I have an iMac 21.5 in Late 2012 w/ 2.7 GHz Intel Core i5. The graphics is Nvidia GeForce GT 640m 512MB. There are no more updates available. Thinking about getting a miniMac w/the M1 chip. Does it make sense to use my old iMac as the monitor?
iMac 21.5″, OS X 10.10
2020 M1 Macs do not support Target Display Mode. So you can't actually use it as a monitor for it.
Also, even if you could use it, you would be unable to use the full supported resolution of the Mac Mini of 6K. Since the iMac's display maxes out at 2560 x 1600.
2020 M1 Macs do not support Target Display Mode. So you can't actually use it as a monitor for it.
Also, even if you could use it, you would be unable to use the full supported resolution of the Mac Mini of 6K. Since the iMac's display maxes out at 2560 x 1600.
Hi Neody51,
Target Display mode, Use your iMac as a display with target display mode - Apple Support, does NOT work with macOS versions later than High Sierra for the iMac and Mojave for the other Mac. You M1 requires Big Sur. This will not work. There are lots of great displays out there, though!
Cheers,
Jack
Here are the actual requirements, condensed and reorganized from that confusing archived article and recent developments.
VIDEO SOURCE COMPUTER (the one sending the video signal to an external monitor):
TARGET COMPUTER (the one to be an external monitor):
Hi Jack.
FYI, Catalina still works with TDM on 2019 and older Intel Macs that are the video source. There are plenty of posts here that confirm.
That support article must have been written by the Department of Obfuscation! It has even confused long-serving senior contributors here. That is why I assembled the condensed version I posted, which you are welcome to use.
Good to have you aboard!
Using old iMac as monitor for miniMac w/ M1 chip
