27" Apple Cinema Display with M4 Pro Mac mini?

I could be wrong – but I believe that many Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapters are unidirectional. They are meant to be used with the Mini DisplayPort end plugged into the video source / computer and the HDMI end plugged into the display. If you try to use them in reverse, you won't get a signal.

You say that this is an older 27" Apple Display. Make sure that you have identified it properly, so that you can get the appropriate adapter.

• The 27" LED Cinema Display (model A1316) has a hydra cable with three heads. It needs a DisplayPort signal, and so you could use a USB-C (male) to Mini DisplayPort (female) adapter. You may also need to connect the USB head (in some fashion) to control the brightness of the monitor.
• The 27" Apple Thunderbolt Display (model A1407) has a hydra cable with two heads. It requires Thunderbolt input, and you would want to get the Apple Thunderbolt 3-to-2 adapter.

If you get the pairing of display and adapter backwards, the plugs will physically fit, but the display will not get the type of signal it is looking for, and you will not get a picture.

baehnt wrote:

Is it possible to modify brightness and sound?

Connection only on the front of the Mac mini?

• If you want to be able to adjust brightness, I believe that you will need both a mDP connection and a USB one.
• It will not be possible to connect the display using only the front-panel USB-C ports. They do not carry video. The only ports that can carry video are the three USB-C ports, and the HDMI port, on the back.
• While the mDP connection must be to the back, the USB connection can be to any USB-C port, front or back.

Try to use a USB Type C to Mini DP Mini DisplayPort Conversion Adapter Male to Female Cable 4K @ 60Hz (18cm) you get online or in a store. Mine from sicotool at amazon for 15 € worked perfectly. My Mac mini M4 Pro drives now a Studio Display and the (old) Cinema Display as well. :-)

I have 2 Apple LED Cinema Displays (Mini DisplayPort versions) connected to a Mac Mini M4 Pro. The solution that worked used https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07V828R4Q?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1 for one monitor through one of the Thunderbolt 5 rear ports, and https://www.amazon.com/dp/B099Z3P12J?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1 through the HDMI port. Both displays work great. The Answin adapters were the only ones that worked for me.

Yes, at least it works for me. You can adjust the brightness on what screen you are with the mouse pointer with an Apple or compatible Keyboard (I´m using Logitech with Apple Layout). However I did not check the sound, since I´m using the speakers from the Studio Display but I´m heavily sure it works as well, since the brightness works fine. Hope it helps.

It just works - having the right adapter.

@ macminim4pro

Can you also adjust sound and brightness?

Yes

Yes, but I needed to connect the USB connection from each Apple LED Cinema Display thru an Anker USB C Adapter (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HZ6PS61?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title) which now occupy the left and right USB C ports on the back of the Mac Mini M4 Pro.

HI folks,

Hoping someone can help.

Yesterday I bought a Mac mini M4 Pro which I can return within 2 weeks for "change of mind". I'm testing it to see if it's compatible with my Apple LED Cinema Display 27-inch (the model with the three-in-one cable featuring a mini Display Port).

To connect the Mac mini to the Cinema Display I'm using an UPTab USB C to Mini DisplayPort Adapter (4K@60Hz) USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 to MDP Adapter with Power Port for New M2 MacBook Pro/Air, iPad Pro, Mac Mini M1/M2, iMac and More.

This combination works perfectly with full functionality when connecting the Cinema Display as a second screen for my iMac 27-inch Intel (the last model they sold).

Here's the thing... three issues become apparent when connecting the UPtab adapter to one of the USB-C ports on the back of the Mac mini M4 Pro and then connecting the other end of the UPtab adapter to the mini Display Port on the three-in-one cable of the Cinema Display.

(1) I can't adjust the brightness of the screen - the FI and F2 keys have no effect, whereas the volume F10, F11 and F12 keys do adjust the volume, but only on the Mac mini's speaker, not the Cinema Display's speakers.

(2) In System Settings/Audio the Cinema Displays' Input (mic) and Output (speaker) options are not displayed.

(3) The Cinema Display's camera is nowhere to be seen.

Any reason my UPtab isn't full functioning whereas the Answin apparently does it all?

Thanks,

Mark

[Edited by Moderator]

Hilarious! Two minutes after I posted the above plea for help... I switched which USB-C port I'm using on the back of the Mac mini for the USB adapter connected to the three-in-one cable's USB plug... and it worked!

Full functionality.

It's either a dodgy port or a dodgy adapter... more than likely the latter.

Anyway... problem solved.

I'm using the UpTab adapter on this display in conjunction with a 16 inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro. You can control the brightness if you go into the Displays system setting and turn on "automatically control brightness". Then the brightness can be adjusted from the keyboard in the usual way. Odd, but that's the case. This way I get to keep my indestructible 2011 27" LED display and save the price of a new monitor for on-my-desk use. Audio and iSight camera work fine, too. Too bad there's no way to get the old MagSafe to connect to the M4, but you can't have everything.

Is it possible to modify brightness and sound?

Connection only on the front of the Mac mini?