2011 iMac 21.5 second monitor question

[RightRyan]

I’ve got a mid-2011 iMac 21.5 inch with the AMD Radeon HD 6750M 512gb graphics card. Now, I’ve done some digging but nothing has come up for my exact question. I want to buy a 32” HP LED monitor as a second display, which has a max of 1920x1080 res.

According to everymac.com, “Apple reports that this model simultaneously supports the native resolution of the built-in display and up-to a 30-inch external display (2560x1600).”

Will it be able to support the 32” monitor at 1920x1080?

 

[mikehalloran]

Depends on the connection. Make sure that you have a Mini Display Port cable or adapter. These plug into the Thunderbolt port.

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=mobile&field-keywords=Thunderbolt+Mini+display+Port+adapter

 

[jerwin]

No. The macs don't have the voltages necessary to drive a large display like that. You might be able to snag a left handed voltage injector on ebay, though.

Be sure that it's rated for a 4 ohm load at 270 MHz

Spoiler

Apple once sold a 30 inch 2650x1600 display. That was largest display they sold. Naturally you can connect monitors of any size, as long as you don't expect to use resolutions above 2650x1600

 

[RightRyan]

Depends on the connection. Make sure that you have a Mini Display Port cable or adapter. These plug into the Thunderbolt port.

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=mobile&field-keywords=Thunderbolt+Mini+display+Port+adapter

This may be quite a silly question, but I have to be clear. The mid-2011 iMac's have a Thunderbolt port, so would I be alright with a Thunderbolt to HDMI adapter? I know that the Thunderbolt port is backwards-compatible, but isnt there a big difference between a Thunderbolt to HDMI and a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI?
[doublepost=1545418997][/doublepost]

No. The macs don't have the voltages necessary to drive a large display like that. You might be able to snag a left handed voltage injector on ebay, though.

Be sure that it's rated for a 4 ohm load at 270 MHz

Spoiler

Apple once sold a 30 inch 2650x1600 display. That was largest display they sold. Naturally you can connect monitors of any size, as long as you don't expect to use resolutions above 2650x1600

Don't have the voltage? Isn't the voltage needed technically routed through the 2nd Monitors power source? Or is this a weakness in the factory graphics card in the iMac 21.5 inch?

 

[jerwin]

Isn't the voltage needed technically routed through the 2nd Monitors power source?

Yes. And that is why connecting a 1080p (or 2560x1600) screen of any size to an 2011 imac is possible.

 

[mikehalloran]

This may be quite a silly question,

Yes it is. If you had clicked on the link, you wouldn't have had to ask it.

isnt there a big difference between a Thunderbolt to HDMI and a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI?

But since you didn't go to the link and read, I'll answer. There's no such thing as a Thunderbolt to HDMI adapter—it does not exist. Unless it's an actual TB monitor, any display you hook up to a TB 1 or 2 port is MDP.

You can get better resolution but the monitor must support Display Port. Then you would use a DP to MDP adapter. HDMI is limited to 1920x1080 on this Mac.
[doublepost=1545420537][/doublepost]

Yes. And that is why connecting a 1080p (or 2560x1600) screen of any size to an 2011 imac is possible.

Nonsense. The Apple support pages on this are correct but one needs to read them. Some higher res monitors will certainly work. A few adapters get their power from the USB port.

 

[RightRyan]

Yes it is. If you had clicked on the link, you wouldn't have had to ask it.

But since you didn't go to the link and read, I'll answer. There's no such thing as a Thunderbolt to HDMI adapter—it does not exist. Unless it's an actual TB monitor, any display you hook up to a TB 1 or 2 port is MDP.

You can get better resolution but the monitor must support Display Port. Then you would use a DP to MDP adapter. HDMI is limited to 1920x1080 on this Mac.
[doublepost=1545420537][/doublepost]
Nonsense. The Apple support pages on this are correct but one needs to read them. Some higher res monitors will certainly work. A few adapters get their power from the USB port.

I did click on the link actually, it would be shear ignorance not to after you taking the time to answer my newbie question. Until you just cleared that up, I was not aware that a Thunderbolt to HDMI did not exist because the listings online are strictly worded for SEO, tags and keyword phrases in order to get as many hits on their product as possible.

Now to focus on what you said at the end, 1920x1080 is exactly what I'm trying to accomplish, so going from the Monitor>HDMI Cable>(?). I currently have a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter (thank you for clearing that up for me), and I also have a NewerTech USB 3.0 to DVI/HDMI Video Adapter. Would one of these be able to get me to my goal of displaying 1920x1080 on the Second Monitor? Or is there a better/more efficient option in your opinion?

Sorry to come across as an ignorant new forum member, I've done plenty of research but no one seems to be trying to reach this goal that I am, and I am trying to connect the last pieces of the puzzle for the lack of better term in my research.