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20" Cinema Display with Macbook Pro

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walkreed

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 25, 2013
5
0
So I bought an old 20" Cinema Display at a yard sale for dirt cheap. I didn't have any way to test it, but for the price I took their word that it worked great.

Now I've got it connected with a Mini Displayport to DVI adapter, but all I'm getting on the monitor is a black screen. My laptop (newer Macbook Pro) recognizes it, but I don't get anything on the monitor.

Does this mean the monitor is shot? Or do I need some other sort of connection?

Thanks!
 
walkreed said:
So I bought an old 20" Cinema Display at a yard sale for dirt cheap. I didn't have any way to test it, but for the price I took their word that it worked great.

Now I've got it connected with a Mini Displayport to DVI adapter, but all I'm getting on the monitor is a black screen. My laptop (newer Macbook Pro) recognizes it, but I don't get anything on the monitor.

Does this mean the monitor is shot? Or do I need some other sort of connection?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

When you say "newer MBP," what exactly do you mean by newer? Because if it's a TB MBP, then I don't think it will work with that display.
 
Not sure what you mean by "TB" but it's about two years old. It's the Intel i5, I think.
 
In theory, the Thunderbolt -> mini-DP -> DVI route should work. Like you said, though, the monitor might be shot. Do you know anyone else with a Thunderbolt MBP that can test the monitor?

You also might try any other (non-Apple) monitors you have. The problem could be with mini-DP/Thunderbolt port, but I doubt it since your MBP is detecting the cinema display.

Last resort would be to take it to an Apple store, if convenient, and see if it works with any of their machines.
 
ThirteenXIII said:
Mini-DisplayPort to DVI adpater works

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB570Z/B/mini-displayport-to-dvi-adapter
Click to expand...

Nice in theory. Not good for me. I have 2011 17" MacBook Pro and a 20" Aluminum Cinema. I've tried multiple Mini-DisplayPort to DVI adaptors. Nothing. However the monitor works just fine with my DVI MacBook Pro. I've tried it with another MacBook. It worked a couple times, and then stopped. Very odd.

With the adapter on my laptop, I get nothing. Not a sign that the machine so much as knows something is plugged in.

With the DisplayPort->VGA adapter, and a VGA->DVI adapter, the laptop sees the display (I can even change the settings on the power buttons and such), but the monitor stays dark. I can put windows on it, I can't see them. Changing display sizes does nothing to help.
 
Is the monitor on? Forgive me if that's too obvious, I just want to be thorough. :p
 
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