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Will I ever be able to use my 2011 27" iMac as a PC monitor?
- Thread starter AbeFroman77
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iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2011) and iMac (27-inch, Mid 2011) support Target Display Mode via Thunderbolt to Thunderbolt cable (2 m) when the source is another Thunderbolt-equipped computer.
iMac (27-inch, Mid 2011) computers do not support Target Display Mode via Mini DisplayPort cables.
If you already knew the answey why ask, and that just made no sense for what you wrote -
AFAIK, only the 27" models support TDM, thougth you just said the same two models do yet don't, lol.
I know the 27" does, next to positive, Google for the 21.5, but I don't think so.
There are adapters out there such as the Belkin AV360 (the one I'd go with personally), and others (there are threads, too)
I think you're confused. That was from Apple's support page. The only way I would be able to use the 2011 27" iMac as a PC monitor is if the PC has a videocard with TB. As far as I know, GPU makers aren't talking about going to TB.
I think your confused, check this out: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/962633/
Maybe I misinterpreted? Its possible to use the iMac as an external display for MiniDP natively (but only up to 720P or 1440P) and with HDMI devices up to I think either or resolution.
This is true for 2009 and 2010 27" iMacs. 2011 27" iMacs only support TDM with a TB source.
Hey there.
The situation is pretty clearly explained in this Apple Knowledge Base Document:
So only when other computers come with Thunderbolt ports will you be able to use a 2011 iMac as an external screen. I am kinda glad my iMac's a 2010 model 27", which can accept Mini-Displayport signals. (Note that the 2010 21" models _could not_ function as displays. Here's a link to an article for the 27" models).
Cheers, A.
The situation is pretty clearly explained in this Apple Knowledge Base Document:
So only when other computers come with Thunderbolt ports will you be able to use a 2011 iMac as an external screen. I am kinda glad my iMac's a 2010 model 27", which can accept Mini-Displayport signals. (Note that the 2010 21" models _could not_ function as displays. Here's a link to an article for the 27" models).
Cheers, A.
why would pc gpu makers fit thunderbold to their GPU's , if at alll then you get gpu's for pc without thunderbold and gpu's for Mac with thunderbold , but dont worry by 2015 you get plenty of adapters , just be a bit more patient the thunderbold port might be absolute wasted port space today but it will be a new standard in 2020 or so ...Apple always was decades ahead of its time , look at firewire , it was the same thing back then , only used by Apple but then every pc now is fitted with a firewire port ..or not?
As much as I think this sucks, from what I can gather, no manufacturers other than Apple are really seeing any reason to adopt Thunderbolt - why does the average user need a 10Gbps connection for anything?
I mean, look at firewire. It's far faster than USB or ethernet, yet it never really took off and it seems now even Apple is abandoning it.
I mean, look at firewire. It's far faster than USB or ethernet, yet it never really took off and it seems now even Apple is abandoning it.
Except the new Mac Mini still has it but Apple took at the optical drive. But I've never used Firewire in my entire life.