Apple Cinema Display 30’’ with M1 Apple Silicon Mac

@pmiles

I'm using this adapter: https://www.apple.com/ch-de/shop/product/MMEL2ZM/A/thunderbolt-3-usb%E2%80%91c-auf-thunderbolt-2-adapter?afid=p238%7CsBEbW9oRE-dc_mtid_187079nc38483_pcrid_432493731572_pgrid_103026017920_&cid=aos-ch-kwgo-pla-btb--slid---product-MMEL2ZM/A-CH-DE

As I said, screen works flawlessly, including the speakers and the controls of brightness and volume from the keyboard. And the USB ports on the back of the screen (where I plugged in a lightning cable to sync iPhone and the keyboard). Only port which doesn't seem to work is firewire (I still have an old firewire external drive, which I would have gladly carried on using..).

Kara_69 Said:

"Apple Cinema Display 30’’ with M1 Apple Silicon Mac: [...]I remember that a solution had been found for the Mac Mini 2018 Intel based line through the USB-c link[...]."

-------

View My User Tip: Configuring a USB-C Only Mac with a 30-Inch Apple Cinema Display

• The Plug I Use: Uptab USB-C to Mini DisplayPort Adapter 4K@60Hz - Silver

UPDATE FOR BRIGTHNESS CONTROL !

Finally now is everything working.

To make the brightness control work, in my environment, the magic combination is:

• The latest Big Sur (mine is 15.5.2),
• CalDigit Dock to connect the CinemaDisplay as in the quoted post
• Latest https://github.com/MonitorControl/MonitorControl/releases/tag/v3.0.0-rc1 to control the Monitor Brightness

With MonitorControl it is finally possible control the Hardware value also via Apple keyboard like before. The only issue encountered was that the brightness did not reach the maximum level using the precompiled binary.

This can be solved by downloading the sources, changing the DDC_HARD_MAX_LIMIT parameter from 100 to 250 and recompiling with xcode.

Taro-71 wrote:

Got my mac mini M1 working with 30" Dual DVI beside a 4K Samsung U28E590 (HDMI)

Cinema Display:

Resolution: 2560 x 1600 @ 60.00Hz

U28E590

Resolution: 5120 x 2880 (5K/UHD+ - Ultra High Definition Plus)

Aspect:   2560 x 1440 @ 60.00Hz

Cinema Display is connected through the original Apple Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link Adapter (MB571Z/A) and the CalDigit TS3 Plus Dock (https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HMX12ZM/A/caldigit-ts3-plus-dock) with a small DisplayPort to MiniDisplayPort standard adapter in the middle (I got mine from an nVidia GFX card, I think this is not critical).

The image is good and no problem for now, the 2560 res. must to be choosen with the option key in the display preferences panel.

Firewire is not conncted by now and I cannot set the brightness from the keyboard or through the display preferences, it only works with the side monitor buttons and withouth the on screen feedback.

I am wondering if connecting the firewire I'll get back also that functions, can anyone confirm this?

Apple Cinema Display 30’’ with M1 Apple Silicon Mac, and 2020 M1 Silicon Mac, Wikipedia says "Due to the high resolution (2560×1600), the 30-inch model requires a graphics card that supports dual-link DVI" Apple sales tells me I may use an Apple HDMI to DVI Adapter, which is female DVI receiver (adaptor) which has a male HDMI that one may plug into the HDMI port on the Mac mini mi. The same monitor has a USB plug which Apple says may be left out and also monitor has a firewire plug that may be put into the firewire port on the Mac mini. M1. And they state the Apple Cinema Display 30" will work.

The enclosed diagram shows the cord connection from the 30" Apple Cinema Display manual connected to a G-4 Mac tower

Hope this will work. Just ordered the adaptor cord. https://www.apple.com/shop/mac/accessories/power-cables?page=1&f=singlelinkdvi&fh=4595%2B43ec

Gaol is to get Mac Mini M1 to work with 30inch Apple Cinema Display

The 27" Apple Cinema Thunderbolt Display (A1407)

https://manuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/1000/MA1594/en_US/thunderbolt_display_getting_started.pdf

Resolution: 2560 x 1440 @ 60Hz

Ports: 3 USB 2.0, 1 Thunderbolt 2, 1 FireWire 800, 1 Gigabit Ethernet on the back of the display

Camera and Microphone: Built-in FaceTime HD camera (720p) with microphone

Speakers: Built-in 2.1 channel speakers with 49 watt output

Connections: MagSafe and Thunderbolt 2.

MagSafe is used to power MacBooks (if port is exists) while connected to the display.

Thunderbolt 2 provides video and audio signal and port connectivity to the back of the display.

To connect this display to a M1 MacBook Air or M1 MacBook Pro requires a Thunderbolt 2 to USB-C adapter for the video and audio and port connectivity to the back of the display. The MagSafe connector would remain unconnected since no MagSafe port is available on the device.

To connect this display to a M1 Mac mini requires a Thunderbolt 2 to USB-C adapter for the video and audio and port connectivity to the back of the display. The MagSafe connector would remain unconnected since MagSafe is only found on some MacBook computers.

The 27" Apple Cinema LED Display (A1316)

https://support.apple.com/kb/SP597?locale=en_US

Resolution: 2560 x 1440 @ 60Hz

Ports: 3 USB 2.0 on the back of the display

Camera and Microphone: Built-in iSight (640x480 VGA) with microphone

Speakers: Built-in 2.1 channel speakers with 49 watt output

Connections: MagSafe, Mini DisplayPort, and USB.

MagSafe is used to power MacBooks (if port is exists) while connected to the display.

Mini DisplayPort provides video and audio signal.

USB provides connectivity to the USB ports on the back of the display.

To connect this display to a M1 MacBook Air or M1 MacBook Pro requires both a Mini DisplayPort to USB-C adapter for the video and audio and a USB to USB-C adapter for the USB ports connectivity (since there are no USB ports on these devices). The MagSafe connector would remain unconnected since no MagSafe port is available on the device.

To connect this display to a M1 Mac mini requires a Mini DisplayPort to USB-C adapter for the video and audio. You would connect the USB directly into one of the USB-A ports on the mini to enable port connectivity to the back of the display. The MagSafe connector would remain unconnected since MagSafe is only found on some MacBook computers.

Please note that because the Thunderbolt Display can only use a Thunderbolt 2 to USB-C connection and the LED Display can only use a Mini DisplayPort to USB-C connection. The quickest way to identify which display you have is to look at the back of the display itself. If you see an ethernet port, it's the Thunderbolt Display. If you don't see the ethernet port, it's the LED Display. I note this because the connector for Thunderbolt 2 looks very similar to a Mini DisplayPort connector. They are not the same.

@kara_69

I only contacted UPTab about this adapter:

https://www.uptab.com/usb-c-to-mini-displayport-adapter-4k-60hz-silver/

They said it would work on the M1 Macs when connecting a Mini DisplayPort display.

I would avoid daisy chaining any adapters to get your display to work. Every adapter it passes through can potentially reduce the signal quality. Ideally you always want native to native connections. In this case, we need at least 1 adapter to get to native on the M1. That's the next best connection you can get.

You should be looking at an adapter such as this for the Apple Cinema 30" Display:

https://www.amazon.com/CAC-1510-Adapter-Displays-3840x2160-2560x1600/dp/B08B7FSVTL?th=1

The above adapter has been shown to work with prior version MacBook Air (non-M1) and there should be no reason why it (or similar adapter) shouldn't work with the M1 USB-C ports.

Now, word of caution. Do not attempt to convert any non-HDMI display to HDMI. HDMI has been proven to be problematic on the new M1 Macs. Could be Bug Sur related, but lots of issues being posted about display flickering and the like.

I'd stick with a standard adapter as I have linked above (you don't have to buy that particular brand, just make sure it's the same type of adapter). That's the best possible connection you can get sans an actual Dual-Link DVI to Dual-Link DVI connection.

A user posted another similar adapter in this thread and said it works. Scroll down to find their post (has a picture of the adapter in the post):

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252040571

Got my mac mini M1 working with 30" Dual DVI beside a 4K Samsung U28E590 (HDMI)

Cinema Display:

Resolution: 2560 x 1600 @ 60.00Hz

U28E590

Resolution: 5120 x 2880 (5K/UHD+ - Ultra High Definition Plus)

Aspect:   2560 x 1440 @ 60.00Hz

Cinema Display is connected through the original Apple Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link Adapter (MB571Z/A) and the CalDigit TS3 Plus Dock (https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HMX12ZM/A/caldigit-ts3-plus-dock) with a small DisplayPort to MiniDisplayPort standard adapter in the middle (I got mine from an nVidia GFX card, I think this is not critical).

The image is good and no problem for now, the 2560 res. must to be choosen with the option key in the display preferences panel.

Firewire is not conncted by now and I cannot set the brightness from the keyboard or through the display preferences, it only works with the side monitor buttons and withouth the on screen feedback.

I am wondering if connecting the firewire I'll get back also that functions, can anyone confirm this?

It would be so helpful if those commenting with information about the Thunderbolt Displays would not clutter this thread. The Cinema Display requires different solutions and you are just creating confusion for those on the older technology.

I too have been trying to find solutions for getting my ACD 30” running on my M1 mini. This is what I have learned:

1. The M1 will not support more than one monitor via the Thunderbolt bus. That can really mess up your troubleshooting so if you are running another monitor while working on getting your ACD running make sure it is on the HDMI or USB 3.0 using DisplayLink.
2. On my Intel Mac mini I was using an eGPU which had DisplayPort (Full size) outs. This adapter worked in order to use my ACD on my Intel Mac mini https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MSTOX9M/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_Hrm4Fb52ZR0WT?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
3. In order to keep using that adapter on my M1, I ordered this dual DisplayPort to USB-C https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0856R2MZ8/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_dlT4_Qvm4FbSEXY758?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1. Keep in mind that trying to connect a second monitor to the other DisplayPort receptacle will cause problems (see point number 1).
4. Using the option key as others have mentioned, you can get the proper resolution on your ACD (or use SwitchResX).
5. Other comments about having to use the physical side buttons for the brightness are confirmed in my experience.

So as of now I am up and running with my ACD 30” on my M1 Mac mini though I would rather have not spent $70 on a dual DP box that can only be half-used. I have ordered this to see if it will accomplish the same result for less money: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YDNSGY2/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_jym4FbKWBC34E?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 and will report back. I am sticking with DP in hopes that eGPU support on the M1 is forthcoming. At that point I will go back to running my monitors from the eGPU.

I still have two other monitors to connect (they don’t have hdmi) so I will be using DisplayLink via USB 3.0 to accomplish that. This is how the guy on YouTube (Ruslan) was able to get more monitors up and running. By the way, here is the chart he made. Notice how you can only have one monitor via Thunderbolt and one via HDMI. There is no workaround for that. If you want more than two monitors you must use USB 3.0 and DisplayLink.

30" Apple display with new Macmini M1. This immediately worked but the screen resolution was wrong and nothing better appeared in the list of options for this screen until I found the Apple article (see below) Now all perfect.

Using this https://de.uptab.com/usb-c-to-mini-displayport-adapter-4k-60hz-silver/?utm_campaign=pr_r&utm_source=https://www.uptab.com&utm_medium=wi_proxy&utm_content=en_US&utm_term=a

This did it for me... hhttps://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212027

with my 30" Apple display from 2008....whilst clicking on resolution in the system prefs "display" hold down the "option" key or "alt"

MacMini 2019 (Intel)- Thought I'd share this though my mini is not an M1.

Just bought an Apple Cinema 30" display that came with the original dual link adapter:

https://www.apple.com/sg_smb_5200/shop/product/MB571Z/A/mini-displayport-to-dual-link-dvi-adapter

along with the original 150W power source.

Purchased this on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07HLPKGCT/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The adaptor worked like a charm!

Plug the display's USB cable into the computer. For FireWire you need a Thunderbolt 3 adapter

Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter - Apple

and a FireWire adapter.

https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MD464LL/A/apple-thunderbolt-to-firewire-adapter

Yes, I have. (With a caveat.)

I have a new M1 Mini and a 2006ish 30-inch Apple Cinema HD Display.

What worked?

This: StarTech.com USB 3.1 Type-C to Dual-Link DVI-I Adapter - Digital Only - 2560 x 1600 - Active USB-C to DVI Video Adapter Converter (CDP2DVIDP), Space Gray.

What didn't work?

Combining my Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter with any USB-C to Mini DisplayPort adapter. I tried three different brands. One fired up the monitor only to go black after a few minutes. The rest were duds. Each of the adapters I tried said they were compatible with the Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter, but they didn't work in my setup. (In an Apple discussion somewhere, someone pointed out that the M1 Mini's tech specs spell out that it doesn't support Mini DisplayPorts, so that could be why.)

The caveat?

There's no scaling. So while everything looks sharp and crisp at 2560x1600, all system dialog boxes and the system font are too small. I've gotten around this (a bit) by increasing the Finder and program font sizes, but I'm still not thrilled with how small many elements are. If I find a solution, I'll report back.

Thanks, 850cc. 🙂

The last adapter you posted (https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B07QKM856C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) is similar to the one that works here in the U.S. For anyone reading, there are no sleep issues with the StarTech adapter.

I did speak with a tech at Apple, who was surprised I found something to work and said this about the scaling:

"So in this case, the macOS doesn't have any specific options native to help alleviate your issue. I actually believe that either this issue is specific to the compatibility of the adapter you're using (signal lost in translation) and/or that specific adapter itself.

I might advise testing with another type of external display, a Thunderbolt Display would even help clarify this for us."

Question: Do your system boxes scale? (e.g., alert boxes, open and save boxes, system preferences box, program start windows, system fonts). Mine are on the small side. Readable, but not scaled like they were on my 2015 Retina MacBook Pro running Mojave (using the Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter to connect.) I'll take some screenshots today to show the difference, as I'm going to be contacting the StarTech to see if they have any thoughts. I predict lots of eye strain and headaches may come with it.

Hi

Instead of going for the https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B07QKM856C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Would this also be an option to get the Apple 30'' Cinema HD display to work on the Mac Mini M1 ?

https://www.apple.com/nl/shop/product/MJVU2ZM/A/apple-hdmi-naar-dvi-adapter?cid=aos-nl-seo-pla

Or does it have to a Dual Link adaptor ?

Hi,

I write to you from a Mac mini M1 connected to the Apple Cinema Display 30 inches with the 2560x1600 res. I have the following set-up:

Connect the display to an Apple dual link adapter (https://www.apple.com/sg_smb_5200/shop/product/MB571Z/A/mini-displayport-to-dual-link-dvi-adapter) that you can buy in eBay or elsewhere.

Then connect the mini display output cable from the adapter to this mini display to usb-c adapter (https://www.amazon.es/gp/product/B076CY1KPR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) and from here directly to the Mac usb-c port.

Finally, the output usb from the adapter directly to the usb-A port in the Mac.

Voilá. No more hassle. By the way: a perfect combination.

;)