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.

@Kara_69

Just got an email back from UPTab, they said and I quote "Yes, our adapter is compatible with apple new M1 chip."

I linked this Adapter in my email to them:

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

In addition, it looks like the person who has kindly offered to test the Mini DisplayPort version of the Apple Cinema LED Displays will have a collection of adapters to test. Keep our fingers crossed that we finally get some good news.

I will reply back with any findings here. Holiday and all coming up so be patient.

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. :-)

Thank you ratephi, sorry, I live in Belgium, dutchspeaking. I understand that ‘backside’ is confusing. I mean, what do you do with the second cable from the Thunderbolt- screen? Do you also have an 2th adapter of some kind to your mac mini m 2020?

@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...

Dear ratephi, thank you for the answer, i did meant the “mag safe power plug”. I thought it gave power to the ports on the backside of the Thunderbolt screen. I’m planning to buy one second hand. But I understand this is another topic (and an other port :-)

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.

Rafb, That was it. Big Sur was just hiding the resolutions from me. I didn't quite understand their instructions but I held "option" while clicking on "Scaled" and it then shows all the resolutions including the 2560 x 1600. Not sure why Apple feels compelled to hide these other resolutions. If you click "scaled", they really should show everything. Anyway, thanks for the pointer.

So I think I have the answer. I am returning my M1 mac mini. (sad face)

I have an Apple 30" Cinema display, connected to the Apple Dual Link DVI adaptor to Mini DP, then Mini DP to USB-C.

I also have a second display connected to HDMI.

There are some oddities that you need to be aware of. I think the limits are around how the display outputs are prioritised in the M1 mac mini.

Yes, you can get the full native resolution working, but it's a pain.

Big Sur seems to forget the display arrangement constantly. I think there are workarounds, but I am not certain. Basically the HDMI display ALWAYS gets priority / main screen status. The native cinema display res is forgotten constantly, and sometime the screen disappears completely, and you have to replug it.

There is a trick to hold option whilst clicking the 'scaled' list of resolutions to reveal the native res, but even this sometimes doesn't work, you need to go to default res (1280x800) then go back to 2560x1600.

So, all in all, we need Apple to give us a more pro M1 (or M2?) based machine before we can