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sparkie7

macrumors 68030
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Oct 17, 2008
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I can connect my ACD 30" to my MBP 15" 2017, so can I do so with a Mac Studio?

If so, can I connect my three ACD 30's to a Mac Studio as well...
 
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I’m using adapters with my MBP 15”. Wonder if it’s the same ones I can use on the Mac studio
 
Even if it's a 2016 15" MacBook Pro, Apple had already introduced USB-C compatible Thunderbolt 3 ports.

Thunderbolt has DisplayPort Passthrough enabled, so whatever adapter/s you're using for your MacBook Pro to run the ACD 30" displays should simply transfer to the Big Mac mini (sorry, I mean Studio.) The Big Mac mini (sorry, Studio) can run up to 7 displays 5 displays, using a combination of Thunderbolt or USB-C with DisplayPort Passthrough and HDMI.
 
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Even if it's a 2016 15" MacBook Pro, Apple had already introduced USB-C compatible Thunderbolt 3 ports.

Thunderbolt has DisplayPort Passthrough enabled, so whatever adapter/s you're using for your MacBook Pro to run the ACD 30" displays should simply transfer to the Big Mac mini (sorry, I mean Studio.) The Big Mac mini (sorry, Studio) can run up to 7 displays, IIRC, using a combination of Thunderbolt or UBC-C with DisplayPort Passthrough and HDMI.
tech specs says 5 displays max for both the M1 Max and M1 Ultra variants, like the M1 Max MacBook Pro (where one of the 5 displays is the built-in display).

What's interesting with the Mac Studio is that it has one extra Thunderbolt 4 port that the M1 Max MacBook Pro didn't have. The M1 Ultra has six Thunderbolt 4 ports.

If all four Thunderbolt 4 ports support an LG UltraFine 5K, then that would mean it has 9 DisplayPort connections (including HDMI) which would be one more than the M1 Max MacBook Pro.
It may be that there are only 8 possible DisplayPort connections in the Studio Mac, like the M1 Max MacBook Pro so you can connect 4 LG UltraFine 5K or three of them plus two 4K displays.
On the other hand, maybe the M1 Ultra Studio Mac has 10 DisplayPort connections to allow connecting five LG UltraFine 5K displays.
It's difficult to say - the only 5 display setup the tech specs describe includes one display connected to the HDMI port. The XDR displays are probably using DSC so they only use one DisplayPort connection each (if they didn't use DSC then they couldn't support USB 3.0 write speeds).
 
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This is an aside, but a consideration for some:

The Mac Studio is too tall to fit under the 30" Apple Cinema HD Display.

BTW, I'd recommend plugging the USB from the monitor or from the Apple mini-DP to dual-link DVI adapter directly into the Mac. I had weird issues with monitor brightness control in Monterey when going through a USB hub. It would usually work, but at least on my Intel Mac mini, occasionally after sleep I'd lose brightness control, and this is through multiple different USB hubs. However, it always works fine when plugged directly into the Mac mini.
 
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Considering all the issues with the M1 Mac mini and older Apple displays... I would not just assume that it will work until some brave soul tests it out. Apple certainly will not. There were quite a plethora of disgruntled M1 Mac mini buyers who had to jump through a lot of hoops to try to get older displays to work with it. It wasn't as simple as plug and play. I'd expect this new studio will have the same issues... with older hardware.
 
It'll work just fine with the appropriate adapters. I've done it on a new 27" iMac recently. I have 5 x 30" ACD that I'll be parting with once I get the Studio and 3 Studio displays. Hope I like it.
 
I'm going to be using my 30" ACD with my Mac Studio. I ordered a USB-C -> dual link DVI adapter right after placing my order for the Mac Studio. It ran about $22 on Amazon. I know that Luke Miani on YouTube just did a video on the 30" with that same adapter, and it worked perfectly with his MacBook Pro.
 
Probably yes. Have a look at what I did for the Mac Pro 2019.

 
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I'm going to be using my 30" ACD with my Mac Studio. I ordered a USB-C -> dual link DVI adapter right after placing my order for the Mac Studio. It ran about $22 on Amazon. I know that Luke Miani on YouTube just did a video on the 30" with that same adapter, and it worked perfectly with his MacBook Pro.

Do you have a link to the USB-C -> dual link DVI adapter?

And do you need to use it with a Apple's Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter?
 
Probably yes. Have a look at what I did for the Mac Pro 2019.


Thanks, do you have a link to the adapter you used
 
I found this one:


Looks like you connect up your ACD 30" Without needing Apple's mini displayport to dual-link dvi adapter, anyone tried this or similar adapter?
 
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My 30" ACD works perfectly with my iPad mini (such a cool combo!) so I have a feeling it’ll work with the Studio…
 
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I found this one:


Looks like you connect up your ACD 30" Without needing Apple's mini displayport to dual-link dvi adapter, anyone tried this or similar adapter?

You need to know which revision of ACD 30" you have. The early ones have no HDCP (content protection or DRM), but the later ones introduced it. Each revision requires the corresponding adapter.

I am running a 30" ACD on a new 16" MacBook Pro, using either a cheap USB-C to Mini DisplayPort Adapter, or via an A-Logic USB-C hub with a Mini DisplayPort and 100W USB-PD passthrough (which runs far too hot for my liking.)

tech specs says 5 displays max for both the M1 Max and M1 Ultra variants, like the M1 Max MacBook Pro (where one of the 5 displays is the built-in display).
@joevt is quite right, the specs say 5 displays, including via the HDMI port. (My post was wrong, it's not seven.)

Unfortunately the informative posts about connecting the ACD 30" are spread across the various hardware forums, from Mac mini to Macbook Pro. But @joevt is the resident expert on all things display-related.
 
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You need to know which revision of ACD 30" you have. The early ones have no HDCP (content protection or DRM), but the later ones introduced it. Each revision requires the corresponding adapter.


How does one check for this. By the year your display was made?
 
How does one check for this. By the year your display was made?
@joevt taught us that you can use SwitchResX to check the 30" Cinema Display. It will indicate whether or not HDCP is supported.

Code:
-----------------------------------------------------
------------ EXTENSION EDID BLOCK   1 ---------------
-----------------------------------------------------

DI-EXT: Digital Interface Extension:
------------------------------------
    Version: 1
    Digital Interface:
    Supported Digital Interface: DVI Dual Link - High Resolution
        Data Enable Signal Usage Available
        Data Enable Signal High
        Edge of Shift Clock: Not specified
        HDCP is supported
        Digital Receivers do not support Double Clocking of Input Data
        Packetized Digital Video is not supported
        Data Formats: 48-Bit MSB-Aligned RGB (Dual Link - High Resolution)
        Minimum Pixel Clock Frequency Per Link: 1 MHz
        Maximum Pixel Clock Frequency Per Link: 165 MHz
        Crossover Frequency: 165 MHz

Or you can check the product ID. As far as we can tell, the ones that support HDCP are ID 9221, and the ones that don't support HDCP are 9232. As for year of manufacture, sometime in 2006-2007 the switchover from 9232 to 9221 happened.

To check the product ID, go to About This Mac --> System Report --> USB --> Apple Cinema HD Display

Screen Shot 2022-03-09 at 11.45.55 PM.png


BTW, since my 2007 30" ACD has HDCP, 1080p Netflix works in Safari. (2014 Mac mini with macOS 12.2.1 Monterey.)
 
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I just got a Mac Studio and am trying to get it to run with the 30" Apple Cinema Display I have. The Mac Studio is running OS 12.4 and just gives black screen. The 30" monitor is connected by the Apple DVI to Mini display port cable adapter to the "Apple thunderbolt 2/Mini Display port adapter to USB C/Thunderbolt" adapter and the USB C end is plugged into a USB C port on the Mac Studio. I've tried all 6 ports without success. This should work but it isn't unless its because of the Apple thunderbolt 2/Mini Display port adapter to USB C/Thunderbolt. What am I missing?

I've checked various adapters on here and most amazon adapters are no longer available.

I ran ScreenResX and the report says the monitor was made 'week 45 of 2004, EID 9220' -which I haven't seen that number listed in any of posts- and it says HDCP is not supported.
 
I have two 30" ACD's plugged into a Mac Studio Ultra via the Apple "Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI adapter" (be sure the usb-A is also plugged in as it needs power if your adapter does not have a usb-A connector also you do not have the dual-link version and need it) and then to a Mini-DP to USB-C adapter. I noticed only 1 out of 3 of the type that I tried from Amazon worked. This is the one that does work-

Good luck!
 
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I have a 23" and a 30" ACD with Mac Studio Max. "Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI adapter" is not the best option. The screens do not wake up from computer's sleep - only unplugging and plugging them back helps.

The only "normal" working adapter is the one from Club 3D. However, it is not an ideal solution. ACD 23" works flawlessly, unfortunately 30" shows "blue snow" on black screen. But it is better than plugging and unplugging the monitor every time when you put your computer to sleep.

 
I have a 23" and a 30" ACD with Mac Studio Max. "Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI adapter" is not the best option. The screens do not wake up from computer's sleep - only unplugging and plugging them back helps.

The only "normal" working adapter is the one from Club 3D. However, it is not an ideal solution. ACD 23" works flawlessly, unfortunately 30" shows "blue snow" on black screen. But it is better than plugging and unplugging the monitor every time when you put your computer to sleep.

I would say the sleep issue happens randomly and not every time the Studio wakes from sleep. Think 1 in 10 times. I prefer unplug-replug every rare moment than "blue snow" artifacts all the time when using the screen.
 
I tested it quite thoroughly two weeks ago - and it seems to be 100%. Another impression can be caused by the fact that at the first glance it is hard to tell if the Studio is sleeping or not (there is no "LED breathing) ? and the only way is to feel (or hear ?) if the fans are working...

It may be, of course, that different ACDs from different years of production behave differently...

It's unfortunate, but I think it's time to buy new monitors...
 
I tested it quite thoroughly two weeks ago - and it seems to be 100%. Another impression can be caused by the fact that at the first glance it is hard to tell if the Studio is sleeping or not (there is no "LED breathing) ? and the only way is to feel (or hear ?) if the fans are working...

It may be, of course, that different ACDs from different years of production behave differently...
That's possible. Also, I am using 4 screens total, 2 ACD 30" two XDR's. The XDR might be helping to prevent the sleep bug?
 
It would be perfidious, but it can't be ruled out.

My third monitor is connected via HDMI... I think it has something to do with the bug with missing window positions in Monterey - clearly the USBC screens wake up first and then the HDMI one, a little later. Clearly time (or GPU communication?) plays a role here.

The only way is to check how the ADCs behave with and without XDR...
 
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