Filed under: Video, Odds and ends, iMac
Apple document details Target Display mode for 27" iMac
The article, titled "Using a 27-inch iMac as an external display" outlines how easy it is to accomplish this:
The post goes on to describe special conditions that may affect use of Target Display mode, and notes that third-party converters may be used to provide the Mini DisplayPort compliant signals needed for this mode.
- Make sure both computers are turned on and awake.
- Connect a male-to-male Mini DisplayPort cable to the Mini DisplayPort on each computer. The 27-inch iMac will enter Target Display Mode and display content from the source computer.
Note: If you are connecting two 27-inch iMacs, connect a Mini DisplayPort cable to each computer and press Command + F2 on the 27-inch iMac keyboard that you will use as an external display.- To leave Target Display mode, press Command + F2 on the keyboard of the 27-inch iMac that is in Target Display mode. To return to Target Display mode, press Command + F2 again.
Have any of you used a 27" iMac as an external display for another machine or device? Let us know by leaving your comment below.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Luke said 10:24AM on 11-26-2009
I got the target display mode to work last night with my Lenovo M58p Small form factor machine - It comes out of the box with a displayport, so I used a displayport to minidisplayport cable. Command F2, worked, although I had to unplug and plug back in the displayport cable after I'd pressed it the first time to get the m58p windows Vista screen to come to life. It defaulted to 640x480 in windows and nothing I could do in the graphics or monitor settings would let me change the resolution. I unplugged and plugged in the cable again and windows immediately offered me an enormous resolution which worked amazingly well. After that command f2 worked everytime.
Reply
ojala said 10:25AM on 11-26-2009
Just wondering if one could have two 27" iMacs, the other using both displays and the secondary iMac running as a server w/o display..
Reply
Cy Starkman said 10:42AM on 11-26-2009
This also interests me
Matt Jones said 11:50AM on 11-26-2009
The specific mention of connecting two 27" units seems to imply that this would work. 2x27" i7 models + Logic Node == WIN
RyanR said 10:34AM on 11-26-2009
Would this work with an Xbox or PS3 and the right adapters?
Reply
Poltras said 11:05AM on 11-26-2009
Yes.
Rob47 said 2:39PM on 11-26-2009
You would just need a way of getting the sound to be played apparently Target Display mode is sound only :(
Rob47 said 2:39PM on 11-26-2009
Video only* bah im not paying attention too busy thinking of the iMac i want
captain underpants and the bringdown gang said 4:33AM on 11-27-2009
http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=211242892&listingid=46329473
I am your new god.
Blackstar said 7:02PM on 11-27-2009
Well 'god'... you need to learn to shop better:
http://www.amazon.com/DisplayPort-Adapter-female-Cable-Apple/dp/B0025V2VO0
SubGenius said 9:15PM on 12-07-2009
Those are mini Display port to HDMI adapters...
NOT HDMI to mini Display port.
An 8 dollar cable is not going to connect your Xbox to an iMac.
migetman666 said 9:22PM on 1-13-2010
it did not work for me what do i do?
eatmoreramen said 10:34AM on 11-26-2009
I'm just waiting for an adapter that let's me use my Xbox 360 with it.
Reply
Tom said 11:38AM on 11-26-2009
I'm tempted to get the low end 27 inch iMac since it's $100 cheeper then the non LED lit 30 inch Apple display. Not sure what I'd do with the computer part though, and it's a shame it has to be fully booted for the target display mode to work. Not very energy friendly if it's used only as a monitor.
Reply
Rob47 said 2:41PM on 11-26-2009
Im thinking of getting the lower 27" aswell i'm just thinking the processor and graphics card capable of playing wow at a decent frame rate at that insane resolution?
Richard. said 12:09AM on 11-27-2009
It actually uses less energy than a standard LCDtv.
rasmus said 11:47AM on 11-26-2009
i really want to try this ... (once apple get the finger out and deliver it ... nearly a month ago i ordered my quad core.. :ss)..
Reply
Will Smidlein said 12:01PM on 11-26-2009
This makes me wonder if the i5s can do it too but Apple is just limiting them
Reply
S Freude said 12:38PM on 11-26-2009
Yes any of the 27" machines can from the 3.06 C2D to the core i5 and i7.
Shua said 12:44PM on 11-26-2009
Yesterday I was replacing my iPhone and enquired about using the target displayed iMac as a 'headless' server (primarily for fcp and ae rendering). The genius said 'nope', apparently the CPU etc go into a sleep mode and makes functions other than target display inaccessible.
Reply