imac 27 2011 lcd panel free sample

You can use more than one iMac as a display, if each iMac is using a Thunderbolt cable to connect directly to a Thunderbolt port on the other Mac (not the other iMac).

Apps that were open on your iMac when entering target display mode remain open in target display mode. For example, if you begin playing music on your iMac and then enter target display mode, the music doesn"t pause on your iMac.

The other Mac can"t use the iMac computer"s built-in camera or ports. To use external devices with your other Mac, connect them directly to the other Mac, not to your iMac.

If you"re currently logged in to the iMac that you want to use as a display, choose Apple menu  > Log Out to return to the login window. Then press Command-F2 again.

Choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click Keyboard. If ”Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys” is selected, target display mode uses Command-Fn-F2 instead of Command-F2. It might also help to use the keyboard that came with your iMac. Some third-party keyboards and older Apple keyboards don"t support target display mode.

Make sure that your iMac is using macOS High Sierra 10.13.6 or earlier. You can"t use target display mode with later versions of macOS, or with Boot Camp and Windows.

Your iMac comes with 90 days of free telephone support and a one-year limited warranty. Purchase the AppleCare Protection Plan to extend your service and support to three years from your computer’s purchase date. Only the AppleCare Protection Plan provides you with direct telephone support from Apple technical experts and the assurance that repairs will be handled by Apple-authorized technicians using genuine Apple parts. For more information, visit Apple support or call 800-823-2775.

Want to find a way to use iMac as a monitor? While Apple’s target display mode is limited to 2009 to 2014 iMacs, fortunately, there are several other options to make use of that nice big screen on your iMac as a monitor.

Target display mode is an Apple solution to use iMac as a monitor with another Mac in a wired setup. It was a very popular feature for years, but when Apple launched its Retina iMacs starting in late 2014, support was dropped.

The good news is even if you don’t have an 8-year-old+ iMac that supports target display mode, you can still use iMac as a monitor with a variety of different options. Let’s dig into your 5 options…

This of course doesn’t offer Mac to Mac support, but if you want to use iMac as a monitor with an iPad, Sidecar is a great free solution. And it works wired or wirelessly.

This feature doesn’t work if you want to extend your iMac or iPad desktop space, but you can mirror from iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch directly to an iMac or any other compatible Mac.

This might seem obvious but another choice is to pair your iMac with an external monitor and choose which one you want to be the primary display and secondary display.

If you happen to have an old iMac, you may be able to use target display mode but it will also need to be running macOS Catalina or earlier – same for the secondary Mac. Here’s what you’ll need to use iMac as monitor with the original solution.

You can use more than one iMac as a display, if each iMac is using a Thunderbolt cable to connect directly to a Thunderbolt port on the other Mac (not the other iMac).

Hard to believe it"s only been 10 months since the last iMac update, but Apple"s venerable desktop needed a quick bump to stay current with Intel"s Sandy Bridge processors and the Thunderbolt interconnect. So here we are, looking at the $1,999 27-inch 3.1GHz Core i5 iMac, which is the fastest stock configuration. (There"s a 3.4GHz Core i7 available build-to-order, but we wanted what you could buy in a store today.) In addition to the new processor and Thunderbolt, Apple also bumped the graphics card to an ATI Radeon HD 6970M, which the company claims offers three times the performance of the outgoing model, added a 720p FaceTime HD webcam, and tucked an ambient light sensor into the case for automatic brightness adjustments. So has the best all-in-one PC gotten even better, or is Apple just keeping pace? Read on to find out.

At first glance, it"s almost impossible to tell the new iMacs apart from their predecessors -- Apple"s been using this case since October 2009, and it hasn"t made any major external changes in this iteration. However, if you look closely, you"ll notice that the FaceTime HD webcam is a little off-center, as it"s been pushed to the right by the ambient light sensor, and around back you"ll of course notice the Thunderbolt ports on the back -- a single port on the 21-inch model, and dual ports on the 27-inch.

The iMac has long had one of the best displays of any all-in-one, and nothing"s changed in this generation. Both models sport an LED-backlit IPS panel; the 21.5-inch model offers 1920 x 1080 resolution while our 27-inch tester cranks it up to 2560 x 1440. (For comparison"s sake, it costs around $1,000 to get an equivalent 27-inch panel in an external monitor like the Dell UltraSharp U2711 or Apple Cinema Display.) Apple also says that every iMac is individually color-calibrated at the factory, which is a nice touch, especially on a consumer machine that may never otherwise be adjusted. That ambient light sensor also works as advertised -- which is to say, just like the one on the MacBook, MacBook Pro, iPhone, and iPad. The iMac still has one of the best displays of any all-in-one

Of course, you"re stuck with the iMac"s super-glossy display finish, which I don"t really mind, but some find incredibly annoying. It"s less of a problem on a desktop than a constantly-mobile laptop, and glossy displays are ubiquitous in the consumer space, but it"s something to consider.

That"s really it from the outside of the case, but I can"t let this go without noting a minor niggle with the iMac"s design: the close proximity of the DVD and SD slots on the right side makes it far too easy to accidentally put an SD card in the DVD slot if you"re not looking. A quick Google search reveals that I"m far from the only one who"s had this problem -- let"s hope the next major iMac revision puts the slots on opposite sides of the case.

Like the MacBook Pro, the iMac now features a 720p FaceTime HD webcam. Apple says families and friends often group in front of the iMac to make calls, so it"s increased the camera"s field of view so two or three people can comfortably fit in the shot at once. It"s a nice touch, and the extra resolution is definitely appreciated when making calls, but the absolute lack of adjustments still irks me -- even just white balance and exposure settings would go a long way.

There"s still just not much to say about Thunderbolt; it was only announced three months ago, and peripherals that support the 10Gbps interconnect are few and far between. That doesn"t mean they"re not coming -- LaCie, Promise, and others have already announced products -- but right now we"re all still waiting for things to develop. In the meantime, the dual Thunderbolt ports on the iMac can be used to hook up two external displays, and other Thunderbolt-equipped Macs can use the iMac as an external display in Target Display Mode, so the ports aren"t totally useless -- just think of them as plucky Mini DisplayPorts with a dream.

Given our experience with other Sandy Bridge-based systems, it"s no surprise that the new iMac shines in the performance department as well. The entire line has moved to quad-core processors with new AMD Radeon HD GPUs -- the entry-level $1,199 21.5-inch iMac has a 2.5GHz Core i5 with a 512MB Radeon HD 6750M, while our 27-inch tester represents the top stock configuration and clocks in at $1,999 with a 3.1GHz Core i5 and 1GB Radeon HD 6790M. As you can see from the benchmarks, it"s a thoroughly capable machine -- we never experienced any slowdowns while working with it, and we clocked a rock-solid 60fps in Portal 2 at 1680 x 1050 resolution and well over 100fps in Half-Life 2: Episode 2.

You"ll note that the $2,199 2.2GHz Core i7 MacBook Pro scored slightly higher on GeekBench, and within range on the other benchmarks. It"s an interesting dilemma if you"re considering a high-end Mac: do you choose the gorgeous 27-inch display, or take nearly the same performance in a portable and sacrifice some screen resolution and a Thunderbolt port? These are good problems to have. Oh, and speaking of options, you can also configure the iMac into the stratosphere: we created a monster 3.4GHz Core i7 config with a 2GB Radeon HD 6790M, 16GB of RAM, and dual 256GB SDD / 2TB HDD storage for $3,469. That"s creeping up into serious professional territory, and I wouldn"t be surprised to see pros start looking at the iMac as production-capable machines, especially if Thunderbolt peripherals can reduce or eliminate the need for PCI capture cards and storage controllers. Apple played pretty coy when I asked them about that possibility, but it feels like the door"s being nudged open -- we"ll see if Thunderbolt takes off enough to make it happen.

Every year I review the iMac, and every year my conclusion is the same: the iMac remains the single best all-in-one computer available. The 27-inch model is virtually the only machine of its class on the market, and it"s hard to argue with its $1,699 entry price given that a similar IPS display alone costs nearly $1,000. There"s far more competition for the 21.5-inch model, but nothing that blows it away: the $1,049 HP TouchSmart 610xt and $1,099 Lenovo A700 offer 23-inch touchscreens with the same 1920 x 1080 resolution as the iMac, but both feature only a 2.66GHz dual-core mobile Core i5 and slower Radeon at that price, while the $1,099 Sony VAIO L has a 24-inch 1920 x 1080 touchscreen display but struggles along with a 2.3GHz dual-core mobile Core i5 and Intel integrated graphics. I"d call that matchup in Apple"s favor, especially given the near-useless state of Windows 7 touch overlays.That"s not to say that the iMac is perfect: it"s still frustrating that Apple ships such beautiful displays but doesn"t offer a Blu-ray drive, which is the best way for the average consumer to watch high-quality 1080p content. (And iTunes movies are still 720p!) The potential for tragedy remains high as long as the SD and DVD slots share such intimate quarters. And we"re pretty sure Apple"s displays get glossier every year. But these are the same faults the iMac has had for years now, while the positives have gotten substantially better. It"s a winning formula that"s thus far eluded Apple"s competitors -- and we imagine the company will eventually decide to change the equation entirely.

iMac is a family of all-in-one Mac desktop computers designed and built by Apple Inc. It has been the primary part of Apple"s consumer desktop offerings since its debut in August 1998, and has evolved through seven distinct forms.

In its original form, the iMac G3 had a gumdrop or egg-shaped look, with a CRT monitor, mainly enclosed by a colored, translucent plastic case, which was refreshed early on with a sleeker design notable for its slot-loaded optical drive. The second major revision, the iMac G4, moved the design to a hemispherical base containing all the main components and an LCD monitor on a freely moving arm attached to it. The third and fourth major revisions, the iMac G5 and the Intel iMac respectively, placed all the components immediately behind the display, creating a slim unified design that tilts only up and down on a simple metal base.

The fifth major revision (mid-2007) shared the same form as the previous model, but was thinner and used anodized aluminum and a glass panel over the entire front. The seventh major revision (late 2012) uses a different display unit, omits the SuperDrive, and uses different production techniques from the older unibody versions. This allows it to be thinner at the edge than older models, with an edge thickness of 5.9  mm (but the same maximum depth). It also includes a dual microphone setup and includes solid-state drive (SSD) or hard disk storage, or an Apple Fusion Drive, a hybrid of solid-state and hard disk drives. This version of the iMac was announced in October 2012, with the 21.5-inch (55 cm) version released in November and the 27-inch (69 cm) version in December; these were refreshed in September 2013, with new Haswell processors, faster graphics, faster and larger SSD options and 802.11ac Wi-Fi cards.

In October 2014, a major revision of the 27-inch (69 cm) iMac was announced, whose main feature is a "Retina 5K" display at a resolution of 5120 × 2880 pixels. The new model also includes a new processor, graphics chip, and IO, along with several new storage options.Retina 4K" display at a resolution of 4096 × 2304 pixels. It has the same new processor, graphics chip, and I/O as the 27-inch iMac, along with several new storage options.

On June 5, 2017, Apple announced a workstation-class version called the iMac Pro, which features Intel Xeon processors and standard SSD storage. It shares the design and screen of the 5K iMac but is colored in Space Gray rather than silver. Apple began shipping the iMac Pro in December 2017.

On April 20, 2021, Apple announced a 24" iMac (actual diagonal screen size is 23.5 in.Apple M1 processor, its first as part of its transition to Apple silicon.Thunderbolt 3/USB 4 ports, and two USB Type-C 3.1 Gen 2 ports on the higher configurations.

The announcement of the iMac in 1998 was a source of controversy and anticipation among commentators, Mac fans, and detractors. Opinions were divided over Apple"s drastic changes to the Macintosh hardware. At the time, Apple had suffered a series of setbacks as consumers increasingly opted for Wintel (Windows PCs with Intel CPUs) machines instead of Apple"s Performa models. Many in the industry thought that "beleaguered" Apple would soon be forced to start selling computers with a custom interface built on top of one or more potential operating system bases, such as Taligent, Solaris, or Windows 98.

Ken Segall was an employee at an L.A. ad agency handling Apple"s account who came up with the name "iMac" and pitched it to Steve Jobs. After Jobs" death, Segall claimed Jobs preferred "MacMan" for the name of the computer, but after Segall pitched "iMac" to him twice, the name was accepted.Internet",adopted the "i" prefix across its consumer hardware and software lines, such as iPod, iBook (later MacBook), iPhone, iPad and various pieces of software such as the iLife, iCloud suite and iWork and the company"s media player/store, iTunes.

Attention was given to the out-of-box experience: the user needed to go through only two steps to set up and connect to the Internet. "There"s no step 3!" was the catch-phrase in a popular iMac commercial narrated by actor Jeff Goldblum.border collie Brodie, with an iMac, against Adam Taggart, a Stanford University MBA student, with an HP Pavilion 8250, in a race to set up their computers. Johann and Brodie finished in 8 minutes and 15 seconds,

By 2005, it had become more and more apparent that IBM"s development for the desktop implementation of PowerPC was grinding to a halt. Apple announced at the Worldwide Developers Conference that it would be switching the Macintosh to the x86 architecture and Intel"s line of Core processors. The first Intel-equipped Macs were unveiled on January 10, 2006: the Intel iMac and the introductory MacBook Pro. Within nine months, Apple had smoothly transitioned the entire Macintosh line to Intel. One of the highly touted side benefits of this switch was the ability to run Windows on Mac hardware.

The timeline of iMac from 1998 to 2021, comparing it with the original Macintosh 128K (1984). This chart shows the change in the physical characteristics and appearance of the product.

On July 27, 2010, Apple updated its line of iMacs to feature the new Intel Core "i-series" processors across the line. The 21.5" models now feature the Core i3 processor, but these are upgradable to the Core i5. The high-end 27" features a Quad-Core i5 processor, which is upgradable to a Quad-Core i7. On this date, Apple also announced its new "Apple Magic Trackpad" peripheral, a trackpad similar to that of the MacBook Pro for use with iMac or any other Apple computer. Apple also introduced a AA NiMH battery charger intended to simplify the use of batteries in these peripherals. Apple offers an option to use a solid-state drive instead of a large mechanical drive.

On May 3, 2011, Apple updated its iMac line with the introduction of Intel Thunderbolt technology and Intel Core i5 and i7 Sandy Bridge processors as well as a 1 mega pixel high definition FaceTime camera, features which were first introduced in the MacBook Pro line in February 2011.

On October 23, 2012, a new iMac was announced (for a November/December release) with a substantially thinner edge, new Apple Fusion Drive, faster processors (Intel Core i5 and i7 Ivy Bridge) and graphics along with updates to the ports, but with the same overall depth (stand depth: 8 inches (20.3  cm)). To reduce the edge, the SuperDrive was removed on these iMacs.

On October 16, 2014, a new version of the 27-inch (69  cm) iMac was announced, whose main feature is a "Retina 5K" display at a resolution of 5120 × 2880 pixels.processor, graphics chip, and I/O, along with several new storage options. This computer was designed with professional photographers and video editors in mind, with the 5K resolution allowing 4K video to be played at its native resolution in Final Cut Pro, with room for toolbars on the side.

On June 6, 2017, Apple’s 21.5-inch iMac, which has a "Retina 4K" display at a resolution of 4096 × 2304 pixels, and the latest Intel 7th generation i5 processor, was announced. The iMac has Turbo Boost up to 3.6 GHz supported, and a 1 TB hard drive. Apple’s iMac with 4K display has Intel Core i5 quad-core processor with 3 GHz or 3.4 GHz clock speed. The RAM on board is 8 GB, and it will support a Turbo boost of up to 3.8 GHz. This iMac has options of 1 TB hard drive or 1 TB Fusion Drive. This 21.5-inch iMac also has the option of Radeon Pro 555 with 2 GB of video RAM for graphics or a Radeon Pro 560 with 4 GB of video RAM. Apple’s 27-inch iMac with the 5K display comes with the quad-core Intel Core i5 processor, which is clocked at 3.4 GHz, 3.5 GHz, or 3.8 GHz. This iMac supports a Turbo boost of up to 4.2Ghz and comes with 8 GB RAM option.

In March 2019, Apple updated the iMac to feature 9th-generation Intel Core i9 processors and Radeon Vega graphics. Unlike most other Apple releases, Apple opted not to announce the iMac at an event; instead, they updated the specs and released a press statement. For the first time, the iMac can support 6-core or 8-core Intel processors. Apple claims the 21.5-inch model is up to 60% faster than the previous model, and the 27-inch is up to 2.4 times faster. The exterior of the machine remained the same as the previous model.

On August 4, 2020, Apple refreshed the iMac models. The smaller 21.5-inch model was updated with SSDs standard. The 27-inch model received 10th generation Intel chips, a T2 Security chip, a 1080p camera, studio-quality microphone, an option for nano-textured glass, as well as SSDs standard. The 27-inch model now has SSDs soldered to the motherboard, which means the storage is no longer replaceable, and in order to replace a hard drive the entire motherboard must be replaced and any data on the drive will be wiped.

The original iMac was the first legacy-free PC.USB port but no floppy disk drive. Subsequently, all Macs have included USB. Via the USB port, hardware makers could make products compatible with both x86 PCs and Macs. Previously, Macintosh users had to seek out certain hardware, such as keyboards and mice specifically tailored for the "old world" Mac"s unique ADB interface and printers and modems with MiniDIN-8 serial ports. Only a limited number of models from certain manufacturers were made with these interfaces and often came at a premium price. USB, being cross-platform, has allowed Macintosh users to select from a large selection of devices marketed for the Wintel PC platform, such as hubs, scanners, storage devices, USB flash drives, and mice. After the iMac, Apple continued to remove older peripheral interfaces and floppy drives from the rest of its product line.

Borrowing from the 1997 Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh, the various LCD-based iMac designs continued the all-in-one concept first envisioned in Apple"s original Macintosh computer. The successful iMac allowed Apple to continue targeting the Power Macintosh line at the high-end of the market. This foreshadowed a similar strategy in the notebook market when the iMac-like iBook was released in 1999. Since then, the company has continued this strategy of differentiating the consumer versus professional product lines. Apple"s focus on design has allowed each of its subsequent products to create a distinctive identity. Apple avoided using the beige colors that were then common in the PC industry. The company would later drift from the multicolored designs of the late 1990s and early 2000s. The latter part of the decade saw Apple using anodized aluminum; glass; and white, black, and clear polycarbonate plastics among their build materials. Today many PCs are more design-conscious than before the iMac"s introduction, with multi-shaded design schemes being common, and some desktops and laptops available in colorful, decorative patterns.

iMac has received considerable critical acclaim, including praise from technology columnist Walt Mossberg as the "Gold Standard of desktop computing";Core 2 Duo iMac received CNET"s "Must-have desktop" in their 2006 Top 10 Holiday Gift Picks.

Apple faced a class-action lawsuit filed in 2008 for allegedly deceiving the public by promising millions of colors from the LCD screens of all Mac models while its 20-inch model only held 262,144 colors.Twisted nematic LCD screens. The case was dismissed on January 21, 2009.

While not a criticism of iMac per se, the integrated design has some inherent tradeoffs that have garnered criticism. In The Mythical Midrange Mac Minitower, Dan Frakes of Macworld suggests that with the iMac occupying the midrange of Apple"s product line, Apple has little to offer consumers who want some ability to expand or upgrade their computers, but do not need (or cannot afford) the Mac Pro.Mac mini"s introduction, there were rumors of a "headless iMac"Other World Computing provide upgrade kits that include specialized tools for working on iMacs.

Similarly, though the graphics chipset in some Intel models is on a removable MXM, neither Apple nor third parties have offered retail iMac GPU upgrades, with the exception of those for the original iMac G3"s "mezzanine" PCI slot. Models after iMac G5 (excluding the August 7, 2007 iMac updatemini-tower cannibalizing sales from the Mac Pro, Frakes argues there is enough frustration with iMac"s limitations to make such a proposition worthwhile. This disparity has become more pronounced after the G4 era since the bottom-end Power Mac G5 (with one brief exception) and Mac Pro models have all been priced in the US$1999–2499$ range, while base model Power Macs G4s and earlier were US$1299–1799. The current generation iMac has Intel 5th generation i5 and i7 processors, ranging from quad-core 2.7 GHz i5 to a quad-core 3.4 GHz i7 processor,

Windows XP can only be installed on Macs built up until late 2009 with Boot Camp 3 or earlier, excluding the late 2009 high-end 27-inch model. This includes Mac OS X 10.6 or earlier and copies of Mac OS X 10.7 that have not been updated to Boot Camp 4.

Windows Vista can only be installed on Macs built up until late 2009 with Boot Camp 3 or earlier, excluding the late 2009 high-end 27-inch model. This includes Mac OS X 10.6 or earlier and copies of Mac OS X 10.7 that have not been updated to Boot Camp 4.

Olivarez-Giles, Nathan (May 3, 2011). "Apple updates iMac line with quicker processors, graphics and Thunderbolt I/O". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 29, 2012.

Raletz, Alyson (June 7, 2012). "Man who came up with iMac name tells what the "i" stands for". Kansas City Business Journal. Retrieved March 30, 2013.

Rich DeMuro (November 22, 2006). Must-have desktop: Apple iMac Core 2 Duo (24-inch, 2.16 GHz). CNET (Internet). Archived from the original on August 19, 2007. Retrieved January 16, 2007.

Ever since it was released in August 1998, the iMac becomes one of the most popular desktop computers worldwide, and it evolved into many different forms. In 2009, a new version of the iMac is introduced to users, and it"s the first device with Target Display Mode. This new feature enables people to use the iMac as a monitor to display another device.

"Can I use my iMac as a monitor for PC?" Many people are curious about this question. Yes, you can use the iMac as a monitor for a PC as long as the iMac offers a target display mode and the Thunderbolt port or the Mini DisplayPort. Then, you can follow the steps in this post to connect and use an old iMac as a monitor.

2. Plug the end of a cable into the Thunderbolt port or the Mini DisplayPort of the iMac, and then plug the other end of the cable into the Thunderbolt or Display port on your PC.(Don"t use the adapter)

7.Don"t forget to adjust the screen resolution for optimal display quality. To match the relatively old iMac models, it"s advisable to select the 2560 x 1440 resolution on your PC.

To use an iMac as the monitor for a PC, the first step is to check if the system and version of your device are available. As to the operating system, the iMac should use macOS High Sierra or an earlier version. Besides, the iMac you want to use as the monitor should have a bi-directional Mini DisplayPort or a Thunderbolt port that enables your iMac to get the data input and work as a monitor for another device. There are mainly several types of iMac you can choose from.

Other iMacs also have the ports mentioned above. For instance, the 5K retina iMac that was released in 2014 has the Thunderbolt port. But it cannot work as a monitor for PC as it doesn"t support the Target Display Mode.

If it"s unnecessary to use the adapter, you only need to plug the end of a cable into the Thunderbolt port or the Mini DisplayPort of the iMac, and then plug the other end of the cable into the Thunderbolt or Display port on your PC.

After all the devices are correctly connected, the next step is to activate the Target Display Mode on iMac and mirror the PC screen to iMac. This part will give you the best straightforward method of using iMac as monitor for PC. Follow it if it"s useful for you.

Step 4.Don"t forget to adjust the screen resolution for optimal display quality. To match the relatively old iMac models, it"s advisable to select the 2560 x 1440 resolution on your PC.

What if you want to watch what is happening on the PC screen with your iMac, but the iMac you are using is unsuitable for the method above. There is an alternative way to do that, i.e., record the PC screen as a video and play the captured video on your iMac. To record a high-quality video, a powerful screen recorder that is compatible with your PC, like EaseUS RecExperts, is what you need.

This software supports recording screen with your audio and webcam simultaneously, and this feature enables you to record many types of video. Besides that, you can adjust the output format in accordance with the formats the video player supports. This is really helpful if you want to play the recorded video on iMac without converting the format.

"Can you use an iMac as a monitor?" This may be a problem that has troubled you for a long time. Luckily, this post solved it by offering you a detailed tutorial on how to use iMac as monitor for PC. You should pay attention to the model and system of the iMac, the way those devices get connected, and the method of activating the Target Display Mode.

What if your iMac doesn"t have a Mini DisplayPort/Thunderbolt port and doesn"t support the Target Display Mode? It"s optional to capture the PC screen as a video and play it on your iMac. EaseUS RecExperts is the most helpful tool that enables you to record high-quality videos with simple steps. Don"t miss it.

A cracked glass screen or LCD display is no fun, especially if you were in the middle of working on something important when the damage occurred. If your broken or cracked Apple iMac monitor still has working components, you don"t necessarily need to replace the entire display. You can fix it easily yourself with one of the many affordable iMac replacement screens available on eBay; installation usually only takes minutes, so you can get back to work or play quickly.How does a replacement iMac screen work?

The iMac LCD glass replacement screen has a built-in magnetic perimeter which holds it into place on the display. The LCD panel attaches to the display via cables that supply the power and data to the screen. As long as you have a properly functioning display base and cables, it should be easy to install a new glass display and LCD panel without the need for expensive tools.How do you choose the right iMac 27 LCD screen?

When purchasing an iMac 27 LCD, you"ll need to make sure that the model you select is compatible with your specific computer model. eBay has tons of new and used iMac LCD and replacement screens available to select from. You can use some of these helpful search options on eBay to select the right type of screen or display for your needs:Brand compatibility: You can choose from OEM or unbranded screen replacements that fit your device and budget.

Custom bundle: Some offerings include a custom bundle that includes everything you need to replace your screen, including an opening wheel and adhesive strips. This can make the job quicker and easier.How do you know if the LCD panel is broken?

LCD or liquid crystal displays use liquid crystals to produce color and images on the screen. The crystals themselves don"t produce any light, so they get the light they need from a backlight. If the LCD panel is broken or cracked, you might notice strange lines or patterns on the screen, black or blurred spots on the display, or the screen might be totally black. In this case, the LCD panel might need to be replaced and not just the glass.Which computer is the iMac 27 LCD screen compatible with?

eBay offers a variety of replacement glass and LCD displays for the iMac computer. You can find compatible replacement displays and screens for every model, from late 2009 models up to 2015 models.Content provided for informational purposes only. eBay is not affiliated with or endorsed by Apple.

Screen weakness: The metal surrounds on the LCDs of these machines often break at the sides near the hinges. This was an unforeseen weakness in the design of the LCD assembly. These days this fault is not worth repairing given the age of the machine.

Screen weakness: The display starts to come away from the hinge area. This was an unforeseen weakness in the design of the LCD assembly where the adhesive fails. This is repairable, but the costs (around £200 + vat) are more expensive than the machine is worth.

"Staingate": Delamination of the LCD panel. Nicknamed "Staingate", this is where the anti reflective coating comes off the LCD. Apple may still replace the screen for you for free. Check with them for details.

"Staingate": Delamination of the LCD panel. Nicknamed "Staingate", this is where the anti reflective coating comes off the LCD. Apple may still replace the screen for you for free. Check with them for details.

"Staingate": Delamination of the LCD panel. Nicknamed "Staingate", this is where the anti reflective coating comes off the LCD. Apple may still replace the screen for you for free. Check with them for details.

"Staingate": Delamination of the LCD panel. Nicknamed "Staingate", this is where the anti reflective coating comes off the LCD. Apple may still replace the screen for you for free. Check with them for details.

Display issues (Stage lights effect / Flexgate): This exhibits as either bright spots along the bottom of the LCD panel, or complete failure of the LCD backlight. We have a service to repair this fault here.

One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to improve the performance of your iMac is to increase the RAM (Random Access Memory). More memory means your iMac can better handle multitasking between programs, perform faster during most day-to-day tasks, and it will also be less susceptible to spinning beachballs and crashes. If you work with large files or use memory-intensive applications, maxing out your RAM is a must.

The amount of RAM on an iMac depends on the model, year, and how it is configured to order. For example, the following models all come with 4GB of base memory:

Some older iMacs, like the Late 2006 model, have 1GB base memory installed. Newer iMac models, such as the Retina 5K and 27-inch 2019 and 2020 models, come with 8GB base memory.

Fortunately, If you need more memory for better and faster performance, iMac RAM upgrades are possible with any of the iMac models available, and OWC is here to help.

Installing the correct type of RAM is crucial when you"re ready to do an iMac memory upgrade. iMacs come in different configurations. Some have four memory slots, while others have two slots. They all use DIMM memory, and installing iMac RAM modules with the same capacity, speed, and vendor is a good idea.

For example, suppose you want to add more RAM to an iMac Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2017 model. If that"s the case, you"ll want to use PC4-2400 (1900), Unbuffered, Nonparity, 260-pin, 2400MHZ DDR4 SDRAM SO-DIMM modules.

You can find the correct RAM you need at OWC. With OWC iMac RAM upgrades, you can have up to 4x more memory vs. factory options (Retina 5K, 27-inch (2019 - 2020).

An iMac memory upgrade is a great way to make a meaningful improvement in your Mac’s performance. The amount of RAM you add depends on the situation and how you plan to use your iMac.

For example: Suppose you plan to use your iMac for basic computing tasks, such as making spreadsheets, Internet browsing, watching movies, or editing photos and videos as a hobby. In that case, 8GB of RAM is sufficient.

However, if you’re using an iMac professionally for work or high-end gaming, you’ll want to upgrade your iMac’s RAM to at least 16GB. This will improve your computer’s performance, especially if you’re running several applications simultaneously or doing photo and video editing.

If you own a 27-inch iMac, upgrading the memory is simple and should only take about five minutes to complete. In the back of each 27-inch iMac, there is a small memory bay door that houses the memory cage. After opening this door, you can easily access and pull out the original memory and replace it with any other Apple-compatible memory modules.

If you own a 21.5-inch iMac or an iMac Pro, the memory upgrade process is more advanced and involves removing and reinstalling the iMac screen to access the memory. We recommend professional installation for these models to ensure you upgrade your iMac RAM safely.

Since the debut of the Apple iMac in 1998, OWC has offered Apple-compatible memory upgrades for any Apple iMac desktop. To make the memory installation process as stress-free and straightforward as possible, we provide step-by-step installation videos to walk users through the upgrade process and expert technical support, who are more than happy to answer any questions you may have. All OWC brand memory is thoroughly tested and assured to perform flawlessly with your iMac and is covered by a Lifetime Advance Replacement Warranty and a Money-Back Guarantee.

The iMac features one of the best displays on the market, and if you are lucky enough to have a 4K retina monitor, the vibrant screen is likely to make your workflow more pleasant. On top of that, you can use Target Display Mode to connect a MacBook with a late 2009 or mid-2010 iMac.

To answer the question right away – yes, it is possible to use your iMac as a PC monitor. However, you do need a compatible iMac and PC, plus a special cable/adapter. If your Mac has a Retina Display, this is not possible.

Setting up your iMac for use as a PC monitor is much easier than you might think, but it will only work if you have a compatible iMac model and cable.

The first thing you need to do is check if your iMac can be used as a secondary monitor. Take a look at the ports, and if your iMac features a Thunderbolt or Mini Display Port, it can be used as a monitor.

However, things aren’t necessarily as simple as that, so check out the compatible models:Late 2009 and mid-2010 27-inch iMacs featuring a Mini Display port

Certain other models (up to late 2014) might also be used as a secondary display. However, the late 2014 5K retina iMac doesn’t offer Target Display Mode. As for the other requirements, you also need a PC that features a Mini Display or Thunderbolt port.

Turn off your iMac and PC, then plug the cable into the Thunderbolt, HDMI, or Display port on your PC. Next, plug the cable into the Thunderbolt or Mini Display Port on your iMac.

In general, setting the video output to 2560 x 1440 on your PC should match the screen resolution of an older iMac (2009, 2010, 2011, and some 2014 models). However, Apple introduced 4K retina displays across the 27-inch line in 2014. These iMacs have a native resolution of 5120 x 2880, which might be hard to match if you are using a laptop. Plus, Target Display Mode might not be available.

Regardless of the iMac model you have, it can be used as a second screen for your PC. In other words, you can mirror the PC display to an iMac, even if it’s the latest 5K. But you should know that the iMac needs to run Windows 10 Home or Pro for the trick to work.

You might need to go into Display Settings and change the resolution so that it appears the same on both machines. For example, if you are mirroring to a 5K iMac, the resolution of 2560 x 1440 should work fine, but this depends on the exact iMac and PC model you are using.

While you may have difficulty connecting the two if certain criteria are not met, for those with the proper cables and the Target Display Mode equipped, you can use an iMac as a monitor for a PC. Having dual monitors can make gaming, working, and homework much easier, so it’s certainly worth a try.

If you’re thinking of upgrading your Mac but don’t want to get rid of your trusty old iMac, here we show you how to use an iMac as an external display with a Mac.

However, using an iMac as an external monitor with another Mac is nowhere near as easy as it should be in 2023 but there are ways to do it as we’re about to explain.

Firstly, it’s important to be aware from the start that it’s far simpler and results in much better resolution to use a dedicated external display than an iMac as an external monitor with a Mac.

This is especially true when trying to use an iMac as an external display for video editing or graphic design with the Apple Silicon M1/M2 MacBook Pro, M1/M2 MacBook Air, M1 Mac Mini and the Mac Studio.

This is because the latest M1 and M2 chip Macs do not support the old Target Display Mode available in Intel Macs which utilized the full resolution and capabilities of the iMac as a monitor.

Since Apple has dropped Target Display Mode from both the latest iMacs and Apple Silicon Macs, you can use an iMac as a monitor either via AirPlay or using third party apps which don’t perform as well.

We therefore strongly recommend checking out the following guides to the best external monitors for Mac instead trying to use an iMac as a long term external display solution.

Apple Silicon M1 and M2 Macs cannot use iMacs that support Target Display Mode as an external display because M1 and M2 Macs do not support macOS Catalina which the Primary Mac needs in order to connect to a iMac with Target Display Mode.

All three methods aren’t quite as good as Target Display mode because there is usually some lag when using them and only Luna Display supports 5K resolution on the iMac as it works via Thunderbolt or Ethernet ports (although it’s not free).

Generally we wouldn’t recommend using an iMac as an external display on an M1 or M2 Mac if you’re using it for something like video editing due to lag unless you used Luna Display.

Target Display Mode (Intel Macs Only, Free): This supports the full resolution of an iMac display but only works with 24 or 27-inch 2009 or 2010 iMacs or any iMac from 2011 to mid-2014. It also only works when using an iMac as a monitor with an Intel Mac not the latest Apple Silicon M1 and M2 chip Macs.

Using AirPlay Mode in macOS (Free):This works with both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs that support AirPlay but does not support the maximum resolution of an iMac. It only supports a maximum resolution of 1080p with a 16:9 aspect ratio and can also be very laggy.

Using Luna Display ($119.99): This works on all Macs and supports 5K resolution when using an iMac as an external display with another Mac. However, it’s not free and requires plugging the Luna Display device into a Thunderbolt port on your Mac.

Using Duet Display ($2.09/month): This works on any iMac via the Cloud and supports up to 4K resolution. However, it can be laggy and requires a monthly subscription to use.

If you have an iMac built between 2009 to 2014 with Target Display Mode, you an use it with your Intel Mac Mini, Intel MacBook Air or Intel MacBook Pro as an external monitor.

2009 – 2010 24-inch and 27-inch iMacs: Can be used an external monitor with any Mac that has a Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt 1 or Thunderbolt 2 port

This is because the resolution in Retina iMacs was so high, that a Thunderbolt port would not be powerful enough to support it without increasing the bandwidth of Thunderbolt ports to support Retina displays.

Connect it to the Mac you want to use it with either with a Mini DisplayPort cable or Thunderbolt cable. If it has both, then Thunderbolt is preferable as it also allows you to use more than one iMac as a display at once. Most Intel Macs can support at least one or two external Thunderbolt displays and the latest Mac Studio with M1 Max or M1 Ultra chip can support up to 4 Thunderbolt displays.

Your iMac should automatically enter Target Display Mode but if it doesn’t, press CMD+F2 to activate it. You’ll see the desktop or screen of the Mac you’re connected to on the iMac.

If you want to play music on your source Mac and hear the audio come out of the speakers on your iMac, then go to the Apple logo in the top left of your screen, select System Preferences > Sound > Output and select the iMac as your output device.

Your Mac also won’t recognize any other ports on your iMac. If you want to connect an external hard drive for example, you must plug it into your source Mac, not the iMac it is connected to.

Any applications or software that are open on your iMac will also continue to run in the background consuming far more energy than a standard external display and generate a lot more heat.

Apple Silicon M1 and M2 Macs do not support connecting to iMacs with Target Display Mode because the primary Mac needs to be running macOS Catalina which is not supported by Apple Silicon Macs.

All MacBook Pros or MacBook Airs from 2018 onwards, iMac or Mac Pros from 2019 onwards, the ‌iMac‌ Pro, and the 2020 or later Mac mini support AirPlay.

AirPlay 2 mode is a feature in macOS Monterey and later that allows you to wirelessly share a screen and audio with another Apple device including iMacs running Monterey.

This means that AirPlay can’t utilize the full retina resolution on your iMac and it definitely won’t be able to use the full 5K resolution on 5K iMacs.

Make sure that the iMac is running macOS Monterey or later and the primary Mac you want to connect it to is running macOS 10.8 Mountain Lion (or later) to use the iMac as a main display or macOS 10.9 Mavericks (or later) to use it as a secondary display.

On the iMac, go to the Apple logo in top left corner and go to System Preferences > Sharing and check the box AirPlay Receiver on the iMac. On macOS Ventura this is under System Settings > Sharing.

On the Primary Mac that you’re connecting to your iMac’s display, go to System Preferences > Dock & Menu Bar, select Screen Mirroring and check the box Show In Menu Bar and select Always from the drop down menu.

You can then either use WiFi or a USB-C/Thunderbolt cable to connect your Mac to the iMac. For less lag, we recommend using a Thunderbolt-to-Thunderbolt cable.

On the Primary Mac, go to the Menu Bar at the top of the screen and click on the Screen Mirroring symbol (which looks like two small black bars) and in the drop-down menu that appears, you will see your iMac. You can choose whether to Mirror the display or Use as a Separate Display. We recommend choosing Use as a Separate Display because the image quality is much higher than mirroring.

Finally go to the Screen Mirroring symbol in the Menu Bar again and select Display Preferencesand click on the Arrangement tab. You can then arrange the displays as they are on your desk so that dragging the mouse cursor to the left for example makes it appear on the iMac screen if it’s positioned to the left of your Primary Mac on your desk.

You can deactivate AirPlay and stop using your iMac as an external monitor at any time by going to the Screen Mirroring symbol in the Menu Bar and selecting Turn AirPlay Off.

Luna Display is from the makers of Astropad and is a small dongle that connects to the Thunderbolt port on your Mac including M1 & M2 Macs and allows you to transmit images and audio from any Mac to an iMac.

If you have an M1 Mac Mini, Luna Display will also connect to an iMac display via Ethernet too or via Ethernet to any M1/M2 Mac using a Thunderbolt to Ethernet adapter.

This does mean that you will need to use two Thunderbolt ports – one for the Luna Display dongle and one to connect your Mac to the iMac – but it’s well worth it.

Like AirPlay though, you can also run Luna Display over a WiFi connection as long as your Mac and iMac are connected to the same WiFi network although the quality and performance are not as good as using a Thunderbolt cable.

Open the Luna Display app on your iMac. Click on Setup and you’ll also have the option o grant Luna permission to use your iMac keyboard with your M1 Mac if you want.

You can also enable Retina resolution which is the real outstanding advantage of Luna Display compared to other ways of using an iMac as external monitor.

Although the big advantage of Luna Display is support for using an iMac as an external monitor at 5K, it can be unstable at times and cause kernel panics which crash the Primary or Source Mac.

When Duet detects the iMac the message will change from  “Connect to Mac or PC” to “Launching Duet” and you should see your Primary Mac screen on the iMac display.

You can customize the quality of the image you see on your iMac with Duet Display by going into the Settings and you can configure it to use the highest possible resolution that your monitor supports including 4K.