iMac 2013 and PC via Thunderbolt in TDM

Question

Level 1

4 points

iMac 2013 and PC via Thunderbolt in TDM

Hi all,

today I do have an IMAC 2010 connecte to a PC via a display port cable.

This works fine and is a perfect solution to limit the space used on the Desk.

So now I am planning to move on to an IMAC 2013. As those new models do no longer supply a display port and do only support the target display mode through thunderbolt, I also need to change the mainboard in the PC. I want to continue to use the PC as my gaming machine. A MAC simply doesn't deliver the Grafix power for gaming.

So doing some research in the WEB I didn't get a clear message if anybody has a working setup with e PC connected to a new iMAC in target display mode. It sounds like the MAC in incompatible and simply accepts only macbooks or Mac mini as client. If this is really the case I am srewed up and I need to question my investments in the Apple eco-system.

Is there anybody out in the world who is successfully using a PC connected to an iMac in TDM?

iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9.1)

Posted on Jan 15, 2014 2:25 PM

Reply

Answer 1

korinna Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 16, 2014 12:13 AM in response to korinna

If there is no feedback from the community, do you think I can raise the question to Apple through my AppleCare plan for the actual iMac? Would be more a sales related question rather than an actual issue.

I just want to avoid to bux all the stuff (new mac and PC mainboard) and then recognize it is not supported setup at all.

Reply

Answer 2

korinna Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 16, 2014 12:31 AM in response to korinna

Just had a chat with apple support. According to them, there is no limitation to use a iMac in TDM connected to a PC providing a Thunderbolt port.

Remains the question if anybody has the setup successfully running back at home and what Mainboard is used to do so.

Reply

Answer 3

korinna Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 22, 2014 9:52 AM in response to korinna

Is there really nobody who is using a 2013 imac connected to a thunderbolt enabled pc?

Reply

Answer 4

Mar 20, 2014 1:09 PM in response to korinna

Did you ever get this sorted?

I'm trying to do this with a Late 2013 iMac and an Intel NUC, which has a Thunderbolt port.

Pressing Command F2 doesn't seem to do anything :-(.

Reply

Answer 5

korinna Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 23, 2014 3:34 AM in response to tbicknell

Not yet, still waiting for the right Mainboard on the PC...

But the fakt it is not working with a NUC worries me a bit.

Did you try to connect a display (using a displayport) to the thunderbolt port to verify the config is correct of the port?

If the port is set to autodetect I could imagine it simply takes too long to regonize on the NUC there is a display available, and the iMac switches back in the meantime. Try to "force" the thunderbolt port to be the prime output for gfx. But only if you have a TFT that work on the thunderbolt port as well. Otherwise you would have to default the BIOS in case it is not working.

Reply

Answer 6

Mar 23, 2014 4:23 AM in response to korinna

I've connected another display to the NUC Thunderbird post using a Displayport to DVI adapter and it works fine. I've also connected the display to the iMac Thunderbird port and it also works fine on that.

The BIOS video output was set to Auto. I've tried making the TB port the primary port with no difference. Surely it should output to both ports if there are displays attached to both HDMI and TB?

I need to get another TB cable to make sure the one I have is working OK.

Reply

Answer 7

Mar 24, 2014 2:06 PM in response to tbicknell

I've now tried another Brand new Apple Thunderbolt cable, and it still does not work.

Having spent Hours trawling the Web I've decided to give up :-(. I've only seen one person who claims to have connected with a PC, and that was 2 Years ago. There are countless others who have failed....

It seems that even a Macbook Pro running Windows with Bootcamp cannot connect via TDM, even though the same machine running OSX will work fine.

It seems Apple don't want this to work :-(. This seems strange as older DisplayPort iMacs are known to work fine with PC's, PS3's, Xbox's etc. using HDMI and DVI adapters.

I'm regretting recently upgrading to this 2013 model now...

Tim

Reply

Answer 8

Mar 24, 2014 2:30 PM in response to tbicknell

>Thunderbird

Sorry about that :-)

Reply

Answer 9

edgnet

Level 1

8 points

Dec 15, 2016 2:36 PM in response to tbicknell

I just bought a Intel Nuc Skull Canyon. I have an iMac 2011. I tried to use as a monitor but it didnt work. At first i usead an adapter. Nuc -> HDMI -> HDMI to MiniDisplay Port -> iMac. Didnt work.

Then i used a MDP - MDP cable, but didnt work too.

Reply