Thunderbolt Mac with old Apple Display

[LukesMacintosh]

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if my Macbook with its thunderbolt display would work with an old Apple HD Cinema Display, and if so how?

Thanks!

 

[FreakinEurekan]

If you're talking about the 23" Cinema Display HD with 1920x1080 resolution and DVI input, that will work with a MiniDP-DVI adapter. The only Cinema Display that wouldn't work with that is the 30" or 27", those require the Dual Link DVI adapter.

 

[paulrbeers]

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if my Macbook with its thunderbolt display would work with an old Apple HD Cinema Display, and if so how?

Thanks!

Are you talking about the HD display from 2002 with the ADC connector or the one released in 2008 with DVI? If it is the 2002, then you need a very expensive ADC adapter that supplies power to the unit as well as converts it to DVI. If it is the 2002 model, you'd probably be better off just scrapping the monitor because the converter would be more expensive than a new 23" monitor and you run the risk of spending a boat load on the converter and then it dying. If it is the 2008, then you just need a cheap mDP to DVI dongle.

 

[BR3W]

That's strange...the 23" Apple Cinema HD Display I have is 1920x1200 and I bought an adapter to provide it with a dual link signal. I needed it anyway to drive my 27" so I haven't tried a single link DVI adapter.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

That's strange...the 23" Apple Cinema HD Display I have is 1920x1200 and I bought an adapter to provide it with a dual link signal. I needed it anyway to drive my 27" so I haven't tried a single link DVI adapter.

Dual link I believe is needed for 1920x1200, but not 1920x1080. Would have to look that up.

 

[paulrbeers]

Dual link I believe is needed for 1920x1200, but not 1920x1080. Would have to look that up.

No Dual link is only need for any resolution over 1920 x 1200. A single DVI is capable of 1920 x 1200.

EDIT: Apparently single link DVI is capable of pushing 2098 x 1311, but since I have never seen a monitor with that resolution, I think we can safely say the highest resolution is 1920 x 1200

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVI#Single-link_DVI