27" iMac as Mac Pro Display?

I currently use the 24" LED as a display for my Mac Pro, but give the increased pixels on the 27" iMac and it's MiniDisplay Port in capability, and given it's cheaper than the 30" cinema display, with a much better panel, on only slightly lower vertical display resolution, I've been giving serious thought to switching to the baseline 27" iMac as a display.
A couple things are holding me back. I'm guessing with MiniDP in, you only get the video, no audio like on the 24" LED (which uses USB). Since there's no USB, I'm also guessing there's no iSight pass-through. I could always add speakers and and a mic/cam combo, but that seems less elegant.
Has anyone tried the 27" iMac as a Mac Pro display? If so, please let me know how well it fits.

Peter Miller wrote:
... if there is a "target display mode", ...
Hello Pete.
Search your SnowLeopard Mac Finder > Help for "target display mode" (without the quotation marks) to find the instructions for this new feature.
Among those instructions are:
The external display computer works like any other external display. To change display settings, open System Preferences on the primary computer and click Display.
I looked for the web-based page, but I could not find it, so, at least for now, you will need to view it in your Mac's Help viewer.
EZ Jim
MacPro QuadCore(Early 2009) 2.93Ghz w/MacOSX (10.6.2) MacBookPro(13inch,Mid2009) 2.26GHz(10.6.2)
LED Cinema Display G4PowerBook1.67GHz(10.4.11) iBookSE366MHz(10.3.9) External iSight

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After 3 more days, and a reboot, still no controls on THIS video. Everything else seems fine. Even the Apple movie trailers with the same type of "floating" controls work properly. Does anybody have a clue?

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Have scrolling problems with Maverick despite downloading mail update on both IMAC and Mac Pro
Have to reboot and it helps for awhile then stalls again

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User Contributed Tips in the Mac Pro Displays and the Mac Pro forum

*The following User Contributed Tips are located in the Mac Pro > Displays and the Mac Pro forum:*
None at this time.
*The following related tips are located in other areas of Apple Discussions:*
a brody - Using a second Mac as a display for a first
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1587927
Publish date: July 7, 2008
See also User Tips Library

You can use the two graphics cards, but it's only useful if you have more than two displays. It won't give you higher speed.

From iMac to Mac Pro for the good of my Pro Tools 10...

hey guys,
here's the deal : it seems I'm at a turning point with my iMac (27", 3.1 Ghz i5, 4GB memory, 1TB hard drive, lion, PT10) and I'm thinking of buying a mac pro. Problem is, I'm not sure which model is best for my needs. I do postproduction work for television and I often have to work with pretty heavy projects.
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I have a MOTU Audio Express which is plugged in firewire and I'm running an external drive with my SFX on it, which is also plugged in firewire. The iMac having only one firewire plug (downsizing from the earlier iMac, for some obscure reason), I have a firewire hub.
I get the first error whenever I get too deep into a project and I start having a lot of SFX and I'm looking to add more and I get the second error whenever I try to run Dolby Media Meter.
I'm pretty aware I'm overrunning my iMac, so I'm willing to pay big bucks to get a computer that's best fitted to my needs and which I'll be able to upgrade every once in a while. Now, I'm just wondering what I actually need in a computer.
It's either the 3.2 GHz quad-core intel xeon, 6GB memory, 1TB HD or the two 2.4GHz 6-core intel zeon, 12GB memory, 1TB HD. I gotta say the second one seems kind of a lot... but I don't want to spend so much money and get a tiny upgrade from where I'm at right now.
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An i7 3.9GHz would do if you had 32GB RAM, an SSD boot drive, and 2TB hdd.
The sweet spot today on Mac Pro is $1800 4-core special and DIY to W3690 or W3680 6-core 3.33 or higher with 32-48GB RAM. And lots of SSDs and disk drives.
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac/mac_pro
Refurbished 27-inch iMac 3.4GHz quad-core Intel Core i7
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac/imac/27
The Mac Pro line is at a - not ready to ship the new 2013 6,1 model / not ready with 10.9 that it will need / and current configuration is really 2010 3 yrs old (but also how well they hold up and mature).
You do not want to give up GHz for more cores. MHz still rules. Only reason would be if you planned to replace the processors for the fastest expensive (use to be, though changing) 4 or 6-core 3.4GHz for total of 8 or 12-cores, but never the 2.4GHz, no way.
The 2009 4,1 used is cheaper and can be found for $1000 and upgraded to 6-core and everything else (dual core upgrades are harder and not good to plan for.
And http://www.barefeats.com has done some tests on iMac and Mac Pro.
Graphics on Mac Pro, RAM and PCIe and SSD, hdd are easy upgrades.
This site has some great tips
http://www.macperformanceguide.com

Imac vs mac pro for FCP?

Hello folks,
Well, my G5 apparently needs a new logic board. I could cry, or be happy at the excuse to get a new computer... I chose the latter!
Bottom line, what is the consensus regarding imac vs mac pro.
I will be using FCP a lot, that's what I do for a living. However, I rarely run other applications at the same time. Occassionally LiveType or Photoshop, but that's about it. No Motion, no After Effects, etc.
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Eric P

hmmm, interesting. Of course the mac pro would be better, no doubt. But for my purposes I still wonder if it's worth the cost.
As for Kevan D's inquirey for more info, yes I work with FCP for a living, at least 50% of my work week maybe more is editing. However, silly little ol' weddings have become the vast majority of my work and they will continue to be for at least a few more years I believe. In that time I do not see HD being a factor in my area. So for the forseeable future I expect to be working soley with SD. That bit of info may change some of your minds to thinking that an imac will suffice.
I admit, that's my hope because I would have to take out a loan for the mac pro, and again, I'm just not certain it's worth it for my purposes. On the other hand, I didn't ask the question so that I could hear what I "wanted", I do want honest opinions from other professionals like yourselves. If the experience is that an imac just isn't worth it then so be it.
As far as expandability (is that anything like drinkability??), I understand that, but again for my purposes I suspect that by the time I need to expand to HD or to using the full benefits of a mac pro, a new computer (and equipment) will be in the order anyway. Does that make sense?
Thanks again,
Eric

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Reguesting input: Which is better for operating Adobe Creative Suite 6.0 on a professional level, imac or Mac pro?

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I run a computer based recording studio. I have been using a Powerbook for the last two or so years and I am thinking of upgrading to an iMac or Mac Pro.
However, noise is a sensitive issue for me. I have enjoyed near silence with the Powerbook, which enables me to hear into every aspect of my sound. I would like to continue enjoying that experience with an iMac or Mac Pro and wondered whether you could tell me how quiet these machines are? And whether there are any stats on the noise output of the Mac range?
Regards,
Stuart

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IMac or Mac Pro for iPhoto albums and home movie editing?

I have a Mac Pro OS X 10.6.8 with iPhoto 7.1.5. This system is now obsolete for ordering iPhoto albums. I need to upgrade to iPhoto 9.5.1 to buy a Mac produced photo album. To upgrade iPhoto I need to buy a new Mac as my 2004 Mac Pro with 2008 Snow Leopard can't be upgraded. I will use the new Mac for email, web surfing, iPhoto, and weekend video editing. I use Final Cut Express on my current Mac Pro. I will also need to transfer videos and about 20,000 photos from my current Mac to a new one.
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What video formats are you talking about? DV, HDV, etc?
Mac Pro is a better solution, regardless. Here's why: Simply upgrading an iMac HD is not enough. You do not want to capture your video to the boot drive. It's too much to ask the drive to manage the OS, your editing software, AND your media. This scenario might work - but is certainly prone to dropping frames. Ideally, you want one drive for OS + editing software & a separate drive to capture media to.
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So DV only would probably work. But it may have issues that the expandability of the Mac Pro can conquer. Hope this helps.

Mac Pro display remains black after start up.

My 2008 Mac Pro display remains black after start up. It is plugged in properly and the light comes on, but the screen stays black. It first started doing this about a week ago, but after a manual restart or two, it would start up properly with the display working. Today the display has remained black every time I've tried to start up. Any suggestions for troubleshooting would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Safe Mode uses a very simple way of talking to the screen -- it does not even load the screen driver, and it uses a very common low resolution.
If it does not work that way, it simply does not work. You need a replacement graphics card.
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I even went into preferences and changed the energy saver settings to "Never" allow display or harddrive to sleep. But this problem is stil happening.
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I cleaned out my mac with compressed air, it was dusty, but the display flickering happened again.
So I followed your advice and installed:
Temperature Monitor
http://www.bresink.de/osx/TemperatureMonitor.html
Which showed that my memory module 1B and 2B were 70 - 75'C(160 -167'F). There was no reading for the graphic card so I couldn't tell if that was over heating.
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smc fan controller
http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/23049/smcfancontrol
and increased the memory_cpu fan speed which lowered the temperature of the ram to 60'C (143'F).
I even changed this ram's placement and put it in different slots.This ram was the same temperature in the new placements.
Also this is the kingston 2gb ram without heatsinks. Ive used it for 1.5 yrs, and this is the first time its giving me these problems.
Do you know how I can check if the graphic card is over heating? or is the problem just with the ram?
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Hi all!
I have a LAN with 3 machines: 2 iMac 2GHz - 2GRam and MacPro 2.4GHz - 2GRam. And I'm use QMaster2 to render a small project Maya( This project, if batch render with 1 machine just take 1min).
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second iMac and MacPro have been setiing with: Services only.
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1. How to distribute batch. It seem not distributes in my job.
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An i7 3.9GHz would do if you had 32GB RAM, an SSD boot drive, and 2TB hdd.
The sweet spot today on Mac Pro is $1800 4-core special and DIY to W3690 or W3680 6-core 3.33 or higher with 32-48GB RAM. And lots of SSDs and disk drives.
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac/mac_pro
Refurbished 27-inch iMac 3.4GHz quad-core Intel Core i7
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac/imac/27
The Mac Pro line is at a - not ready to ship the new 2013 6,1 model / not ready with 10.9 that it will need / and current configuration is really 2010 3 yrs old (but also how well they hold up and mature).
You do not want to give up GHz for more cores. MHz still rules. Only reason would be if you planned to replace the processors for the fastest expensive (use to be, though changing) 4 or 6-core 3.4GHz for total of 8 or 12-cores, but never the 2.4GHz, no way.
The 2009 4,1 used is cheaper and can be found for $1000 and upgraded to 6-core and everything else (dual core upgrades are harder and not good to plan for.
And http://www.barefeats.com has done some tests on iMac and Mac Pro.
Graphics on Mac Pro, RAM and PCIe and SSD, hdd are easy upgrades.
This site has some great tips
http://www.macperformanceguide.com

I opened my account on the MacAir and have the new Mountain Lion showing i purchased. When I open my account on my other two machines it does not show. Any suggestions on why or how to fix? iMac and Mac Pro Thanks

I opened my account on the MacAir and have the new Mountain Lion showing i purchased. When I open my account on my other two machines it does not show. Any suggestions on why or how to fix?
iMac and Mac Pro
Thanks

SADLY not as i downloaded an upgrad to my original PAGES/
i have in the meantim had to open www.icloud. then from there import the file that i am working on and then check on ipad if it uploaded/ yes it did.
but what a waste of time as it doesn not save any changes done automatically back in the cloud....
i am now downloading the new LION and hope that it will fix the problem
i cant find any other way. I was lead to believe that you wrote, it saved automatically, on to the cloud, you then opened anohter device in anotother country even, and the new file was there, waiting, in its latest version.......
and the same magic was supposed to happen in reverse.
It doesn't/
if i have to open a browser, go to www.icloud....why on earth did they not just leave us an icon to drop it in in that case?
I hope the new lion will help resolve the isssue/
any other ideas> keep em coming...thank you so much.

Graphic Design on new iMac or Mac Pro

I have an older G5 iMac thats about to turn three years old- it's already painfully slow with the work I do- all in Adobe Creative Suite 3. I don't do any video work at all. But I do deal with some large files in Photoshop- up to 1GB with tons of layers, and also work on lots of bigger projects in InDesign. So wondering if I should get an iMac again, or spend the extra money for the Mac Pro (I just don't like how big that tower is- but whatever). Main reason I went with an iMac last time is that I was buying a house- so any cash saved was good (esp. being self employed)
Curious what other designers are doing. I also keep my computer screen facing a window- so I don't know if glare will be an issue with a gloss screen (it's no problem at all right now with the matte imac screen. thanks for any input!

While the opinion on screen quality towards different users is still uncertain, I'd recommend trying a different strategy working with those large files. For starter, merge those layers that don't need to be separated. I have worked with files as large as 700 mb on a G5 tower, it worked just fine with expected amount of processing time. With that been said, your G5 iMac is in fact lacking on performance when compare to the desktop G5s... The new iMac 24 inch is impressive not just in size. I have just bought one for one of the designers at the office, though the glass screen is a bit different compare to the usual Mac display, everything else is fantastic. The screen does appear to be a little grainy, just like the usual iMac screen, but depends on how close you sit in front the computer, you may not notice it. The glass front gives everything a coated look vs. uncoated. It may not give you 98% true color, but which designer rely on monitor for color accuracy anyway... You will have to get a match print like later regardless. What I am saying is the color on the screen is saturated a little but acceptable. I'd go to the store and check it out yourself.

Change from an older Power Macintosh 7200/90 to a new iMac or Mac Pro

On my Power Macintosh 7200/90 using Mac OS 8.0 I have stored a lot of very sensitive data which I cannot afford to loose. My machine works very good at this moment, however, I want to buy a new one like an iMac or a Mac Pro with the new generation of . Of course, I use a very powerful backup-program with an external hard drive and a Retrospect-backup program. Nevertheless, I want to further use my Office suite and other useful programs like i.e. the retrospect-software.
My questions now:
-- Is it possible to buy a new Mac and clone/mirrow everything from the old machine to the new one except the Operating System ?
-- Is there any store close to Koblenz, Germany who is knowledgeable enough to provide this service for me provided I buy a new Mac ?

Accessing Backup data:
Your 7200/90 uses SCSI drives, so an external drive is likely to be a SCSI drive. A newer Mac that can accept a PCI SCSI card would be required to read backup data directly off a SCSI drive. A MacBook would NOT be able to do this easily.
According to this article, Retrospect 6.1.138 supports Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. So it appears that there is a way to restore your backup data using Retrospect:
http://kb.dantz.com/display/2n/articleDirect/index.asp?aid=9628&r=0.6172602
This site and this article may also be available in German or French.
Accessing the original data:
• If your WLAN Base Station has an available RJ-45 Ethernet port, you can add the 7200 to your existing Network and use Apple File Sharing to copy the files to your newer Mac.
• Shared Disks and Directories appear as a Hard Drive Icon on the Desktop of the Mac initiating the Sharing, and can be copied using the Finder Drag and Drop.
• Apple File Sharing works on Macs from System 7.5.3 through the current version of Mac OS X. To Share with Macs running 7.5.3 through 8.6, you must start File Sharing at the Older Mac.
• The software for File Sharing is included with Mac OS, and may already be installed.
106657- Mac OS 8, Mac OS 9: File Sharing This article is also available in German and French.

27" iMac as Mac Pro Display?

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