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Connect new Macbook (USB-C) to dual-link DVI display?

I have a new Macbook (12 inch, Retina—love it), with a single USB-C socket. I also have an (old) Apple Cinema HD Display which would like a dual-link DVI connector.


How can I connect these two together? There doesn't seem to be a combination of Apple adapters/connectors that will do the job for me.

MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016), OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)

Posted on Aug 9, 2016 8:05 AM

Reply
34 replies

Sep 10, 2017 3:19 AM in response to charliebn

Arktek have tried hard with me, I feel, to solve this problem [UBS/Thunderbolt3>single link DVI Adapter to link my old 23" Apple Cinema Display]. Artek are now on the point of doing a 4096x2160 USB/Thunderbolt3>DVI adapter and they sent me one [v quickly indeed] to try.

Unfortunately, with my old Apple 23" Cinema Display [Aluminum] which is single-link [I think and unlike the similar Apple 30" dual-link Display] this works no better/less fuzzily than Arktek's 1920x1200 Adapter. So that means both their current and new adapter do "work" but not clearly enough for me to do spreadsheets etc - and quite unlike the clarity of screen-image I get with my 2012 MacBook Thunderbolt>DVI Apple Adapter.

None of the other USB/Thunderbolt3>DVI adapters I've tried [Starteck, Cable Creation, Camac, Plugable] work at all or only flicker v fast - and Kanex, Glaxio etc don't bother to reply [via Amazon]

So the pain remains in my particular *ss.

Any suggestions of what WILL work and at the full 1920x1200 resolution .... yes PLEASE!

Oct 8, 2017 1:34 PM in response to charliebn

This works:


ITANDA usb c to mini displayport. works at 60 Hz refresh.


https://www.amazon.com/ITANDA-DisplayPort-Aluminium-resolution-ChromeBook/dp/B01 N2ORP84/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1507494578&sr=1-1&keywords=itanda


only issue is it takes the single usb port on a 12" macbook. for dual dvi, you need to power the adapter with an external usb power supply. Also you lose being able to power the laptop


I tried the UPTab that is supposed to work the same but with a power socket to power the laptop as well. unfortunately it doesnt work to pass video. I have not tried other similar ones. \

Dec 21, 2017 8:26 AM in response to zteve.powell

I have the Dell 3007WFP and had to go through many combinations of cables to find something that worked:


- Monoprice active Dual-DVI-to-mini DisplayPort 1.1 + USB adapter

- Amiroko USB3.1 Type C to mini DisplayPort adapter


I am typing on the Dell 3007WFP at 2560x1600 right now with that combination of adaptors.


What didn't work:

- USB3-to-HDMI, then HDMI-to-Dual-DVI

- Various other combos of adaptors


The active displayport adaptor seems to be the requirement.

Aug 9, 2016 8:23 AM in response to zteve.powell

You'll need the USB-C to HDMI digital av multiport adapter first.

http://www.apple.com/shop/product/MJ1K2AM/A/usb-c-digital-av-multiport-adapter


Then an HDMI to DVI adapter

http://www.apple.com/shop/product/MJVU2AM/A/apple-hdmi-to-dvi-adapter


Plug the adapters together and into the USB-C port. Then Plug a DVI cable from the HDMI to DVI adapter to the Cinema Display, and the USB cable from the Cinema display to the USB-C av multi port's USB port.

Aug 9, 2016 9:46 AM in response to Phil0124

This most likely will only work in single link DVI mode: or up to 1920x1200


As far as I know there aren't any HDMI to dual-link DVI adapters.

There do exist active HDMI to DisplayPort adapters that support up to 2560x1600@60Hz and there are active DisplayPort to Dual-link-DVI adapters that support 2560x1600@60Hz.

Sadly external displays on my MacBook 2016 isn't very stable in general, so that makes testing these adapters is difficult on the 2016 model.

Nov 7, 2016 1:00 AM in response to Camuel

Thank you for the suggestion. Although helpful, this solution suffers from the same problem as nearly every USB-C adapter solution: there isn't a multi-hub for USB-C connections: this means that either I connect my external display or I charge my Macbook, I can't do both at the same time.


For now I have a single-link DVA connection (via a HDMI multi-link adapter for the macbook USB-C), and it is acceptable. It isn't the best resolution, but I can keep my macbook connected to power, and, more importantly, keep my iPhone plugged in and charging as well.


Apple will eventually have to step up to the multi-hub USB-C problem as all these devices move to USB-C.

Connect new Macbook (USB-C) to dual-link DVI display?

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