Two iMacs vs iMac & Thunderbolt Display

[jkmags]

this would be nice, I was thinking the 2012 iMac update would be nice to have. If i dont want to sell my current iMac then i could keep both and have 2 monitors and use one for my itunes server.

now,.. where can i find a 3rd job to help support this new idea?

 

[Lastmboy]

Soooo... if you have a Thunderbolt RAID array connected to one iMac, then run a Thunderbolt cable from the RAID array to a second iMac, can both iMacs access the RAID array as a "local" drive?

Can each iMac access the drive(s) in the other iMac?

 

[CrAkD]

Soooo... if you have a Thunderbolt RAID array connected to one iMac, then run a Thunderbolt cable from the RAID array to a second iMac, can both iMacs access the RAID array as a "local" drive?

Can each iMac access the drive(s) in the other iMac?

No I'm pretty sure the iMac in display mode would only get the display signal.

 

[lannisters4life]

Soooo... if you have a Thunderbolt RAID array connected to one iMac, then run a Thunderbolt cable from the RAID array to a second iMac, can both iMacs access the RAID array as a "local" drive?

Can each iMac access the drive(s) in the other iMac?

Haha, you're a dreamer, I like this idea.

 

[lannisters4life]

Here's an unusual one for you. Likely a dumb idea, but I'm curious.

I want to get a 27" iMac, but I want dual display, even though they're 27" (yes, I'm greedy). The problem with using the Thunderbolt display along with the iMac, is that they don't look the same and aren't the same height. That's not the end of the world, as you can sit it on a stand or whatever.

However, here's an idea that crossed my brain. I can get an older refurbished 27" iMac for around $100 - $200 more than a new Thunderbolt display. What do you think of linking two iMacs together? I watched a Youtube video (below) where a guy was using a second iMac, and he could use it as a standalone or as a secondary (extended) display for the first iMac.

How to Connect Two 27" iMacs for a Dual Display Setup! - YouTube

I was curious about this, because the height problem would go away, and I could potentially use the second one as a bootcamp machine or whatever, leaving the primary one free from "tampering".

Here were my initial thoughts:

PROS:
second display that looks identical to primary
could be used for bootcamp without having to screw with primary
could be used as an independent workstation (multi tasking)
could be used for integrated processing (e.g. video editing)
additional hard drive space
spare keyboard and mouse
minimal extra cost (not much more than new display)

CONS:
more things to go wrong (whole iMac vs just a monitor)
wasted processor if you just use it as a secondary display
need adapter/mini display port connector
can you hook a thunderbolt iMac to one without thunderbolt?
do you lose all benefit by not connecting them via thunderbolt?

I'm not sure about the whole thunderbolt situation. In the video, I'm assuming he's using two older (mini display port) iMacs. I'm not sure of the issues if you try to mix them. Would there be any added benefit/features/capabilities by connecting two thunderbolt iMacs? That's not quite as feasible, as they cost a lot more, and not many refurb ones, but I'm still curious.

Anyone have any theories or even want to just comment on how stupid this sounds?

If you aren't the sultan of brunei and don't want two TB displays, two non-Apple displays and a Mac Mini or a pre-refresh ebay Mac Pro would make the most sense, no? The 2011 iMac uses a bit under 50% more power than a TB display (something like ~145W at idle with max brightness vs. ~103W), both way higher than the Dell 27" everyone loves. Remember too, thunderbolt cables are pricey, so add that to the cost scenario.

 

[Jjaw]

Here's an unusual one for you. Likely a dumb idea, but I'm curious.

I want to get a 27" iMac, but I want dual display, even though they're 27" (yes, I'm greedy). The problem with using the Thunderbolt display along with the iMac, is that they don't look the same and aren't the same height. That's not the end of the world, as you can sit it on a stand or whatever.



How to Connect Two 27" iMacs for a Dual Display Setup! - YouTube

I was curious about this, because the height problem would go away, and I could potentially use the second one as a bootcamp machine or whatever, leaving the primary one free from "tampering".

Here were my initial thoughts:

PROS:
second display that looks identical to primary
could be used for bootcamp without having to screw with primary
could be used as an independent workstation (multi tasking)
could be used for integrated processing (e.g. video editing)
additional hard drive space
spare keyboard and mouse
minimal extra cost (not much more than new display)

CONS:
more things to go wrong (whole iMac vs just a monitor)
wasted processor if you just use it as a secondary display
need adapter/mini display port connector
can you hook a thunderbolt iMac to one without thunderbolt?
do you lose all benefit by not connecting them via thunderbolt?

I'm not sure about the whole thunderbolt situation. In the video, I'm assuming he's using two older (mini display port) iMacs. I'm not sure of the issues if you try to mix them. Would there be any added benefit/features/capabilities by connecting two thunderbolt iMacs? That's not quite as feasible, as they cost a lot more, and not many refurb ones, but I'm still curious.

Anyone have any theories or even want to just comment on how stupid this sounds?

Anyone know if you could connect (2) of the new 27" iMacs together (dual display) like the example above explains. I want both displays to look the same..plus would like to use the 2nd iMac for extra hd storage. Thanks in advance for any help

 

[gerardo350z]

Hooking up 2 iMacs

I'm trying to do what the OP was trying to do.

I just bought a new 27" iMac yesterday to replace my old 24" iMac

I am trying to use it as a second display. I bought a Thunderbolt Cable from Apple and was hoping that I could do this. I hooked it up to my 27" and to my 24" but it does not let me I used the same tutorial as the OP posted.

I saw the threads about the 2011 iMac, so that means my iMac cannot do it? I can hook it up to my tv, but not to my old iMac.

Any help is appreciated!

Thanks.. bummer if I can't do it. I would have to return the cable 🙁

 

[Outrigger]

I'm trying to do what the OP was trying to do.

I just bought a new 27" iMac yesterday to replace my old 24" iMac

I am trying to use it as a second display. I bought a Thunderbolt Cable from Apple and was hoping that I could do this. I hooked it up to my 27" and to my 24" but it does not let me I used the same tutorial as the OP posted.

I saw the threads about the 2011 iMac, so that means my iMac cannot do it? I can hook it up to my tv, but not to my old iMac.

Any help is appreciated!

Thanks.. bummer if I can't do it. I would have to return the cable 🙁

you cannot use a non TB display connected to a TB mac, unless you place a TB device in between such as a $200 Lacie hub, so yes, you would have to return the cable.

 

[aggri1]

you cannot use a non TB display connected to a TB mac, unless you place a TB device in between such as a $200 Lacie hub, so yes, you would have to return the cable.

Hi, I feel that this needs a little correction.

You can use most non-Thunderbolt displays with any Thunderbolt Mac, with the right adapter.

What you can't do is hook a non-Thunderbolt display, via an adapter, directly to the second Thunderbolt port of an Apple Thunderbolt Display. If you put some other Thunderbolt device between the Thunderbolt Display and the non-Thunderbolt display, then both will work.

However, neither of these two points are at all relevant to gerardo350z's post. He's trying to use a new Thunderbolt iMac as a monitor for a non-Thunderbolt Mac, which won't work at all (because the new Thunderbolt iMacs can only accept a Thunderbolt signal as a video input source, and gerardo350z's old iMac can't produce such a signal).

----------

I thought about doing something like this before but my question is can the second iMac be turned on and used as a server while simultaneously being used as a display for the other computer?

Probably not of interest to newagemac anymore, but in case anyone else is wondering: yes, the iMac which is working as a screen is still running full Mac OS X. If you log in before you switch it to external-video-input mode, you can start whatever file servers or other applications you want. At any stage, you can switch back and forth between external video input and normal mode (Command-F2).

Note that to use an iMac in external-video-input mode (i.e. as a screen for another computer), you have to start the iMac in Mac OS X, Windows won't work.

Cheers.

 

[Outrigger]

Hi, I feel that this needs a little correction.

You can use most non-Thunderbolt displays with any Thunderbolt Mac, with the right adapter.

What you can't do is hook a non-Thunderbolt display, via an adapter, directly to the second Thunderbolt port of an Apple Thunderbolt Display. If you put some other Thunderbolt device between the Thunderbolt Display and the non-Thunderbolt display, then both will work.

you're right. I actually had it backwards. You can hook a non TB to any TB mac provided the connections are correct, not the other way around unless a TB hub is involved.

 

[Saltymac]

Waste of computer and ever increasing aging of units. ACD's and imac's are due for upgrades this year. How about one i7 mac mini and 2 dell 27" monitors ?

 

[hulk2012]

Bam!

 

[AG311]

Image

Bam!

I'm looking to do the same thing. How did you do it and how does the workstation function exactly?