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Soundcave Author

Level 1

0 points

iMac 27" like monitor for Pc

I used my new iMac 27" like a monitor for Pc !

Thank's to this cable:

http://estore.circuitassembly.com/products/Mini-Displayport-to-Displayport-Adapt er-Cable.html

I linked the Display Port of my Sapphire 4890 Vapor X

http://www.soundcave.it/ftp/mac/11.jpg

to the in/out mini display port on Mac

http://www.soundcave.it/ftp/mac/13.jpg

The result is awesome,the resolution is 2560x1440, the black is very dark and the desktop huge

http://www.soundcave.it/ftp/mac/04.jpg

the games are great too....

http://www.soundcave.it/ftp/mac/02.jpg
http://www.soundcave.it/ftp/mac/05.jpg

I'm very satisfied that all works so i can use this fantastic monitor with my Pc too.

To switch from a desktop to another you have to use (Command+F2) on the Mac keyboard.

The only little defect is that the Mac has to be completely On , so the power comsuption is higher compare to a normal monitor

I hope this experience can be useful to someone

Message was edited by: Soundcave

iMac 27 " Quad, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Nov 27, 2009 12:34 AM

Top-ranking reply

MBFAB

Level 1

4 points

Posted on Feb 20, 2017 10:53 PM

Since Apple has decided to remove the Target Display Mode on iMac with the 5K display from Late 2014 and forward this cable will not work anymore. However i have found 1 solution that is not 100% but still working.

Download free version of TeamViewer from www.teamviewer.com install this program on both your mac and your pc

then you can remotecontrol you pc from your mac.

If someone got a better solution that would work better, dont be shy to post it here.

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91 replies

Neeeol

Level 1

0 points

Oct 11, 2010 9:23 AM in response to mini_fanboy

I still can't get mine to work correctly. I am using the Atlona Dual Link DVI to Mini DP converter (the 400 model) to connect my business Dell Latitude E6410 with the NVIDIA NVS 3100 display adapter through the docking station to my 27" iMac mini DP.

I can only get the Dell to drive the iMac to 1280x720. The Dell reports it as "Color LCD", and will allow me to set it to 1920x1080 in the NVIDIA control panel, but as soon as I accept the new setting it reverts right back to 1280x720.

In the "Set Up Multiple Displays" tab, when I uncheck, then recheck the Color LCD (the iMac)it shows it as a Color LCD @2560x1440, but again, when I click Apply, it reverts back to 1280x720.

I have the latest Dell drivers, and my iMac is up to date. The Atlona device comes without drivers of any kind. I'm stumped, as were the corporate and Dell support techs. (I have to give Dell kudos here - the tech went way out of his way to get this working for me, even though it was not company supplied hardware.)

I'm stumped. It looks like I have an extra $150 worth of hardware that won't work for me.

i_Tim_

Level 1

4 points

Dec 20, 2010 6:24 AM in response to Soundcave

Will this card work with iMac 27" or/and Apple LED Cinema 27":

XFX Radeon HD 6870 1GB GDDR5
PCI-Express 2.0, 2xDVI, HDMI, 2xmini-DisplayPort, 900MHz

This has native mini-display ports, does this mean I won't need any adapter?

Feb 3, 2011 10:07 PM in response to i_Tim_

i_Tim:

Not sure if you ever found out for yourself, but I can now confirm that my ASUS HD6870 DirectCU with Display Port out in a windows7 64 new machine does output properly to my iMac 27" using the cable mentioned earlier from CA Circuit Assembly.

http://estore.circuitassembly.com/products/Mini-Displayport-to-Displayport-Adapt er-Cable.html

It works incredibly well, and get this folks (not sure if anyone will believe me because I was shocked myself), but the onboard audio from my PC is ALSO being relayed and playing through my iMac when in Target Display Mode. Yes, you heard me correctly. Pretty amazing if you ask me. Sometimes switching back and forth will cause a buzz on the windows side, but just playing a sound through windows seems to clear that out... small price to pay, and not that big of a deal.

EagleD

Level 1

9 points

Mar 27, 2011 2:00 AM in response to SlackerMac

Interesting, I have the same combo, but my R500 only has a VGA and HDMI outputs.
Just to clarify does your R500 have a mini displayport, or are you using one of the VGA/HDMI outputs on the R500?

All help appreciated.

Aug 15, 2011 8:32 AM in response to Soundcave

Hi all

I am looking for a similar situation before I start this is my first MAC always been a PC guy, I recently got a iMac (2 days ago) and I have been told by a guy in Apple shop that all I need is a a mini display port to DVI adapter and I would be able to connect any computer on iMac that has a thunderbolt port.

So this is what they have made me buy ( http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB570Z/A?fnode=MTY1NDA4Mw&mco=MTczNzE1NzQ )

And when I connect the cable to thunderbolt port and use comand+f2 nothing happens, any help highly appreciated.

Thanks

Salman

Aug 16, 2011 2:14 PM in response to salmanhamid

Anyone?

Aug 24, 2011 8:46 AM in response to salmanhamid

Salman Hamid:

For what it's worth, my understanding was that this solution only worked with DisplayPort technology, not DVI.

I think what you may need is something more like this:

Atlona DVI to Mini DisplayPort Converter

My understanding is that this device is not merely an *adapter* but a *converter* -- actually converting the DVI output to DisplayPort output.

I am not one of the people in this forum who got this working. I visited here because I'm contemplating getting a new 27" iMac and using it as a monitor for my Dell Latitude 6410 (my work requires I use one of the laptops owned by the firm).

I plan to purchase one of the Circuit Assembly adapters (DisplayPort --> MiniDisplayPort) and then take it and my laptop into the local Apple Store and see if i can get it to work there before purchasing the IMac.

I may end up with a MacMini instead, though I'd prefer the graphics power of the iMac.

Mackey18

Level 1

13 points

Aug 25, 2011 7:35 AM in response to Soundcave

Hi guys, quick question about this.

The first is, how do we know if a graphics card is capable of working with the iMac. Or is it any graphics card with a DP output capable?

Secondly, if we were to attach an HDMI adapter on the end, would we be able to attach any HDMI device, like a games console etc?

Regards,

Mike

Sep 5, 2011 8:33 AM in response to Soundcave

I have manged to order one of http://estore.circuitassembly.com/products/Mini-Displayport-to-Displayport-Adapt er-Cable.html can anyone recommend a cheap graphic card for PC that supports this?

Sep 14, 2011 2:29 AM in response to salmanhamid

Hello everyone,

I have the cable now, any recommendation for less expensive graphic card that works?

Thanks

Oct 21, 2011 6:30 AM in response to salmanhamid

I bought the same cable described in the original post. My laptop does have a display port output. However, when I connect the cable to my iMac and laptop nothing happens. My laptop won't recognize iMac display and iMac does not recognize my laptop (even with target display mode).

Is there a specific order that I need to turn on my computers?

Dec 29, 2011 11:34 AM in response to Soundcave

Still no joy for the 57xx 56xx series cards then, this is a disgusting in my opinion. I paid good money for my imac on the understanding this was possible. i should have just bought a 27 inch monitor and kept my windows PC really leaves a bitter taste.

mid 2010 i3 27" Imac FOR SALE!

Mackey18

Level 1

13 points

Dec 29, 2011 1:12 PM in response to steven1978

Steven, I can't understand what the problem is. It's working like a dream for me. Any graphics card with a display port output should work fine. Having it connected to my PC makes me appreciate just how amazing the display is, especially when I'm playing games in whopping 2560x1440, so I'd urge you not to get frustrated but be happy because when you get it sorted, you will love it as I do.

Dec 29, 2011 1:19 PM in response to Mackey18

Thanks Mackey.

Can you just confirm What Imac you have and what graphics card is in it. also what graphics card is in the PC?

Mine is a mid 2010 i3 3.2Ghz 27inch with th 5670 GPU

The PC has a ATI 6450 GPU, I have also tried a 4890. I have a Nvidia GTX280 but it isnt here right now.

When you say "display port" are you talking about a DVI / HDMI port or something else? I have one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290566649519 i then use a DVI cable going from there to my DVI socket on my PC graphics card. Both systems booted up. hit CMD +F2 nothing at all.

Mackey18

Level 1

13 points

Dec 29, 2011 1:35 PM in response to steven1978

Hi Steven,

I have a late 2009 i7 27". Like yours, it can be put into Target Display Mode. Your issue is very clear. For this set up to work, the output from the GPU in the PC has to be the right type. The right type is Display port or Mini Display port. DVI/HDMI is not Display port and no series of adapters will make the signal output correct. You need to find a GPU for your PC that has a Display port at the back.

An example would be this:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-036-HS&groupid=701&catid =56&subcat=1752

This was the first one I could find, do your research before buying, don't just click the link above and buy that one. Anyway, my point is, if you look at the specs it says it has 2x Mini Display ports. That would be perfect, you'd then have to buy a MDP-MDP cable. Or a DP-MDP adapter as mentored earlier in this thread.

A word of warning. Since the screen on the 27" is so massive, it's best you get a card with 3GB VRAM if you plan on doing hardcore gaming, otherwise, a 1.3GB or 2GB will do. I've learnt from experience.

Hope this helps,

Mike

iMac 27" like monitor for Pc