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I set up my new iMac yesterday and went to use it with my TV set today and noticed it had no mini display port. The 2010 iMac does so we are using that.
How can I connect the new 2017 iMac to my TV? Thank you.
Martha
The new iMac has Mojave on it and has 8 Gigs of ram.
I just found some on amazon. I seems like I just have 3 USB-3 ports in back in addition to 2 thunderbolts?(USB-C) I'm looking at the charts now. The thunderbolt 3 is the same as USB-C?
About the USB-3 ports, can I put a regular USB cable in there when I buy my external hard drive?
Thanks, dialabrain!
Phil, does this look like it may work? "USB-C to Mini DisplayPort.
ITD ITANDA 4K Thunderbolt 3 to Mini DP Adapter Cable for Apple New Macbook 2017, ChromeBook Pixel Samsung S8"
Would it connect to the thunderbolt port? Here is a photo of it.
I hope you enjoyed your lunch, Dialabrain!
The 2017 iMac has 2 Thunderbolt 3 / USB-C ports which support the Mini Display video signal.
You can buy a Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 / Mini Display adapter, or you can use a Thunderbolt 3 to HDMI adapter instead.
USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter - Apple
or
Phil0124 wrote:
Malcolm J. Rayfield wrote:
A Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter won't work.
Why not? Have you tried one?
https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MMEL2AM/A/thunderbolt-3-usb-c-to-thunderbolt- 2-adapter
"This adapter does not support DisplayPort displays like the Apple LED Cinema Display or third-party DisplayPort and Mini DisplayPort displays."
https://support.apple.com/HT207266
Mini DisplayPort and Thunderbolt use similar plugs. but just because the plug fits doesn't mean it will work. Thunderbolt devices won't work plugged into Mini DisplayPort. Most Thunderbolt ports will work with Thunderbolt or Mini DisplayPort devices, but the ports on Thunderbolt adapters, and the ports on the back of Thunderbolt displays, work only with Thunderbolt devices, not Mini DisplayPort.
Malcolm J. Rayfield wrote:
https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MMEL2AM/A/thunderbolt-3-usb-c-to-thunderbolt- 2-adapter
"This adapter does not support DisplayPort displays like the Apple LED Cinema Display or third-party DisplayPort and Mini DisplayPort displays."
Correct, I forgot about that. But there may be other adapters that might support Mini Display.
Thank you. I don't even know what a thunderbolt is other than it is some kind of connection for faster ... something?
We connect our TV now to our old iMac that has a mini display port. Would any of the links work to give us a mini display port?
mpoinar wrote:
Do we need all of those? Is there an adaptor that will give us a mini display port?
You can use either one of them, you do not need both. The first one gives you an HDMI port you can use to connect to your TV assuming it has an HDMI port.
The second one gives you a Thunderbolt 2 port, which is essentially a Mini Display port. If your TV has a Mini Display port this is a better option. Otherwise, a direct adapter to HDMI would be better.
Think of Thunderbolt 2 as an upgraded Mini Display port. Yes it has faster transfer rate for data, but works exactly the same as a regular Mini Display port for video. Even uses the same connector type.
mpoinar wrote:
I seems like I just have 3 USB-3 ports in back in addition to 2 thunderbolts?(USB-C)
You have 4 USB-3 ports, and 2 Thunderbolt 3 ports.
Yes. USB-3 is backwards compatible with USB 2 and 1. If your external drive is USB-3 it will have faster performance.
mpoinar wrote:
The thunderbolt 3 is the same as USB-C?
Thunderbolt 3 uses the same port type as USB-C. They are not interchangeable however. Thunderbolt 3 has more features than a standard USB-C port.
A Thunderbolt 3 port can be used as a USB-C port without any adapter. However a normal USB-C port cannot be used as a Thunderbolt 3 port.
A Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter won't work. You need a USB-C to HDMI adapter or cable, plugged into one of the computer's USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports.
https://www.startech.com/AV/usb-c-video-adapters/usb-c-hdmi-adapter~CDP2HD
https://www.startech.com/AV/usb-c-video-adapters/usb-c-hdmi-adapter-cable~CDP2HD MM2MB
I am so confused as to what to use now.
I now have a HDMI cord connected to my TV. It has HDMI connections on both ends. I have an adaptor that fits in that which has a mini display port on it and works with my old iMac and my 2012 Macbook Pro. What "can" I use with my HDMI cable to connect to my 2017 iMac and where do I plug it into? Thanks, Martha
UPDATE: The USB-C to HDMI adapter from amazon arrived today and it works though it took a good hour to figure out what preferences to check in the system preferences. Now it's working really well. I hope it continues to.
Thank you all for your help.
Martha
How about this one, dialabrain, from amazon for $19.00? It says:
"USB C to HDMI Adapter (4K@60Hz), uni USB Type-C to HDMI Adapter [Thunderbolt 3" and looks like this:
That should work assuming the quality is there.
You need this or its equivalent.
Thunderbolt 3 digital video output
Native DisplayPort output over USB‑C
Thunderbolt 2, HDMI, DVI, and VGA output supported using adapters (sold separately)
How to connect new iMac to TV
