30" cinema display for new Mac mini 2018

HDMI adapters won't work with the 30" display. See the first reply in this thread for the correct adapters.

After much frustration I am delighted to report that I have found a solution for getting my 27" Apple LED Cinema Display (the one with the mini displayport male + magsafe power connectors) with the new Mac mini. This is the connector that worked: the UPTab USB-C Type C to Mini DisplayPort Adapter 4K@60Hz

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N4FQNYW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Note that the USB-C to Mini DisplayPort Adapter ITANDA adapter definitely DOES NOT WORK.

dan

Thank you, Beamengine, for posting this photo 🙂, but could you please also post a close-up photo showing the adapter plugged into the back of your Mac Mini and the mini Display cable plugged into the adapter. Like Mario, I was also told by Apple Support that plugging it into a C-port (Thunderbolt 3) wouldn’t work, and it didn’t work for me. But perhaps my adapter is wrong/bad? It’s a j5create USB Type-C to 4K Mini DisplayPort adapter. Could you post the link to the exact adapter you have there? Many thanks!

Thank you so much for this information. I wish that I had seen it, as it may have altered my purchase decisions, and I wish Apple had been more informative, but maybe that is not in their best interest.

There are no HDMI to dual-link DVI adapters. There are some that use dual-link DVI connectors but they are only single-link.

The Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt adapters won't work with display adapters or displays (except Thunderbolt displays).

You need a USB-C to Mini DisplayPort adapter

https://www.uptab.com/uptab-usb-c-type-c-to-mini-displayport-adapter-4k-60hz-sil ver/

to use with a Mini DisplayPort to dual-link DVI adapter (don't forget to plug in its USB cable).

https://www.amazon.com/Mini-DisplayPort-Dual-Link-DVI-Adapter/dp/B0751RL35H/ref= sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1541296673&sr=8-3&keywords=Mini+DisplayPort+to+dual-link+DVI+ adapter

(Many USB-C to Mini DisplayPort adapters don't support DVI adapters. The one I linked says it does support them.)

@Mario: Yes, 2018 Mac Mini driving a 30" Cinema at full resolution via a Topelek adapter from Amazon. Worked straight out of the box as my second monitor. Works exactly as you would want it to. No set up or tweaking. – see photo!

Hello everyone

This is my connection set up (left to right):

1. Power

2. USB-C port: (silver) Topelek adapter driven by Apple Mini-DP to Dual Link Adapter (MB571Z/A), connected to Apple 30"

3. USB-C port: (black) cable direct to Eizo display port

4. USB-3 port: to HD

5. USB-3 port: to USB-2 hub, into which is plugged the USB-2 cable from the Apple adapter (MB571Z/A)

Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter - Apple (UK)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B074M2T8L2

You do need to connect the USB plug from the Dual-Link DVI adapter to the computer with a USB-A(F) to USB-C(M) adapter.

https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MJ1M2AM/A/usb-c-to-usb-adapter

This provides power to the Dual-Link DVI adapter and USB connection to the display (whose USB cable is plugged into the USB port on the adapter). The display's USB connection is for brightness control and for the USB ports on the back of the display.

Hello,

I have the new (2018) Mac Mini now, with the USB-C to Mini DisplayPort adapter plugged into a USB-C port and connected to my 30” Apple Cinema Display. It doesn’t work. I talked to Apple today (11/12) and they said they’d talk to their engineers to see of this display is compatible with the new Mac Mini, and he’s going to get back to me on Wednesday morning (11/14) with a definitive answer on this (but from what he was able to tell me, it didn’t sound hopeful). I’ve also tried the HDMI port with the DVI to HDMI adapter, and that gave only scrolling verticle bands on the screen. When I hear back from Apple on Wednesday (11/14), I’ll come back here to post his answer.

Update: Connecting 30” Cinema Display to new (2018) Mac Mini, using Apple’s HDMI to DVI adapter.

Talked to Apple today (11/14); the steps the guy had me go through on start-up didn’t work. He said he would take his notes back to the engineers and call me back on Saturday (11/17) with some different options. I’ll come back here to update at that time.

Hey Wildetommy,

Thanks for your feedback.

It is a shame that the Mac Mini HDMI Output can't drive our beautiful ACD 30" !

HDMI 2.0 is able to handle a resolution up to 3840 × 2160 at 60 Hz !

Hope Apple will release a firmware update for the Mac Mini or the DisplayPort to DVI Dual Link adaptator !

Regards

Kara

I followed Malcolm's advice, but with a different USB-C to Mini DisplayPort adapter:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B074M2T8L2

I'm happy to report this one also works well – useful for UK purchasers as the Uptab is expensive to buy from the US.

One small glitch – I use two monitors: a modern Eizo, which has no trouble running off USB-C, the other is my 30-inch Apple Cinema display.

I find that it's best to boot with the Apple display not connected and then connect once the Mac Mini is up and running.

Hi, Kara~

I was surprised that when I spoke with Apple Support about using the 30" Cinema Display, they could not give me a straightforward yes/no answer to my yes/no question: Does the 2018 Mac Mini support the Apple 30" Cinema Display? And these community support answers give conflicting info on this yes/no question; i.e., nowhere (yet) have I seen a simple "Yes, it works" or "No, it doesn't work" in any of this. Or why is it so difficult to find a clear yes/no answer? Presently I am waiting for the Apple Support guy to call me back on 11/14/18 with some info. I'll come back to post with an update later that day.