IMac & External Display & Aperture - Experiences

I have been thinking of getting the new quad core iMac to use with an external monitor for photo editing, relegating the iMac built in display to doing what it does best - acting as a looking glass!
From my own experience and reviews I have read on the web, the performance of Aperture is significantly affected by the graphics card. So what I want to ask is, has anyone here tried this and if so what effect on Aperture's performance does connecting an external display have? If it has an effect do you still find Aperture 'fast enough'? Yes I know 'fast enough' is a relative term and what one person deems fast another may find slow.
Thanks in advance any answers appreciated.
P.S. Is there any way to switch the iMacs built in display off and just use the external display?
John

Hi John
You can not turn off the iMac display, but it shouldn't be a problem if you run the setup in Extended Desktop Mode and then use the connected display as your main Display. Go to: System Preferences > Display's > select the Arrangement tab, then turn Mirroring Off and drag the menu bar to the connected display.
The display on the right is my 17" iMac Display, but I use my 21.5" LG on the left as the main Display. I run most of my Applications on the 21.5" LG Display and use the 17" iMac Display for Finder, iTunes, Tools, Preference panels and other Utilities.
Dennis

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Welcome to Apple Support Communities
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Hi,
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System Profiler:
ATI Radeon X1600:
Chipset Model: ATY,RadeonX1600
Type: Display
Bus: PCIe
PCIe Lane Width: x16
VRAM (Total): 128 MB
Vendor: ATI (0x1002)
Device ID: 0x71c5
Revision ID: 0x0000
EFI Driver Version: 01.00.068
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and before someone asks if I considered that the receiver's S-video input might be the problem...I tried taking the s-video wire from the stereo and plugging it directly into the adapter. No dice.
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I can afford up to $700 for sure, maybe up to $1000 and would like one that has built in camera and audio if possible.
I'd like to know what my options are as it seems not all are compatible.
I'll mostly be doing web browsing and photo editing in Aperture.
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Cybrena

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I would like Using a 27-inch iMac as an external display for my mac book air.
i bought a Mini DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort cable, it's the Belkin Mini DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort cable on apple store.
I connect my imac and mac book air with this cable but the screen of my mac book air don't appear on imac screen.
where is my error ?

Morning seal, my experience suggests the latter of your two posts is the correct one. I have a 27" iMac with a mini display port (a 2-year old one, not the newer one with thunderbolt); and a brand new Mac book air with thunderbolt. I connected the two with a Belkin male-male mini display port to mini display port cable, and it works fine - press command f2, and the iMac acts as display for the MBA.
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Hello,
Looks good to go...
2nd Display Support:
Dual/Mirroring
2nd Max. Resolution:
2560x1600
Details:
Apple reports that this model simultaneously supports the native resolution of the built-in display and up-to a 30-inch external display (2560x1600).
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/specs/imac-core-i5-2.5-21-inch-alumin um-mid-2011-thunderbolt-specs.html

IMac & External Display & Aperture - Experiences

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