can I connect a 27'' LED Cinema Display to a Thunderbolt Display?

(d@mn edit timeout in these forums)

Here's an apple article on the subject of TB chaining:

Apple Thunderbolt Display (27-inch): Connection options for Thunderbolt Macs

Key portion of that article:

Mini DisplayPort displays will not light up if connected to the Thunderbolt port of an Apple Thunderbolt Display (27-inch). Displays connected via Mini DisplayPort video adapter to the Thunderbolt port of an Apple Thunderbolt Display (27-inch) will not work. Connect Mini DisplayPort displays directly to a Thunderbolt port on a Thunderbolt-capable Mac or to a compatible Thunderbolt peripheral. If the Mini DisplayPort display is connected to a Thunderbolt peripheral, the display should be connected at the end of the Thunderbolt chain.

You can plug a mini-displayport device into a TB connection. But I don't know if you can chain displays, i.e., plug a mini-displayport 27" display into the TB connection of another 27" TB display which is in turn plugged into a new TB mac (see some links below).

On the other there should be no problem plugging in your 27" mini-displayport display directly into the TB connection of new macs.

Related article:

Confusing Mini DisplayPort with Thunderbolt

With respect to chaining here's an article on the subject:

Apple Thunderbolt Display with Multiple Monitors: No Daisy Chaining Mini DisplayPort Monitors [Updated]

Other info can be found by googling "chaining thunderbold display to a mini-displayport display".

I have not mentioned any adapters so be careful!

I have macbook pro 2011 early with one Thunderbolt port. Like I said before, what I do is connect the LED Cinema Display to the EXT Lacie Thunderbolt Drive then with another thunderbolt cable connect the ext drive (have to have 2 thunderbolt ports on it) to the Thunderbolt Display. Then use the build in cord from the thunderbolt display to connect it to your laptop. In this way the Thunderbolt display is the last device in the chain and all works well.

Hope this helps

Guys, The way I have it is like I explained it in the beggining. Cannot really comment if those hubs will work on not. The only way to find out is try it so make sure you can return the item if it does not work like mine.

LED Cinema display- Lacie ext Thunderbold HDD - Thunderbold display - Mac using the all in one cord!

Tha main thing is the Thunderbold display needs to be the last in the chain that connects to your mac with all in one cord!

You can chain them but you need another thunderbold device like I have Lacia ext Thunderbold HDD. Then you plug the LED Cinema to the Drive and then you plug the drive to the thunderbold display. Finaly connect TB display to your mac using the all in one cord!

Done.

Have it, tested it so it works.

I am not quite sure about this and how the hub will label the inputs. The whole problem is that the Thunderbolt Display have to be the last one in the chain.

To answer your question we need to know if there is a difference between the Hub and any other thunderbolt device with 2 ports. I guess the only way to find out is to try one and if it does not work return it.

In the situation you just described, do you connect the Cinema Display to the LaCie ext thunderbolt HDD with a mini display port and then the HDD to the Mac thunderbolt port with a thunderbolt cable? I've spent the whole day trying to figure this out and if I go buy all the wrong stuff tomorrow I'm gonna be kinda ******! Thanks.

I have my 20" LED Cinema attached to LaCia Little Big Disk with a Mini Display port to DVI. I then have a thunderbolt cable running directly into the back of my iMac. When I have it all connected the screen pulses blue and my iMac doesn't recognize that I have a second monitor plugged in so I can't select "arrangement" to extend my desktop.

Bonyo,

In your setup, you describe the following:

MAC -> Thunderbolt Display -> Thunderbolt External Hard Drive -> MiniDisplay Port Display

Is this correct? And this is working with no issues whatsoever for you?

I ask because I have a Dell U2711 Displayport monitor and a new Mac Mini 2012, I don't want to get rid of the Dell Monitor because it allows me to connect other devices to it (i.e. XBOX 360, Blu-Ray, etc.). I'd look into getting a TB monitor just for the second display...

I have macbook pro (early 2011) with 1 x thunderbolt port.

I had an LED cinema display and now I also have a thunderbolt display and want to extend my desktop to both displays.

I have tried this but the LED display is not working.

MBP > TB display > LED Display

Do I need to do this?

MBP > TB Display > TB Hub > LED Display.

Belkin makes a TB Hub (Belkin F4U055CWAPL) and am wondering if that will do the trick.

Need to ask becasue the TB Hub is several hundred euros!

Please help as I just spanked €1024 on the TB display and would rather not have to go and buy another one as the LED display works great and looks the same.

Can a Thunderbolt hub be used instead of a hard drive?

A Mini DisplayPort display or adapter won't work directly with a Thunderbolt display but will work if the Thunderbolt drive is between the Thunderbolt display and the Mini DisplayPort device.

I believe I followed your directions exactly, but my screen pulses blue when I do this. Any thoughts?

What is your exact configuration... all the hardware on the chain?