User profile for user: lemmy357
lemmy357 Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Connecting my old Macbook Pro to an old Thunderbolt Display

The standard "octopus" cable on my old 27" Thunderbolt display has had the Thunderbolt connector stop working. I have heard that you can bypass this and just plug a thunderbolt cable from the laptop to the back of the display (which has 3 USB-2 ports, one Thunderbolt 2 port, 1 firewire 800 port and one gigabit ethernet port). The problem is that it is nearly impossible to find a Thunderbolt 2 cable. My MacBook Pro is an A1502 from around 2014 so it only has Thunderbolt 1/2, USB2 and an HDMI output.


So what are my options to connect the laptop to the display?


  1. Find a used Thunderbolt 2 to Thunderbolt 2 cable (risky)
  2. Use a mini display port to mini display port cable (I'm not sure this would work, it says it only would transfer video, which is fine with me)


Are there any better options? Thanks.



MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.14

Posted on Mar 3, 2025 8:32 AM

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User profile for user: Servant of Cats
Servant of Cats
User level: Level 7
22,492 points

Mar 3, 2025 6:59 PM in response to lemmy357

There is no guarantee that a Mini DisplayPort cable would work.


Thunderbolt 1/2 cables and Mini DisplayPort cables both had Mini DisplayPort connectors on the ends. But, at least in the old days, Thunderbolt 1/2 cables were built to higher standards than Mini DisplayPort cables – and were more expensive than Mini DisplayPort cables.

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User profile for user: samtenor
samtenor
User level: Level 4
2,020 points

Mar 3, 2025 9:59 PM in response to lemmy357

MiniDisplay Cable WILL NOT work -- I have tried numerous time in hope to save money.

I tried different lengths and different manufactures - none.


Only Apple's 0.5m or 2m Thunderbolt 1/2 cable work.

It has become rare and rare to find these cable - sometimes even the price can cause some heartburn.


It's your call.


Best

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User profile for user: tbirdvet
tbirdvet
User level: Level 6
15,383 points

Mar 4, 2025 4:40 PM in response to lemmy357

Check this out:

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Connecting my old Macbook Pro to an old Thunderbolt Display

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