Mac Studio Max M2 blinks when connected to Apple Thunderbolt Display

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Mac Studio Max M2 blinks when connected to Apple Thunderbolt Display

Hi all! The new Mac Studio Max M2 blinks when connected to the Apple Thunderbolt Display via the Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 adapter (the screen starts to go out after 5-7 seconds, then turns on until it turns off completely) Apple Thunderbolt Display works fine for me with the MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2012) and MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) I connected a Mac Studio Max M2 via HDIM to an LG TV, everything works. I ask for help on how to get Mac Studio working with Thunderbolt Display

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Posted on Feb 4, 2024 12:35 PM

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Answer 1

Feb 4, 2024 8:30 PM in response to AlexO5O

Other ways to tell those two displays apart:

The 27" LED Cinema Display has model number A1316. It has no FireWire or Gigabit Ethernet ports.
The 27" Apple Thunderbolt Display has model number A1407. It has both a FireWire 800 port and a Gigabit Ethernet one. There's only a single FireWire port, because the upstream connection is through Thunderbolt.

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Answer 2

AlexO5O Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 5, 2024 12:56 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Grant Bennet-Alder wrote:

the first question is whether you are certain you have a Thunderbolt Display, and not an Apple Cinema Display 27-in.

the Apple cinema display LED from 2011 features lead-in cord with three connectors:

It includes three USB 2.0 ports and a convenient single cable with three connectors (Mini DisplayPort, MagSafe, and USB 2.0), a built-in iSight camera with a mic and a 2.1 speaker system.

from:

https://everymac.com/monitors/apple/studio_cinema/specs/apple-led-cinema-display-27-inch-specs.html

The Apple Thunderbolt Display 27-in looks identical, but has a lead in cord with ONLY TWO connectors:

In addition to the built-in Thunderbolt cable, the display also has a built-in MagSafe connector that charges a Thunderbolt-equipped MacBook Air or MacBook Pro.

from:

https://everymac.com/monitors/apple/thunderbolt/specs/apple-thunderbolt-display-27-inch-specs.html

I have a Thunderbolt display

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Answer 3

AlexO5O Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 5, 2024 9:51 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thank you everyone for your advice and the time you spent solving the problem. I'll buy a Thunderbolt-2 cable, check it, and write the result.

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Answer 4

Feb 4, 2024 2:49 PM in response to AlexO5O

the first question is whether you are certain you have a Thunderbolt Display, and not an Apple Cinema Display 27-in.

the Apple cinema display LED from 2011 features lead-in cord with three connectors:

It includes three USB 2.0 ports and a convenient single cable with three connectors (Mini DisplayPort, MagSafe, and USB 2.0), a built-in iSight camera with a mic and a 2.1 speaker system.

from:

https://everymac.com/monitors/apple/studio_cinema/specs/apple-led-cinema-display-27-inch-specs.html

The Apple Thunderbolt Display 27-in looks identical, but has a lead in cord with ONLY TWO connectors:

In addition to the built-in Thunderbolt cable, the display also has a built-in MagSafe connector that charges a Thunderbolt-equipped MacBook Air or MacBook Pro.

from:

https://everymac.com/monitors/apple/thunderbolt/specs/apple-thunderbolt-display-27-inch-specs.html

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Answer 5

Feb 5, 2024 7:37 AM in response to AlexO5O

the biggest reason an otherwise working display blink off is that the connection cabling is generating transmission errors.

Recent Macs with latest MacOS are listening for this errors, and will either reduce resolution or shut off the display is it produces errors.

Servant of Cats suggested above that you could use your own ThunderBolt-2 cable, plugged directly into the Thunderbolt-2 PORT of the Apple Thunderbolt Display. That would be a good next experiment.

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