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bobtem

Suspended
Original poster
Jun 5, 2017
430
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Looking for a second monitor to hook up to iMac. Interested in a USB-C monitor, one cable, but there only seem to be a few available. Just looking for anyone else who has experience with this.
 
Looking for a second monitor to hook up to iMac. Interested in a USB-C monitor, one cable, but there only seem to be a few available. Just looking for anyone else who has experience with this.

Why USBC? Any DisplayPort monitor will work with a USB C to DisplayPort cable, and there’s a far wider choice.
The only “one cable” advantage you’ll get is maybe a couple of USB ports on the display and they’ll be limited to USB 2 speeds if it’s a 4K DisplayPort. The iMac won’t be powered by the display like a MacBook would.

If one of the USBC or Thunderbolt options floats your boat then fine - but I wouldn’t base your entire purchasing decision on it.
 
Hmm, I guess I thought the iMac would power the monitor through the usb-c cable. That’s what I’m after, a single cable connection between computer and monitor (video and power). Maybe there’s no such thing?
 
Hmm, I guess I thought the iMac would power the monitor through the usb-c cable. That’s what I’m after, a single cable connection between computer and monitor (video and power). Maybe there’s no such thing?

There are such things , but they're small, relatively low-res screens designed for travel - not the sort of display you want alongside the iMac.

https://nerdtechy.com/best-usb-c-portable-monitors-travel

Full-sized USB-C monitors tend to be designed to power the computer (so they can act as laptop docks), not vice-versa. They assume that if you have a desk, you have a power strip...
 
There are such things , but they're small, relatively low-res screens designed for travel - not the sort of display you want alongside the iMac.

https://nerdtechy.com/best-usb-c-portable-monitors-travel

Full-sized USB-C monitors tend to be designed to power the computer (so they can act as laptop docks), not vice-versa. They assume that if you have a desk, you have a power strip...

Thanks, that what I was wanting to know. Hopefully soon there will be such a monitor.
 
Hmm, I guess I thought the iMac would power the monitor through the usb-c cable. That’s what I’m after, a single cable connection between computer and monitor (video and power). Maybe there’s no such thing?

Have you considered using an iPad pro as an external monitor? I use a 4th gen iPad as a 2nd display when I'm traveling and I need a little extra screen space. It's not quite as snappy as a proper monitor, but it works well.
 
Have you considered using an iPad pro as an external monitor? I use a 4th gen iPad as a 2nd display when I'm traveling and I need a little extra screen space. It's not quite as snappy as a proper monitor, but it works well.
I’m wanting a second monitor set up for my desk top iMac. The iPad Pro, even the 12.9”, would look like a postage stamp next the 27” 5k screen. I do, however, use my large iPad Pro as a second monitor, when traveling, next to my MacBook Pro (with Duet Display app) and that is quite an elegant solution. If Apple only made a 24” iPad, then I could use it next to iMac...
 
I’m wanting a second monitor set up for my desk top iMac.

I got a little sidetracked by someone else's comment about small travel monitors. I thought that was what you were primarily interested in. You just want a monitor that could be powered by a USB-C Cable.

Is there a reason why you want to cut out the power cord so badly that you wouldn't want the extra monitor space if it came with a power cable?
 
I got a little sidetracked by someone else's comment about small travel monitors. I thought that was what you were primarily interested in. You just want a monitor that could be powered by a USB-C Cable.

Is there a reason why you want to cut out the power cord so badly that you wouldn't want the extra monitor space if it came with a power cable?
Just trying to reduce cable clutter. I actually am using a basic Samsung 23" monitor now, as a second display next to my iMac. But it has a power cable going down behind the desk to a power strip, and a video cable going to the iMac. Just would love to get it down to one cable that handles power and video. That's all am asking for in this world, less cable clutter.
 
That's what cable ties are sold for.... :D
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If you have an iMac, I suggest you FORGET about a "USB-c monitor".
Instead, get a "plain, old-fashioned" computer display that has a displayport connector.

Then, get one of the following:
- for a 2015 or earlier iMac, get a "minidisplayport (Mac) to displayport (display) connector"
- for a 2017 iMac (with thunderbolt3/USB-c) get a "USB-c (Mac) to displayport (display) connector.

A good place to check out current displays:
http://www.pchardwarehelp.com/guides/s-ips-lcd-list.php
 
i mistakenly bought a 2016 MBP.
The usb-C connectors are suffering a mid life crisis.The connectors are very loose flabby and the most used one is starting to short out.
 
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