Thunderbolt iMac as display for Thunderbolt Mini?

[nydennis]

I was looking into buying the Thunderbolt display for my new Mini. My educational price is 949 for it. The iMac would be 1149. 200 dollars more would give me a keyboard, Trackpad, free printer after rebate, and the computer to use for whatever.

Does anyone know if a Thunderbolt cable could be hooked up from the Mini to the iMac to use as a display?

 

[BreakGuy]

If the iMac is a 27", you can use Target Display Mode to connect it to your Mac Mini using Thunderbolt (Mini DisplayPort) and use it as a monitor.

This Apple support document has further information on this here.

As a side note, the 21.5" iMac does not support Target Display Mode - only the 27" does.

 

[AppleTeam]

^^ what he said.

You can use Target Display Mode.

http://www.macworld.com/article/159616/2011/05/imacs_thunderbolt_target_display_mode.html

So the answer to your question is : Yes

 

[nydennis]

If the iMac is a 27", you can use Target Display Mode to connect it to your Mac Mini using Thunderbolt (Mini DisplayPort) as use it as a monitor.

This Apple support document has further information on this here.

As a side note, the 21.5" iMac does not support Target Display Mode - only the 27" does.

Thank you. I would only get the 27 anyway. Seems like it would be a decent way to go. Not much money difference in the long run and at worst I have an extra computer.

 

[BreakGuy]

Thank you. I would only get the 27 anyway. Seems like it would be a decent way to go. Not much money difference in the long run and at worst I have an extra computer.

Yea definitely. Keep a back up of your Mac Mini on another HDD somewhere. Once it craps itself, use the iMac to get the data and resume your usual computing.

Glad I could help you out.

 

[nydennis]

I currently use my Synology NAS as a backup. I have one dedicated drive to Time Machine there.

 

[BreakGuy]

I currently use my Synology NAS as a backup. I have one dedicated drive to Time Machine there.

In that case you're set to go. Perfect.

 

[nydennis]

Well the 1149 price was for the 21.5. I guess I should have my coffee first. I still may go for the 27 at the higher price. Have to think about it more now.

 

[BreakGuy]

Well the 1149 price was for the 21.5. I guess I should have my coffee first. I still may go for the 27 at the higher price. Have to think about it more now.

To be honest, if you already have a Mac Mini, there's no real need for an iMac, especially if you're going to be simply using it as an external display. If you'd like, feel free to opt for a ThunderBolt Display from Apple or buy an external monitor from a 3rd party.

 

[shortcut3d]

You should also note that all the processes remain running on the iMac in Target Display Mode. Therefore the Thunderbolt display would be the more energy efficient option.

 

[nydennis]

You should also note that all the processes remain running on the iMac in Target Display Mode. Therefore the Thunderbolt display would be the more energy efficient option.

Ohh didn't even think about that. That is a big help on my decision.

 

[FrankHahn]

Also be advised that the panels on the iMac and the Thunderbolt Display may be of different grade (6-bit vs. 8-bit).

 

[CrAkD]

or you could sell the mini and get the imac and still have money in your pocket.

 

[driftless]

or you could sell the mini and get the imac and still have money in your pocket.

+1

 

[thekev]

Also be advised that the panels on the iMac and the Thunderbolt Display may be of different grade (6-bit vs. 8-bit).

6 bit vs 8 bit doesn't really exist in ips these days. 6 bit was used for cheap TN. Once again, the panel is not the sole factor in determining the quality of a display. I know that seems counter intuitive, but some of the best displays sub $5k just use binned panels from the same line and additional internal processing + features to correct for a lot of the variation found at a panel hardware level.


Apple iMac 27" unknown 27"WS LG.Display H-IPS (LM270WQ1-SDA2)
Apple iMac 27" MB952LL/A unknown 27"WS LG.Display H-IPS (LM270WQ1-SDA2)


Apple 27" LED Cinema Display 12ms 27"WS LG.Display H-IPS (LM270WQ1)
Apple 27 LED Cinema Display 12ms 27"WS LG.Display H-IPS (LM270WQ1)

That's what http://tftcentral.co.uk/ returned, but the TB display isn't actually listed (or it's written in as one of the cinema listings). The imac hasn't used a cheap TN panel since the G5 imac. The G4 imac used an IPS. People complained when Apple went really cheap on the G5. Starting with the 24" imac, they transitioned back toward IPS, and they've all been 8 bit panels (no 6 or 10 bit versions).