Connect Thunderbolt Display to Mini DisplayPort?

I would just a word of caution. My 24 LED Display (miniDsiplay port) is supposed to work perfectly with my new MAC Mini when connected to its Thunderbolt port. Apple clearly advertise that thunderbolt is backward compatible with miniDisplay.

Well, in my case, and the case of thousands equiped with either MAcbook Pro/Mac Mini with Thunderport, and an 24 LED Display with miniDisplay, it does not! We are all experiencing Black flickering, and other weird graphics issues.

See : https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3198411?answerId=15884484022#15884484022

lumiere wrote:

Did not yet get to the Apple Store - but called and the person I spoke to told me that the Thunderbolt display will indeed work with a MBP with Mini Display Port connected it - but that only the "display" pipe will be active. This would make sense as - why in the world would Apple bring to market a display thta was not backward compatible with a large portion of the installed base. The new Thunderbolt display will only work (for now at least until confirmed otherwise) with Macs. Now slice that even further ans say it will only work with new TB equipped Macs. That's a small number. Most folks with legacy Macs will buy in as when they updgrade / refresh, they will have the display alresdy equipped. So I think the answer appears to be "yes - it will work with older Mini Display port".

I surely hope so, however I still believe this is not a possibility otherwise I should be able to get my iMac 27" thunderbolt working with a former MacBook Air mini displayport under the same logic. By the way, I called the Apple store asking if they had a thunderbolt display available and the apple guy said quote "yes, we got some items in and I believe we did a store refresh a few days ago". I think explicitly indicated when I went last week they had cinema displays and to double check, after being on hold for about 2 minutes he returned confirming no thunderbolt displays on the floor yet.

I too want to get one of these nice displays for my current MacBook Pro (late 2008), instead of the non-TB model, as I will assume that I will eventually upgrade my Mac, at which point the TB would be more useful.

Previously I beleive (as recently as Feb) there was an update that required USB to be connected.

As the new display doesn't have the USB input (used previously by audio and firmware updates), then maybe you cannot apply firmware updates from non-TB enabled Macs

So currently I am assuming until (told otherwise) that

a) the display will work

b) none of the extra connection on the back of the display will work, apart from the magsafe connector

c) you will probably not be able to apply firmware updates via USB port on rear of display

This is such an obvious question that the ambiguity around it all seems deliberate. Either Apple thinks they will have support and customer relations nightmares around people buying something that appears to plug in to an existing computer but whose "new" features do not work; or they want to preserve the retail value of their existing inventory of displays. The point here about the impossibility of updating the firmware without a TB enabled computer is a serious one. I'm going to wait and get clearer information. I would hate to have to buy one of the old tech monitors, but we're probably 3 years from buying new laptops that will have the TB capability.

I actually just bought the older model from Anazon for $940

I wanted the Display sound, microphone, camera and USB hub to work, so I didn't get thunderbolt version

This model has 3rd party software that let's it work on Windows also

I think if I could use thunderbolt version with some adapter, I would only get picture and nothing else

The actual led display is identical either way.

I am happy with my setup

Here's a new article that basically covers and clears up all the new Thunderbolt display questions (same things I previously stated).

Enjoy!!

http://www.tuaw.com/2011/09/18/thunderbolt-display-daisy-chaining-spec-cleared-u p/

The thunderbolt display does not work on my 2010 Mac Pro, the thunderbolt display plugs into the ATi 5870 perfectly but no picture, I think I need either thunderbolt display drivers 1.0 for my Mac Pro or a thunderbolt GPU upgrade kit from the 2011 Mac Pro once it's released, i'm stuck with thunderbolt display and it's collecting dust on my desk unless i go buy a newer Mac but my current mac is only a year old spending other $7,500 on a Mac Pro just to use a thunderbolt display is crazy, I sure hope that Apple develops either adaptors, drivers or GPU upgrade kits, all I want out of the Thunderbolt display is video and to setup dual displays with my 27-inch LED Cinema but you guys remember a few years ago the 24-inch and 27-inch LED Cinema was not compatible with 2006-2008 non-mini display port Mac's but when bare feats did a test on there 2008 Mac Pro with a 2010 GPU upgrade kit a ATi 5870 it worked, then users with 2006-2008 Mac Pro started to upgrading to the ATI 4870, 5770, 5870 and Nvidia GT120 and using the 24-inch and 27-inch LED Cinema. I think late model Mac Pro users just need to upgrade there video card.

hi darrell, i have the exact same problem as you... also on a mid 2010 mac book pro. could you find any solutions yet?

i had a chat to apple support before i ordered to check compatibility issues and they assured me it will work... now i'm getting no picture on the thunderbolt display.

any help will be great!

No CRTC it will not work at all, You will need to get a thunderbolt enable MacBook Pro in order for the display to work, I'm taking my thunderbolt display back on saturday and exchange it for a LED Cinema Display, Don't know why Apple does this every time, Apple makes it harder and harder for those who want newer hardware with late model Mac's, it seems like we have to buy a new Mac everytime Apple comes out with new technology not everyone can afford a new computer every year which is not fair at all but my advice is to return your Thunderbolt Display and exchange it for the LED Cinema Display they look the same

thks darrell... wow, thats pretty shocking! will be taking mine back too this weekend. thks for the info.

@Darrell: I was also shocked to read your message since I'm in the same situation, but I just got off the phone with support and they told me to upgrade to Lion, because I'm using 1.6.7 and this was released at a time where Thunderbolt didn't exist in the OS yet. This makes perfect sense. He assured me that it will work with my 2008 MBP displayport once I've upgraded to 10.7.

I'll let you all know if it worked out.

@0x80 i'm currently running Lion 10.7.1 and the TB display does not work still, All I hear is people calling Apple support, I'm here to tell everyone it will not work you need a Thunderbolt enable Mac in order for the TB display to work, The TB display will not work on late model Mac's with mini display-port you will get a black screen, My advice to everyone is just buy the LED Cinema Display if you have a late model Mac or buy a new Mac

I can confirm this. I bought one after talking to a apple sales rep. on the phone, who said I could get a picture but nothing else (TB, USB, ethernet). That was wrong information.

Im NOT able to plug the new thunderbolt display into a mac book pro with a mini display port and get a picture.

FFS It's ridiculous this is such a common thing that will happen to loads of people. I really don't understand how they can be giving everyone false information. Older cinema display is not a good option for me. I'd rather wait since my computer will probably be replaced in a year.

Thanks everyone for clearing this up.

I tried plugging the TB into my 2010 MBP - NADA. I am running snow so maybe lion would make a difference, but...

Unless new confirmed info available, take "correct" reply to orginal post with caution.