Using iMac 27 as a display for a PC, is it possible?

is there a way to connect my PC (HD 4870 dvi) to the imac 27 to use it as a display?
and if so, what cables and adapters do i need?
thanx
ilya

Only if the video output from the PC is DisplayPort. That is the only video input compatible with the 27" iMac's combo mini-DisplayPort. If the video output is DisplayPort, then no adapter needed, you would only need a cable that was mini-DisplayPort on the iMac's end, plus the proper DisplayPort connector for the PC's end.
Dah•veed

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Target Display Mode: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
with a mini display to mini display cable. Attach it to the Thunderbolt port on your MBP and to the mini display port on your iMac.
How do I enable TDM?
Make sure both computers are turned on and awake.
Connect a male-to-male Mini DisplayPort or ThunderBolt cable to each computer.
Press Command-F2 on the keyboard of the iMac being used as a display to enable TDM.
Note: In Keyboard System Preferences, if the checkbox is enabled for "Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard functions keys," the key combination changes to Command-Fn-F2.

Using iMac 27inch as display for PC

Hi
I have been looking into this on and off for months now and I can see within this forum this has been asked before although it appears to be a few years old.
I have a mid 2010 imac with the mini display port and from what I have read this will support target display mode.
Ideally I would like a cable that would allow me to attach my PC's graphics card (DVI) to the mini display port but it seems this could be expensive and also may not provide a good resolution.
I am trying to locate a low - mid range graphics card for my PC that will connect to the iMac to use as a display in full resolution. The help I have seen appears to be out dated so I was wondering if anyone is currently doing this and suggest some hardware I can use.
Thanks for any help offered. Would really love to get this set up.

You have to look for a GPU with Mini DisplayPort. This is the only way of being able to use your Mid 2010 27-inch iMac as an external display.
After getting it, connect the GPU to the PC and get a Mini DisplayPort cable to connect the GPU to the iMac. Then, press Command and F2 keys to enable Target Display mode. For more information about Target Display mode > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3924?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US
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null

Hey, I just got my 27" iMac last week and can verify that this works, as of a few minutes ago. I used the cable that converts from DisplayPort (the end that plugs into the iMac) and the mini DisplayPort (the end that connects to the MacBook Pro.
Plugged in the cable and the iMac screen flashed gray for a second, indicating, I guess, that the iMac had detected the external device. Then I could toggle it over with the Cmd-F2 keyboard trick. When you toggle it on, the iMac screen looks like a giant second monitor for the MacBook Pro. When you toggle it off, the screen switches back to your regular iMac desktop. When I first connected the cable, the MacBook screen dimmed briefly with an overlayed thermometer bar I hadn't seen before indicated some sort of calibration, perhaps? That took a few seconds, then it worked like a charm.
HOWEVER, if you are expecting the iMac to function as a second display for another device (like a PC, for example), the same trick DOES NOT work. This isn't clear in the documentation on apple.com and even some of the people in the Apple Store who I spoke to when I was buying it had not much clue about this, other than that it would work with a MacBook Pro. There's another device required (evidently) to make this work. Have had to order it, but have not tried it yet:
http://lowendmac.com/ed/bashur/09db/dvi-to-mini-displayport.html
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I have a PC laptop with an HDMI output, but not a mini displayport. I have a 27" iMac with a mini displayport jack. If I want to use the iMac as an external monitor for the PC laptop, can I use a mini displayport to HDMI cable? Or does my laptop need to have a mini displayport jack as well?
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This approach will only work if the OP has a 2009 or 2010 27" iMac. It will not work on any other iMacs. What he is attempting to do is called Target Display Mode, TDM is addressed in these two Apple articles:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3924
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http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3775

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Using iMac 27 as a display for a PC, is it possible?

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