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Thunderbolt Display and Windows PC?

M

macrumorsuser10

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Nov 18, 2010
359
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I have new MacBook Pro (with Thunderbolt) and a relatively recent Windows desktop. I'm considering buying the new Thunderbolt Display to replace my Dell 2407 LCD. Can I use the Thunderbolt Display with my Windows desktop?

My Windows box has a 2009 Nvidia 260GT video card, but I'm willing to upgrade that card.

I know that the Apple Cinema Display with Displayport can be used with a Windows box (but may require setting the brightness first on a Mac).
 
MrCheeto said:
Google says...

"The company also said there are no plans for a PCIe adapter card for Thunderbolt"
Click to expand...

Currently, a Windows PC can use a DVI-to-Mini Displayport adapter to use the Apple Cinema Display. I am looking for something similar for Thunderbolt, either a DVI-to-Thunderbolt or DisplayPort-to-Thunderbolt adapter (the latter is useful for some PC video cards that have DisplayPort).
 
I would imagine apple will come out with bootcamp drivers. Now, the question is, will you NEED TB or will a mini displayport do?
 
The thunderbolt display does not run off of the minidisplay signal, just the thunderbolt, so you will need a thunderbolt chip to run the thunderbolt display from ur PC
 
macrumorsuser10 said:
I have new MacBook Pro (with Thunderbolt) and a relatively recent Windows desktop. I'm considering buying the new Thunderbolt Display to replace my Dell 2407 LCD. Can I use the Thunderbolt Display with my Windows desktop?

My Windows box has a 2009 Nvidia 260GT video card, but I'm willing to upgrade that card.

I know that the Apple Cinema Display with Displayport can be used with a Windows box (but may require setting the brightness first on a Mac).
Click to expand...

The short answer is: No.

Long answer: Per Intel, Thunderbolt cannot be added via PCIe card. It requires chipset-level support. So, first, you'll need a new motherboard for your PC. Second, you'll need one that is pin-compatible with Apple's implementation (Sony's is not). And, it'll need video from the graphics card to be routed through the Thunderbolt port. IF all these things happen, then maybe it'll work.
 
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