Apple Silicon Mac mini to 24" Apple LED Cinema-display

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that_rat Author

Level 1

4 points

Apple Silicon Mac mini to 24" Apple LED Cinema-display

I've got a new Apple Silicon Mac mini that I am trying to connect to an older 24" Apple LED Cinema-display.

I had previously purchased a mini display port to USB-C adapter at Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N2ORP84/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_4yETFb3KV9HM3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

This adapter works perfectly with a mid-2019 MacBook Air.

Here's the system information showing that the display is connected:

However, this same adapter does not work with the Apple Silicon Mac mini.

From the System Information, there is no other display listed:

I find it odd that the adapter doesn't work on the Apple Silicon Mac mini?

I've asked the vendor about this, and they recommend returning it to Amazon for a refund, but it does technically work, I'm just not sure why it isn't working with the Apple Silicon Mac mini.

I could try doing some type of daisy chain mini display port to display port to display port to USB-C, but I have a feeling I would be wasting my time on this since this should just work since it worked on the other system [at least I think it should].

Both systems are running Big Sur [11.0.1].

The USB devices attached to the LED Cinema display are working, just not the mini display port to USB-C adapter and only on this Apple Silicon Mac mini.

Any thoughts out there on why this isn't working?

Mac mini, macOS 11.0

Posted on Nov 18, 2020 7:41 PM

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Answer 1

that_rat Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 19, 2020 1:48 AM in response to Malcolm J. Rayfield

Yes, the LG display is an HDMI display connected to the HDMI port on the Apple Silicon Mac mini.

I just tried unplugging the HDMI display and unplugging/replugging in the mini display port to USB-C adapter and the Apple LED Cinema Display still didn't work.

Why this adapter isn't working is odd to me since the MacBook Air is able to use it just fine.

I'm wondering if one of those USB-C docks with multiple ports with a display port in it along with a mini display port to display port adapters might work? I don't relish the cost of those though, which is why I was hoping the adapter that I purchased previously would "just work" like it did for other systems.

Anything I can look for in the activity viewer or log files that might show that it is attempting to use this adapter but failing?

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Answer 2

Nov 18, 2020 10:04 PM in response to that_rat

System Information shows a LG display. Are you trying to connect two displays? If so, does the Apple LED display work if the other display is not connected?

Only one can be connected to a Thunderbolt/USB-C port. The second would have to use the HDMI port. If the LG can't use HDMI, you could connect the Apple LED display to the HDMI port with a HDMI to Mini DisplayPort converter.

https://www.newegg.com/p/183-00BG-00004

(Simple Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapters won't work because they are for connecting HDMI displays to Mini DisplayPort computers.)

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Apple Silicon Mac mini to 24" Apple LED Cinema-display

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