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Worth getting a 27" Thunderbolt display?

SDAVE

SDAVE

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Jun 16, 2007
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I have a chance to get a mint ACD for $540. I recently sold my Mac Pro with 30" ACD and all I have now is this cheap $50 Acer (Worst viewing angle) and my 2014 rMBP. Should I get the ACD for my rMBP?

I'm wondering if Apple will come out with an updated version or not (with USB 3.0 hub and new power adapter) and if it's worth getting.
 
Thunderbolt displays are severely overpriced for what they offer but a used one at $540 isn't bad I guess.
I still wouldn't buy it though. You can get a new 27" Dell P2715Q 4k monitor for that money.
 
z31fanatic said:
Thunderbolt displays are severely overpriced for what they offer but a used one at $540 isn't bad I guess.
I still wouldn't buy it though. You can get a new 27" Dell P2715Q 4k monitor for that money.
Click to expand...

Not a big fan of 4k I think it's still in it's infancy. I worked on one and it lagged and was stuck at a low Hz and was buggy with a Mac Pro with a GTX780.

I would think running the 2014 rMBP at 3840x2160 would slow it down a bunch and running these 4k monitors are lower resolution gives you really terrible aliasing.

The reason I like the ACD is because of it's docking capabilities with ethernet and USB (I wish it was USB 3.0 though and Thunderbolt 2.0 at least).

I guess I'm justifying a reason to get it. I think I can be ok with this cheap Acer and use it as a secondary monitor and use the rMBP as a primary monitor.
 
SDAVE said:
Not a big fan of 4k I think it's still in it's infancy. I worked on one and it lagged and was stuck at a low Hz and was buggy with a Mac Pro with a GTX780.

I would think running the 2014 rMBP at 3840x2160 would slow it down a bunch and running these 4k monitors are lower resolution gives you really terrible aliasing.

The reason I like the ACD is because of it's docking capabilities with ethernet and USB (I wish it was USB 3.0 though and Thunderbolt 2.0 at least).

I guess I'm justifying a reason to get it. I think I can be ok with this cheap Acer and use it as a secondary monitor and use the rMBP as a primary monitor.
Click to expand...

Thats a great price your title says Thunderbolt Display but you mentioned it was a mint ACD - for the price you could sell it later and probably not lose much. Depends on when refresh comes and how big it is.
 
Spink10 said:
Thats a great price your title says Thunderbolt Display but you mentioned it was a mint ACD - for the price you could sell it later and probably not lose much. Depends on when refresh comes and how big it is.
Click to expand...

Yeah it's the 27" Thunderbolt Cinema Display (Glass/Aluminium). Thanks for the input! I'm definitely getting it. I Can always sell it and not lose much.

I mean either way if Apple comes out with a 4k external monitor, it will be $1,000+
 
SDAVE said:
Yeah it's the 27" Thunderbolt Cinema Display (Glass/Aluminium).
Click to expand...

I don't think the Thunderbolt Display has ever been officially described as a "Cinema Display" so just be sure that its the Apple Thunderbolt Display:
http://www.everymac.com/monitors/ap.../apple-thunderbolt-display-27-inch-specs.html

And not the Apple LED Cinema Display:
http://www.everymac.com/monitors/ap...s/apple-led-cinema-display-27-inch-specs.html

...since they'd be pretty much indistinguishable in a photograph.
 
LG does a color-accurate 27" display with Thunderbolt. The 27MB85Z-B. It's a bit cheaper than the TBD, but at least it has a recent panel.
NECs PA272 (or PA302) are even better, but also more expensive.
For the price-difference, between the LG and a TBD, you can almost buy a TB-dock...
The TBD does have its appeal - but most of its connectors (USB2, FW800, Mag) are outdated a bit anyway...
Plus there seem to be reports of various issues...
https://discussions.apple.com/message/28840646?tstart=0#28840646
The TBD is showing its age. Pure and simple.
 
MRrainer said:
LG does a color-accurate 27" display with Thunderbolt. The 27MB85Z-B. It's a bit cheaper than the TBD, but at least it has a recent panel.
NECs PA272 (or PA302) are even better, but also more expensive.
For the price-difference, between the LG and a TBD, you can almost buy a TB-dock...
The TBD does have its appeal - but most of its connectors (USB2, FW800, Mag) are outdated a bit anyway...
Plus there seem to be reports of various issues...
https://discussions.apple.com/message/28840646?tstart=0#28840646
The TBD is showing its age. Pure and simple.
Click to expand...

Indeed. But for $540 for a mint, it's not bad at all. I bet I can sell it for $500 even next year.

The industry always moves faster than Apple, it's always been that way. I wish it had USB 3.0 though, but I can live with it.

https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1775?locale=en_US

Here's a firmware update, I haven't done it I just plugged in this monitor. I won't update the firmware until I get the issue.
 
Last edited:
SDAVE said:
https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1775?locale=en_US

Here's a firmware update, I haven't done it I just plugged in this monitor. I won't update the firmware until I get the issue.
Click to expand...

It seems, this does not always help. At least some comments in the forum of my local e-retailer (who offers a relatively good price on it) seem to indicate that.

I do wish you all the best with the display, no question.
And before I got the old HP LP3065 from my boss, I was also looking into the TBD. Because, despite its age, it seems to be a nice display - as long as it works....
 
MRrainer said:
It seems, this does not always help. At least some comments in the forum of my local e-retailer (who offers a relatively good price on it) seem to indicate that.

I do wish you all the best with the display, no question.
And before I got the old HP LP3065 from my boss, I was also looking into the TBD. Because, despite its age, it seems to be a nice display - as long as it works....
Click to expand...

The one I got from the buyer came in a white box and I knew it was refurbed from Apple and I'm ok with that. Their refurbs are rock solid.

There is not a single scratch on the display and haven't had an issue and it's been 2 days in full use. I think it's a keeper :)
 
i would say the non thunderbolt 27 led display is better if you want to save some money.they are hard to find in the apple refurbished store.they are $700 dollars
 
iceman42 said:
i would say the non thunderbolt 27 led display is better if you want to save some money.they are hard to find in the apple refurbished store.they are $700 dollars
Click to expand...

$540 is not bad to be honest for mint. Sure 4k monitors are out there, but the convenience of power and thunderbolt is a keeper. Either way 4k will slow down the rMBP since the nvidia 750m is not the most powerful GPU.

I actually wanted to get 2x24" Apple displays but it was hard to find 2 in matching condition and they're not thunderbolt so I have to use the 2 displayports on the rMBP.
 
Heh my open box tb display from best buy is currently dead and occasionally revives itself to work for a day or two. I guess not bad for 4 years, but still even my samsung 40" tv from 07 still works. I picked up the u3415w instead until apple officially releases a retina monitor update.
 
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