Apple Cinema Display and MacBook Pro (late 2016)

[BlueRevere]

The Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter
http://www.apple.com/shop/product/MMEL2AM/A/thunderbolt-3-usb-c-to-thunderbolt-2-adapter
does not work with the Apple Cinema Display.
See
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204154
and
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207266
and
https://twitter.com/braddwyer/status/799278477103026176

I wonder if a USB-C to Display Port adapter like this:

https://www.amazon.com/AUKEY-DisplayPort-Adapter-MacBook-Chromebook/dp/B01AT2V26E

with a Display Port to female Mini Display Port like
https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-DisplayPort-Female-Adapter/dp/B014DV2RGG

would allow me to connect a late 2016 MacBook Pro to a 27'' Apple Cinema Display.

Some Amazon reviews suggest that this would work. You just never know if you can trust these reviews.

I can not test myself, my MacBook Pro will be delivered in 10 days.

If however there is no way to connect my Apple Cinema Display I might aswell cancel my MacBook oder.

 

[jimthing]

Trial and error. Some do, some don't, others are apparently flaky.

(Skim through the dongles thread for maximum users views in one thread.)

 

[OT2000]

I just bought this one from Monoprice. I'll let you know if it works when I get to work tomorrow.

 

[BlueRevere]

Trial and error. Some do, some don't, others are apparently flaky.

(Skim through the dongles thread for maximum users views in one thread.)

Jimthing, I spend hours in this forum and on other websites. I have not seen any post in this forum that seems to be working. As mentioned above some comments on Amazon suggest that there might be a solution, but these are not very specific and you can not necessarily trust Amazon comments.

 

[gwang73]

I've been using this adapter with my Mini DisplayPort Apple Cinema monitor for the past week so without any issues: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016ZX5J0Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_VJPmybVR2YRNA

 

[Gregintosh]

Not being able to use my Apple display without potentially unreliable dongles and additional cables was a big part of why I decided to just wait for the next iMac instead.

 

[BlueRevere]

I've been using this adapter with my Mini DisplayPort Apple Cinema monitor for the past week so without any issues: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016ZX5J0Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_VJPmybVR2YRNA

Strange, because on of the Amazon reviews on that adapter states:

>>By gneumann on October 27, 2016
>>Color: Type C to Mini DP Silver Verified Purchase
>>Doesn't work if you have a new Macbook and want to connect
>>to a Apple Cinema Display. Don't waste your time/money.

Does it work for you including camera, microphone, network and USB - or just for the monitor. With which resolution?

 

[gwang73]

Works for just the monitor, 27" running full resolution 2560x1440.
2016 15" MBP with touchbar.

EDIT: Added 27" Apple Cinema Monitor (Mini DisplayPort, not Thunderbolt).

 

[OT2000]

I just bought this one from Monoprice. I'll let you know if it works when I get to work tomorrow.

Just checked. This one does not work. Has a flicker.

 

[BlueRevere]

Flickering...
I find that actually encouraging, that let's me hope that it actually works with on of the other adaptors...

 

[triumph71]

I tested my 13" non-touchbar MBP last night with my 30" dual-link DVI cinema display and have some promising news.

Originally I started with:

1 x Monoprice USB-C to display port adapter - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017YGAWW8
1 X Startech displayport to mini-displayport adapter - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003N3DTKY
1 X Apple Dual-Link DVI adapter - https://www.amazon.com/Apple-MB571Z-DisplayPort-Dual-Link-Adapter/dp/B001IF252C
1 X Apple USB-C to USB adapter - https://www.amazon.com/Apple-USB-C-to-USB-Adapter/dp/B00VU2OID2

When I hooked these all up, the laptop reported the existence of the 30" cinema display, but no image shown, just blank. I then tried a couple of new adapters:

1 x Cable Matters USB-C to display port adapter - https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-Thunderbolt-Compatible-Adapter/dp/B00X4S5C7G
1 x Cable Matters displayport to mini-displayport adapter - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014DV2RGG

along with the Apple DVI adapter and USB adapter, and SUCCESS!!! I got a full 2560x1600 image on the external display.

The only issue is that the picture blanked out every 20 seconds or so and came back. I'm not sure what is causing this, although I was forced to run on battery as my 13" MBP had both thunderbolt ports occupied while I tried this. I suspect it's related to the power delivery to this mess of dongles and adapters, but it does work mostly!

 

[BlueRevere]

The 30'' Apple Cinema Display is a very different beast than the 27'' Apple Cinema Display I am afraid.

If there was anyone who would retrofit the 27'' Apple Cinema Display with regular electronics with an HDMI adapter I would pay for it. I looked at other monitors, but they all look ugly from the back. None of the other vendors seem to care about the back of a monitor much. And my guests always get to see the back of my monitor first....

 

[killawat]

I'm trying to sort out a solution for us 27" Cinema Display guys. Basically when it fires up it works all right, but the initial handshake is needlessly troublesome. I think if I replace it with a gifen MDP adapter then I'll be solid. I'll post what I already have here and update with any progress:

Alright Amazon screwed up my same day order and I needed to get this LED Cinema and Dell monitors going I started to look for local options. Fry's (if you have one in your area) has a large number of USB-C to Displayport stuff available, they're all different price with different functionalities so its hard to know which one is good. This one is rated up to 4k@60hz and appears to be active/ have more on the DP port side in terms of electronics. I also like their youtube page, they have a video of this particular adapter working with MacBook 2015 @ 4k which is pretty convincing.

http://www.j5create.com/our-products/usb-type-c-adapter/jca140.html
Using this cable https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0163LQUH6

As soon as I plug this into the Mac with the Dell display, everything is buttery smooth. The Cinema Display is another story. I have to use a short Mini DisplayPort to Displayport adapter to get this working, but it only works half the time. Actually, the only way to get it going is if I "warm" up the adapter by plugging in the dell, then quickly plugging in the DisplayPort cable from the Cinema Display. I fully believe its the short mDP adapter causing the issue so I'm going to try to pick up a different one. This monitor ALWAYS gives me issues with anything other than a straight mDP to a Mac.

 

[OT2000]

Just checked. This one does not work. Has a flicker.

Sorry for not clarifying. I tried it on a 23" Cinema Display.

 

[jimthing]

Yeah, it'd be good when someone can officially confirm an adapter that works.

 

[waazup]

Anybody manage to hook up their 30" cinema display to the touchbar mbp?

 

[triumph71]

Anybody manage to hook up their 30" cinema display to the touchbar mbp?

Apple Cinema Display and MacBook Pro (late 2016)

I already answered that one...

 

[waazup]

Apple Cinema Display and MacBook Pro (late 2016)

I already answered that one...

Is the screen still blanking out every 20 secs for you?

 

[triumph71]

Is the screen still blanking out every 20 secs for you?

Well I wasn't able to keep that setup going as I was testing with my non-touchbar 13" which only has 2 ports, and with both ports used, I wasn't able to charge it. It was just testing the setup in preparation for my 'replacement' 15" macbook pro.

 

[cult hero]

I can confirm that both the Elgato and the OWC Thunderbolt docks manage the 27" Cinema display just fine on the 13" tMBP. The Thunderbolt out port doubles as Mini DisplayPort. I use the TB3->TB1/2 adapter to connect to the docks. Those are, obviously, not cheap solutions. I expect the Thunderbolt 3 version will work, but that's not an option till at least February.

All the USB-C to Mini DisplayPort adapters I've seen online thus far have less than stellar reviews. (I cannot believe Apple has never made this adapter in house considering it meant that MacBooks have never had a great solution for using the 27" Cinema Display.) However, there are a number of USB-C to DisplayPort adapters which should couple just fine with something like this.

There shouldn't be any weird issues since DisplayPort and Mini DisplayPort are the same protocol with difference connectors. It's not the same nightmare as trying to hook up a 30" display.

I've seen enough of these questions that I should probably try a few more combos and write a short article on the subject. (I've got access to just about all of this equipment at my home and office.)

 

[BlueRevere]

As I now understand we need to differentiate between various Apple Cinema Display (pre 2011) and the Apple Thunderbolt Display (2011 to 2016). A lot of people (including me) seem to refer to their The Apple Thunderbolt Displays as Apple Cinema Displays.

If I understand some posts right (e.g. here and here), than the Apple Thunderbolt Display can be connected to the MacBook Pro via the Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter. Even though this apparently did not work for this guy.

So, I am hoping for the best. I will get my new MacBook next week.

If it does not work I will have to buy a new monitor, which I would rather avoid:
1) most monitors are ugly from the back, that is what visitors in my office get to see first
2) integrated webcams are completely out of fashion, I need mine daily

 

[waazup]

I can confirm that Nearpow's Mini DisplayPort to USB-C paired with Apple's Dual DVI to Mini DisplayPort adapter works for the 30" Cinema Display.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016O7GPWO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

http://www.apple.com/shop/product/MB571LL/A/mini-displayport-to-dual-link-dvi-adapter

 

[Jagger_Mac]

I have experienced that if I put my Cinema Display (27") in the left of my Macbook Pro (touch bar - 13") the display doesn't work, but it do if I use the right side of the computer to connect to the display.

EDIT: The Cinema Display is a Thunderbolt display.

 

[Tamagotchi]

It probably ends up being cheaper to buy that LG 4K display - this is probably what Apple wants.

 

[mcscot]

So I've just checked my setup and confirm that I can drive a Thunderbolt Cinema Display and an LED Cinema Display from my MacBook Pro 15" Touchbar through the Apple USB C -> Thunderbolt adapter. I have 3 screens to work on (i.e. no mirroring). So have exactly the same functionality as I had with my 13" MacBook Pro Retina.

The config I have is the following:

MacBook Pro (USB-C) -> Thunderbolt Adapter (TB) -> Thunderbolt Display (TB) -> Drobo Mini (TB) -> LED Cinema Display (Mini DisplayPort)

The Thunderbolt Display never allowed you to directly daisy chain the Thunderbolt Display, but some forums a few years back indicated putting a TB device in between made it work (yeh, I know weird).