Use iMac as a Monitor for a PC?

[Frankthered]

Well, as it looks like we'll be doing the WFH thing for a little bit longer (maybe for the foreseeable, if the top brass are to be believed) it's really time to make things a bit more comfortable.

I've been ok with the work PC laptop up to now, but I need to look at some more ergonomic arrangements. As you will have guessed, we have an (iMac21.5" - mid 2011 so has a Thunderbolt port) and I'm currently shifting the keyboard back out of the way so that I can open the work laptop in front of it.

Everything else is pretty straightforward - new comfy chair arriving in the next day or two, already have mouse (but might upgrade) and can work something out with a keyboard - maybe the iMac one will work - haven't tried it yet - even if it doesn't, I can invest in another.

The problem is a monitor - obviously, I could buy one, but there isn't really room for a monitor and the iMac and would be a pain to switch over to between them. Plus the iMac is a nice screen to look at all day, nice size etc., etc.

A chunk of googling suggests that this is theoretically possible (using "Target Mode") but there are mixed messages. It seems that some people have had success with slightly earlier iMacs (with a mini display port) but there seem to be two camps.

There are those that insist it is possible as long as your PC has a TB connector too, or maybe a USB C as long as it has TB functionality; and maybe you'll need a TB3 to TB2 converter, then yes, it will work fine. (As long as you restart both machines.)

Then the other camp is all the people who have bought all the cables and adaptors etc., etc. and have been unable to make it work!

So, the question is ... has anybody on here managed to get this arrangement to work?

If so, please share how!!!

The more I read, the more I get the impression that it might be possible if both machines were running the same OS and that the real issue is trying to do my ideal and get OSX and Windows to work together!

So I might have to fork out for a copy of Windows and run it from Bootcamp (or maybe Parallels) which is actually something I've been toying with (and avoiding) for ages now!

Any thoughts appreciated!

[Troubleatmill]

Unless you are a serious gamer - Parallels is much easier.

Let's you use Macos and Windows.

[xeny]

Another option to consider if you've got the appropriate access rights on the PC, turn the remote desktop connection server on on the PC laptop, and RDP to it from the iMac.

not a good choice for gaming, but perfectly workable for Office applications, web browsing etc.

[Frankthered]

xeny said:

Another option to consider if you've got the appropriate access rights on the PC, turn the remote desktop connection server on on the PC laptop, and RDP to it from the iMac.

not a good choice for gaming, but perfectly workable for Office applications, web browsing etc.

Ooh, I think we might have a winner here! I don't have the rights to change this, but it appears that Remote Desktop is enabled, so this should work!

I will give it a try.

[mmm-five]

Troubleatmill said:

Unless you are a serious gamer - Parallels is much easier.

Let's you use Macos and Windows.

Will only work if your company's systems will run on your own machine/install...our's won't, so I have my work laptop next to my 27" iMac, which runs W10 in Bootcamp for when I need a bit of heavy lifting that the work laptop doesn't like - all sent through email though!



Back to the original question...

Have you tried to get the iMac into Target Display Mode without anything attached? If you're having trouble with that, it might simply be due to having a wireless keyboard that's not recognising the keys before startup - so you may need a wired keyboard to hold the CMD+F2 keys at startup.

I have had Target Display Mode working in the past (on a 2011 27"), to set up Mac Minis, to recover data from an iMac with a broken graphics card, and as an external monitor for a Windows laptop (W7 at the time IIRC).

My current machines don't allow it (2017 & 2019 iMacs) so I now have a desk with an extra monitor on it just for the work's laptop.

At the time, it didn't matter what was connecting to it (MacMini, a broken iMac or windows laptop), it just seemed to act as any other monitor. I've only ever got it top work direct with mini-DP output (other combinations of cables/adapters didn't work for me) - and I simply used a bog-standard miniDP to miniDP cable (or maybe a miniDP to DP one - it's been a while) from one of the TB1 ports.

Unfortunately, and whilst it was never a problem in the past, I have since read that there was a weird position of most 27" iMacs working (in the correct late 2000s/early 2010s models), none of the earlier 20/24" ones working, but it seemed to be the 21.5" ones that had the most issues.

[Frankthered]

mmm-five said:

Troubleatmill said:

Unless you are a serious gamer - Parallels is much easier.

Let's you use Macos and Windows.

Will only work if your company's systems will run on your own machine/install...our's won't, so I have my work laptop next to my 27" iMac, which runs W10 in Bootcamp for when I need a bit of heavy lifting that the work laptop doesn't like - all sent through email though!



Back to the original question...

Have you tried to get the iMac into Target Display Mode without anything attached? If you're having trouble with that, it might simply be due to having a wireless keyboard that's not recognising the keys before startup - so you may need a wired keyboard to hold the CMD+F2 keys at startup.

I have had Target Display Mode working in the past (on a 2011 27"), to set up Mac Minis, to recover data from an iMac with a broken graphics card, and as an external monitor for a Windows laptop (W7 at the time IIRC).

My current machines don't allow it (2017 & 2019 iMacs) so I now have a desk with an extra monitor on it just for the work's laptop.

At the time, it didn't matter what was connecting to it (MacMini, a broken iMac or windows laptop), it just seemed to act as any other monitor. I've only ever got it top work direct with mini-DP output (other combinations of cables/adapters didn't work for me) - and I simply used a bog-standard miniDP to miniDP cable (or maybe a miniDP to DP one - it's been a while) from one of the TB1 ports.

Unfortunately, and whilst it was never a problem in the past, I have since read that there was a weird position of most 27" iMacs working (in the correct late 2000s/early 2010s models), none of the earlier 20/24" ones working, but it seemed to be the 21.5" ones that had the most issues.

Thanks for the replies! I tried out the suggestion to RDP into the laptop, but the work set-up won't play, so I'll give up on that one!

mmm-five, yes, I have read that the 2009-mid 2011 27" (the one with the mini D) is the one people say consistently works.

I did try to start the iMac in target mode, but it didn't seem to do anything (but I have nothing to plug in, so may not have worked anyway.)

I have found a method that seems like it will probably work. As Troubleatmill suggested, the best method looks like it will be to run Windows on the Mac and configure it as a wireless display - it does look relatively easy and I've also been toying with the idea of setting it up for Windows anyway. Just need to try to decide between Bootcamp and Parallels now.

Thanks again!