Slow - Macbook Pro to iMac

[eladnova]

Hi

I have a 15" Macbook Pro (2017, 16GB RAM) and I am using a 27" iMac (late 2013 24GB RAM) as the display.

However I am finding that the performance of the machine (MBP) when connected to the iMac is very slow in this mode.

I am editing large Photoshop files and Adobe Lightroom images and running both at the same time so I would expect (I think) a little sluggishness.

Is the slowness possibly down to the fact that the Macbook Pro is using a USB C lead into Thunderbolt cable and it doesn't support the necessary data throughput?

 

[casperes1996]

Is the slowness possibly down to the fact that the Macbook Pro is using a USB C lead into Thunderbolt cable and it doesn't support the necessary data throughput?

With how video signal protocols work; No. Definitely not.

Are we talking visual stuttering when moving windows around, etc. or responsiveness lag?
Is it on UI elements on both screens or only the iMac display?

 

[pshufd]

I had a 2010 iMac and could use it as a display for another computer but you have to boot the iMac so it's basically emulating a display. So you're running two computers to use one as a display for the other. You can get QHD and 4K displays for $300 - $400 these days so it would seem to me to be a lot more efficient just using an external monitor. The external monitors in this class from Dell are also height-adjustable and come with USB 3 port hubs and passthrough to the speakers.