Steve Hood

Q: Can I connect a thunderbolt display to my mac mini hdmi port?

Am using the Thunderbolt port for one display & want to add a second display.

 

I cannot find an adaptor with a male HDMI to female Thunderbolt.

 

Thanks

Mac mini, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)

Posted on Nov 18, 2015 12:48 PM

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Q: Can I connect a thunderbolt display to my mac mini hdmi port?

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  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Nov 18, 2015 12:54 PM in response to Steve Hood
    Level 9 (50,417 points)
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    Nov 18, 2015 12:54 PM in response to Steve Hood

    Thunderbolt monitors must be connected to Thunderbolt ports, it won't work connected to an HDMI port.

     

    Get a Thunderbolt hub. (if this the Apple Thunderbolt display you already have a Thunderbolt hub in it)

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Nov 18, 2015 12:59 PM in response to Csound1
    Level 6 (14,340 points)
    Desktops
    Nov 18, 2015 12:59 PM in response to Csound1

    Not having kept up with information regarding these, do you know if

    the Thunderbolt displays support 'daisy-chaining' between them, as

    a means to add a second unit to a computer without a hub?

     

    If possible, this may help the first inquiry.

     

    There is an Apple support page here; didn't read every entry to see:

    • Thunderbolt ports and displays: Frequently asked questions (FAQ) - Apple Support

     

    Since my most recent Mac was put into service in Jan 2015, a Late

    2012 Mini i7 with one Thunderbolt (early version) port, I'm curious.

    But only have an older aluminum 20-inch Apple cinema display...

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Nov 18, 2015 12:58 PM in response to K Shaffer
    Level 9 (50,417 points)
    Desktops
    Nov 18, 2015 12:58 PM in response to K Shaffer

    Yes it does, there is a TB port on the back, for connecting a second monitor, but the OP has not confirmed that this is an Apple display yet. The daisy chain is not limited to displays, drives etc can also be part of the chain.

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Nov 18, 2015 1:03 PM in response to Csound1
    Level 6 (14,340 points)
    Desktops
    Nov 18, 2015 1:03 PM in response to Csound1

    OK. As I see it now, you may have been in the process of adding info to your

    first post; because I may have made a slightly different inquiry based on what

    I see in there now. A few words, subtle. Or I read through too fast.

     

    Some third-party Thunderbolt equipped displays may also allow daisy-chaining.

    However that would be dependent on each makers own specs & expectation.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Nov 18, 2015 1:07 PM in response to K Shaffer
    Level 9 (50,417 points)
    Desktops
    Nov 18, 2015 1:07 PM in response to K Shaffer

    Yup, typing in slow steps today

     

    And some drives do have 2 ports, but not all.

  • by Steve Hood,

    Steve Hood Steve Hood Nov 18, 2015 1:24 PM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Nov 18, 2015 1:24 PM in response to Csound1

    Yes it is an Apple 27 inch display.

     

    I did not know that you could chain them.

     

    Now, currently I have the display connected to my mini with my own, longer, Thunderbolt cable.

     

    Can I run the attached cable, with the laptop MagSafe charger, from it to the second display? or do I have to move my mini close enough to my 27 inch display to connect using the attached cable and run my own cable to the second display?

     

    Thanks

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Nov 18, 2015 1:29 PM in response to Steve Hood
    Level 9 (50,417 points)
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    Nov 18, 2015 1:29 PM in response to Steve Hood

    Why make this so difficult?

     

    Run a separate cable from Monitor 1 to Monitor 2, why move anything?

  • by Steve Hood,

    Steve Hood Steve Hood Nov 18, 2015 3:10 PM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Nov 18, 2015 3:10 PM in response to Csound1

    I keep the mini under a cabinet so that does not take up desk space. The display's connected cable is not long enough to reach.

     

    If I can can run my own cable from the mini to the current display and then run the connected cable on the 27 inch display to the second display I would not have to relocate the mini.

     

    Will the signal work going backward through the 27 inch display?

     

    Thanks

  • by Malcolm J. Rayfield,

    Malcolm J. Rayfield Malcolm J. Rayfield Nov 18, 2015 10:52 PM in response to Steve Hood
    Level 5 (7,945 points)
    Nov 18, 2015 10:52 PM in response to Steve Hood

    Steve Hood wrote:

     

    I keep the mini under a cabinet so that does not take up desk space. The display's connected cable is not long enough to reach.

     

    If I can can run my own cable from the mini to the current display and then run the connected cable on the 27 inch display to the second display I would not have to relocate the mini.

     

    Will the signal work going backward through the 27 inch display?

     

    Thanks

    Yes.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Nov 19, 2015 6:21 AM in response to Steve Hood
    Level 9 (50,417 points)
    Desktops
    Nov 19, 2015 6:21 AM in response to Steve Hood

    Steve Hood wrote:

     

    I keep the mini under a cabinet so that does not take up desk space. The display's connected cable is not long enough to reach.

     

    If I can can run my own cable from the mini to the current display and then run the connected cable on the 27 inch display to the second display I would not have to relocate the mini.

     

    Will the signal work going backward through the 27 inch display?

     

    Thanks

    No idea, if you want to do it your way I can't help. I told you the correct way. (2 correct ways)

  • by Steve Hood,

    Steve Hood Steve Hood Nov 19, 2015 7:46 AM in response to Malcolm J. Rayfield
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Nov 19, 2015 7:46 AM in response to Malcolm J. Rayfield

    Thanks