Using an iMac as a monitor Amazon Basics 4K Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort Cable 6 Feet Black

Apple iMac Computer Monitor Has to be able to support: target display mode
Using an iMac as a monitor / Display
Amazon Basics 4K Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort Cable 6 Feet Black
(01-25-2022)
Cost: $10.50
Using my 27 inch late 2009 iMac as a Display for my PC.
But also using the iMac as a computer, as well as a display.
Video Card is an RTX 2080 Ti
imac running Sierra, 10.12.6
Monitor displays 2K (2560x1440) @ 60Hz
Amazon: www.amazon.com...
Use your iMac as a display with target display mode
Apple website info: support.apple.....

[@glennfurs3995]

Hey Coach, Love the new groupings.

[@RexConstenla]

Hi ! Your video is really interesting. I'll leave a comment here not as a criticism but to share my experience in the journey trying to use my imac as display for a new pc that I bought recently. My imac is a 21.5 inches late 2012 running under macOS Sierra 10.12.6 (same as you) - and this is why I thought "it should work !" The pc tower is an Asus Rog Strix Ga35 and it has a displayport as well as hdmi (so, theoretically, no problem). The first divergence we have is that the imac 21.5 late 2012 have 2 thunderbolt (in the primitive version). Well... I tried the cable mini-displayport to displayport (the thunderbolt 1 and 2 and the mini-displayport have the same shape) : no result. Then, I've seen that maybe the signal has to come from HDMI and not from displayport... so I bought an adapter in order to have a mini-displayport (mac side) to hdmi (pc side) : no result. (even in safe-mode, even with "cmd+F2" or "cmd+fn+F2"). Searching a little bit, I was taught that the thunderbolt ports on the 2012 imacs are only output ports ! In other words, it's ok if you want to connect two monitors but you cannot use them as an input for hdmi or displayport signal ! If some of you have contradictory information (with references/evidences) well I'm interested ! Thanks btw !

[@drivethruwalkthru]

I also have another imac, 2012 model, with two display ports, it did not work, seems that the only iMac’s that work as a displays for a PC, are the ones with one display port. I also have, i think, a 2015 imac, with two thunderbolt ports, & that one also, did not work. Basically the ports have to be iny’s , not out’s, or input ports, not output ports.

[@stanleychen3298]

I think iMacs with miniDisplayPort support this functionality on the hardware level, in this case the late 2009 and 2010 iMacs, so they function exactly like a display you can plug in basically anything(consoles, raspberry Pi’s and all that). The 2011 and later models uses Thunderbolt and target display mode works in conjunction with the software(both the iMac and the machine you’re connecting it to)so only Apple computers with thunderbolt can connect to it. This software feature I believe is no longer supported by Apple and doesn’t work on Apple Silicon at all but may still work on older Intel machines(Not sure on this part). But the retina iMacs(The 4K and 5K and the iMac Pro)did not support target display mode at all since launch. I think the only gems are the Late 2009 and 2010 models(the early 2009’s didn’t have miniDP so dont work)

[@florinapostoiu]

@@stanleychen3298 Apple stopped this function starting with 2015 versions.

[@djba]

This is very helpful. I have an old iMac that I was thinking of converting to a linux system. Now I will give this cable a try.

[@alexsoto9912]

Did it work?

[@manuelalejandroramirezguer4421]

Did It work?

[@djba]

Hey …I never did get this to work. I can’t remember the problem that I encountered.

[@danieljabiri947]

Hi yhis didnt work. Probably because its nit a 27”?

[@craigfoster354]

Your video shows it actually works, but the mini display port to display port cable description clearly says that it is one directional, only working from the mini display port to the display port. However you got it to work backwards, from the display port (pc) to the mini display port on the iMAC. Am I reading it wrong?

[@mtandiz]

its because of the Apple imac. On their early imacs, they allowed the imac to be used as a display, so the cable description i believe is correct... but the Apple imac, from about 2009 to 2012, allowed you to reverse, or in other words, be bidirectional. Meaning it would work no matter what direction the cable was made for. It is called "target display mode". The newer imacs do not allow this.

[@cgav96]

Excellent! I have an adaptor, I wonder if that would work. Cannot find the cable here in Costa Rica.

[@mtandiz]

No Amazon in your area?

[@mtandiz]

Look at description of video

[@parsas7]

Nice and complete video bro, but im mind if this option work while windows has installed on imac?

[@diamondclusterrecordsofficial]

What cable and adapter would I need to link my Win 11 laptop to my imac screen

[@BenBeatsU]

so I just connect them together and restart the iMac?

[@HK-wo1ht]

The only downside is this: one can't control the brightness...it is always on the highest level and thus causes the iMac 27" to consume a lot of power and it gets quite hot over time.

[@mtandiz]

I agree

[@ziyaaalboghobesh4996]

I have iMac a1419 does it work for me ???????

[@mtandiz]

@@ziyaaalboghobesh4996 you have to check if the monitor / iMac supports target display mode. Any, all in one computer, MAC or Windows, with target display mode features, can be used by another computer as a display.

[@ziyaaalboghobesh4996]

@mtandiz I ordered Displayport to mini Displayport. I haven't received it yet.

[@mtandiz]

⁠good luck@@ziyaaalboghobesh4996.

[@deezuschrist9794]

So would that cable work for Apple’s 2013 thunderbolt monitor since it has a mini DP on the back and it’s main function is as a monitor

[@mtandiz]

Has to be able to support: target display mode

[@deezuschrist9794]

Appreciate the quick feedback. It doesn’t have target display since it’s not an iMac, it’s strictly a monitor. It wouldn’t have worked anyway, I just checked again and the port I was referring to is a thunderbolt 2 port not a mini display port :/

[@syafiq.larrieshoes933]

i tried to use mini displayport with vga from laptop to mini displayport imac 2009, from laptop it detect second display, but the imac just flicker and wont change

[@LonleyCopy]

change your screen size on monitor

[@Cne750]

Do all pcs have the ability to do this or do I need to get a specific male part on the back?

[@betes69]

Your GPU has to have a DisplayPort. Wont work if you try to use it with HDMI or DVI. The iMac needs a DisplayPort signal. And only works with late 2009 and mid 2010 iMacs, which dont have Thunderbolt (no Lightning symbol).

[@mariodasilva8729]

Is it possible to use CMD-F2 on the iMac to switch between the two computer outputs instead ao shutting one off? Do Tell!

[@mtandiz]

I usto use a USB KVM type switch to switch between the computers, most of the time it worked, but when it didn’t, it was a nightmare, so i do it the long way.

[@tecnoline57]

Optimal! I have an IMAC META 2011 HIGH SIERRA and a MAC BOOK PRO 2106 MONTEREY. Can this work or does it take CATALINA? Thank you

[@mtandiz]

Use your iMac as a display with target display mode Apple website info: support.apple.com/en-us/HT204592#:~:text=an%20external%20display%3A-,The%20iMac%20used%20as%20a%20display%20must%20have%20macOS%20High,be%20a%20Mini%20DisplayPort%20cable.

[@mtandiz]

iMac must support target display mode

[@pixelmonfan171]

I have an imac 27 inches 2017 does it work for me? cause i want to use it as a monitor, the imac's GPU is a bit weak for me. thank you!

[@mtandiz]

You need an all in one cpu that supports target display mode, I believe all iMac cpu from 2014 & above, do not support target display mode, but iMacs from, I believe, 2008 to 2012, do support target display mode. There all all in one cpu pc computers, today, that support target display mode. Good luck

[@pixelmonfan171]

@@mtandiz thank you!

[@sinnombre7823]

I just did it and it doesn't work

[@JuanJGartner]

Can i use thunderbolt to hdmi too? To use my 2011 imac as a display for windows

[@mtandiz]

No idea, but I don’t see why not

[@manuelalejandroramirezguer4421]

Have you tried iMac as a display foto Windows?

[@kiara9020]

Did it work??

[@amgpuma]

have you try with a mac mini?

[@mtandiz]

Let me know what happens

[@mtandiz]

No, but it should work

[@amgpuma]

@@mtandiz it doesnt

[@mtandiz]

@@amgpuma sorry to hear

[@kodfish101]

Why did you use a bread knife to open the box 😭 any other knife would've worked so much better mann

[@mirfee321]

🤓

[@alexsoto9912]

will it work if i use a regular hdmi cable

[@mtandiz]

it should

[@TheBull06]

Did you ever figure out the brightness issue

[@drivethruwalkthru]

No, tried a few programs, but no luck: Trying to Control Brightness 2009 imac used as a Display Monitorian & Display Fusion Did NOT WORK kzbin.info/www/bejne/mobReKFth62hp8k

[@TheBull06]

@@drivethruwalkthru does sound come out of the imac using this cable?

[@mtandiz]

@@TheBull06 in the beginning it did, when i use the imac only, sound is fine, as a monitor, sometimes it works & other times it does not. No idea why. I connected a small speaker to the PC, that way I always get sound.

[@Kostromphoto]

Can you post a comment with all the specs? Mac year, OS, etc….

[@mtandiz]

I would love to, but I no longer have the imac

[@stanleychen3298]

Can you please test if you can control the brightness with an app called Monitarian? If it supports DDC then I’m thinking of picking up a 2009 27inch iMac as a display. Thanks

[@mtandiz]

Will do

[@stanleychen3298]

@@mtandiz Thanks a lot. There is very little information about this topic on the internet.

[@mtandiz]

Here is the video i did: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mobReKFth62hp8k

[@stanleychen3298]

@@mtandiz Thank you for trying it out. I guess it's too much of a hassle actually getting a used 2009 iMac for a display. It's cool to use one if you already had one tho

[@mtandiz]

@@stanleychen3298 i agree

[@Las_cacas]

7 months later does it still work? i heard apple stopped supporting old imacs as screens. i have an 2012 27" imac, that id like to use on a m1 mac mini.

[@mtandiz]

Still working, & maybe it will work for you

[@goldensox2992]

This works only with 2009 and 2010 iMacs that use a display port.

[@vyomsharma2470]

I have a imac 2015 macOS Monterey and i was wondering if this would work?

[@mtandiz]

You need an iMac that has target display mode, i dont think a 2015 imac has that option

[@vyomsharma2470]

@mtandiz I got it to work you dont need target display mode on it for some reason all i need is the cable and it will work and you also got a new sub

[@mtandiz]

@@vyomsharma2470 great & thank you

[@pixelmonfan171]

@@vyomsharma2470 sorry can i ask you a question? so all you need is to turn on the imac (with plugged in the cable) and turn on the pc?

[@vyomsharma2470]

Yes thats how it works for me

[@VATTARIE]

hey bro. do you know if i can use my imac late 2012 as monitor for my alienware 2022 laptop? i cant find it!i bought an adaptador for displaymode, plugged it right but it didnt worked. there only hdmi port

[@mtandiz]

I dont know, but it not only depends on the imac, but also the cable. Look fro an amazon basic, hdmi to mini display cable, maybe that will work.

[@mtandiz]

Good luck

[@MrBoxik-]

thanks 👍

[@mtandiz]

Your welcomed

[@R-L-D]

Command + F2

[@giorgiorossoni9015]

Hi, I have a Imac 2019. I don't have a thundedrbolt port but only type c. can u help me?

[@mtandiz]

That’s too new, the 2009 to 2012 iMacs, usto support target display mode, no more. There are a few all in one cpu’s that support target display mode, those could also be used as displays / monitors.

[@justfishee4723]

could i use this to connect a game console to my imac

[@mtandiz]

i dont see why not

[@LonleyCopy]

just run if Xbox the app from Microsoft and play from cloud saves time 😅

[@zwirn00]

The Camera doesn’t work, what about the microphone?

[@mtandiz]

My mic works just fine

[@zwirn00]

@@mtandiz And the speakers 🔊 too?

[@mtandiz]

@@zwirn00 yes

[@God_is_my_savior-316]

Didn't work

[@MrJacobCastro]

You really hid your password 🤣🤣🤣🤣