iMac as a monitor

[Toto12345678910]

Hi all new to this hoping someone can shed some light. Open core legacy????

I have a late 2015 iMac and a 2014 Mac mini was hoping to switch from one to the other using thunderbolt ports using Ventura OS via open core legacy so basically use the iMac as a monitor for the mini yet being able to switch back to iMac mode as and when needed… can it be done ?????

 

[Bigwaff]

2015 iMac does not support Target Display Mode.

 

[ger19]

2015 iMac does not support Target Display Mode.

Obviously, it's disappointing that TDM is no longer supported. Question - would it be possible to make an iMac work as an external monitor with software/programing or, would it take hardware that it doesn't have. I'm talking about the latest M1/M3 versions of the iMac.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Youtube shows some iMac screen hacks for relatively cheap costs to basically convert an iMac into a 5K monitor. Here's one (of several)...

Don't be thrown by the title. The $600 referenced includes buying the iMac. If someone already has one, they don't have to buy another.

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

Youtube shows some iMac screen hacks for relatively cheap costs to basically convert an iMac into a 5K monitor. Here's one (of several)...

Don't be thrown by the title. The $600 referenced includes buying the iMac. If someone already has one, they don't have to buy another.

The idea in that video is quite obsolete and stupid now.
A second-hand iMac 2017 27" is around 600$.

 

[ignatius345]

The idea in that video is quite obsolete and stupid now.

Always a pleasure.

 

[ignatius345]

Youtube shows some iMac screen hacks for relatively cheap costs to basically convert an iMac into a 5K monitor. Here's one (of several)...

Don't be thrown by the title. The $600 referenced includes buying the iMac. If someone already has one, they don't have to buy another.

We have like 8 old 5K iMacs in my office and we're all working on lame 1440p displays. It's maddening.

 

[rin67630]

We have like 8 old 5K iMacs in my office and we're all working on lame 1440p displays. It's maddening.

Why don't you use them normally?

 

[Guenter]

There is a great thread about the monitor conversion here at mac rumors:

DIY 5k Monitor - success :-)

I tried it and it worked fine, but I am only using the DP to USB-C as I like to be cautious with my charging inputs.

forums.macrumors.com

 

[ignatius345]

Why don't you use them normally?

Too slow for current graphic design needs. We're all using M1 Minis.

 

[rin67630]

Too slow for current graphic design needs. We're all using M1 Minis.

You might want to try:
Boost your iMac at no cost
My 2015 iMac 27" reprogrammed that way flies like a rocket.

Else, put Windows on them, sell them, and purchase 5K Monitors from the earnings.

 

[ignatius345]

You might want to try:
Boost your iMac at no cost
My 2015 iMac 27" reprogrammed that way flies like a rocket.

Yeah, I had a 2014 with a Fusion Drive and later replaced it with an SSD. There's only so far that will take you, and Intel compatibility is dwindling fast. If you haven't used an M1 or greater Mac, it's kind of a whole different experience. I say this as someone who's been using Macs for 20+ years at this point.

Else, put Windows on them, sell them, and purchase 5K Monitors from the earnings.

I'm not really in charge, but yeah, I'd definitely sell them all off and buy some decent monitors for the designers if I could.

 

[rin67630]

Yeah, I had a 2014 with a Fusion Drive and later replaced it with an SSD. There's only so far that will take you...

Having macOS on the NVMe SSD instead of your SATA SSD replacement is about four times that fast.

 

[ignatius345]

Having macOS on the NVMe SSD instead of your SATA SSD replacement is about four times that fast.

Yes, at reading and writing data to disk. I get that. But there's still the matter of the processor itself. A nine year-old Intel processor just isn't in the same league as what Apple is shipping these days.

 

[rin67630]

Yes, at reading and writing data to disk. I get that. But there's still the matter of the processor itself. A nine year-old Intel processor just isn't in the same league as what Apple is shipping these days.

Then live further with your 1440p displays...
I enjoy my 5K iMac, snappy enough to compile my biggest programs in a breeze.
For me, as a programmer, monitor real estate is the most important thing.

 

[ignatius345]

Then live further with your 1440p displays...

Yeah man, it's not within my control, like I said. You seem to be hard set on pushing for some "solution" that absolutely doesn't work for me or my coworkers. If it works for you, that's great.

 

[spegahsheen]

Maybe I didn't understand the problem well, but if not, I would like to propose my answer: luna-display

 

[rin67630]

Maybe I didn't understand the problem well, but if not, I would like to propose my answer: luna-display

Looks promising, but I expected a caveat and got it:
Since Luna Display is squeezing a 5K display through a USB cable, when lots of motion occurs on screen (like from video playback or moving a window quickly) the screen can temporarily become pixelated before it renders in at full resolution. Personally, this doesn’t bother me, as I use my iMac for things like audio players, chat windows, and documentation.
The manufacturer does not make any statement on how much FPS are reachable. Probably less than one at 5K resolution. (...can temporarily become pixelated before it renders in at full resolution...)
I would not be bothered: I frequently only need the second screen as a reference, but Ignatius is focused on speed.

 

[redheeler]

Hi all new to this hoping someone can shed some light. Open core legacy????

I have a late 2015 iMac and a 2014 Mac mini was hoping to switch from one to the other using thunderbolt ports using Ventura OS via open core legacy so basically use the iMac as a monitor for the mini yet being able to switch back to iMac mode as and when needed… can it be done ?????

It can, I did it, not an easy project.

Edit: Nope, my bad, it requires gutting the iMac. Sorry I didn’t read the entire post.

iMacs used to allow this via Target Display Mode but Apple removed the feature for the Retina iMac.

 

[OldLogan0101]

Too slow for current graphic design needs. We're all using M1 Minis.

Hey, I am planning to buy a Imac late 2013, but it has 32gb ram and 4Gb of Vram MacOs Catalina, which softwares do you use daily in work? Do you think that this Imac late 2013 could run older versions of photoshop?

 

[rin67630]

Hey, I am planning to buy a Imac late 2013, but it has 32gb ram and 4Gb of Vram MacOs Catalina, which softwares do you use daily in work? Do you think that this Imac late 2013 could run older versions of photoshop?

Which one?
A model with a fusion drive?

 

[OldLogan0101]

Which one?
A model with a fusion drive?

Yes, its the 1.12 TB fusion drive

 

[rin67630]

Yes, its the 1.12 TB fusion drive

With that one (which has a 121 GB SSD blade) you can get good results.
You just have to split the fusion drive, format the HDD to HFS+ the SSD to APFS, install macOS to the SSD and move the user folder to the HDD.
Just do not use it as it is with the fusion drive with anything higher than Mojave (requiring APFS).

 

[OldLogan0101]

Ok, Thank you.

 

[rin67630]

Ok, Thank you.

you may have a look at

Have an older lame iMac with a fusion drive? Boost it at absolutely no cost! No hardware change required !

If you have an older lame iMac with a fusion drive, you can boost it at absolutely no cost! No hardware change required !, no need to open the iMac !. First of all perform in the Terminal: Diskutil list and check if the SSD part of your Fusion drive is 121 GB. If it is a smaller one, sorry...

forums.macrumors.com