Anyway to hook up NON thunderbolt Macbook Pro to Thunderbolt display?

Aluminum213 · Feb 2, 2013, 03:34 PM

I have a mid 2010 MBP as you can see in my sig and will very likely get a Thunderbolt display when the new redesign shows up. Is there any chord that will be able to hook a non thunderbolt Mac to this thing?

I am getting a new retina Macbook pro when the refresh arrives this summer but was wondering if I had to wait till then to do it

APlotdevice · Feb 2, 2013, 03:59 PM

Sorry, but there is no way to do this. You can connect the old DisplayPort based Cinema Display to a TB equipped Mac, but not vice versa.

lixuelai · Feb 2, 2013, 04:00 PM

Short answer is no. Long answer is probably but will not be cost effective and cumbersome to use (you would need another computer with TB equipped).

Aluminum213 · Feb 2, 2013, 04:06 PM

darn, thanks for the answers

guess I have to wait till June (or whenever the new 15" retina comes out)

firmansolutions · 07:38 AM

There is an adapter that allows you to connect your Macbook with the larger size display port (about 10mm wide) rather than the mini display port that is the same size as the new thunderbolt port.

However, it is pricey (about £75).

Here it is on Amazon. My daughter used it for about 12 months from an old white Macbook (about 2006 model) into a 24" cinema display.

I would hope it would work with a Thunderbolt monitor but I cant test it as dont have the old white macbook anymore (I think I had better dig mine out and sell it on eBay

).

Contact Kanex as they may tell you if it is compatible with the Thunderbolt displays.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kanex-Cinema.../dp/B004HW67TK

http://www.amazon.com/Kanex-C247d-Di.../dp/B004HW67TK

Cheers
Eric

Just had a bit more a of think and look and as the cinema display have separate USB and mini display port cables (USB handles audio I think), then this probably wont work with Thunderbolt displays as this is all combined into one cable.

Giuly · Feb 6, 2013, 09:41 AM

Cinema Display has a Mini DisplayPort. The Thunderbolt display has a Thunderbolt port, although the plug looks the same.

michelg1970 · 10:06 AM

I thought TB was 100% compatible with mini display port?

I do it the other way around: connect my TB MacBook Pro via the TB port to a non-TB display.

Of course you would loose the USB and Ethernet port functionality of the TB display since the cable would only forward the video (and audio?) signal.

--- STRIKE THAT ---

Just googled your case: it only works downward: from TB enabled Mac to non-TB display. Not the other way around. No way. Never. Sorry.

Feb 2, 2013, 03:34 PM	#1
Aluminum213 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Mar 2012	Anyway to hook up NON thunderbolt Macbook Pro to Thunderbolt display? I have a mid 2010 MBP as you can see in my sig and will very likely get a Thunderbolt display when the new redesign shows up. Is there any chord that will be able to hook a non thunderbolt Mac to this thing? I am getting a new retina Macbook pro when the refresh arrives this summer but was wondering if I had to wait till then to do it __________________ 2012 iMac 27" \| i7 \| 3.4Ghz \| Fusion \| 32GB RAM \| 680MX 2010 MacBook Pro 13" iPhone 5 \| Black \| 32GB Time Capsule (4th Gen) TV (3rd Gen)
	0

Feb 2, 2013, 03:59 PM	#2
APlotdevice macrumors 68000 Join Date: Sep 2011	Sorry, but there is no way to do this. You can connect the old DisplayPort based Cinema Display to a TB equipped Mac, but not vice versa. __________________ TV - iPod touch 4 - iPad 1 - Custom HTPC - Numerous Consoles There is something deeply wrong with a society more offended by breasts than by entrails.
	0

Feb 2, 2013, 04:00 PM	#3
lixuelai macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2008	Short answer is no. Long answer is probably but will not be cost effective and cumbersome to use (you would need another computer with TB equipped). __________________ MacBook Pro Retina 15, 2.3Ghz i7, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD, HP LP3065 iPod Nano 4th Gen 8GB, iPad Mini 16GB, iPhone 5 16GB (VZ)
	0

Feb 2, 2013, 04:06 PM	#4
Aluminum213 Thread Starter macrumors 6502a Join Date: Mar 2012	darn, thanks for the answers guess I have to wait till June (or whenever the new 15" retina comes out) __________________ 2012 iMac 27" \| i7 \| 3.4Ghz \| Fusion \| 32GB RAM \| 680MX 2010 MacBook Pro 13" iPhone 5 \| Black \| 32GB Time Capsule (4th Gen) TV (3rd Gen)
	0

Feb 6, 2013, 07:31 AM	#5
firmansolutions macrumors member Join Date: May 2010	There is an adapter that allows you to connect your Macbook with the larger size display port (about 10mm wide) rather than the mini display port that is the same size as the new thunderbolt port. However, it is pricey (about £75). Here it is on Amazon. My daughter used it for about 12 months from an old white Macbook (about 2006 model) into a 24" cinema display. I would hope it would work with a Thunderbolt monitor but I cant test it as dont have the old white macbook anymore (I think I had better dig mine out and sell it on eBay ). Contact Kanex as they may tell you if it is compatible with the Thunderbolt displays. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kanex-Cinema.../dp/B004HW67TK http://www.amazon.com/Kanex-C247d-Di.../dp/B004HW67TK Cheers Eric Just had a bit more a of think and look and as the cinema display have separate USB and mini display port cables (USB handles audio I think), then this probably wont work with Thunderbolt displays as this is all combined into one cable. Last edited by firmansolutions; Feb 6, 2013 at 07:38 AM.
	0

Feb 6, 2013, 09:41 AM	#6
Giuly macrumors 68030 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: That depends whether you ask for timezone, state of mind or GPS coordinates.	Cinema Display has a Mini DisplayPort. The Thunderbolt display has a Thunderbolt port, although the plug looks the same.
	0

Feb 6, 2013, 09:58 AM	#7
michelg1970 macrumors newbie Join Date: Jul 2011	I thought TB was 100% compatible with mini display port? I do it the other way around: connect my TB MacBook Pro via the TB port to a non-TB display. Of course you would loose the USB and Ethernet port functionality of the TB display since the cable would only forward the video (and audio?) signal. --- STRIKE THAT --- Just googled your case: it only works downward: from TB enabled Mac to non-TB display. Not the other way around. No way. Never. Sorry. Last edited by michelg1970; Feb 6, 2013 at 10:06 AM. Reason: Googled the problem
	0

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode