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I have an old Mac Cinema Display monitor that I want to connect to a Thunderbolt 3 port on my new MacBook Pro laptop. How can I do this? I had this connected to a Thunderbolt 1 port on my 2012 laptop using a dongle. The monitor is still working great after more than a decade of use. Mac makes great stuff! But do they make any dongles that would work, or do I have to buy a new monitor?
https://everymac.com/monitors/apple/studio_cinema/index-cinema-displays.html
That is also a Single-Link DVI display not over 1920 wide, so would work with Single-lInk DVI and Dual-Link DVI adapters.
On your old computer, when you plug your adapter into the ThunderBolt port, it connects to the subset of those signals that are exactly Mini DisplayPort, and that performs a magical non-conversion to Mini DisplayPort. So although everyone would swear they were using ThunderBolt, they are NOT.
The ThunderBolt-3 <-> ThunderBolt-2 adapter supports only genuine ThunderBolt displays, and can not work with your display because it is not a ThunderBolt Display, it is a DVI display.
https://everymac.com/monitors/apple/studio_cinema/index-cinema-displays.html
That is also a Single-Link DVI display not over 1920 wide, so would work with Single-lInk DVI and Dual-Link DVI adapters.
On your old computer, when you plug your adapter into the ThunderBolt port, it connects to the subset of those signals that are exactly Mini DisplayPort, and that performs a magical non-conversion to Mini DisplayPort. So although everyone would swear they were using ThunderBolt, they are NOT.
The ThunderBolt-3 <-> ThunderBolt-2 adapter supports only genuine ThunderBolt displays, and can not work with your display because it is not a ThunderBolt Display, it is a DVI display.
Hi, How-do-I-xx and welcome to the Apple Support Communities. We understand that you'd like some help connecting your older Cinema Display to a newer MacBook Pro. We'll be glad to help you out with this.
If you're using a Mini DisplayPort cable with a Mini DisplayPort display, use a third-party USB-C to Mini DisplayPort adapter. Check with its manufacturer for compatibility with your Mac and display model.
This is the correct solution for the Apple LED Cinema Display.
For a more in depth explanation of different ports and adapters for this, and other applications, check out this article: Adapters for the Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C port on your Mac or iPad Pro
Thanks for reaching out.
Cheers!
Hi, thanks for replying. My Apple Cinema Display monitor is older than this, it does not have a mini displayport connection. Those came later. I have a dongle that connects to it at one end, and has Thunderbolt 1 male connector on the other end. This worked fine on my 2012 Macbook Pro, but now I need to connect to the Thunderbolt 3 port on my new MacBook Pro. How should I do this?
Thank you!
Karina184, thank you for the link. It looks like I need a Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adaptor to connect to the dongle that connects to the Old Cinema Display monitor. I will try this.
thanks again!!
The Apple Thunderbolt-3 <-> Thunderbolt-2 adapter ONLY works on genuine ThunderBolt displays, and generally cannot be adapter further.
EXACTLY which Apple Cinema Display are you trying to connect?
The Apple Cinema Display is the first one they ever sold. It has worked well with my 2012 MacBook Pro using a dongle with a Thunderbolt 1 connector to the Thunderbolt 1 port on the 2012 MacBook Pro. But now I have a new MacBook Pro with a Thunderbolt 3 port.
I hope by connecting my dongle to the Thunderbolt-2 to -3 adaptor, it will continue working with my new MacBook Pro.
¿Is this is your display?
https://everymac.com/monitors/apple/studio_cinema/specs/apple_cinema_display.html
If yes, it is a Single-Link DVI display less than 1920 wide. It will NOT work with the Apple Thunderbolt-3 <-> thunderbolt-2 adapter, which supports ONLY genuine ThunderBolt displays, and no others.
It requires conversion from USB-C to DVI, preferably in ONE adapter.
It MAY work with your current adapter AND a USB-C to Mini DisplayPort adapter, depending on exactly what adapter you already have.
Hi Grant,
It does not look exactly like the one in the pic at the link you sent. Maybe it is second generation Apple Cinema Display? Circa 2007 perhaps? It is mounted up on a centrally-placed stand. There is a DVI connection to the display monitor. My DVI-Thunderbolt adaptor allowed it to work fine with Thunderbolt 1 port on the 2012 MacBook Pro. you think it won't work to daisy chain the Thunderbolt 1 connection with a Thunderbolt 2-to-3 adaptor to connect to my new MacBook Pro?
Grant, thank you so much for your patient explanations. I have ordered a Club3D dual link DVI to USB(C) adaptor, with HDCP off for Apple Cinema Display. I will get it Wednesday and find out if it works! Thanks again, I am very grateful for your help.
Grant, using the link you sent and clicking on a link there, I see that I have the 23-inch (Aluminum) Cinema Display (1920x1200) active-matrix LCD display.
Hi Grant, it's working beautifully!!! THNK YOU SO MUCH!!
That is great!
But YOU did the heavy lifting --, I did not even have to leave my chair.
Congratulations!
how to connect an old Mac Cinema Display monitor to Thunderbolt 3 port
