Mac Mini + 30" Cinema Display

Currently, there is no way to get a 2560x1600 signal out of the mid-2011 Mac mini.

Why did you buy an old 30" Cinema Display and not the newer 27" Cinema Display with Thunderbolt? That would have been a better option I'd have thought?

UPDATE: Apologies for posting misinformation about the Mac mini output resolution. I researched this topic and saw that someone 'confirmed' it wasn't possible so I copied his response - clearly it was incorrect. I've now downranked my own post!

kfury77 said:

Currently, there is no way to get a 2560x1600 signal out of the mid-2011 Mac mini.

Click to expand...

Where did you get that?

This knowledge base article confirms my initial thought that it will work perfectly using an active (operative word!) mDP to dual-link DVI adapter with native (full) resolution.

@jnoxx: Have fun with that gorgeous setup!

kfury77 said:

Currently, there is no way to get a 2560x1600 signal out of the mid-2011 Mac mini.

Why did you buy an old 30" Cinema Display and not the newer 27" Cinema Display with Thunderbolt? That would have been a better option I'd have thought?

Click to expand...

I have the Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI adapter hooked up to my MacMini 2011 (Integrated Video as well) and Dell 3007 FWP monitor, and the max resolutions works just fine. Where did you get your information that it won't work ?

kfury77 said:

Currently, there is no way to get a 2560x1600 signal out of the mid-2011 Mac mini.

Click to expand...

See attached, using Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort.

Indeed. As the other posters have noted, the TB port on the mini is capable of displaying up to 2560x1600, which is the 30" ACD's resolution. The HDMI port on the mini can display up to 1920x1200, which is great for a 24" 16:10 monitor.

jnoxx said:

Thank you my good sir, I will have a go

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I'm curious as to how this setup worked out - I'm hoping to do similar thing and haven't seen anything about how well the newer minis, with integrated graphics, drove the 30" ACD behemoths. Working well?

benjyhe said:

I'm curious as to how this setup worked out - I'm hoping to do similar thing and haven't seen anything about how well the newer minis, with integrated graphics, drove the 30" ACD behemoths. Working well?

Click to expand...

I would also like to know. I have a 2012 Mac Mini with thunderbolt and have returned a new out of the box ATD due to a blue hue and cool colour saturation throughout. The "whites" were no where near as good as those on my 2008 iMac 24".

There is one on ebay which I am tempted to bid on but it is 8 years old. What prices do they go for in the UK ??

Pretty certain you can do this but you need a dual link DVI of sorts. If my 2004 PowerBook G4 could drive a 30" ACD, then the newer minis should be able to with proper adapters. A dual link DVI is not cheap though.