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Is there a way to upgrade a Mac Pro quad core 2.8 (2010/Nehalem) to be able to use an iMac 27-inch, mid 2011 as a target display? Can you add a Thunderbolt port to the Mac Pro to make it compatible?
Mac Pro
No. Thunderbolt has to be built into the logic board. there are no add-on Thunderbolt card that adds Thunderbolt capability
Target Display Mode: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - Apple Support
I was afraid of that. Thank you for your response. :-)
Hmmm...that's a tricky question. It depends on what video card you have installed in your Mac Pro quad core. Thunderbolt has to be built into the Mac itself-there is no such as an addon card. there are, however , adapters and docks. Thunderbolt plays nicely with Displayport and hdmi. So, you'd have to find a displayport adapter and use that. There are thunderbolt to displayport/vga/hdmi adapters as well, but you cannot plug anything else into your iMac 27" mid-2011 other than Displayport, period
John B
Johnb-one what do you mean by "Thunderbolt plays nicely with Displayport and hdmi."
Thunderbolt accepts a mini displayport plug for audio but you can't use that for Target Display iMac that requires a Thunderbolt port like the poster wants
thank you for pointing out my mistake, sir. I appreciate it. Occasionally I think I am right and I know the answer absolutely, only to look back on what I've written and say " Oh yeah, right. I was wrong ... I think I misinterpreted the question, and I lept in with both feet, when, before posting, I should have made sure I knew what was I talking about and what I understood is what you wrote, if that makes any sense to you.
you are 100% correct on this. Ordinarily, thunderbolt may play nicely with Displayport and HDMI, BUT.... not in TDM (Target Display mode), especially with a 2011 iMac. with earlier ones, maybe, but with this one? no
jb
You can't get a connection fast enough to edit videos, but Screen Sharing can allow you to connect with acceptable mouse tracking for ordinary purposes over Gigabit Ethernet (once it has been enabled on the Mac Pro)
System preferences > Sharing > Screen Sharing
I use it to administer my Home Server, to save a trip down to the basement to check on things.
Is there a way to upgrade a Mac Pro quad core 2.8 (2010/Nehalem) to be able to use an iMac 27-inch, mid 2011 as a target display?
