Using iMac (2011) as second PC monitor

[-Faust-]

Hi everyone. I have a 2011 iMac that I'd like to use as a second monitor for my PC. I know that without something to convert HDMI to thunderbolt I'm pretty much out of luck (unless there is a secret way that anyone knows about?)

However, I did see someone mention that it is possible to use Remote Desktop Connection as a sort of monitor. However, I'm not quite sure how this would work, and whether or not Windows 8 would register this remote connection as a second screen that I could actually drop windows into or a simple mirroring of the desktop.

Does anyone have any experience with any of this or even know what I'm talking about?

Thanks in advance for your help!



P.S. I know there are probably a million threads with this title, sorry for the redundancy.

 

[Deleted member 1300495]

It is probably best to use an hdmi to thunderbolt adapter, the remote connection will have a lot of lag and be unreliable as it depends on wifi, not a hardwired connection. Here is a good adapter for your needs: http://www.amazon.com/HDE%C2%AE-10ft-Mini-Display-Cable/dp/B009L4NLES/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1443316806&sr=1-5&keywords=thunderbolt+to+hdmi

 

[-Faust-]

It is probably best to use an hdmi to thunderbolt adapter, the remote connection will have a lot of lag and be unreliable as it depends on wifi, not a hardwired connection. Here is a good adapter for your needs: http://www.amazon.com/HDE%C2%AE-10ft-Mini-Display-Cable/dp/B009L4NLES/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1443316806&sr=1-5&keywords=thunderbolt+to+hdmi

Hi mamamia13, thanks for the reply
Hm, I was afraid there'd be lag. Unfortunately the 2011 iMacs only have thunderbolt ports, not mini display ports like the one you linked. If I had 2010 or earlier I'd be able to do it, but the only solution with a 2011 imac is a $150 converter box, and I'm unclear as to whether that even works.
Funny, it seems like this should be easy as I imagine it's a fairly common request. Maybe apple wants to punish me for not having another compatible apple product.

 

[Deleted member 1300495]

It is probably best to use an hdmi to thunderbolt adapter, the remote connection will have a lot of lag and be unreliable as it depends on wifi, not a hardwired connection. Here is a good adapter for your needs: http://www.amazon.com/HDE%C2%AE-10ft-Mini-Display-Cable/dp/B009L4NLES/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1443316806&sr=1-5&keywords=thunderbolt+to+hdmi

Hi mamamia13, thanks for the reply
Hm, I was afraid there'd be lag. Unfortunately the 2011 iMacs only have thunderbolt ports, not mini display ports like the one you linked. If I had 2010 or earlier I'd be able to do it, but the only solution with a 2011 imac is a $150 converter box, and I'm unclear as to whether that even works.
Funny, it seems like this should be easy as I imagine it's a fairly common request. Maybe apple wants to punish me for not having another compatible apple product.

This is a common misconception, thunderbolt and mini display port are the same port, but a mini display port carries only video signal while thunderbolt carries data and many other things also. If you use a mini display port on a thunderbolt port, it will work. But there is only one problem, the imac does not have a mindisplay port/thunderbolt IN, it is an OUT. It would only work if you had another mac. Here is the article: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204592. See where it says in the system requirements it says you need two macs?

 

[-Faust-]

It is probably best to use an hdmi to thunderbolt adapter, the remote connection will have a lot of lag and be unreliable as it depends on wifi, not a hardwired connection. Here is a good adapter for your needs: http://www.amazon.com/HDE%C2%AE-10ft-Mini-Display-Cable/dp/B009L4NLES/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1443316806&sr=1-5&keywords=thunderbolt+to+hdmi

Hi mamamia13, thanks for the reply
Hm, I was afraid there'd be lag. Unfortunately the 2011 iMacs only have thunderbolt ports, not mini display ports like the one you linked. If I had 2010 or earlier I'd be able to do it, but the only solution with a 2011 imac is a $150 converter box, and I'm unclear as to whether that even works.
Funny, it seems like this should be easy as I imagine it's a fairly common request. Maybe apple wants to punish me for not having another compatible apple product.

This is a common misconception, thunderbolt and mini display port are the same port, but a mini display port carries only video signal while thunderbolt carries data and many other things also. If you use a mini display port on a thunderbolt port, it will work. But there is only one problem, the imac does not have a mindisplay port/thunderbolt IN, it is an OUT. It would only work if you had another mac. Here is the article: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204592. See where it says in the system requirements it says you need two macs?

I see, that's very disappointing. Interestingly, I was told at an apple store that it is possible with the 2011 iMacs (and not pre-2011), that there was an adapter but they were out of stock. He said it was a belkin brand but I can't now recall what it was. I suppose the way an adapter would have to work is to imitate the signal from another apple using thunderbolt, probably too sophisticated to be feasible.
Though it is very possible that he was mistaken. So there's no way at all to use the iMac as a monitor? Has anyone who owns an iMac ever succeeded in doing this?

 

[Deleted member 1300495]

I see, that's very disappointing. Interestingly, I was told at an apple store that it is possible with the 2011 iMacs (and not pre-2011), that there was an adapter but they were out of stock. He said it was a belkin brand but I can't now recall what it was. I suppose the way an adapter would have to work is to imitate the signal from another apple using thunderbolt, probably too sophisticated to be feasible.
Though it is very possible that he was mistaken. So there's no way at all to use the iMac as a monitor? Has anyone who owns an iMac ever succeeded in doing this?

It is possible... with a mac. With a pc, no. You could dual boot mac osx, but that would be WAAY too much work.