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I am attempting to connect an Apple Silicon Mac Mini, MacBook Air, and/or MacBook Pro to a 30" Apple Cinema Display at native 2560x1600 resolution.

The same question for Intel Macs with USB-C is asked here:

I'm attempting to use the same chain of adapters as listed in those answers, which I have personally tested to work on an Intel USB-C Mac:

  1. M1 Mac (USB-C / Thunderbolt 3)
  2. USB-C to Mini DisplayPort adapter
  3. Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter
  4. Apple Cinema Display 30" (Dual-Link DVI)

However, this combination does not seem to work on my M1 Mac Mini.

I get no screen response on the M1 Mac. The monitor's power light is on, and USB-passthrough of my keyboard and mouse works fine, but the screen is not recognized by the Mac.

Do Apple Silicon Macs with Thunderbolt 3 require specific adapters, different from previous Intel Thunderbolt 3 Macs?

The Mac Mini-based Apple Silicon Developer Transition Kit (DTK) did not work with the Apple Cinema Display; I'm hoping that limitation was removed from the shipping version.

I'd like to continue to use the 30" Apple Cinema Display + Apple Dual Link DVI Adapter. Which additional adapters are needed to use that Mini DisplayPort output with an M1 Mac?

Discussion:

pkamb
  • 8,791
  • There was another thread with some other suggestions. Does this help? – karolus Jan 17 '21 at 01:53
  • I can't test this, but have you tried any USB-C to DVI adapters instead? https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-USB-DVI-Adapter-1920x1200/dp/B01BJ0JCBC?th=1 – da4 Jan 22 '21 at 16:43

3 Answers3

1

I purchased a new USB-C to Mini DisplayPort adapter.

This adapter works fine connected to an M1 Mac, Apple Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter, and 30" Apple Cinema Display.

Biming USB-C DisplayPort

I was previously using the same type of connector, but a few years older and from a different brand:

But that adapter does not work on my M1 Mac. It does work with Intel USB-C Macs.

I would be interested to know why the original adapter does not work. Do M1 Macs require some additional spec?

pkamb
  • 8,791
1

The new USB-C to Mini DisplayPort adaptor shown should work, but make sure you connect the USB2.0 lead to the computer. You don’t need to connect the FireWire 400 to anything.

Tigger
  • 11
1

For what it's worth, this adapter works for me. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be available on Amazon at the moment.

The only glitch I experience is that the Cinema Display does not wake up when my MacBook Pro wakes up. I have to unplug the adapter, plug it again, and then everything works at full resolution.

nohillside
  • 100,768
Dominique
  • 372