nwipfli

Q: Apple display and Thunderbolt compatibility

Hi,

Looking at the Intel spec for the Thunderbolt technology (http://www.intel.com/technology/io/thunderbolt/index.htm), it is my understanding that they use a chip as controller to merge the internal PCIe and DisplayPort signals to two bi-directional 10GB/s channels to the target device which can be a display or drive or both. Therefore, if the target device is a drive, it needs to be Thunderbolt compatible, which means that it needs to include this same Intel controller. Now, if the target device is an Apple display, do they already have this controller ?
Based on what I understand from the Intel spec, the display has to be Thunderbolt compatible:

---start---

And Thunderbolt enabled products are compatible with existing DisplayPort devices so you don’t have to go buy a new display to take advantage of a Thunderbolt technology enabled computer
---end---

So, are the existing Apple displays already Thunderbold compatible or do we have to wait or buy an adapter ?
I do not understand how Apple displays already sold x months back can work while connected to this Thunderbolt port on the laptop, if this port uses this special controller which also needs to be on the target device.

I have not found any information for Thunderbold on the Apple spec page for their display and I have not found any Thunderbolt adapter for native Apple displays.

Any idea ?

Thanks

iMac 20"

Posted on Feb 26, 2011 12:11 PM

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Q: Apple display and Thunderbolt compatibility

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  • by charles.m.h.,

    charles.m.h. charles.m.h. Aug 4, 2011 4:48 AM in response to bastac
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 4, 2011 4:48 AM in response to bastac

    bastac,

     

    thank you very much for the news. I have actually called the hotline this morning. Went through the usual PRAM reset, etc ... The guy arranged an appointment for me at the Genius bar this afternoon, but I see little point going there.

     

    Do you know when is this software or firmware update due and how to get?

     

    thanks,

     

    charles

  • by charles.m.h.,

    charles.m.h. charles.m.h. Aug 4, 2011 8:39 AM in response to charles.m.h.
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 4, 2011 8:39 AM in response to charles.m.h.

    All, I have just been to the Apple Store this afternoon, after I called the hotline. The Apple guy at the Genius bar checked his database. There is definitely an article about the Black Flickering issue related to new MacBookPro and Mac Mini with Thunderbolt port connected to a miniDisplay 24" LED Apple display. It says that this is not a Hardware issue, and that a software (or firmware) update will be released soon. I could not get a date.

    This is all I know. Hoefully this update will be here soon !

  • by bastac,

    bastac bastac Aug 5, 2011 12:57 PM in response to charles.m.h.
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 5, 2011 12:57 PM in response to charles.m.h.

    Hi,

    There is an new update for thunderbolt. But it is only for MBP. I have seen it personally on a 15" MBP. Asking the Apple hotline, they said that they don't know when it will come for Mac Mini. I hope soon.

  • by Ian.Z,

    Ian.Z Ian.Z Aug 8, 2011 11:03 PM in response to bastac
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 8, 2011 11:03 PM in response to bastac

    Dear bastac,

    I didn't see any update on my MBP 2011 (with Lion), Where can I find the update?

  • by tintinfromhamburg,

    tintinfromhamburg tintinfromhamburg Aug 9, 2011 7:05 AM in response to nwipfli
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Aug 9, 2011 7:05 AM in response to nwipfli

    Hello,

     

    I have an Apple LED Cinema Display with MiniDisplayPort bought in late 2008.

     

    Has anybody ever connected a Thunderbolt MacBook Air 13" with this sort of display?

     

    Unfortunately, the Apple website provides no information on this.

     

    Thanks a lot everyone.

  • by Mike95,

    Mike95 Mike95 Aug 9, 2011 7:19 AM in response to tintinfromhamburg
    Level 1 (45 points)
    Aug 9, 2011 7:19 AM in response to tintinfromhamburg

    tintinfromhamburg wrote:

     

    Hello,

     

    I have an Apple LED Cinema Display with MiniDisplayPort bought in late 2008.

     

    Has anybody ever connected a Thunderbolt MacBook Air 13" with this sort of display?

     

    Unfortunately, the Apple website provides no information on this.

     

    Thanks a lot everyone.

     

    This should work fine.

  • by charles.m.h.,

    charles.m.h. charles.m.h. Aug 9, 2011 7:20 AM in response to tintinfromhamburg
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 9, 2011 7:20 AM in response to tintinfromhamburg

    @ tintinfromhamburg

     

    Many of us have bought MacBook Pro/Mac mini (latest version with Thunderbolt port), and we have issues with the 24" LED Display (2008) with miniDisplay port. I do not know if you would have the same problem, but I would be cautious.

     

    We are all waiting for updates from Apple.

  • by tintinfromhamburg,

    tintinfromhamburg tintinfromhamburg Aug 9, 2011 7:30 AM in response to charles.m.h.
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Aug 9, 2011 7:30 AM in response to charles.m.h.

    Hmm two very contradictory answers ;-)

     

    I just wonder if anyone has ever got this working. Many people possibly did. But they won't post on this board I suppose...

     

    If anyone ever did, please come forward!

  • by Mike95,

    Mike95 Mike95 Aug 9, 2011 7:35 AM in response to tintinfromhamburg
    Level 1 (45 points)
    Aug 9, 2011 7:35 AM in response to tintinfromhamburg

    tintinfromhamburg wrote:

     

    Hmm two very contradictory answers ;-)

     

    I just wonder if anyone has ever got this working. Many people possibly did. But they won't post on this board I suppose...

     

    If anyone ever did, please come forward!

     

    These were my tests as I had a MacBook Air 2010 with display port and was in a similar predicament.  Scroll down to the chart on this url.

     

    http://mike952.wordpress.com/2011/07/21/thunderbold-and-minidisplay-mac-compatib ility-101/

  • by tintinfromhamburg,

    tintinfromhamburg tintinfromhamburg Aug 9, 2011 7:44 AM in response to Mike95
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Aug 9, 2011 7:44 AM in response to Mike95

    Hi Mike,

     

    nice research work, thanks a lot.

  • by bastac,

    bastac bastac Aug 9, 2011 11:22 AM in response to Ian.Z
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 9, 2011 11:22 AM in response to Ian.Z

    I have seen it on the screen of a MBP 15" with Thunderbolt in the Macconnect Shop in Berlin, Frankfurter Alle. They did a common software update on 05.08.2011 (last Friday) and one of the updates that appeered had the word 'Thunderbolt' in the title.

  • by atxtester,

    atxtester atxtester Aug 9, 2011 12:52 PM in response to Mike95
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 9, 2011 12:52 PM in response to Mike95

    Sorry to burst everyone's bubble, but I've got a 1-week old MBA 13" with T-bolt, and I'm having the same flicker / black screen problems with the 24" ACD.  I've been continually reviewing the forums, but I'm just today realizing that no-one else seems to be reporting on this with the Air, just on the MBPs and minis. 

     

    Sad to say, but the 2011 Air has the same problem - at least in my limited testing it does. 

     

    I'm calling in to Apple to at least let them know that I'm also having the problem - although I don't have high hopes that they'll be able to do anything for me, at least it might help them in realizing the scope of the problem is wider than they thought.   

  • by NicoNB,

    NicoNB NicoNB Aug 9, 2011 1:03 PM in response to atxtester
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 9, 2011 1:03 PM in response to atxtester

    Tnx for the update atxtester.

     

    In the discussions about flickering and black outs sofar no one reported a similar problem with the new MBA with TB port. Sorry to hear that you also have problems with your MBA icw a 24" ACD.

  • by Mike95,

    Mike95 Mike95 Aug 9, 2011 1:06 PM in response to atxtester
    Level 1 (45 points)
    Aug 9, 2011 1:06 PM in response to atxtester

    Thanks also.  Since it's so consistent with the 24", Apple is certainly to take note.  Incidentally, it's probably a refresh or electrical sync of some type and will surely be updated shortly.

  • by MortgageGod,

    MortgageGod MortgageGod Aug 9, 2011 10:01 PM in response to Mike95
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 9, 2011 10:01 PM in response to Mike95

    Guys, Call tech support, there is a firmware patch for the 24" ACD, ask about it. You have to go thru some steps, but, it seems to be working. Mine would go black for about .5 second then reappear, now it seems fine.

     

    24" ACD and 15" MBP 2.2 quad i7

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