srpromo

Q: 27" Cinema to 2007 Mac Pro DVI

I just bought a new 27" Cinema Screen to use with my mac pro. The Cinema screen comes with a usb (male), minidisplay port (male), powerbook power plugin in the bundle that comes out of the back of the monitor. My MacPro does not have a mini-display port female port to plug this mini-display port into, it only has female DVI ports.

For some genius reason unless you have a mini-display port then you cant plug it in to use the **** thing. And APPLE has no adapters in the store for this obvious problem (meaning, no one can use the cinema display unless their machine has the female mini-display port)...

So after spending 45 min on the phone with the tards at the apple store, here i am.

What is the best adapter that is required in order to use this brand new beautiful cinema display with a Mac Pro that does not have a mini-display port.

Mac Pro Dual Core Xeon, Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Mar 2, 2011 2:22 PM

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Q: 27" Cinema to 2007 Mac Pro DVI

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  • by Malcolm Rayfield,

    Malcolm Rayfield Malcolm Rayfield Mar 2, 2011 3:00 PM in response to srpromo
    Level 7 (28,085 points)
    Mar 2, 2011 3:00 PM in response to srpromo
    You could replace your graphics card
    <http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC742ZM/A?fnode=MTY1NDA5OQ&mco=MTg2OTU0NzM>
    or use an adapter from DVI
    <http://www.atlona.com/Atlona-Dual-Link-DVI-to-Mini-DisplayPort-Converter-USB-Po wered.html>
  • by srpromo,

    srpromo srpromo Mar 2, 2011 4:35 PM in response to Malcolm Rayfield
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 2, 2011 4:35 PM in response to Malcolm Rayfield
    Malcolm,

    Have you done either of these...because $200.00 to have a monitor work seems asinine? Plus there's no USB hookup in the converter? Everything is supposed to run through the mini-display port?

    Thanks,

    Scott
  • by tdbmoss,

    tdbmoss tdbmoss Mar 8, 2011 5:00 PM in response to srpromo
    Level 1 (80 points)
    Mar 8, 2011 5:00 PM in response to srpromo
    There are big, expensive and reportedly unreliable adapters around (like the Atlona ones) that are supposed to convert DVI to Mini DisplayPort but I wouldn't recommend them - DisplayPort is a different technology so using either a Mini DisplayPort port (ie as Apple intended) or a full-size DisplayPort port with a cheap cable that converts it to a female Mini DP (this works fine as it's still all DP ie the same technology) is the only way - I'm using this display with the latter option, with a PC - of course with the Mac Pro the choice of graphics cards will be somewhat more pricey and limited, it is a great display though so worth doing if you can
  • by RawbDawg,

    RawbDawg RawbDawg Mar 12, 2011 1:00 PM in response to tdbmoss
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 12, 2011 1:00 PM in response to tdbmoss
    Similar problem here, but I have bought the Atlona converter and the problem I have now is that the settings don't allow me to have a display resolution higher than 1280x720 on the new LED display, while it has a 1440x990 on the color LCD of the MBP.
    The Atlona converter says it supports resolution up to 1920x1200 so where is the problem ? Is it the graphic card ?
  • by tdbmoss,

    tdbmoss tdbmoss Mar 12, 2011 1:07 PM in response to RawbDawg
    Level 1 (80 points)
    Mar 12, 2011 1:07 PM in response to RawbDawg
    1920x1200 would still be no good even if it was working at that as the 27" display's native resolution is 2560x1440 so anything lower is horrible - you do really need either a full-size or a mini DisplayPort connector to use this display reliable I'm afraid.
  • by RawbDawg,

    RawbDawg RawbDawg Mar 12, 2011 1:22 PM in response to tdbmoss
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 12, 2011 1:22 PM in response to tdbmoss
    OK, thank you for answering.
    So I will sell the Atlona....:-(, what do you mean by "full-size" and is there a mini DisplayPort connector that you know will work ?
  • by NullUnit,

    NullUnit NullUnit Mar 12, 2011 2:41 PM in response to srpromo
    Level 1 (114 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 12, 2011 2:41 PM in response to srpromo
    srpromo wrote:


    So after spending 45 min on the phone with the tards at the apple store, here i am.




    Hmm.. wouldn't researching a $1k purchase first be more advisable? Sorry, I tend to agree that Apple doesn't make it clear enough what systems can be used with the new displays. But... calling others "tards" because you didn't research is a bit ludicrous. I placed a 5 minute call to Apple support and they immediately told me the new displays won't work in a 2006 MacPro. That "tard" doesn't appear to work for Apple.
  • by tdbmoss,

    tdbmoss tdbmoss Mar 14, 2011 2:47 PM in response to RawbDawg
    Level 1 (80 points)
    Mar 14, 2011 2:47 PM in response to RawbDawg
    There are two types of DisplayPort, just "DisplayPort" and then "Mini DisplayPort" which is Apple's miniaturised version of the connector:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DisplayPort

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini_DisplayPort

    DisplayPort-equipped Macs are all Mini DisplayPort but DisplayPort-equipped PCs can have either, mine has a full-size DisplayPort connector which can be converted to Mini DisplayPort using something like http://estore.circuitassembly.com/products/Mini-Displayport-Female-to-Displaypor t-Male-Adapter-Cable.html

    However that won't help you as you only have DVI which can't reliably be converted to Mini DisplayPort as it is a completely different technology.
  • by gregmwashington,

    gregmwashington gregmwashington Mar 16, 2011 11:48 AM in response to tdbmoss
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 16, 2011 11:48 AM in response to tdbmoss
    Take a look at this diagram I drew up. Wondering if something like this would actually work...
    http://www.gregwashington.ca/_misc/displayissues/diagram.jpg
  • by Malcolm Rayfield,

    Malcolm Rayfield Malcolm Rayfield Mar 16, 2011 7:47 PM in response to gregmwashington
    Level 7 (28,085 points)
    Mar 16, 2011 7:47 PM in response to gregmwashington
    Take a look at this diagram I drew up. Wondering if something like this would actually work...

    <http://www.gregwashington.ca/_misc/displayissues/diagram.jpg>
    Yes for a 24" LED display, but it won't go over 1920 x 1200, so can't run a 27" at full resolution.
  • by Frank in Japan,

    Frank in Japan Frank in Japan Dec 11, 2011 1:52 AM in response to srpromo
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 11, 2011 1:52 AM in response to srpromo

    I have exactly the same question re a 2008 Mac Pro (with 2 x DVI connectors).  Is there a graphics card with Mini Display Port connector that I can just wack in and use a 27" Apple LED Cinema Display?