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Hello everyone
I had the cylinder Mac Pro and hooked up my old iMac as a second screen via a Thunderbolt cable . I am very disappointed I cannot do that with my new Mac Pro unless I dish out for an MPX.
Does anyone know whether I can connect my iMac via an HDMI to Thunderbolt or HDMI to USB C (is that the right version?) cable or adapter?
Mac Pro, macOS 11.0
If you used a Thunderbold 2 cable (which I assuse you did) you can use the Thunderbold 2 to 3 adapter: https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MMEL2AM/A/thunderbolt-3-usb-c-to-thunderbolt-2-adapter?fnode=d7c1d156632239a915ce084eaf5c01ba736b83442c3bfac94d0ef8975ea30035dd34c72d9ca063b377d182bd1e54455a129ed9ddc1859f9e9e5406c481f787780f6adff4c1c6242f070f02213b8eb37ed306d739cc42bbbca3d3fc1ee60acd83978077a7caf0fa99c26630fab0c6d524
From that article, which Apple ALSO considers obsolete:
<<You can connect any of these older iMac models to another Mac from 2019 or earlier for use as an external display. Learn how to identify your iMac model.>>
How you connect is NOT the issue. The feature has been removed for 2020 and beyond.
If your iMac was working as a display with a Thunderbolt cable it can't be a 2010 iMac. Those use Mini DisplayPort and won't work with Thunderbolt. Look for a Lightning bolt icon next to the port. If it's there, then the iMac is newer than 2010, and should work as a display for your Mac Pro if you use a Thunderbolt 3 adapter and a Thunderbolt cable.
If there's no Thunderbolt icon you must have been using a Mini DisplayPort cable (which will fit Thunderbolt ports but not work with a Thunderbolt display).
If it is a 2010 iMac and you had been using a Mini DisplayPort cable, you can use it with a Mac Pro, but the cable needed will depend on your graphics card. If the card has DisplayPort you can use a DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort cable. If not, you can connect from a Thunderbolt 3/USB-C port using a USB-C to. Mini DisplayPort cable, such as:
mophie USB-C Cable with Mini DisplayPort Connector - Apple
If you really want to use a HDMI port on the MacPro, you could use a HDMI to Mini DisplayPort Converter
https://www.newegg.com/p/183-00BG-00004
with your Mini DisplayPort cable. A simple Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter won't work because it is for use in the opposite direction, with a Mini DisplayPort computer to a HDMI display.
This should do the trick since you say you need mini display port for the iMac and HDMI for the Mac Pro: https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HHLY2ZM/B/belkin-4k-mini-displayport-to-hdmi-cable-2-m-65-ft?fnode=230261b7a95e683ed76035f81d374c6318c75fd8053fbf8561fab77bad26123ee042e6369c853ca30b025a64439db64f524000e159de74d629c608e3bc1aac930dd1a2ab9eedc841e7e9462a089888007bc20616eee1469d4e10910900a5aea16e71967016171e675225fd78a04004b5&fs=f%3Dminidisplayport%26fh%3D4595%252B3073
Aha. I did read it, but the version I read did not say this:
Target display mode requires macOS High Sierra or earlier on the iMac used as the external display. It does not work with macOS Mojave or later.
going home to see what version the iMac is running.
Hello Less and everyone. I was very wrong. Sorry for messing up.
the IMac has a mini display port. The cable I have seems to have the same connection on both ends.
when I first got the new Mac Pro, that cable would not work. I found in the Apple online help that the Thunderbolt on the Mac would not connect to the iMac as a display unless I had an MPX. I don’t know if the 2 HDMI connections on the Pro count as an MPX.
so, with these corrections and clarifications, is it possible to use an older iMac, which has a Mini DisplayPort connection but no Thunderbolt, in target mode with the new Mac Pro desktop?
Since your iMac has Mini DisplayPort, not Thunderbolt, it can't be newer than 2010. Mojave requires an iMac of at least 2012, so your iMac can't be running anything higher than High Sierra, so it will support Target Display Mode. This is also confirmed by the fact that it worked as a display with your older Mac Pro.
The Belkin Mini DisplayPort to HDMI cable is for connecting a HDMI display to a computer's Mini DisplayPort. You want something to go in the opposite direction, a HDMI to Mini DisplayPort Converter, or use a USB-C to Mini DisplayPort cable from a Thunderbolt 3/USB-C port on the Mac Pro..
Thank you, Malcolm, and everyone else who replied. I ended up finding a USB-C to mini display port cable (directional, apparently) and that did the trick.
Funny thing is I thought I had bought an HDMI to mini DP cable... that might have worked as well. Now I still have an HDMI open for a 3rd monitor!!!!!!
Again, thank you everyone for your suggestions!
John
Thanks, even though it is bad news!
You can not use Target Display Mode on any Macs after 2019 models. The feature was removed from their ROM.
Use your iMac as a display with target display mode - Apple Support
.
Did you read THE article on Target Display mode? It spells out what should be used:
Use your iMac as a display with target display mode - Apple Support
.
Thank you. I will try this.
Ah. Not good. not even if I go from HDMI to Thunderbolt or USB?
Hmmm. But officially, my Mac Pro is a 2019 and my iMac is 2010.
I have High Sierra. It should work. I’m going for the cable to see
How to use an iMac as a screen with new Mac Pro
