Help connecting iPad Pro to Apple Cinema Display

[DRapp]

I have a MacBook Air connected to my old 30 inch Cinema Display via a dual Mini Display and USB-A cable. (See attached photo.) I would like to connect my iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) to the same Apple Cinema Display. So far I have only been able to locate an adapter for the Mini Display cable but not one that also includes the USB A cable portion as well. Any suggestions or directions would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[bradbomb]

Shouldn't you be able to use a USB-C (or Thunderbolt) hub and then get either a mini displayport to USB-C or mini displayport to HDMI adapter?

 

[DRapp]

Shouldn't you be able to use a USB-C (or Thunderbolt) hub and then get either a mini displayport to USB-C or mini displayport to HDMI adapter?

Thanks for the reply. Are you suggesting that with a hub to the iPad Pro all I would need is to connect the mini display cable and NOT the USB-A portion as well? So far I have not been able to locate a hub that includes both a mini display port and USB-A port.

 

[bradbomb]

Thanks for the reply. Are you suggesting that with a hub to the iPad Pro all I would need is to connect the mini display cable and NOT the USB-A portion as well? So far I have not been able to locate a hub that includes both a mini display port and USB-A port.

I’m saying getting a hub that has usb a, usb c, and hdmi. There are usbc to Mini DisplayPort adapters or hdmi to Mini DisplayPort adapters.

Or. I don’t think you need that usb plugged in for the Cinema Display. That is only for the USB ports on the display

 

[bradbomb]

Actually there is an incompatibility between thunderbolt 3 to 2 adapter and the Cinema Display, but I found a hub with usb a and mini displayport

OWC USB-C Travel Dock E - 6 Ports of Connectivity

The best bus-powered dock to connect, charge, display, and import on-the-go. Compatible with any USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 equipped Mac, PC, tablet, or phone.

eshop.macsales.com

 

[DRapp]

I’m saying getting a hub that has usb a, usb c, and hdmi. There are usbc to Mini DisplayPort adapters or hdmi to Mini DisplayPort adapters.

Or. I don’t think you need that usb plugged in for the Cinema Display. That is only for the USB ports on the display

Ah, I see what your saying. A two step process of a hub for the iPad Pro that includes a USB C, USB A, etc.. and a separate adaptor for just the Mini Display cable. Its worth a shot. Thank You. (Regarding your other suggestion: “I don’t think you need that usb plugged in for the Cinema Display. That is only for the USB ports on the display”. I tried using just the Mini Display cable on the adaptor from my MacBook Air to the Cinema Display and immediately lost the video connection to the Cinema Display.)

 

[DRapp]

Actually there is an incompatibility between thunderbolt 3 to 2 adapter and the Cinema Display, but I found a hub with usb a and mini displayport

OWC USB-C Travel Dock E - 6 Ports of Connectivity

The best bus-powered dock to connect, charge, display, and import on-the-go. Compatible with any USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 equipped Mac, PC, tablet, or phone.

eshop.macsales.com

Thanks! I’ll take a look.

 

[trigf]

I’m saying getting a hub that has usb a, usb c, and hdmi. There are usbc to Mini DisplayPort adapters or hdmi to Mini DisplayPort adapters.

Or. I don’t think you need that usb plugged in for the Cinema Display. That is only for the USB ports on the display

Not true. The 30 inch Cinema Display uses Dual Link DVI, which requires an Active (powered) adapter unless plugged directly into DVI-D on a Mac. The USB plug provides this additional power for the 30 inch display.

 

[bradbomb]

Not true. The 30 inch Cinema Display uses Dual Link DVI, which requires an Active (powered) adapter unless plugged directly into DVI-D on a Mac. The USB plug provides this additional power for the 30 inch display.

You are thinking of the wrong Cinema Display. Look at the original photo, it is the LED Cinema Display that uses Mini DisplayPort. From Wikipedia:

On October 14, 2008, the 23-inch Cinema HD Display was replaced with a 24-inch model made with aluminum and glass, reflecting the appearances of the latest iMac, MacBook Pro and unibody MacBook designs. The display features a built-in iSight camera, microphone and dual speaker system. A MagSafe cable runs from the back of the display for charging notebooks. It is the first Cinema Display to use LED backlighting and Mini DisplayPort for video input; however, the LED backlighting is edge-lit as opposed to the fully back-lit CCFL of the previous models, resulting in a lower brightness cd/m2 output. This display is only officially compatible with Macs that have the Mini DisplayPort connector. A third-party converter must be used in order to use this display with older Macs. Furthermore, many newer Apple users with newer MacBooks that solely have USB-C ports have been continuously perplexed by the fact that their Apple-branded Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 adapters do not transmit a signal to their LED Cinema displays. Many users have mistakenly presumed their new MacBooks were incompatible with their older displays, when in fact an ordinary generic USB-C to Mini Display Port adapter will successfully transmit the same signal; This is due to a small internal difference in the newer Thunderbolt 2 and the older Mini Displayport standards.

 

[trigf]

You are thinking of the wrong Cinema Display. Look at the original photo, it is the LED Cinema Display that uses Mini DisplayPort. From Wikipedia:

Uh, no I’m not. OP said they are using a 30 inch Cinema Display and that picture is of the Apple Dual Link DVI to mini DisplayPort adapter. I have the same display and adapter.

 

[bradbomb]

Read his post again and look at the photo:

I have a MacBook Air connected to my old 30 inch Cinema Display via a dual Mini Display and USB-A cable. (See attached photo.) I would like to connect my iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) to the same Apple Cinema Display. So far I have only been able to locate an adapter for the Mini Display cable but not one that also includes the USB A cable portion as well. Any suggestions or directions would be appreciated. Thanks.

If he was using a dvi to Mini DisplayPort adapter, I doubt he would call it the mini display cable.

 

[trigf]

Read his post again and look at the photo:



If he was using a dvi to Mini DisplayPort adapter, I doubt he would call it the mini display cable.

So you’re just going to ignore that OP said they’re using a 30 inch Cinema Display. Fine, whatever.

Some people just can’t admit when they’re wrong.

 

[bradbomb]

So you’re just going to ignore that OP said they’re using a 30 inch Cinema Display. Fine, whatever.

Some people just can’t admit when they’re wrong.

I apologize, I forgot the large LED Cinema Display size wasn’t 30”, but it was in fact 27”