Mid 2012 Mac Pro & Metal Compliant Graphics Card, resolution problems

From Club 3D Support:

"We have experienced some users using the Apple Cinema displays compatibility with the Adapter due to the HDCP Non support on the Display. This adapter has been designed and sold with HDCP functionality support. 

It could be that the firmware on this adapter needs to be flashed to a NON HDCP function. Unfortunately this can only be done with a Windows based system.

You will need a Windows Based system with a free DP port you can connect the adapter to and connect the adapter to any DVI port monitor to flash this adapter.

Do you have this equipment?"

I don't, so we'll see what they offer next.

Well, that tipped the scales, printed the Amazon return label.

Promoting a device for adapting an Apple built display to connect to an Apple computer and then telling the purchaser that they need a Windows machine to upgrade the firmware, hmmm, enough said.

On to the StarTech option...

But will have the same problem?

There is an Apple adapter at eBay for $61, a cheaper option than the StarTech. As the Club 3D had another issue, maybe the iPhone charger option might still work.

It seems that all these options were developed to work with USB-C based Apple devices only, especially MacBook Pros. I have a MacBook Pro, ironically kit would be easier to hook it up to the Cinema HD but despite it being far newer it has a quarter of the horsepower and capacity of the Mac Pro.

If this next attempt does not work I'll have to purchase a new monitor and I'll save the Cinema HD for the MacBook Pro when I move to my larger office.

It would have been nice if Apple support had laid some of these issues out, I never saw this problem coming.

Grant:

Thanks again for all of your guidance, I might have eventually figured some of this out but that is unlikely and would have taken many months. I have thrown in the towel on finding a working adapter solution for connecting the 30" Cinema HD display to the mid 2012 Mac Pro installed Radeon Pro WX 7100 graphics card.

My chances of success we're no better than 50 / 50 and it would take another 3 to 4 weeks, with shipping turn arounds, to know for sure, as I said earlier, I am already 6 weeks into this attempt and falling behind in my work.

What became clear in this discussion and web searches is that connecting a Cinema HD display to an Apple computer with USB-C may not be easy, but it is doable. So I will keep the display and eventually, when I have a bit more room on my desk, set it up for my MacBook Pro.

Instead of saving money with an adapter I have instead ordered a new monitor, the Philips 43" 4K Ultra HD LCD display.

We may have not been able to resolve the original plan, but you cut a substantial amount of time off my pursuit.

Thanks again.

Dear Grant:

Thank you so much for the detailed response and the picture, it really helps for me to get to the next step, the solution.

Thanks again.

The very least I could do. :-)

I'll be back with some results....

Perhaps closer but I've run out of options, unless the Club 3D has something up their sleeves.

If not, I return this one and move to the next option, which is the Startech.

Grant, I've been thinking I should go back to your suggestion of buying the Apple adapter from eBay rather than going to StarTech. This route would avoid the powered USB problem?