What have you done with an early Intel recently?

[Amethyst1]

Nope, didn't work.

Hmm. AFAICS, the mDP-to-VGA cable needs* DP input and actively converts it to VGA so it should™ have worked with the TB dock's DP output. You're going Mac mini > TB cable > TB dock > mDP-to-VGA cable > Monitor? What does System Information > Graphics/Displays show as connection type when the monitor is connected directly to the mini? DP or something else?

(* I suppose it's not impossible that it's actually a HDMI-to-VGA adapter, thus requiring a dual-mode DP source outputting a DVI/HDMI signal.)

 

[ToniCH]

Any 2011 non-Metal Mac can have a Metal GPU added via Thunderbolt. Gah, there I go again

So, any tips on how it will work, and how to make it work, with the 2011 iMac 27" are appreciated.

 

[rampancy]

I'm really frustrated.

So I was able to get back home from a live-in catsit to reinstall the OS on my A1181, only to find that the replacement keyboard/topcase "6" and "N" keys don't work (but I could have sworn all of the keys worked when I tested the keys in Terminal running in the Lion Recovery OS). So it's faulty.

Or is it?

After taking the screws out and reseating the cable, the keyboard works fine. But when I screw everything down, the problem returned. I'm guessing it's potentially a faulty keyboard/trackpad cable, but I'm not sure. I really don't want to have to go to the hassle of getting another replacement topcase.

Maybe I can transplant the keyboard cable from the old topcase to the new topcase. We'll have to see when I move back home.

 

[DCBassman]

Hmm. AFAICS, the mDP-to-VGA cable needs* DP input and actively converts it to VGA so it should™ have worked with the TB dock's DP output. You're going Mac mini > TB cable > TB dock > mDP-to-VGA cable > Monitor? What does System Information > Graphics/Displays show as connection type when the monitor is connected directly to the mini? DP or something else?

(* I suppose it's not impossible that it's actually a HDMI-to-VGA adapter, thus requiring a dual-mode DP source outputting a DVI/HDMI signal.)

I've now got Lion re-istalled, so will check later today. The cable I ordered will be here later also.

 

[Amethyst1]

(If only an eGPU could be the size of a USB thumb drive…)

Not quite there yet…

 

[Minghold]

eek..

No, really: it's better --after you turn all the Apple telemetry crap off (MRT, Spotlight, ReportCrash, etc) and clone it to HFS+, it positively sprints. (Mojave will probably branch off into a hack/fork in the near future, if that has not already been done, in which remaining crud is stripped out, leaving a sleek OS designed to run both 32- and 64-bit software not requiring silicon.)

 

[ojfd]

No, really: it's better..

Compared to what?
Finder is broken. Fugly UI. Has SIP.
Next, please.

 

[DCBassman]

OK, back to zero with the new Mini. CS6 project scrapped for now.
I might be wanting to seriously mess with the Windows machine in the near future, so have reconfigured the Mini as a daily driver running patched Catalina, which it does well. If/when the WinBox goes offline, it's ready to go.
The 11" MBA is the fallback to both of these.
The two 2011 15" MBPs are currently...redundant. Oh dear...

 

[TheShortTimer]

The two 2011 15" MBPs are currently...redundant. Oh dear...

You'll find a use for them.

 

[DCBassman]

You'll find a use for them.

You know, I'm not so sure. At the moment, my Mac laptop itch is being royally scratched by the little MBA. I love it.
Have moved the Elgato dock onto the Mini, now that I've got the video connected to the HDMI port.
The little MBA is a true Apple fanboi machine; I understand the attraction more now! . It's lovely!

 

[TheShortTimer]

You know, I'm not so sure. At the moment, my Mac laptop itch is being royally scratched by the little MBA. I love it.
Have moved the Elgato dock onto the Mini, now that I've got the video connected to the HDMI port.
The little MBA is a true Apple fanboi machine; I understand the attraction more now! . It's lovely!

You're not alone in your fondness for the MBA range. As is known by most of our forum regulars, I have a couple of the 11" machines and to reiterate from previous posts, their ultra-portability within a Mac package is a winner in my book because they lend themselves so well to situations where you need a device that's more powerful and usable than a smartphone but smaller than even a 13" MacBook.

This afternoon, I participated in MS Teams and Zoom videocalls using my 11" 2010 C2D MBA w/ Catalina.

Even with 2GB RAM and a 1.4Ghz CPU, it still manages to hold its own as a secondary daily driver laptop.

 

[Amethyst1]

Have moved the Elgato dock onto the Mini, now that I've got the video connected to the HDMI port.

The mini's, or the dock's? If the former, does the latter also work?

 

[Anonymous Freak]

Now I'm curious - could you add a Thunderbolt GPU to an iMac, then use said iMac's "Target Display Mode" to display the output on itself?

 

[Amethyst1]

Now I'm curious - could you add a Thunderbolt GPU to an iMac, then use said iMac's "Target Display Mode" to display the output on itself?

Good question One hurdle is that TDM on TB iMacs requires TB video input, i.e. an eGPU that provides TB video output like the Blackmagic RX580 or Sonnet Breakaway Puck RX5500/RX5700. I don't know if anyone has tested if TB TDM works using an eGPU and if a single TB controller can handle the setup you describe.