Mid 2009 iMac as external monitor
 

Hi all

I have a mid-2009 27" iMac with a displayport. When I bought it, I was told I could use it as an external monitor as well by connecting to the displayport.

The only problem though is my MBP only has DVI out, no displayport. Does anyone know if it is still possible to use the iMac as an external monitor for my MBP using a DVI -> Displayport adaptor (which I assume are designed for attaching an external monitor to the iMac, not use the iMac as a monitor....)?

I was thinking a cable like this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/1-8m-Display...1301966&sr=1-4

Any thoughts?

Unfortunately i am pretty sure that "Target Display Mode" is only for display port enabled Laptops. I have not heard of anyone getting this to work with adapters etc.

and the blurb

The mini DisplayPort INPUT on the iMac will ONLY accept DisplayPort signals. You can NOT run the display from unmodified VGA/DVI/HDMI sources. Furthermore, to take full advantage of the 27" screen the inputs must be at the full 2560x1440 resolution (i.e. you can't just input lower resolution sources and have those automagically upscaled to the native resolution of the iMac's display).

Thus, to connect VGA/DVI/HDMI sources you will need an ACTIVE video converter (and possibly a video scaler). Cables that simply adapt between the physical connectors will NOT work (except when going from DisplayPort to mini DisplayPort). Lastly, the existing adapters that enable VGA/DVI OUTPUT from Apple's mini DisplayPort products will NOT work for INPUT to the iMac's display.

Agentx... Thanks for doing the reading I should have done. Guess that clears it up.

So I need a video converter... Or a new MacBook pro....

Yep, so you need to convert the signal not just adapt the cable, if that makes sense.

Something like link below MIGHT work but who knows with Apple ;-)
http://www.atlona.com/Atlona-DVI-to-...r-p-17859.html

You then would need a Mini Display Port to Mini Display port cable.

And if I wanted full resolution: http://www.atlona.com/Atlona-Dual-Li...B-Powered.html

$200 ain't cheap... but cheaper than a new MBP I guess...

There's also something like this: http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/products/gxm/th2go/ which I've looked at in the past. I have at least heard of Matrox in terms of graphics...

And actually that Matrox one wouldn't do this particular job at all.

The Matrox product is a different beast ;-)
I have used them and are great but i am unsure that this product will solve the problem.

And yep you may would need a Dual Link Converter to output at full resolution.

Hmm, not sure where he gets the currency conversion from!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Apple-ATLONA-D...ht_2580wt_1141

it is all to do with Duty and 20% VAT ;-) we always get stiffed in UK over what we think are cheep price sin US.

Guess so, on the UK version of the website they want £190 for it
http://www.futureshop.co.uk/atlona-d...er-p-3227.html

And I bought a GoPro HD recently and the £ amount was actually more than the $ amount...! Crazy.

Yep and also you will need a Mini Display Port to mini Display port cable too......

So around £220 to get your Macbook pro connected to iMac 27.
Just the way it is.......with all this modern tech that Apple brings to the table.

I am VAT registered not effected by VAT like consumers....on business related items

I'm in the Channel Islands... I'm not affected by VAT on anything..! (assuming the retailer takes it off, as a lot don't...)

Indeed you have to ask the retailer to take the VAT off before you PAY.

"Goods exported to the Ch. Islands can be zero-rated for UK VAT purposes, as long as documentary evidence of the export is kept"

Well I made that ebay auction an offer and got a good deal so will shortly be testing out this theory...!

Late to Chime in Now. But in the states you can find some very nice 28 Inch LCD Displays for as little as $300 delivered.

Received the Atlona device today. Works very well. Have 2560x1440 from my DVI-only MBP on my 27" iMac. The only thing that doesn't seem to work is CMD + F2 to toggle target display mode on the iMac and I have to just pull the plug out of the laptop.

Thanks for all the help agentx.

Good news will notch this down as an option for Audio/Video Labs with the 27inch iMacs.
We often have users wanting more screen real estate when using the MBPros on certain projects.

Glad you were the Guinea pig as it does not come cheep on a whim.

Well I'm not so happy this morning as it's not working. I just get a black screen on the iMac. If I unplug it the iMac goes back to its main screen so it's obviously getting some sort of signal... just not the correct one or some such.

Not sure where the fault is, but I'm certainly underwhelmed by the quality of the build of the Atlona device.

I am unsure but i know that "Target Display Mode" is very picky with the way things are done unlike when you plug and play other external displays.. Maybe try and follow the instructions/process to the letter and I hope the adapter is not a dud.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3924

Yeah, sadly those instructions are just "plug it in" ... ! It was working fine last night, and a little this morning. But then it went and now won't come back.

I've seen a lot of discussion of people reporting the black screen when in TDM, have tried usual things, reset PRAM and SMC and so on... no dice.

I know it's not the MBP as my 20" cinema works fine, and I'm pretty sure it's not the iMac as nothing has changed and it comes out of the black screen OK when disconnected, so it's either the Atlona or the cable (which is the Apple advised Belkin.)