Reddit reviews Mini DisplayPort to HDMI (6 FT), Fosmon Mini DP (Thunderbolt Port Compatible) to HDMI Cable Adapter For Surface Pro, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac Mini - Gold Plated (White)

The monitor is connected through this Thunderbolt to HDMI cord. I know any MacBooks with a thunderbolt port will output video, but I know that some older models don't output sound. So I'd look into that before you do this if you have an older computer, unless you don't care about sound of course. The only other thing thats plugged into the computer is the charger since Apple requires you to have it connected when using clamshell mode.

The dock is the Rain Design mTower. You don't really need it, but it is really cumbersome to have it just lying on your desk without it.

All in all, I love this setup and I definitely recommend it for you!

All for helping, but I don't need the gold, I do this for fun!

As for your windows 7 key, next gen games will run at roughly half speed until Mantle is released and fully optimized in December, so I would recommend going with windows 8. You may be able to swap your code for a windows 8 code at /r/softwareswap.

If you are waiting until the end of the year, swap the GPU out for a R9 290 without the X for £410

I am not quite sure what you mean by it must be intel, so this is what I got. The CPU is intel if that is what you meant.

The MOBO has a miniDP port on it, so that is all that you wanted I think.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
CPU | Intel Core i5-3570 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor | £153.59 @ Aria PC
Motherboard | MSI Z77A-G45 Thunderbolt ATX LGA1155 Motherboard | £94.00 @ Amazon UK
Memory | G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory | £57.98 @ Amazon UK
Storage | Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive | £47.38 @ CCL Computers
Video Card | MSI Radeon R9 280X 3GB Video Card | £239.76 @ Dabs
Wireless Network Adapter | Edimax EW-7811Un 802.11b/g/n USB 2.0 Wi-Fi Adapter | £7.98 @ Ebuyer
Case | Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case | £59.90 @ Amazon UK
Power Supply | Corsair CX 600W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply | £55.72 @ Amazon UK
Operating System | Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit) | £69.00 @ Aria PC
| | Total
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available. | £785.31
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-10-15 00:45 BST+0100 |
Edit: Forgot the wireless adapter... derp...

Edit2: For the MiniDP, I looked and looked and couldn't find a MOBO or case with one, so here is an adapter that you can plug into the Display Port to use like a miniDP. http://www.amazon.com/Fosmon-DisplayPort-MiniDP-Adapter-MacBook/dp/B007RQ3J7G

I could just be looking incorrectly as I don't know much about MiniDPs...

I Use a Thunderbolt to HDMI cable with my MPB

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B007RQ3J7G?keywords=mini%20displayport%20to%20hdmi&qid=1457459873&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1

I used to use this to use Kodi from my Macbook to my TV. Worked great. As for a remote, I was using Sybu on my iPhone from the app store to control everything.

For 11 cad$ (or 8 us$). Don't know how trully reliable it is, but with almost 1100 reviews and 4.5 stars... You can't really say that about 10$ ain't worth the risk...

https://www.amazon.ca/Fosmon-DisplayPort-ThunderBolt-Compatible-Adapter/dp/B007RQ3J7G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480046077&sr=8-1&keywords=mini-displayport-to-hdmi

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
CPU | Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor | $189.69 @ SuperBiiz
Motherboard | ASRock H110M-HDS Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard | $46.99 @ SuperBiiz
Memory | GeIL EVO POTENZA 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory | $83.89 @ OutletPC
Storage | Crucial MX300 275GB 2.5" Solid State Drive | $83.29 @ NCIX US
Video Card | MSI Radeon RX 480 8GB GAMING X Video Card | $249.99 @ Newegg
Case | DIYPC DIY-N8-BK MicroATX Mini Tower Case | $39.88 @ Newegg
Power Supply | EVGA SuperNOVA G2 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply | $78.89 @ OutletPC
Operating System | Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit | $85.99 @ Amazon
Monitor | AOC G2770PF 27.0" 1920x1080 144Hz Monitor | $231.65 @ Jet
Keyboard | Cooler Master Devastator II Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse | $28.99 @ SuperBiiz
| Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts |
| Total (before mail-in rebates) | $1139.25
| Mail-in rebates | -$20.00
| Total | $1119.25
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-01-09 18:20 EST-0500 |

Changed some things up and I'll explain why

CPU: the 6500 is the best price to performance CPU in the Skylake line up, and for $10 more, you get 0.5 better value score seen here. You could even maybe do a 6100, but you lose out on 2 cores (which isn't good for gaming since modern titles use core count).

Mobo: Same

RAM: Changed RAM to a better version. RAM frequency doesn't matter a whole lot (especially if you're not/can't overclock), it's the CAS latency that matters. The one you selected has a CAS latency of 16 where as the one I selected is CAS 15.

SSD: Gave you a cheaper SSD that performs similar to the Samsung 850 Evo, but you wouldn't notice the difference. Also, you get a bit more storage on it.

GPU: good pick, so left it the same. XFX and Sapphire are other well known and reputable companies that manufacturer RX480's, so you could maybe cut some cost there if those brands are cheaper.

Case: Same, it's personal preference really

PSU: The NEX series of PSU's have an issue with voltage that the G2 series addresses. You also won't need more then 550w for this and future builds as things are just going to get more power efficient.

OS: If you really need to cut costs, you can take this out of the equation for now and download and install the windows media USB install. It's full windows for 30 days, so you can save up another $100 in those days in order to stay within budget.

Monitor: Same, but another place to cut costs, do you need 144hz refresh rate? Personally, I don't think you do if you're just doing casual gaming and work, so you're paying for a premium feature you most likely won't use a ton.

As for the Mac, you can purchase this cord in order to run it as a second monitor. I'm not too sure if that's the correct cord, but I have one (iMac and a similar cord to the one I linked) and it worked for me.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

I have a 2011 MacBook Pro, I use minidisplay to hdmi and minidisplay to full size DisplayPort all the time

Fosmon Mini DisplayPort (Mini DP/mDP/ ThunderBolt/ThunderBolt 2 Port Compatible) to HDMI Adapter Cable - White - 6ft (1920x1080@60Hz) https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B007RQ3J7G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_dF4CybGPY72GV