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Can I add a monitor with refresh rate above 60 Hz?

I see many monitors with refresh rates above 60Hz... Can I use them with iMac?


iMac 21.5″, OS X 10.10

Posted on Nov 29, 2021 7:44 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 29, 2021 7:54 AM

Yes, assuming you buy the correct adapter for your iMac. You do not state which iMac you have so that is a wild card, iMacs have been in production for over 20 years in a wide variety of configurations. 21.5" iMac were in production from late 2009 to 2020.

3 replies

Nov 29, 2021 2:36 PM in response to stoprecyclingdotcom

Sorry but what you want to do will not work. The refurbished iMac will come pre-installed with either Big Sur or Monterey. Target Display Mode is dead technology now and would never work with a 2018 iMac and also not work with Mac Big Sur or Monterey.


Before you ask, no there are no work arounds. You can verify everything I mentioned by carefully looking over Target Display Mode (Target Display Mode).


If you need an external display you should buy one, these are far easier to setup, are less expensive than Target Display Mode because they don't require expensive cabling and are dead reliable.


You can however try a third party solution like Luna Display however I'd would go with an external display as I can't tell you how well Luna display even works.

Nov 29, 2021 12:31 PM in response to rkaufmann87

Oh. Sorry for lack of detail! My current 21.5 iMac is from March 2018 and I was planning on using it as a second monitor as I just ordered a refurbished 2020 21.5 from apple.


I successfully used my old 21.5 mid-2011 as my second monitor for quite a while until the hard-drive quit. But I was told that is not possible and hence my question re: 60 Hz because. I keep finding “perfect” monitors but not 60Hz. Usually 75.


I sure hope this is enough details.


And do you have any insight into the ability to still use my 2018 as a second monitor? I would love to have the two sitting side be side!

Can I add a monitor with refresh rate above 60 Hz?

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