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I'm contemplating purchase of the new M2 Pro Mac Mini. I want to be able to use an older Apple Thunderbolt Display and an older Apple LED Cinema Display with new machine. Is this possible? What will I need to do to connect it?
Thanks in advance.
Hi, Bill_Abt
Yes, you sure can use either an Apple Thunderbolt Display or an older Apple LED Cinema Display with your new M2 Pro Mac Mini. for the first one, Apple is happy to sell you a Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2/Thunderbolt 1 adapter which should let you use your Thunderbolt Display with your new M2. For the second one, it's a MiniDisplayPort with audio Support, so you can use the HDMI port on your new M2, or one of the Thunderbolt 4 ports.... with either an HDMI to MiniDisplayPort adapter or Thunderbolt 4 to MiniDisplayPort adapter.....
the above picture is for the Thunderbolt 4 to mini display port and the below one is for hdmi to mini displayport
john B
Hi, Bill_Abt
Yes, you sure can use either an Apple Thunderbolt Display or an older Apple LED Cinema Display with your new M2 Pro Mac Mini. for the first one, Apple is happy to sell you a Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2/Thunderbolt 1 adapter which should let you use your Thunderbolt Display with your new M2. For the second one, it's a MiniDisplayPort with audio Support, so you can use the HDMI port on your new M2, or one of the Thunderbolt 4 ports.... with either an HDMI to MiniDisplayPort adapter or Thunderbolt 4 to MiniDisplayPort adapter.....
the above picture is for the Thunderbolt 4 to mini display port and the below one is for hdmi to mini displayport
john B
The Mac Mini has its own power so doesn't need to get power from the display. The warning is for laptops that get power via their Thunderbolt/USB-C ports. When the laptop's Thunderbolt/USB-C port is connected to a LG Ultrafine display, it send the display data to the display and the display provides power to the laptop over one connection. This can't happen with the Apple Thunderbolt display using the Thunderbolt adapter, so another port on the laptop is needed for power. Some laptops have only one port, so can't get power when using the Thunderbolt adapter, hence the warning.
Yes, sort of.
This doc shows the adapters available for the Thunderbolt 4/USB-c ports on your Mac mini:
Adapters for the Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, or USB-C port on your Mac - Apple Support
If you click on the link under the "Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2" section, it will take you to:
https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MMEL2AM/A/thunderbolt-3-usb-c-to-thunderbolt-2-adapter?
Which will tell you:
"However, using this adapter with an Apple Thunderbolt Display requires a power source, because the display does not provide power through the adapter."
Without elaborating further, leaving one to wonder things like:
• Doesn't the Mac mini supply power to the port?
• If I need a power source, which power source?
Old displays on new M2 Pro Mac Mini
