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Thunderbolt Display?
- Thread starter BFW122083
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Unless it is possible to make a USB-C -> Thunderbolt adapter, we won't be connecting them. The TBD only accepts a Thunderbolt connection, no DP option. You need the Cinema Display for a Display Port option.
Odd to me too. I just ordered one for my father who hooks his Macbook Pro up to a Thunderbolt for work and just assumed there would be an adapter for it. Whoops.
Maybe an aftermarket company will make one??
There will never be a thunderbolt adapter for it. There should have been an adapter that had mini DP so people could use all there old mini DP adapters.
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It's not going to happen.
The thunderbolt display with DP, it may be physically compatible to Macs with Mini DP ports but it will not work. Since the new MB has only displayport output through USB C it will not be compatible.
I'm trying to research it and keep seeing conflicting information. It seems like it IS technically possible, but there's currently nothing available and Apple hasn't officially commented on it.
If it is possible, why had no one ever been able to connect a MAC with mini DP to a thunderbolt monitor. The thunderbolt cable will go into my 2010 mac mini, but it will not work.
I wish I knew. Maybe I'm reading things wrong and being hopeful. For my sake I hope you're wrong, but I don't know enough to argue lol.
There is no argument,
"Thunderbolt Display compatibility.
Thunderbolt-enabled Macs, including the current generations of MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, Mac Pro, and iMac are fully compatible with the Apple Thunderbolt Display."
Since the Macbook has no thunderbolt controller the Macbook will not be able to use the thunderbolt display.
If and it's a big if, Apple is able to get the Thunderbolt display to work with Displayport, all it will mean is that Apple had an artificial limitation with the original firmware. If Apple does magical get rid of this limitation, it will also mean that for four year Apple has purposely restricted the Thunderbolt Display. I would personally be pissed because I bought this display for my 2012 Macbook Air and 2010 Mac Mini. I had to return the display as it was not compatible with the Mini DP on my Mini.
Apple might also be able to make an Active adapter to make this compatible with DP, but that would involve lots of engineering for a product that is on the way out. IMO I think Apple will just make a new display, the question is weather the new display will be thunderbolt 3 or DP 1.3, will it be 5K or 4K. We could see a new Apple display next week, but I have a feeling it will be a while.
- For that to be even remotely feasible, that "next generation" would have to be quite far in the future... No wireless network standards available now come even close to the bandwidth of the Thunderbolt and DisplayPort interfaces.
As a connection standard for a primary display, AirPlay will be completely unrealistic for a very long time.
Educate me, why would you need such a big bandwidth? If I look at Airplay today, it nicely transfers image and sound, what else is needed?!?
Well, AirPlay is designed for casual mirroring to a TV, not for connecting primary monitors. It only supports up to 1920x1080 currently, and it does that far too slowly to be workable for anything other than static images (because of a low refresh rate).
AirPlay simply wouldn't work for higher resolutions. And forget about gaming.
You would need 'such a big bandwidth' because that's simply what modern monitors require to function at their potential.
A resolution of 2560x1440 at 60Hz, which could be considered fairly standard today, requires a bandwidth of 5.9 Gbps. I'd like to see the wireless interface that can reliably transfer at those rates... Not to mention the bandwidths required by 4K and 5K displays. A wired external interface to support 5K resolutions (DisplayPort 1.3) has only just come out and haven't even made its way into any actual products yet. Existing 5K monitors are having to use two cables to get a 5K signal. How might one expect to do wirelessly what currently requires two cables of the fastest wired connection standard available (DisplayPort 1.2)?
If AirPlay mirroring is sufficient for your monitor needs, that's all well and good. It isn't for everyone else's.
Sorry, thats not how I meant that to come out. Just meant that you obviously know way more about what you are talking about than I do
Apple has abandoned people who want to use an Apple display. First, they neglect to update their display in years; second, they come out with the iMac Retina but offer no way to use it as an external monitor (not even with a MacBook Pro Retina), and third they move away from the thunderbolt spec knowing full and well a USB-C to Thunderbolt cable doesn't exist and almost certainly never will.
If you have an Apple Thunderbolt, you're seriously limited in (Apple's own) devices you can use with it.
If you have an Apple Thunderbolt, you're seriously limited in (Apple's own) devices you can use with it.
Yes, Thunderbolt Display has never worked with anything other than Mac with Thunderbolt ports in them. If you have one - your best bet is to sell it and buy a display that supports industry standard inputs (HDMI, DP). That's what I am doing.
I think I'm going that route too. Sucks because I like to keep things "uniform" and a Dell monitor is just going to look out of place.
You're right. I'm probably going to do that soon. Have you spotted a display out there worth considering?
There is so much on the market and much variation that would be a hard answer without knowing your needs. Dell ultrasharps are usually a good value and have great support.
Personally I would go for the Dell U3415w ultra wide monitor, you could also go for the samsung or LG 34's but I would choose dell for their support. http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04&sku=210-ADTR
I am leaning towards Dell U2515H at this point. It looks like a beautiful 1440p monitor, and quite reasonably priced.
WQHD (3440x1440) resolution of U3415w may be an issue for rMB / HD5300 GPU. I wouldn't spend any money on this until it's confirmed this resolution is supported by MacBook, at proper 60Hz refresh. QHD/1440p display would be a lot safer bet in my opinion.
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