Can I connect my Apple monitor to a Windows pc?

[lilithsijtje]

Hello

My dad gave me his old apple monitor, because the computer does’t work anymore, but the monitor does. It has the apple mini display port and I bought an adapter to USB-C, so that I could connect my Apple MacBook Pro with it. It all worked well  now I bought a windows PC which my boyfriend built for me. I don’t want to buy a new monitor since I already have the Apple one (and I’m honest - it fits my home aesthetic) 

So I was hoping I could connect my monitor to the PC! I bought an apple mini display port adapter to connect to my PC - but it didn’t work… 

Does anybody have a solution or is apple going to make me buy a new monitor?

 

Here are some photos of the Monitor (I know the cable is broken get of my back) 

[SpookyCitrus]

Ok, so it's an iMac. Not just a monitor. Make sure the iMac is in Monitor mode.

 

Replace the cable and adapter combo you are using with one that has a native HDMI or DP connection. So an HDMI or DisplayPort to Thunderbolt 1 or 2 cable. Don't use an adapter cable plus an adapter. That's a no no. Also, does the cable even still work? If it's broken that could be part of the issue.

 

Just also as an FYI depending on the specs of your new Windows PC and what you are planning to use the computer for using this old iMac as a monitor may not be the best option. 

[Average Nerd]

15 minutes ago, lilithsijtje said:

So I was hoping I could connect my monitor to the PC! I bought an apple mini display port adapter to connect to my PC - but it didn’t work… 

The interface on the monitor is either Thunderbolt 1 or Thunderbolt 2, while they both use the same connector as mini DisplayPort, they aren't quite the same (as DisplayPort).

From the bit of research I did, it seems that you'll need a DisplayPort to Thunderbolt 1 (or 2, depending on which one this monitor is actually using) adaptor.

[Zando_]

53 minutes ago, SpookyCitrus said:

Ok, so it's an iMac. Not just a monitor. Make sure the iMac is in Monitor mode.

Not an iMac, an Apple Thunderbolt Display: https://support.apple.com/th-th/112597. 

 

A USB-C to Thunderbolt 2 adapter works on a Mac because Macs have full Thunderbolt 3 or 4 capabilities over USB-C, and Thunderbolt is backwards compatible with older versions of itself. AFAIK the Thunderbolt display does not use Mini DisplayPort, it is legitimately a Thunderbolt display, thus the name and requirement of a Thunderbolt-capable Mac. It won't work on a PC that's just using regular USB via USB-C, it might work with a PC that uses Thunderbolt 3 or 4, depending on their implementation. 

 

57 minutes ago, Average Nerd said:

The interface on the monitor is either Thunderbolt 1 or Thunderbolt 2, while they both use the same connector as mini DisplayPort, they aren't quite the same (as DisplayPort).

It's Mini DisplayPort. And Thunderbolt. At the same time. Same as how USB-C Macs are running Thunderbolt 3 or 4 over that USB-C connector. They support the full features of the USB-C standard on top of Thunderbolt spec. Thunderbolt 1 and 2 were similar, but Mini DisplayPort was the chosen connector standard. 

55 minutes ago, Average Nerd said:

From the bit of research I did, it seems that you'll need a DisplayPort to Thunderbolt 1 (or 2, depending on which one this monitor is actually using) adaptor.

Those are usually a DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort adapter, I've used them the other way round (Mini DisplayPort -> DisplayPort) on my Thunderbolt 1/2 equipped Macs. If it uses DisplayPort over Thunderbolt for the display itself, then that may work. I'm not familiar with what all they have inside that monitor, it may insist on Thunderbolt to do anything at all. 

[Agall]

1 hour ago, lilithsijtje said:

Hello

My dad gave me his old apple monitor, because the computer does’t work anymore, but the monitor does. It has the apple mini display port and I bought an adapter to USB-C, so that I could connect my Apple MacBook Pro with it. It all worked well  now I bought a windows PC which my boyfriend built for me. I don’t want to buy a new monitor since I already have the Apple one (and I’m honest - it fits my home aesthetic) 

So I was hoping I could connect my monitor to the PC! I bought an apple mini display port adapter to connect to my PC - but it didn’t work… 

Does anybody have a solution or is apple going to make me buy a new monitor?

 

Here are some photos of the Monitor (I know the cable is broken get of my back) 

Those Mac displays get complicated, that appears to be a Thunderbolt 2 version. I have a Mini-DP one at work collecting dust since thunderbolt 2 adapters don't work on it and I don't have a female mini-DP to DP/HDMI adapter.

 

You might struggle to get it working without adding thunderbolt 3 to your machine which isn't easy. Only some motherboards support that but if your CPU is intel based, you might have a thunderbolt 3 port.

[seanondemand]

If your PC has Thunderbolt 3/4 ports, you could try it with this adapter, and it might work for that Apple Thunderbolt Display (it would on a newer Mac): https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MMEL2AM/A/thunderbolt-3-usb-c-to-thunderbolt-2-adapter

 

Outside of that… you’re shit outta luck.