Can I connect the new MacBook Pro 2016 (USB C) to a Cinema Display 30?

I ran the following test on my MacBoo Pro prior to going over to my friend's house to test with his iMac:

1. Connected the Apple dual link DVI adapter USB plug to an iPad 10W power cube.
2. Connected the Apple dial link DVI adapter DVI port to a DVI to HDMI cable.
3. Connected the Apple dual link DVI adapter MDP port to the USB-C to MDB adapter.
4. Connected the other end of the DVI to HDMI cable to a 1280x800 Eyoyo flat panel (it's a small monitor that's easy to cart around).
5. Plugged in the USB-C to MDP adapter into my MBP.
6. Brought up About -> Displays and saw that both displays were detected.
7. Brought up About -> System Report -> Hardware -> Graphics/Displays -> Radeon Pro 450 and saw that both the internal Retina display and the external Eyoyo display (called AAA here) was detected.

I was able to see a desktop on the external display without issue. This tells me that I don't need a 30" Cinema Display to test this problem on the iMac (whew! those things are heavy ;-)

Radeon Pro 450:

Chipset Model: AMD Radeon Pro 450

Type: GPU

Bus: PCIe

PCIe Lane Width: x8

VRAM (Total): 2048 MB

Vendor: ATI (0x1002)

Device ID: 0x67ef

Revision ID: 0x00ef

ROM Revision: 113-C980AF-908

Automatic Graphics Switching: Supported

gMux Version: 4.0.29 [3.2.8]

EFI Driver Version: 01.00.908

Metal: Supported

Displays:

Color LCD:

Display Type: Built-In Retina LCD

Resolution: 2880 x 1800 Retina

Pixel Depth: 32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)

Main Display: Yes

Mirror: Off

Online: Yes

Rotation: Supported

Automatically Adjust Brightness: Yes

Connection Type: DisplayPort

AAA: <--- this is the external Eyoyo display

Resolution: 1280 x 800 @ 60 Hz

Pixel Depth: 30-Bit Color (ARGB2101010)

Mirror: Off

Online: Yes

Rotation: Supported

Adapter Type: Apple Mini DisplayPort To Dual-Link DVI Adapter

Automatically Adjust Brightness: No

Adapter Firmware Version: 1.03

I ran the following test on my MacBook Pro prior to going over to my friend's house to test with his iMac:

1. Connected the Apple dual link DVI adapter USB plug to an iPad 10W power cube.
2. Connected the Apple dial link DVI adapter DVI port to a DVI to HDMI cable.
3. Connected the Apple dual link DVI adapter MDP port to the USB-C to MDB adapter.
4. Connected the other end of the DVI to HDMI cable to a 1280x800 Eyoyo flat panel (it's a small monitor that's easy to cart around.
5. Plugged in the USB-C to MDP adapter into my MBP.
6. Brought up About -> Displays and saw that both displays were detected.
7. Brought up About -> System Report -> Hardware -> Graphics/Displays -> Radeon Pro 450 and saw that both the internal Retina display and the external Eyoyo display (called AAA here) was detected.

I was able to see a desktop on the external display without issue. This tells me that I don't need a 30" Cinema Display to test this problem on the iMac (whew! those things are heavy ;-)

Radeon Pro 450:

Chipset Model: AMD Radeon Pro 450

Type: GPU

Bus: PCIe

PCIe Lane Width: x8

VRAM (Total): 2048 MB

Vendor: ATI (0x1002)

Device ID: 0x67ef

Revision ID: 0x00ef

ROM Revision: 113-C980AF-908

Automatic Graphics Switching: Supported

gMux Version: 4.0.29 [3.2.8]

EFI Driver Version: 01.00.908

Metal: Supported

Displays:

Color LCD:

Display Type: Built-In Retina LCD

Resolution: 2880 x 1800 Retina

Pixel Depth: 32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)

Main Display: Yes

Mirror: Off

Online: Yes

Rotation: Supported

Automatically Adjust Brightness: Yes

Connection Type: DisplayPort

AAA: <--- this is the Eyoyo monitor

Resolution: 1280 x 800 @ 60 Hz

Pixel Depth: 30-Bit Color (ARGB2101010)

Mirror: Off

Online: Yes

Rotation: Supported

Adapter Type: Apple Mini DisplayPort To Dual-Link DVI Adapter

Automatically Adjust Brightness: No

Adapter Firmware Version: 1.03

Thanks for this ScottCycle! I have two 30" Cinema displays and I just got my new 15" MBP last night. I saw your post a while back and ordered a set of the GooQee USB-C to DisplayPort adapter and the CableMatters DisplayPort (male) to Mini Display Port (female) cable for each display. I also had the Apple Mini Display Port to DualLink-DVI adapters from when I used my older MBP with these displays. Since the new MBP only has 4 USB-C ports, I bought a Belkin 4-port USB-3 powered hub to power the Apple adapter and give me two additional USB-3 ports (the MBP's ports are full with power, USB hub and the two GooQee USB-C to DisplayPort adapters). I am running macOS Sierra (10.12.2), and my MBP has the 2.7GHz Intel i7 processor and the Radeon Pro with 2G (not the 4G configuration). So far, the internal laptop display and both external displays are stable and performing well. I have read other folks having issues where the external displays will flicker or blank out and come back. I am watching for this and will report back here if I notice any anomalies with my setup.

Can anyone tell me if it would make sense to get the MBP with the 4G Radeon memory configuration? I'm not quite sure what difference I would see between the two configs. I do mostly software development on my system, but occasionally do photo and video editing as well with I used to do on my MacPro (desk side tower) that was loaded up with 2 high-end nVidia cards. That machine has outlived it's useful life as a video editing system.

Thanks again ScottCycle - I needed a new laptop and really wanted the newer MBP (even though I now carry around a few miles of adapter wiring ;-) but also didn't want to loose my 30" Cinema displays, which I think are one of the best monitors ever made. I really appreciate you figuring out a working config!

Hi Robert,

The only thing I can think of is to try your other display and see if the adapters work with it. Also, are you using exactly the same adapters? (See below)

Can you see what version of firmware your Apple adapter has? This didn't matter much for me, I have two adapters that work, one has version 1.03 and the other has version 1.01, but perhaps the firmware version may be affecting your set-up differently?

I've seen the display go dark while still being recognized by the computer, but I don't think it is the same as what you're experiencing. For me, it usually seems to happen after I've stepped away and both the laptop and 30" display have gone to sleep. I'll come back and open up the laptop and on the laptop display, I'll see the windows I expect to see when the big screen is working, rather than all of the windows crowded onto the laptop, which happens when I'm not connected to the big screen, and my cursor can go off screen into the territory where the big screen should be, but the big screen is still sleeping, and won't wake up. I usually have to restart to get the display to work with the computer again.

Adapters that don't work: I have been trying to get a second 30" display working, so I'm still shopping for connectors to make it work. Since I have a working set of cables, I can test new parts pretty definitively. The Goo-quee adapter I have has jumped in price from $15 to $25, so I've been looking for a cheaper option. I bought two different USB-C to displayport female adapters (for $8 or $9 each) and neither one works. In both cases, the 30" display is not recognized and doesn't light up, but when I take them out and put in the goo-quee adapter back in their place, the display fires up and works normally. Oddly, when I contacted the sellers about a refund, both said the same thing. "Sometimes our adapters are defective. We'll refund the purchase price. Don't bother returning the item."

The Goo-Quee is white and has a little circuit board inside the female display port end. Both of the adapters that don't work have black molded plug-ends. It doesn't look like there is room for a circuit board inside the molded plug ends. See photo below.

(Here's a photo of the goo quee adapter that works for me and the Tech Orbits adapter that doesn't.)

Here are the details for the two adapters I tried that did not work:

1. eForCity BasAcc USB Type-C Adapter, USB-C to DisplayPort Female SuperSpeed White

2. TechOrbits USB 3.1 Type C (USB-C & Thunderbolt 3 Port Compatible

I'm sorry your displays aren't working for you. It's extremely frustrating, I know. I wish I could be of more help. Good luck! Please post if you figure out how to get your display(s) working.

Hi, to all following this topic:

I can confirm that ScottCycle's solution works provided high quality adapters are used.

Furthermore, as I tried many adapters:

Apple's own mini-displayport to USB-C does not work.

All active (USB powered) dual-link DVI adapters did not work.

My first attempt at ScottCycle's combination (mini-displayport female <—> displayport male) + (displayport female <—> USB-C) did not work, but with a "better" (displayport female <—> USB-C) it did work.

In a final attempt I bought an "expensive" (mini-displayport female <—> USB-C) and that works too, eliminating one connection.

I got my working connectors from Lindy and from Weini electronics (via Amazon…). All the others did not work and were sent back.

My conclusion is that something mysterious is going on that is not filtering through all the advertising nor the forums nor the specifications. I suspect there are two main factors: (1) perhaps for some adapters not all internal leads are connected from pin to pin (this is certainly true for some DVI cables) and (2) the quality of the contacts and leads may play a role too (this is certainly true for very long cables such as longer than 3 metre HDMI cables where good shielding and high condictivity and gold plating may help, but I have some trouble seeing how that would be the case for an adapter which is only a few cm long.) That said, in one case the Macbook would see the display and let me use it in the System Preferences arrangement panel, but no image would appear. Mystery.

My current setup has both of my Cinema displays running satisfactorily:

One is connected via the Scott's combination (mini-displayport female <—> displayport male) + (displayport female <—> USB-C) and the other via the single (displayport female <—> USB-C).

But it took me a month to get there, and ScottCycle's response for encouragement to persevere.

My final suggestion: make sure the adapter specification mentions "4K" which is a high definition standard.

Okay-- I have everything connected to the new iMac--and bupkis. The iMac's own screen is the only one in System Preferences > Displays. The Cinema Display is dark.

I wonder if I made the right connections. The Cinema Display has a hydra-headed connector that splits into four:

1. The power connection is in the power brick, and I do see the power light active on the Cinema Display. I tried unplugging this for half a minute, and reconnecting -- no joy.

2. The large display connection goes to the corresponding port in the Apple "Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter".

3. The USB is plugged into the USB connection on the big Apple adapter.

4. The last connector from the Cinema Display has an icon that looks like a zipper, and is unconnected, since I don't see a match for it on the back of the iMac.

The other end of the big Apple adapter has two parts; one connects directly to the iMac, and the other connects to the "USB 3.1 Type C Adapter to Mini DisplayPort" adapter, which goes into a USB port on the iMac.

Now what?

😕

Thanks,

David

I have my Apple dual link DVI adapter's USB plug plugged into the little power cube that came with my iPad - it's rated at 10W, and the 30" Cinema Display is working properly. Here is what my About -> Displays screen shows:

and here is what my Hardware -> Graphics/Displays -> Radeon Pro 450 screen shows; note the Adapter Firmware Version property. I have read that there are different firmware versions ion these adapters and it's not clear to me if the firmware on these can be updated or not, that might be your issue. Also, there is nothing shown under my Thunderbolt section, which makes some sense because I believe that the video is a separate path from the Thunderbolt data path, even though they share the same physical connector.

Radeon Pro 450:

Chipset Model: AMD Radeon Pro 450

Type: GPU

Bus: PCIe

PCIe Lane Width: x8

VRAM (Total): 2048 MB

Vendor: ATI (0x1002)

Device ID: 0x67ef

Revision ID: 0x00ef

ROM Revision: 113-C980AF-908

Automatic Graphics Switching: Supported

gMux Version: 4.0.29 [3.2.8]

EFI Driver Version: 01.00.908

Metal: Supported

Displays:

Color LCD:

Display Type: Built-In Retina LCD

Resolution: 2880 x 1800 Retina

Pixel Depth: 32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)

Main Display: Yes

Mirror: Off

Online: Yes

Rotation: Supported

Automatically Adjust Brightness: Yes

Connection Type: DisplayPort

Cinema HD:

Display Type: LCD

Resolution: 2560 x 1600

Pixel Depth: 30-Bit Color (ARGB2101010)

Display Serial Number: CY9100KAXMP

Mirror: Off

Online: Yes

Rotation: Supported

Adapter Type: Apple Mini DisplayPort To Dual-Link DVI Adapter

Automatically Adjust Brightness: No

Adapter Firmware Version: 1.03

Scottcycle solved this directly above.

Re: Can I connect the new MacBook Pro 2016 (USB C) to a Cinema Display 30?

The Apple USB-C to ThunderBolt-2 does not pass DisplayPort, so it is useless for this task.

You need a third-party USB-C to [Full size] DisplayPort, then a stunt cable to Mini DisplayPort, then the Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI adapter, then a power source applied to its USB pigtail.

ScottCycle,

This is a significant accomplishment that you are sharing with us. Thank you!

I did not know what to do when I read the "Note" part of Apple's "Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter".

- - -

Note: This adapter does not support DisplayPort displays like the Apple LED Cinema Display or third-party DisplayPort and Mini DisplayPort displays.

- - -

It's brilliant that you have overcome this limitation with a combination of GooQee's connector and Bytecc's cable.

May I ask how you knew that the GooQee-Bytecc combination would work?

Sorry it's not working for you. I wonder if the iMac USB 3.1 port doesn't do video like the ports on the MacBook Pro do. Any chance you can borrow a new MacBook Pro with USB-C and plug it into your adapter to see if it will work? You could also try a USB-C to HDMI adapter on your iMac to see if you get video that way (not with you 30" Cinema Display of course).

I looked up the specs for your iMac on Apple's site and it shows that you've got two Thunderbolt ports which support video. Do you have Thunderbolt 2 or 3 (i.e. which vintage iMac do you have as discussed in that link above?). I'm guessing you have Thunderbolt 3 since you write "my new iMac". What USB-3 to MDP adapters are you using? The Amazon ones I have been using? One thing you might try is to connect the USB cable from your Apple DVI adapter to a stand-alone USB power supply (a 10W Apple brick should be fine). Just a WAG but maybe your iMac USB ports can't supply enough power for the DVI adapter. I had my DVI adapters plugged into an external Anker 10port USB-C hub and not directly into my MacBook Pro.

I went to my friend's house today and tried my setup on his new iMac. I experienced the same issue as you did - no video, and nothing in the About -> Hardware ->Graphics/Displays section. I tried powering the dual link DVI adapter from both the iMac and from a 10W iPad power cube, but got same results. When I powered the adapter from the iMac, the adapter's USB hub showed up which meant that it was getting power. I then plugged the USB-C connector into my MacBook Pro to verify that everything still worked with that, and it did. Note that in no case did the dual link DVI adapter show up in any of the About screens, which is the same behavior that I saw on my MacBook Pro if I didn't have a monitor connected. It seems that the system will only show the dual link adapter if there is an active display connected to the DVI port.

I also wanted to be sure that the iMac could actually output video form the USB-C port, so I connected a USB-C to HDMI adapter (the Apple multi-function one) and connected that via HDMI to my Eyoyo monitor, and everything worked properly. So - perhaps the issue is that the USB-C to MDP adapter you are using doesn't work with the iMac for some reason, but does work with the MacBook Pro.

I did find this thread: HowTo: Connect 2017 iMac to an Apple 27" LED Cinema Display where the author claims to have a working solution with an Apple 27" LED Cinema Display with MiniDisplay Port connected to a new iMac with USB-C. The thread lists a different adapter than the one you and I have been using by using three products from Monoprice:

I have a USB-C to DisplayPort adapter that looks exactly like the Monoprice one; I purchased the GooQee USB-C to DisplayPort adapter from Amazon in late December and used that with my MBP and 30" Cinema displays until I found the USB-C to MDP adapters that I recommended to you. I decided to switch adapters because I didn't want to have the extra DP male to MDP female cable. It's possible that the Monoprice or GooQue adapter might work for you (don't forget the DP male to MDP female cable or the MDP coupler). I won't have time to go back to my friend's house to test with his iMac but I might be able to get the Apple Store to let me test with one of their iMacs.

Soshul--

>>the Apple mini display port to USB-C adapter

Apple does not sell an adapter with that name.

The device they sell is called:

Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter -- $49.00

and it contains a disclaimer:

Note: This adapter does not support DisplayPort displays like the Apple LED Cinema Display or third-party DisplayPort and Mini DisplayPort displays. For more information, visit the Apple Support page for the Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter.

I successfully connected to a 30" Dell display with two devices:

• USB 3.1 Type-C to Mini DisplayPort (about $20 from Amazon for generic)
• Mini DisplayPort to Dual Link DVI (mine from Accell for $100, but MonoPrice has them for $50)

The latter is an active adapter, so you also need to supply power via USB-A.

I get 2560 x 1600 with no issues. Years ago I had the Apple MDP-DLDVI converter, which was expensive and glitchy, and eventually died. The 3rd party converter has been much more reliable.

I also tried, and did not succeed, with "USB-C to 4K HDMI" adapter, connected to an HDMI-dual link DVI adapter. It's possible that first adapter was not actually 4K despite being advertised as such.

I tried Scott's approach --- same adapters --- as well as a handful of other adapters...

Unfortunately, the display would flicker on / off every 5 seconds or so for me. An other combination of adapters yielded either a blank screen or distorted lines (likely due to the display only receiving a single link instead of dual-link).

This is unfortunate for all of us that love our 30" displays. Arguably Apple's best display for content creators to this day. I ended up returning my 2016 MacBook Pro because I don't feel it's worth re-investing into displays. Just as well, Apple ceases to provide a well design and fully integrated option.

Craig,

Sorry to hear that. I actually have two of these displays (one for home and one for work.) Both act the same, but perhaps they are both of identical vintage. (Don't know for sure, since the second one was bought used from a Craig's List ad.) You've probably tried everything already. I tried to find a model or serial number for my work display (the one I bought used) but can't find anything on the case or in the apple menu > "about" > "displays."

Scott