Female Mini Display Port Adapter - Connect Monitor to Non Mini Display Port

There is a way to go from DisplayPort to DVI/HDMI because it is a part of the DisplayPort standard. However, there is no way to go from DVI to DisplayPort natively because doing so has never been part of the DVI standard so all the graphics chipsets in existence cannot perform such a translation.

There may someday be an external box that does a translation like that. But figure on it being large and expensive, sort of like the Apple Mini DisplayPort to Dual-link DVI Adapter. Something large and expensive like that. But currently nobody makes one. And I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for it to happen.

Gene, I'm still unclear on what you think we should be holding out for? Just because a connector gets made, I don't see how that is going to help people with older, DVI equipped Macs to drive the new DisplayPort equipped Cinema?

A DVI port cannot output DisplayPort protocol. Period. So there is no way a simple cable is going to get the job done. It's going to require something much more elaborate. Picture the $99 Apple Mini DisplayPort to Dual-link DVI Adapter and you will have a clearer understanding of what will be needed, namely a large box with a power supply and active electronics inside the box. I don't think Circuit Assembly is committing to anything like that. They just make cables.

Whether Apple is going to make that type of translator, I imagine that if they planned to, it would already be available.

'Mini Display port' is just a smaller version of display port, which is a slightly different version of HMDI.

No. You may be thinking of Mini DVI. Mini DisplayPort is a smaller verion of DisplayPort, which is different from DVI and HDMI.
<http://www.displayport.org/white-papers/whitepapers/DP Tech_OverviewEnglish.pdf>

HDMI, display port, mini display port AND DVI are all capable of being 'converted' from one to another.

It is easy to make a Mini DisplayPort (card) to DVI (display) adapter because a DisplayPort card can be set to generate DVI signals. (Dual-link DVI is a bit more complicated since the adapter must sepatate the clock and data.). A DVI card cannot generate DisplayPort signals, so an adapter for a DisplayPort display with a DVI card would be a lot more complicated.

The ONLY thing that you would LOSE in a DVI to display port conversion is an audio signal.

HDMI is DVI video plus digital audio. DisplayPort does not use DVI video.

The point is they are all interchangeable, signal wise.

No. A DisplayPort card can generate DVI signals when a DuisplayPort to DVI adapter is detected, but a DVI cards cannot generate DiusolayPort signals.

But why should Apple make a cheap DVI to female display port when they can make more money on overpriced graphics card upgrades?

They can't make a cheap adapter, but they could have added a DVI port to the display.

Stuart:
Received an email from Circuit Assembly directing me to this link.
<http://estore.circuitassembly.com/blog/are-you-making-a-mini-displayport-femal e-to-dvi-male-adapter-cable/>
It describes their work on a new PCB to handle the information transfer in both directions (MDP to DVI, etc.). Suggest you get signed up there for notification when ready. I haven't heard of others in development - at least not as specifically as these folks - where they've indicated that their product manager has already been to China regarding manufacture of these cables. Apparently (no surprise) it's the design of the PCB that has them stalled for the moment. ALso spoke with an Apple sales Rep who indicated that even Steve Jobs had indicated that Apple was working on the needed "backwards compatibility" - though no time frame has been indicated. Maybe next weeks WWDC will shed some light on the subject, but I think they usually have bigger fish to fry. If I hear anything further I'll post here. Thanks for your input.

Stuart:
Check the site for
http://estore.circuitassembly.com/products/Mini-Displayport-Female-to-Displaypor t-Male-Adapter-Cable.html
Circuit Assembly anticipates having this cable 7/1 with numerous other variations right behind it. Naturally, they're having some issues with the cable I need (female mini display to plug in full sized DVI for my 06/07 MacBook Pro), but anticipate getting them resolved shortly.
They've been VERY nice on the phone and appear to be working hard on this solution.
Stay tuned.

A DVI port can't output DisplayPort protocol, so there is no reason for a DVI to female mDP connector to exist.

If you have an older MacBook with the Mini DVI port and the new Apple 24" Cinema Display with the Mini DisplayPort input, there is no solution except to return the monitor for your money back from Apple. They are not compatible products and there is currently no way to make them work together, not even from a third-party adapter of any kind.

I guess it was my impression since there are numerous cables available that convert from DVI to mini-DVI or VGA or mini-Display Port to DVI and so forth (see Circuit Assembly's web site) that there would not be additional electronics required. Why not give them a call and ask the question? They have represented to me that their cable(s) will allow the use of the new Cinema Display. Let me know if you decide to call - and any resulting info. Thanks.

You mean like this?

http://www.atlona.com/pdf/pr/DVI-displayport_pr.pdf

Greetings!
There is a chance (not confirmed as yet) that Circuit Assembly ( http://estore.circuitassembly.com) is working on building a cable adaptor for the mini DisplayPort (female). Possible for it to be available late June? Still waiting for confirmation, but they acknowledged that one is "in the works".
Suggest everyone contact them with interest - might spur them on to get it more quickly.

Can't speak to full sized display port. I know they're working on DVI, and as long as they have the molds, etc. for the mini-Display port I can't imagine they wouldn't attempt to (eventually) cover the waterfront of options. Suggest you check their web site and get in touch. They've been very open and responsive.

It's a shame you can't hold out for Circuit Assembly to get it done. Spoke to them again this AM and their representative is already on the way to China to work on fabrication. Their molds for a female mini-display port are due in late June with cables hoped for by mid-July. Sounds good - again, as long as you can hold out. This is the first time I've run into an Apple Attitude issue. Only switched over to the MAC side about 27 months ago - but I'll never go back.
Good luck!

Funny you should ask! We just tested a 15 foot long cable at 32 AWG and it worked flawlessly. We are going to try to have them available around July 1st at the same time as our other cable. We just received a request for several of these 15 foot long cables. We are still waiting on the 28 AWG mini displayport cables and we are going to test these at lengths between 10 and 20 meters to see how they perform.

If you're interested in these longer lengths please e-mail me directly so we can discuss a special order: customerservice@estore.circuitassembly.com

BSteely wrote:
A DVI port can't output DisplayPort protocol, so there is no reason for a DVI to female mDP connector to exist.

That just simply is not true. 'mini display port' is just a smaller version of display port, which is a slightly different version of HMDI. HDMI, display port, mini display port AND DVI are all capable of being 'converted' from one to another. The ONLY thing that you would LOSE in a DVI to display port conversion is an audio signal. I'm pretty sure the new cinema display passes the audio through USB anyway (I could be wrong).

The point is they are all interchangeable, signal wise. But why should Apple make a cheap DVI to female display port when they can make more money on overpriced graphics card upgrades?

Hi at all, is it simple to plug an play a monitor to my laptop.

Until yesterday: I think yes, no problem. Today: What did Apple do ?

I have:

Macbook with Mini-DVI port

Cinema Display with Micro-DVI cable

Can anybody explain me what can I do ?

Thank´s a lot.