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Level 6

16,013 points

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

I'm thinking about getting one of the new Mac Mini computers. I was thinking about using my existing display with it, but am unsure if it will be supported. I believe the older models do support it with an adapter. Unfortunately they had USB-C ports and this one has USB-4 ports. I don't know if USB-C and USB-4 are interchangeable here. Anyone know? If they have a better adapter choice, I'm open to suggestions. I'm assuming the USB 2.0 connector will work with the USB A port (display uses USB 2 and mini DisplayPort).

Hardware I wish to connect to (2020 M1 mode):

https://www.apple.com/mac-mini/specs/

Display I wish to connect (non-thunderbolt):

https://support.apple.com/kb/sp597?locale=en_US

Adapter I'm thinking to use:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N4FQNYW?ots=1&th=1

Mac mini 2018 or later

Posted on Nov 14, 2020 11:18 AM

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pmiles Author

Level 6

16,013 points

Posted on Nov 20, 2020 8:38 AM

Is your adapter HDMI 2.0? It's the only spec that Apple seems to refer to in regards to the port on the new M1 Mac mini.

That being said, no one seems to be able to get ANY of the older Apple Cinema Displays to work on the new M1 Macs. These same displays with the appropriate adapter work on the previous INTEL versions of Macs, but not on the new M1 Macs.

I've seen a video where someone is using an HDMI to USB-C connection to a Mac Book Pro M1, but so far no examples of the Mini DisplayPort to USB-C working at all.

So for those following this thread, assume that the older Apple Cinema Displays are incompatible with the M1 Macs until proven otherwise. So far all evidence says they are incompatible, even though the current Apple documentation says it should be compatible.

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119 replies

Feb 20, 2021 2:36 AM in response to tfunkaz

Thanks for that, I bought that adapter and can vouch that it works for me with the 23 Cinema Display

Feb 20, 2021 5:19 AM in response to Cooksey1337

I’d like to install Catalina on my M1 but that is of course not possible

otto265

Level 1

4 points

Mar 3, 2021 12:45 AM in response to pyrotom

Thank you very much for the answer, which shows exactly what Apple is threatening to become: complicated, commercial, not user-friendly. Would Steve Jobs have wanted it that way?

best regards