I just bought mac mini, have old cinema display with 3 wires coming out of it. Been reading some of the posts and wonder if I should just buy a new monitor. If I do, does it matter what kind? As long as has HDMI link should be ok right? Or do I need thunderbolt? I can't afford another $1000 for an apple monitor
Mac mini
Which monitor do you have?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Cinema_Display
The preferred monitor is one with a displayport or mini displayport input. The Thunderbolt port accepts a mini displayport plug for video. You can purchase a cable with a displayport plug on one end and mini displayport plug on the other for about $10
read this
about what monitor you can get then
any VGA(sub-D) DVI, Displayport, hdmi monitor should work
Please identify the exact model of your Cinema Display and the MacMini, otherwise we can only guess at solutions to your issue.
I can't tell but we bought it with the power g5. 20 inch screen.
If the display gets it power from the connection to the computer, which is likely for a G5, then your monitor has ADC connection since that connection also supplies power. In that case you need one of these:
If the monitor has it own power supply that plugs into a wall outlet then you need a mini displayport>DVI adopter
http://www.startech.com/AV/Displayport-Converters/Mini-DisplayPort-to-DVI-Active -Adapter~MDP2DVIS
I think the monitor also has a USB connection to use the USB ports on the monitor as well as a FireWire connection to use the FireWire ports on the monitor
If you have 2014 Mac Mini then you need a Thunderbolt>FireWire adopter to use the FireWire ports on the monitor
If the monitor has 3 wires coming out of it, as described by the OP, it wouldn't be the ADC model.
It would still help if you identified the model of your MacMini. None of them had G5s, so I assume that is what you had when you got the Cinema Display.
Mac Mini just picked up yesterday from mac store. Middle one that cost 699. Cinema display came with g5 back in 2005. 20 inches. I think we'll just get a new monitor. I'm not home so I don't have model#. Sorry. Thanks for all your help.
The you would need a Mini-Displayport to DVI adapter. You plug the Mini-Dispalyport end into one of your Thunderbolt ports.
The 3 cords from the Monitor are most likely:
1. A USB cord to connect to one of your MacMini's USB ports, this would allow the USB ports on the back of the monitor to be used (they will be only USB2 though). It will also facilitate the use of the keyboard keys for controlling the monitor's brightness.
or
Illaass is right about the Firewire extension. You would need a Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter to connect that and then the connections on the monitor would only be Firewire 400.
2. The DVI connects to the DVI end of the adaptor.
3. Then there should be a power cord that attaches to a AC power brick.
mac mini and cinema display
