iMac 27″ can be used as a display only on DisplayPort connections

The guys from iFixit have decided to verify the possibility of using the new iMac 27″ as an external monitor. During the test, they’ve found out that it’s only possible on computers that use the DisplayPort connection (even if it’s a miniDisplayPort). In all cases where the computer did not have that port but had to use an adapter, the external monitor didn’t work.

“The iMac will not act as a second (or primary) display using the Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter that Apple sells”, said the guys from iFixit, “We tried it on a PS3 Slim, as well as a MacBook and MacBook Pro. It looks like we’ll have to wait for a special adapter from Apple or a third party.”

iThe DVI and HDMI have digital video which is electrically compatible and with serial video data formats that differ only on the physical connectors, while the DisplayPort has an entirely new format that uses a packet signaling format.