Using Mac Mini with Older 27' iMac

[gwallis]

I am new to this Forum; but I just wanted to let everyone know that I have been able to successfully connect a new M1 Mac mini to the screen of my old 2009 iMac. I tried several different cable setups until I finally got it to work.

I got the Mini Display to Thunderbolt cable off Amazon:

With this cable I am able to go back and forth between the two computers by using the Shift-Command F2 combination.

I have been looking for a solution to this for awhile.... so I just wanted to pass it on!

 

[EugW]

The 2009 27" iMac should work with multiple setups. It basically just runs like any other 1440p monitor - no special magic needed to get it to work.

I'm curious what cable setups you tried that didn't work. For my 12" MacBook, I just used a cheap $10 no-name USB-C to mini-DP adapter I got on eBay, along with a mini-DP cable and it worked fine. It was picky for mini-DP cable quality though. I hear the M1 Mac mini is picky for cable quality too.

The benefit of the cable you are using is that it is direct USB-C to mini-DP, so no extra connection from the addition of a dongle causing signal degradation.

 

[gwallis]

I tried using the Apple Mini DP to Thunderbolt adapter with no luck. I think what I needed with that adapter was a Type C Thunderbolt cable.... not the Mini Display cable.

 

[gwallis]

UPDATE:

I have been using the M1 Mac mini with my 27" iMac as it's monitor for several days now.... and I have some additional info that might be of interest.

The Mac mini can not adjust the sound or brightness of the 27" iMac's screen from the keyboard that is connected to the Mac mini. I have to use a keyboard that is connected to the iMac in order to adjust both of these. It is a minor inconvenience.... but I thought that everyone should know if they are going to try this setup.

If anyone can find a way around this situation I would love to hear about it.

 

[EugW]

UPDATE:

I have been using the M1 Mac mini with my 27" iMac as it's monitor for several days now.... and I have some additional info that might be of interest.

The Mac mini can not adjust the sound or brightness of the 27" iMac's screen from the keyboard that is connected to the Mac mini. I have to use a keyboard that is connected to the iMac in order to adjust both of these. It is a minor inconvenience.... but I thought that everyone should know if they are going to try this setup.

If anyone can find a way around this situation I would love to hear about it.

Yes, this is normal behaviour.

 

[pshufd]

UPDATE:

I have been using the M1 Mac mini with my 27" iMac as it's monitor for several days now.... and I have some additional info that might be of interest.

The Mac mini can not adjust the sound or brightness of the 27" iMac's screen from the keyboard that is connected to the Mac mini. I have to use a keyboard that is connected to the iMac in order to adjust both of these. It is a minor inconvenience.... but I thought that everyone should know if they are going to try this setup.

If anyone can find a way around this situation I would love to hear about it.

The 2009 iMac 27 shipped with an IR remote that could control volume, start/stop and previous/next. You could use that to control the audio. I still have a pair of those remotes.