iMac as screen for a Pc

[aehzl]

Would it be possible to use my screen iMac 27" medio 2011 as screen for a PC. My Mac has USB 2.0 , Thunderbolt and FireWire 800 ports. If so what ports is nessecary for the PC? Cables?

 

[Raz0rEdge]

No, the iMac enters Target Display Mode and will only work with another Mac to be usable an external monitor. If your iMac is no longer functioning, then it's time to scrap it and move on.

 

[Randy B. Singer]

Would it be possible to use my screen iMac 27" medio 2011 as screen for a PC.

Some iMacs can be used that way, but only with another Macintosh:

Use your iMac as a display with target display mode - Apple Support

Target display mode is a feature available with certain older Mac models.

support.apple.com

However, this product will allow you to do what you want to do:

Luna Display ($135)

Luna Display — by Astropad

The only hardware solution that turns any Mac or iPad into a wireless second display.

astropad.com

allows you to use iMacs that otherwise can't be used as an external display as one.

 

[Randy B. Singer]

I've been asked a bunch of times if an old iMac (outside of the range that can use Target Display Mode) can be used as a monitor for another computer. The conventional wisdom is that, no, it can't.

Then I stumbled upon this product:

ScreenRecycler

ScreenRecycler (Mac)

Use another Mac or PC as a second monitor

screenrecycler.en.uptodown.com

Using a combination of Ethernet and VNC, ScreenRecycler allows you to use an iMac as a *second* (NOT the primary, That is, it allows a two monitor setup.) monitor for your computer.

I was curious as to whether ScreenRecycler could be used to make an iMac be the primary monitor for another computer, so I wrote to the company and asked. According to Patrick Stein at ScreenRecycler, to set up an iMac to act as a primary display for a Mini: "you don't need ScreenRecycler for
that task, a VNC client would be all you need."

A VNC server is built into the Mac.

There are a bunch of VNC clients available for the Mac. Some of them are free.

I haven't tried this myself. If you try it, please report back.

 

[Slydude]

Great info, Randy. IIRC I used Screen Recycler several years ago for a while. It worked reasonably well if you wanted to use a computer as a second monitor. The only issue I had was a certain amount of lag (I was either on an 802.11b or g network at the time).

 

[Raz0rEdge]

While all interesting, the iMac should be used as a second display only in a pinch, not as on ongoing thing. Monitors are just too cheap these days to have to go through all these hoops.

 

[tsemple]

Luna Display supports Windows (requires USB-C that supports Thunderbolt or DisplayPort, or HDMI port for the ‘Display Unit’). It will turn a Mac or iPad into an extended display. It will work over WiFi or Ethernet. With 2 macs you can connect via Thunderbolt, if the PC supports that I think you can use cable for that.

I have used this product for several years, it allows me to use my iMac at home as extended display for my work MacBook Pro (I also have an external monitor that hooks up as well). It has been well worth it for me as I’ve been working from home for last 2 years due to COVID concern.