use iMac 2011 27 as target display

[jasongoldworthy]

hi guys

am I missing something here I have a MINI DP TO MINI DP cable connected between my iMac 27" 2011 and my Mac Pro 3.1

and its as if the iMac don't see it ?


do I need some sort of adapter ??

I have got 2 20" cinema displays but I thought id try and save space by just using the screen in the iMac


thanks for any help.

 

[Slydude]

Does any of the info here help? Don'y forget yu have to press Command F2.

 

[jasongoldworthy]

hi slydude thanks for the link you have shared


im thinking thats where ive gone wrong as both ports on the rear of my 27' iMac are thunderbolt ports

and based on what that says there its thunderbolt to thunderbolt

not thunderbolt to display (ummmmm)

thanks for the Command F2. I knew that bit


cheers

Jason

 

[pm-r]

im thinking thats where ive gone wrong as both ports on the rear of my 27' iMac are thunderbolt ports
and based on what that says there its thunderbolt to thunderbolt
not thunderbolt to display (ummmmm)

Plus the fact that your iMac model is not listed as a compatible iMac to use for Target Display. Not exactly a minor obsticle.



- Patrick
======

 

[jasongoldworthy]

hi Patrick if you go on the link that Sly shared you will see that my iMac can be used as a target display.

 

[pm-r]

hi Patrick if you go on the link that Sly shared you will see that my iMac can be used as a target display.

I guess I must be blind Jason, as that's the same site that I got my information from, ie:

See the list below for iMac models that support Target Display Mode, ...
...
iMac models you can use
as a display

I see no sign of your iMac 2011 27 being compatible, but as I say, I must be blind and I guess I missed it.

Anyway, good luck if you get it working.



- Patrick
======

 

[jasongoldworthy]

hi Patrick maybe im blind lol or wrong

I just read the link again and it says the following

iMac models you can use
as a display Cable you need Port you need on your other Mac
iMac (27-inch, Late 2009) Mini DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt
iMac (27-inch, Mid 2010) Mini DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt
iMac (Mid 2011-Mid 2014) Thunderbolt Thunderbolt

now I believe mine comes under the iMac Mid 2011 - Mid 2014

 

[ferrarr]

Are you using a Mini Display Port cable, or a Thunderbolt cable?

 

[pm-r]

hi Patrick if you go on the link that Sly shared you will see that my iMac can be used as a target display.

hi Patrick maybe im blind lol or wrong

I just read the link again and it says the following

iMac models you can use
as a display Cable you need Port you need on your other Mac
iMac (27-inch, Late 2009) Mini DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt
iMac (27-inch, Mid 2010) Mini DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt
iMac (Mid 2011-Mid 2014) Thunderbolt Thunderbolt

now I believe mine comes under the iMac Mid 2011 - Mid 2014

Oppps, my mistake Jason. I can't even read the facts properly!!! Maybe it was the beer I had with the hamburgers I cooked up for Mother's Day to celebrate with my wife cousin and sister.

What's really stupid is I have the same mid-2011 27 inch iMac that I use daily and I should have known better.



- Patrick
======

 

[jasongoldworthy]

its ok Patrick it happens lol

and hi bob im using a mini display port cable to mini display port cable

it works to output to a normal monitor but won't output to the Mac to save desk space


thanks

 

[pm-r]

and hi bob im using a mini display port cable to mini display port cable

it works to output to a normal monitor but won't output to the Mac to save desk space

Well I've read that guide over several times now and I don't think I'm screwing up this time, but I'm sure it says:

For using your iMac model: you need a Thunderbolt cable and your other Mac also needs a Thunderbolt cable using the Thunderbolt port of course.






Or did I misread something again???

And that doesn't seem to be what you are using according to what you posted.

BTW: Did you add a Thunderbolt port to your Mac Pro 3.1 as I don't see it having one normally.
Mac Pro "Quad Core" 2.8 (2008) Specs (Early 2008, BTO/CTO, MacPro3,1, A1186, 2180): EveryMac.com



- Patrick
======

 

[jasongoldworthy]

no of course your not missing anything


the Mac Pro 3.1 don't have thunderbolt lol but does have MINI Display Ports

silly me thought it would work with a display to display port cable but I guess thats where ive gone wrong.

 

[pm-r]

no of course your not missing anything

the Mac Pro 3.1 don't have thunderbolt lol but does have MINI Display Ports

silly me thought it would work with a display to display port cable but I guess thats where ive gone wrong.

I was wondering "why not" as the Thunderbolt and MINI Display Ports were tecnically quite similar so a Google search found this and maybe you could make something positive from it but I doubt it. I was thinking on wondering if there may not be some sort of adapter, and maybe there is because I've given up.

Anyway have a read here if you like:

Thunderbolt is fully compatible with Mini DisplayPort peripherals . Technically, the plug is the same and the only difference is that the Thunderbolt connector can carry – in addition to the classic Mini DisplayPort – a Thunderbolt signal, which is a signal PCI-Express (4 lines).

...

Last but not least, the Target Display mode.

This is the only time when Thunderbolt is a real problem. With a 27-inch 2009 or 2010 iMac, it is possible to use the Mini DisplayPort output as an input : plug a Mini DisplayPort cable between the iMac and the other Mac, and use the first one as a screen. The same adapters allow you to connect an HDMI source on an iMac.

With the Thunderbolt, it no longer works. You may use an old iMac as a screen on a recent Mac, but not a recent iMac. Actually, the 21-inch and 27-inch 2011 and 2012 iMac are “Target Display” but only on Thunderbolt. And only with the Apple Thunderbolt cable. HDMI adapters do not work (yet) on iMac 2011 or iMac 2012.

Thunderbolt and Mini DisplayPort : differences and compatibility | Le journal du lapin
(bolding mine)

So, close but still missing the boat it seems as to actually working.

Maybe you can make something out of it all and get it all working.



- Patrick
======

 

[chscag]

Hey Patrick:

I thought I read something where the Retina model iMacs could not be used for Target Display, is that correct?

 

[pm-r]

Hey Patrick:

I thought I read something where the Retina model iMacs could not be used for Target Display, is that correct?

I don't know but the article says:

iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2014) and later iMac models can't be used as Target Display Mode displays.

Use your iMac as a display with Target Display Mode - Apple Support

Maybe that's where you read it.

I can't recall exactly what year the retina iMacs came into being.

A quick google says it looks like late 2014:

In October 2014, the seventh major revision of the 27-inch (69 cm) iMac was announced, whose main feature is a "Retina 5K" display at a resolution of 5120 × 2880 pixels. The new model also includes a new processor, graphics chip, and IO, along with several new storage options.[3] The seventh major revision of the 21.5-inch (55 cm) iMac was announced in October 2015. Its main feature is a "Retina 4K" display at a resolution of 4096 × 2304 pixels.

iMac - Wikipedia



- Patrick
======