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New 2012 iMac as external display for PC

Isn't there anyone who knows/can contact a high level technician at Apple, and let this matter be solved once and for all? Not to mention put some pressure on Apple to fix such a glaring omission, if necessary (with a firmware update).
 
vooblu said:
The iMac spec page says this, which doesn't specifically restrict it to Apple devices: Support for Target Display Mode via the Thunderbolt port using a Thunderbolt to Thunderbolt cable (sold separately)



There's a user on page 1 who got their windows laptop to work. Assuming we aren't being trolled, it means there's some hardware configuration which seems to work.
Click to expand...

Fair enough, I have always heard from that it only works with MBA/MBP/Mini but if its still not working its probably down to the hardware on your PC. Do you have a friend who has another Mac that you could try it from?
 
I'd be more interested in trying different PC hardware. I know my iMac works fine in Target Display Mode since it works with a Macbook Pro. My iMac is also the same model as the one which worked on page 1 with the Windows laptop (except mines the 27"). I'm hoping it's simply a firmware restriction which Apple can relieve.
 
new iMac 27"

well, mine will arrive today and I've only just this morning begun looking to ensure that my work laptop will be able to connect to the display. Ugh! I'm hoping someone finds the solution... and soon!
 
Considering that you cannot even use a Mac in Bootcamp to drive a Thunderbolt display trying to use a PC is going to be even more difficult. This is Win7 however, maybe Win8 has something new.
 
vtbobm said:
well, mine will arrive today and I've only just this morning begun looking to ensure that my work laptop will be able to connect to the display. Ugh! I'm hoping someone finds the solution... and soon!
Click to expand...

What laptop do you have? You'll only have some sort of luck if it has a thunderbolt connection (iMac's don't support miniDP as video input). A user on page 1 got a HP Spectre XT to work.
 
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rMBP running osx <- thunderbolt -> iMAC late 2012 running osx
Target display runs fine

rMBP running Windows 8 <- thunderbolt -> iMac late 2012 running osx
Target display does not work

I find it highly unlikely the person on page one succeeded if apple hardware can't run it. It seems to me the iMac is blocking going into target display mode.

Sidenote: there are no bootcamp drivers for Windows 8, so i'm using Windows 7 bootcamp drivers.
 
OK, new drivers are out. I'll the above solution with my Win 7 install in the weekend and report back.
 
Kolsyra said:
OK, new drivers are out. I'll the above solution with my Win 7 install in the weekend and report back.
Click to expand...

Thanks! Looking forward to hear your findings.

Edit: We most likely need a firmware update to enable the thunderbolt connection to support Windows PCs/devices. Come on already, Apple!
 
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Kolsyra said:
OK, new drivers are out. I'll the above solution with my Win 7 install in the weekend and report back.
Click to expand...

I tried 10.8.3 and some of the new bootcamp display drivers in case they helped but they didn't. What drivers are you referring to?
 
Unfortunatly it was the 10.8.3 I was talking about. Target display functionality in windows due to updated bootcamp drivers or a firmware update is maybe our only hope.
 
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You can try sending feedback using this form (I did it quickly last night). I would assume the correct category is Software/Hardware compatibility :)
 
I read in other forums:

1. set the initial display to igfx (internal intel graphics)
2. set "Reserved IO for Thunderbolt" to "40"... the default "20" didn't work for whatever reason.
3. set "Internal Graphics" to "enabled" (the default "AUTO" would disable internal graphics completely IF a GPU was installed)

Have tested?
 
Yep, I've followed those steps. I think they work for the Thunderbolt Display, but not for an iMac in TDM.
 
Ok, I've completely lost track of this topic and what the answer is. So, quick questions:

1. Does the 2012 iMac work as an external display?
2. Could I plug in an Xbox 360 and use the iMac as an external display for that?
 
lukekarts said:
Ok, I've completely lost track of this topic and what the answer is. So, quick questions:

1. Does the 2012 iMac work as an external display?
2. Could I plug in an Xbox 360 and use the iMac as an external display for that?
Click to expand...

1. It does, but only for other mac's (apart from one user who claims it worked on a windows laptop)

2. No, it only accepts thunderbolt inputs.
 
Now we're getting somewhere...

Check out the following thread: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/360348-33-apple-thunderbolt-display-work-asus

Read the instructions from a user who calls himself "Kukkimonsuta".

I had hopes this technology would actually work, and judging by several posters in this thread it seems so. But, you need the right motherboard: ASUS P8Z77-V PREMIUM

Edit: Bummer, this was Apple Thunderbolt Display, not iMac.
 
Intel developed Thunderbolt (with assistance from Apple), so it is therefore highly unlikely that any other manufacturer of graphics cards/chips would (at this point) automatically include support for using Thunderbolt to connect to an external monitor.

Which is probably why the Intel integrated graphics card worked, and nothing else has.

From what I can gather, to do this you need:

1) System with Intel graphics chip
2) Official Thunderbolt cable
3) No other devices daisychained via Thunderbolt (from Wikipedia - "DP monitors must be the last (or only) device in a chain of Thunderbolt devices")
 
croutonic said:
From what I can gather, to do this you need:

1) System with Intel graphics chip
2) Official Thunderbolt cable
3) No other devices daisychained via Thunderbolt (from Wikipedia - "DP monitors must be the last (or only) device in a chain of Thunderbolt devices")
Click to expand...

That's exactly what we've tried. The iMac is connected directly to the integrated Intel graphics (which have been enabled in the BIOS) on my PC motherboard using an official Apple Thunderbolt cable. :)
 
IMAC acting display for PC

Hi All

Been a while since there has been any update on this.

I just purchased a IMAC 27" and would like to use it with my work laptop. Is there any progress with getting the IMAC to work in target display mode with a PC ?
I know i can use software like "log me in" but it would be sooo much better if the IMAC would work as a display for the winnows 7 laptop.

I would like the IMAC to display my laptop's desktop and act as a display only. pretty basic request I sure hope Apple doesn't stop us from doing this .. :confused:

Anyone have any luck getting this to work? ty for so much

----------

See post above...

FYI: Ive tried this with a basic TB >> VGA connecter and the IMAC screen flashes blue every few second and my laptop resolution gets all wacked out :rolleyes:

So they sort of see each other ... I thought i could get a HDMI or DVI connector and that would help but judging from all the work and test the users on this thread did with out any luck im guessing it is not that simple ?

any new ideas ?
 
A macbook retina running windows <- thunderbolt -> imac doesn't work so no a PC won't work either.

If you want to get a PC to work first concentrate on getting a macbook retina to work, with a macbook at least you know there aren't any hardware constraints.
 
bkonings said:
If you want to get a PC to work first concentrate on getting a macbook retina to work, with a macbook at least you know there aren't any hardware constraints.
Click to expand...

That's a good suggestion - I just don't have a macbook to test on. :)
 
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