Connect Thunderbolt display to a DVI Mac?

This device at the Apple online store should do the trick, for US$130.

Kanex C247D Single-Link DVI to Mini DisplayPort Converter

Alternatives are to replace the graphics card. the 5770 runs about US$250., the 5870 about US$450. GT120 (not a high-performance card) runs about US$150

I have a similar question. I have a brand new MBP with Thunderbolt. Work just bout me a 27' Thunderbolt display. Great so far. I also have a high-end Dell laptop. I want to connect the DVI out on the Dell base station to my Thunderbolt display. I have a mini-display port to DVI adapted. Plugged that into my MBP Thunderbolt display and got the second monitor up on from my MBP. Now when the new Thunderbolt monitor gets here, I am really hoping that I will be able to reverse the flow and connect from the DVI out of my Dell base station, to the DVI-mini-diplayport and into the back Thunderbolt port and then display the image on the Thunderbolt display.

Can anyone confirm??

Best,

Kevin

I can confirm that Mini DisplayPort to DVI converter works ONLY from a Mini DisplayPort computer port to a DVI display. The reverse direction is not supported by those converters, but there are other much more expensive ones that will convert DVI computer ports to Mini DisplayPort display.

available cheaper if you search.

For what it's worth... I just talked to the Apple Sales folk on the 800 number and the tech implied that Apple was working on an adapter that would allow connecting the display to sources other than thunderbolt.

Just wanted to chime in on this:

You can not use a DVI to Mini Display Port converter to get display on the thunderbolt.

I bought a Dual Link DVI to Mini Display Port and plugged it into the thunderbolt monitor and got no picture.

it doesn't work.

After talking to Apple and others, they said it must send a thunderbolt signal.

Mini Display Port, while the same size, will -not- send a picture to the Apple Thunderbolt Display. The Thunderbolt Female port is Backwards Compatible with Mini Display Port devices, however the Male is not backwards compatible.

So, a Cinema Display will work on Thunderbolt MBPs but a Thunderbolt Display will not work on Mini Display Port MBPs

Hello Guys,

I am in the same situation as Kevin (hoffmanFamily4) with MBR 2011 and DELL laptop for professional use.

I intend to buy the thunderbolt display however given the price of the product I need to ensure it is compatible with a DVI source (from DELL docking station).

Mark Lederer mentioned a possible adaptor to come, any news on this?

Thanks,

Bertrand

ensure it is compatible with a DVI source

At this writing, the ThunderBolt display requires a ThunderBolt computer.

Berthand, Regard an aledged adapter... I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for it. Think about it, Apple would prefer you upgrade the computer and they don't even make their own minidisplay port to HDMI adapter. I suspect the techie I spoke to was confused regarding exactly what we want to do. So I have a perfectly good MBP that can't use a Thunderbolt display, my wife has a new MBAir. We'll probably just buy a cheap DVI display from Best Buy for now.

This forum does not deal with notebooks.

Intel not Apple is responsible for the technology and it does need to have a motherboard and chipset to support those displays.

check Inel and Wikipedia

you can't retrofit but you should be able to take native TB interface and connect up other display outputs of course, just not the reverse.

ack don't overpay on that markup buy one 3 inches bigger online for the same price

Apple's hold on Intel's thunderbolt technology ends in 2012. After that it's anyone's ballgame I guess. Possibly a thunderbolt PC video card will be coming out sometime after that.

Hi Kevin

I'm new to all this MAC stuff so am in the early stages of conversion. I too have a high end PC with DVI output and would like to connect it to my nice new 27" Thunderbolt display that is attached to my MBP via the thunderbolt port.

Did you manage to sort it out? If so what did you have to do please?

Thanks for any help you can give

Well, my Thundebolt display, connects only to my MBP. Tried all combinations.

What I ended up doing is assigning my work laptop PC a static IP address and remoting into it. It actually works nicely in that I can use the new 'natural' scrolling and set it to have it's own desktop.

Best,

Kevin

Thanks Kevin

NOT the answer I wanted - needless to say - my problem is that the MBP will be out with me and my wife needs to use the PC - on the desk with the Thunderbolt display.

As far as I can see there are only 2 solutions - find a miracle box from somewhere or.....get a bigger desk!!

All the best and thanks for your working solution