow Leopard but I hate to change the startup disk every time. So if it works as stated, the mini would make my work easier. I don’t care about transferring data, I can use a flash drive for that.

The 2014 Mini won't run Snow Leopard natively. You might be able to do it with a VM.

 

[chrfr]

The purpose of this connection is to use the mini for Snow leopard and use the iMac for display. Because I have few applications that I still use occasionally, I have a partition set up in the iMac for Snow Leopard but I hate to change the startup disk every time. So if it works as stated, the mini would make my work easier. I don’t care about transferring data, I can use a flash drive for that.

In addition to the aforementioned point about not being able to run Snow Leopard on a 2014 Mini, you won’t be able to access the Snow Leopard partition on the iMac when you’re using the iMac in display mode. When the iMac is in display mode, it only functions as a display and the iMac’s drives are inaccessible.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204592

 

[NCMau]

In addition to the aforementioned point about not being able to run Snow Leopard on a 2014 Mini, you won’t be able to access the Snow Leopard partition on the iMac when you’re using the iMac in display mode. When the iMac is in display mode, it only functions as a display and the iMac’s drives are inaccessible.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204592

I understand that the iMac will only have a display function but I am disappointed that the Mini can not run Snow Leopard. Does this apply for all the older Minis also?
You mentioned VM, can you elaborate please?

 

[DeltaMac]

The last mini that will boot to Snow Leopard natively is the Mid 2010 mini. It is also the last mini with an internal optical drive.

And, your 2010 iMac will boot very nicely to Snow Leopard (which you already knew )
You may find a better idea is to stick with the iMac, and boot to Snow Leopard when you need to do that. Perhaps it's inconvenient, but at least it will do your job.

 

[treekram]

I understand that the iMac will only have a display function but I am disappointed that the Mini can not run Snow Leopard. Does this apply for all the older Minis also?
You mentioned VM, can you elaborate please?

VM stands for virtual machine. VM software allows one to run an OS as an application. The "guest" OS can be the same OS as the native OS (typically used when you want to split the computer into what appears to be different computers) or a different OS - so if you need to run a different OS than the native OS. A couple of companies that make this software is VMware and VirtualBox. You can search on those two companies. My last experience with VM's was about 10 years ago with Linux VM's for the purpose of running multiple "virtual machines" on a single computer. So I have no idea how well VMware or VirtualBox works or how easy it is to run and maintain. It might be easier/cheaper to look for an old Mac Mini than running a VM - I don't know. I have a late-2009 Mini (running Snow Leopard) and it works fine on the occasions when I use it.

EDIT: So the Mini's that have the Mini-DisplayPort port and that can run Snow Leopard are the 2009 (early and late) and the mid 2010 models.

 

[NCMau]

The last mini that will boot to Snow Leopard natively is the Mid 2010 mini. It is also the last mini with an internal optical drive.

And, your 2010 iMac will boot very nicely to Snow Leopard (which you already knew )
You may find a better idea is to stick with the iMac, and boot to Snow Leopard when you need to do that. Perhaps it's inconvenient, but at least it will do your job.

Thanks!

VM stands for virtual machine. VM software allows one to run an OS as an application. The "guest" OS can be the same OS as the native OS (typically used when you want to split the computer into what appears to be different computers) or a different OS - so if you need to run a different OS than the native OS. A couple of companies that make this software is VMware and VirtualBox. You can search on those two companies. My last experience with VM's was about 10 years ago with Linux VM's for the purpose of running multiple "virtual machines" on a single computer. So I have no idea how well VMware or VirtualBox works or how easy it is to run and maintain. It might be easier/cheaper to look for an old Mac Mini than running a VM - I don't know. I have a late-2009 Mini (running Snow Leopard) and it works fine on the occasions when I use it.

EDIT: So the Mini's that have the Mini-DisplayPort port and that can run Snow Leopard are the 2009 (early and late) and the mid 2010 models.

I used a VM way before then for running Windows. It was horrible. Anyway I'm getting a mid 2010 mini and I should be happy with that even if it's not a speed demon. Thanks for the help.