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macman312

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Hi all

As the title suggests I am wondering if I can use the thunderbolt display with a hdmi computer. In particular the raspberry pi. For those who don't know the raspberry pi is a ARM GNU/Linux box for $25. http://www.raspberrypi.org/

I have a MBP 15" and was thinking of buying a thunderbolt display to go with that but would I be able to buy an adaptor such as this one http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10428&cs_id=1042802&p_id=5311&seq=1&format=2

and use that?

As the thunderbolt display is very expensive where I live(Australia)- it is about AU$1200

I NEED TO KNOW ASAP if it will work I am going to go to the Aussie equivalent of J&R tomorrow and ask about it but I am also asking for advice here.

the setup guide is here- http://www.raspberrypi.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/quick-start-guide-v1.1.pdf if anyone wants to read what components are required

Thanks for any help in advance
 
I can't say for certain, but my gut tells me no. Usually anything Thunderbolt related requires another device with a Thunderbolt port to work.

I might suggest looking at the older Cinema Display that uses Mini Displayport over Thunderbolt (same connector, but MDP only supports audio/video). Also, keep in mind that even if any of this works you will not get the full resolution on the Display and will be limited to 1080p most likely (most forms of HDMI stop at 1080p).
 
If you definitively need an HDMI input for one reason or another, then you might want to consider the Dell U2713HM instead. However, you'll loose the docking (second Thunderbolt port and Ethernet, the Dell has an integrated 4-port USB 3.0 hub though) and charging capabilities of the Thunderbolt Display that way.
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Hi,

Just an idea if you're gonna use both at the same time, you can just VNC from Pi to MacBook then you could still get a Thunderbolt Display.
 
Hi

I don't need to use both at the same time. I might just risk it and I can always use my TV for the pi, then once I have some more $$$ I can get another cheap monitor on ebay or something.

The thunderbolt display has great resolution and I don't see why I couldn't plug in the converter I found
 
i agree with you,ou can just VNC from Pi to MacBook then you could still get a Thunderbolt Display.
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Hi all

As the title suggests I am wondering if I can use the thunderbolt display with a hdmi computer. In particular the raspberry pi. For those who don't know the raspberry pi is a ARM GNU/Linux box for $25. http://www.raspberrypi.org/

I have a MBP 15" and was thinking of buying a thunderbolt display to go with that but would I be able to buy an adaptor such as this one http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10428&cs_id=1042802&p_id=5311&seq=1&format=2

and use that?

No.

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The Thunderbolt display will only work with Thunderbolt-enabled computers.

You might be able to get away with getting the 27" Apple LED display (which, mind you, is still sold alongside the 27" Thunderbolt display), but you'd need something to convert a female HDMI port to a female Mini DisplayPort. Not to say that you can't do that, but at that point, you might as well just buy a non-Apple display as it will be cheaper, just as pretty, and more compatible with your Rasberry Pi.
 
No.

----------

The Thunderbolt display will only work with Thunderbolt-enabled computers.

You might be able to get away with getting the 27" Apple LED display (which, mind you, is still sold alongside the 27" Thunderbolt display), but you'd need something to convert a female HDMI port to a female Mini DisplayPort. Not to say that you can't do that, but at that point, you might as well just buy a non-Apple display as it will be cheaper, just as pretty, and more compatible with your Rasberry Pi.


is thunderbolt and mini dp the same?
if I bought one of these http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10428&cs_id=1042804&p_id=6502&seq=1&format=2 and then plugged in a tb to hdmi converter?

I might try since it isn't very expensive.... But it is probably easier to buy the TB display for my mac and a $150 monitor for my Raspberry pi

I don't see as long as TB and mini DP are the same shape etc how it could tell the difference between the 2 computers but anyway.... I love apple but this is just annoying
 
is thunderbolt and mini dp the same?
if I bought one of these http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10428&cs_id=1042804&p_id=6502&seq=1&format=2 and then plugged in a tb to hdmi converter?

I might try since it isn't very expensive.... But it is probably easier to buy the TB display for my mac and a $150 monitor for my Raspberry pi

I don't see as long as TB and mini DP are the same shape etc how it could tell the difference between the 2 computers but anyway.... I love apple but this is just annoying

Thunderbolt and Mini DisplayPort both have the same connector, Thunderbolt ports can use Mini DisplayPort devices, but Mini DisplayPorts cannot use Thunderbolt devices. Thunderbolt incorporates Mini DisplayPort technology but PCIe into the mix; this is why the previous sentence is what it is.

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This article ought to be helpful:

http://www.macworld.com/article/1158145/thunderbolt_what_you_need_to_know.html
 
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