Apple Cinema Display 30’’ with M1 Apple Silicon Mac

I contacted upTab via an email (who knows if they will respond). In the meantime, I think I have found someone who is willing to test out the Mini DisplayPort version of the Apple Cinema Display soon. No promises but fingers crossed. I asked that they provide the information of which adapter they use.

I have the 27" Thunderbolt Display and the USB-C Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter. I just plugged it in and am only getting 1280 x 720 resolution from my M1 MacBook Pro. I will try restarting and see if anything changes.

Ok. Restart did the trick. Getting up to 2560 x 1440.

[See above]

Not sure if I can delete this post.

I have the 27" Thunderbolt Display and the USB-C Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter. I just plugged it in and am only getting 1280 x 720 resolution from my M1 MacBook Pro. I will try restarting and see if anything changes.

Ok. Restart did the trick. Getting 2560 x 1440.

@Schampootje

If my backside you refer to the back of the screen, then I don't need any adapters. The screen has only USB-A and firewire ports so I just plug in devices which are native in either one or the other standard.

If backside refers instead to the back of the Mac Mini, then I just use an Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter. But please note that what I'm using is a 27" Apple Thunderbolt Display (if you own a 30" Cinema display, if I'm not mistaken, your screen is not Thunderbolt compatible so you would need a different type of adapter - which, as far as I understand, Apple does NOT produce/sell)

Not sure whether I was of any help but let me know if I can help further. :-)

@Schampootje

sorry, I'm not sure to understand which second cable you refer to.. Do you mean the mag safe power plug? If that's the cable you mean, then I just don't use it since the power plug which goes into the Mac Mini is different...

Not sure if that addresses your question...

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

Hi

Just successfully connected my 30" apple Cinema HD to my Mac Mini M1 using a

USB Type C to DVI-I DUAL LINK from scan.co.uk.

Cost £42.97including delivery.

Few initial hiccups but all working perfectly. I did upgrade OS to 11.0.1 before setting it up (used an old monitor with HDMI)

I'm here searching because my 30" display is not working. I am using the J5create USB-C to Mini DisplayPort (Supports mini display port to Dual-Link DVI adapter from Apple). I have been using this adapter on about every other kind of Mac, but on my new M1 mini it is only providing 1280x800 and 1024x640 resolutions. I see that rafb just posted it worked with another interface, so perhaps the J5Create has a problem. I am running 11.0.1 and no dice so far. Still love the 30" Cinema Display, but a 4K would certainly improve the experience on the new Mini.

have OWC 1400 Thunderbolt 3 arriving soon, 14 port model, for M1Mac-mini already here.....Looking for clues as to 30 " Apple Cinema Display, Plus Apple 23" cinema display, hoping for dual display set-p.....like it works so well on 2008 MacPro tower....would like to work sooner than later......Newest OWC Thunderbolt Port configuration comes with Thunderbolt 4 Ports, M1 mac-mini 2020 arriving tomorrow.....OWC Port for 14 connections, due in a day or two.....any dicussions re. Thunderbolt 3 ,being replaced by Thunderbolt,4??? Trade-ins??? jbd

I confirm that these adapters are working. The trick is to hold down ALT when you are in system preferences > displays and then you can select 2560x1600 as a scaled resolution.

https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B07QKM856C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

If you have displayport adaptor on your 30" display then this one works too.

https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B076CY1KPR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have them both.

Last week I was on the phone with with apple support and the conclusion was that these displays are legacy hardware and unsupported on new M1. Well thank you for nothing Apple. Why don't you mention that in the specs of the M1

This proves them wrong.

IT WORKS

Addendum to my post above.......I now have my M1 Mac-mini and the Other World 14 port Thunderbolt 3 Dock....and a new question........It turns out that OWC offers a dual DisplayPort with Thunderbolt 3..... Has anyone tried to set up dual 23" Apple cinema display and 30" display using these OWC offerings?? Perhaps, also Using the apple USB-C to USB adapter???

As the iChing advises.....may perseverance further.....Cheers! in any case......... jbd2u2

I had got the Apple Cinema Display (30", 2014 version). I had got an apple mini-DP to Dual-Link-DVI adaptor, and it works fine with my laptop (Macbook Pro 15" 2017 touch-bar and Mac Mini 2011) with an additional Type-C to mini-DP adaptor.

Yet when I use the same setting with two adaptor on the Mac Mini M1, the max resolution is just 18XX by 800, and I tried with the MacBook Pro M1 as well, it is still 18XX by 800. Not sure what's the problem, I guess it might be the hardware conflicts. So that I just bought another LG 32inch 4k monitor for the M1 MacMini, and it works fine, as I don't want to waste too much time to testing the Apple Cinema Display.

I think I will try another adaptor to have try, as some comments said it works with Type-C to DVI adaptor, will keep this post updated.

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?