Connecting old Apple Cinema Display to new Mac Mini (M1)

It seems that the Mac Mini MI just doesn't work with HTMI to DVI cables. Get the same flashing on multiple monitors. Maybe it needs the HTMI 2 cabling, but if so,that is spectacularly lame design. If anyone can confirm this, please do.

I have both the 24" LED Cinema Display and the 27" LED Cinema Display (models A1287 and A1316 - both non-thunderbolt). I have purchased both of the recommended mini-display port to USB-C adapters (the UpTab adapter and the ITANDA adapter), and neither one work. The Cinema Displays I own are definitely not the problem as they both work fine with an older MacBook Pro. The displays both have three cords: 1) Mini-Display Port; 2) Regular USB; and 3) Power cord. I connect the first two, and know that I do not need to connect the cord that powered much older Macs. What am I doing wrong? Thanks, Brent

Adheft,

I've searched all over trying to figure out how to connect both of my A1407 27" Apple Thunderbolt Displays to my new M1 Mac Mini. Was strongly considering returning it as I love these monitors and aren't ready to upgrade them.

So excited to order these and see if they work for me as well! Thanks!

Hello. I have two A1316 Apple Cinema Displays.

I pulled up the manual for the A1267 you mentioned and it looks like this model connects with Mini Display port connectors (Same as what the manual for my Displays show) so I imagine that it would work.

Good luck!

Thanks for looking into that! Unfortunately I have the newer A1407 Thunderbolt version of the monitor and that isn't supported through the adapter. I haven't been able to find any way to connect both monitors. Just 1 via a Thunderbolt to USB-C adapter.

Crazy that it will support running 2 older DisplayPort Cinema Displays but not 2 of the newer Thunderbolt displays.

You're welcome! Yes that is unfortunate. From what I understand, you can convert Thunderbolt to HDMI but not the other way around. You can't have an adapter with a female thunderbolt port to male HDMI connection.

CoreySch

A1407 Thunderbolt Cinema Diplay version has a Thunderbolt 2 input (on the back).

The A1407 monitors can be linked together using this connector.

Try to connect the first monitor using the Thunderbolt 3 - Thunderbolt 2 APPLE MMEL2ZM / A Adapter with mac M1.

And connect the second monitor to the first monitor using the original Thunderbolt 2 cable.

Check, it may work.

The M1 Mac mini supports only one display from its Thunderbolt/USB-C ports, so daisy-chaining two Thunderbolt displays won't work. There is no way to run two Thunderbolt displays since a second display must use the Mac mini's HDMI port, and there is no way for a Thunderbolt display to connect to a non -Thunderbolt port.

Malcolm J. Rayfield

Thank you for your answer.

I have a question.

Is there any solution (Apple or other adapter) to connect two monitors

1 -A1407 Thunderbolt Cinema Diplay

2 - traditional monitor with HDMI or DVI

to MacBook Air M1 ?

No. The M1 chip supports only two displays. The laptops has one display so only one external display.

There is DisplayLink

https://www.displaylink.com/products/usb-adapters

but the graphics performance will be much reduced.

Okay so this is where I’m at- I have the 27” Cinema Display (with mini port- not thunderbolt ). I got a mini to thunderbolt 3 adapter and screen worked great. I also connected an non mac 2nd monitor to hdmi port and both work great- but then I wanted the Cinema Display monitor to have the camera and speaker work- I used a usb (but usb3 ) adapter to usbC. The camera only works for a little and then I get a usb power usage error message. I can’t find a usb 2 adapter. I also found the bottom left of ci I’m a display monitor to get very hot...anyone have these issues. I am connecting all to a Mac mini m1....I am worried of over heating and fire etc. Any tips would be appreciated or links to best adapters. Or just not worth it... if not anyone have a good webcam they use with Mac mini. Hate to not use my Cinema Display but with so many adaptateurs who knows. Also ever since adding the usb adaptor the screen sometimes goes black for a second or two

Mine does that too, on 1 of my 23" ACD... its like the pixels stays put!

But it doesn't behave that way via the TB3 adapter, only via HDMI.

On my other ACD, it only works for 1 second, then it goes into "snow" -each time I disconnect/connect via HDMI :(

I have a Mac mini M1 and an Apple 23" Cinema HD Display A1082 aka M9178LLA bought in 2006

I got the original Apple HDMI to DVI adapter and it gives me about 1 second of perfect picture after which the picture changes to show white noise only.

I know the HDMI port on the Mac is good and I know the Cinema Display is good so it is a compatibility issue.

Is there any way to connect to DVI via USB-C? Apple doesn't make an adapter as far as I know.

I got the exact same setup and problem.

only works 1 sec via HDMI on one of my 23” screens.

the other is hooked up via USB-C/DVI adapter, which works great. This one: https://www.amazon.com/Thunderbolt-Adapter-Converter-Compatible-MacBook/dp/B0768RFQ83

when I switch the adapters with the other screens, I get it somehow working. The usb-c adapter works great on both screens. But the HDMI on the other screens is weird. It does show the output BUT it looks like “burn in pixels” and with high contrast quality.

my screens are not from the same year. I believe Apple made 2 generations of these ACD. The older one has a yellow tint (the one that shows the hdmi output). The newer one has a blue tint and looks clearer. That’s the one that only works 1 sec and then goes into snow.

I could never calibrate both screens to look exactly the same color ever and I had these screens for over 10 years.

Thanks! I have tried connecting my 2010 era apple keyboard both USB-A to USB-A and also via a USB-A to USB-C adaptor and still getting the same icons. I have a wireless apple trackpad rather than mouse.