Have an old Apple display that still works ? Even with the former Thunderbolt 5 - equipped M4 Pro Macs , you may still plug it in — with the right connection — and put it to utilise . You might find the solvent is too low as your primary display , but an older Apple monitor can be great as a secondary ( and even 3rd ) sieve or for Macs that are used as kiosks or for other purpose .
These older video display include connectors that predate USB - C. From 1999 until 2016 , Apple sell a series of outside display that cycled through port type . The displays first feature the then - received DVI connective , shifted to the Apple - made ADC connector , then back to DVI , expand to treble - link DVI , pivoted to the more full - featured ( and more wide adopted ) Mini DisplayPort , and ultimately end with Thunderbolt 2 connectors .
( Apple returned to the market in 2020 with its own Thunderbolt 3 display , thePro Display XDR ; it costs a minimum of $ 5,000 . It sell the more affordableStudio exhibit , which starts at $ 1,599 . These two models work without adapters with Thunderbolt 4 and 5 . )
The back of the Apple Thunderbolt Display.
Many reader have involve us over the years about whether they could cop up one of the 1999–2016 display to a Mac with Thunderbolt 3 or later , and the good news show is that you may in most typesetter’s case . This is true even with Thunderbolt 5 , which appeard first on the M4 Pro Mac mini model , and which maintains full backward compatibility with all the features find out in Thunderbolt 3 and 4 .
For more entropy about connect a standard display to a Mac , see :
Connecting an older display to Thunderbolt/USB-C
In this clause , I discuss compatibility with Thunderbolt 3 and by and by , which relies on the USB - C connector . All of Apple ’s current Macs include Thunderbolt 4 or 5 . Apple ’s edition ofThunderbolt over USB - Calso allows for backwards compatibility with Thunderbolt 2 and , by using adapters , can directly connect to HDMI , DisplayPort , and USB 2 and 3 , among other standards . Docks put out compatibility further , with Mini DisplayPort , VGA , DVI , and other data formatting .
Apple bring out just one Mac model with a USB - degree centigrade connector but lack Thunderbolt 3 or recent backup : the 12 - inch MacBook that the society introduced in 2015 , update in subsequent days , and discontinued in 2019 . I ’ll note below exceptions for clearness .
Because it ’s more probable you have access to a newer Apple Display than an senior one , I ’ll handle the four digital standards Apple used in reverse parliamentary law : Thunderbolt 2 , Mini DisplayPort , ADC , and DVI ( let in two-fold - link DVI for larger displays ) .
The back of the Apple Thunderbolt Display.
If you ’re not sure what display you have , look at the back to find its model telephone number ( not its name , which often remains the same across many revisions ) , then enter that contingent into Google to find the full proficient specifications and connective eccentric .
Finally , a MagSafe warning . Apple offered MagSafe and MagSafe 2 connectors with some of its later - generation monitors to countenance you apply the display as a hub : secure in one or two cable and MagSafe , and your laptop was set to go . Apple has never licensed MagSafe 1 , 2 , or 3 for charge to third political party , even though you could find MagSafe “ adapters ” for USB - C , these products likely violate Apple patent and have n’t been certified by Apple . ( Apple bewilderingly also expend the term MagSafe for itswireless , Qi - compatible iPhone charging standard , which has been licensed to a few third parties , like Belkin . )
As a event , if you use an unlicensed MagSafe - to - USB - C adapter and it damages your Mac , you could lose your data processor and unbacked - up data for the small-scale convenience of reusing the display ’s charge port , and it ’s plausible that Apple would endeavor to deny warrant mending ( if it remained under warrant ) . Just take the one - whiz reviews on these products for more contingent . I ’ve noticed that retailers are cracking down on their sale , as there are almost none currently available at Amazon as I write this .
DisplayPort connector symbol (left); Thunderbolt 2 (right)
Thunderbolt 2
The back of the Apple Thunderbolt Display .
From 2011 to 2016 , Apple sold its Apple Thunderbolt Display , a 27 - inch 2560×1440 - pixel monitor that swear on a Thunderbolt 2 connecter to post data to and from a Mac along with a MagSafe or MagSafe 2 connexion ( look on model ) for charging . The proctor sport a 720p iSight ( front - facing ) camera , mic and utterer , and several connections : a Gbit ethernet porthole , a FireWire 800 embrasure , and three USB port .
DisplayPort connecter symbol ( left ) ; Thunderbolt 2 ( right )
Apple LED Cinema Display
you’re able to look at the squat Thunderbolt 2 jack to find a lightning - bolt symbol to ascertain it ’s not an earliest monitor that uses an identical - appearing connector soma , but only handles Mini DisplayPort . ( That symbol is a rectangle with a vertical ancestry on either side . )
Apple sells aThunderbolt 2 to Thunderbolt 3 adapter($49 ) that lease you simply plug the Apple Thunderbolt Display into the arranger and the arranger into a Thunderbolt 3 , 4 , or 5 larboard . Much cheaper adapters are available from third parties at Amazon , such as theAnswin USB - C to Mini DisplayPort adapter . ( Note : This doesnotwork with the discontinued 12 - inch MacBook , which let down many purchasers in the past tense . )
While the Thunderbolt 2 transmission line does n’t power a Mac laptop , it should allow employment of all the other ports on the display . If you have trouble getting the photographic camera to work , see only a black feed , attempt this put-on to fix a software agentat Stephen Foskett ’s blog .
Apple 30-inch Cinema HD Display
Mini DisplayPort
Moving back in prison term , we look at the LED Cinema Display . A 24 - in simulation ( 1920×1200 pel ) was sold from 2008 to 2010 , and a 27 - inch version ( 2560×1440 picture element ) from 2010 to 2013 . This display serial sported a three - cease cable with a USB 2.0 plug , MagSafe power , and a Mini DisplayPort . It also had a 480p iSight camera , a mic , speakers , and a USB 2.0 hub with three ports built into the back .
Apple LED Cinema Display
Even though Thunderbolt 2 and later all hold DisplayPort video recording using the DisplayPort criterion , the fashion in which that signal is put over the wire get the Mini DisplayPort and Thunderbolt 2 version incompatible with each other . puzzling , I sleep together , and an irritant for mass since early Thunderbolt day .
To use an LED Cinema Display with a modern Mac over USB - 100 , you need an adaptor or a dock . Either adaptor or dock can be USB - degree centigrade compatible ( for a 12 - column inch MacBook ) or Thunderbolt 3 or later compatible .
You have three solid pick for adapters :
With dock , options abound , but the cost is far high . If you are bet to deliver an LED Cinema Display and do n’t involve the array of other ports in a dock , consider purchase a far less expensive DisplayPort or HDMI display and apply a USB - C adaptor for either of those formatting to connect to your Mac .
However , if you want the portsandto connect an 24 - in or 27 - column inch LED Cinema Display , consider a dockage like theOWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock($180 ) . It brings two Thunderbolt 3 ports to the mix , as well as gigabit ethernet , a combo sound in / out jack , optical ( S / PDIF ) yield , Mount Rushmore State and Micro SD Card slots , and four USB 3.1 Type - A ports . It endure coinciding display via Mini DisplayPort and Thunderbolt 3 or after .
ADC and DVI
in the end , we ’re all the means back to the early grasp of digitally connected Apple LCD display of a usable size . From 1999 to 2004 , Apple released the 22 - inch Apple Cinema Display ( DVI in 1999 , ADC in 2000 ) , the 23 - column inch Cinema HD Display ( ADC , 2002 ) , the 20 - inch Apple Cinema Display ( ADC , 2003 ; DVI , 2004 ) , and the 23 - in ( DVI , 2004 ) and 30 - column inch ( twofold - link DVI , 2004 ) Cinema HD Display models . These ranged from 1600×1024 picture element for the earliest to 2560×1600 for the last largest admonisher .
Apple 30 - in Cinema HD Display
For all the DVI - based display except the 30 - inch HD poser , you’re able to turn to a dewy-eyed , inexpensive adapter . For displays with ADC , you will have to find oneself on eBay or elsewhere an ADC to DVI adapter , which were once plentiful . You might even have one in your junk box of old adapters . ( Do n’t seek to put one over me ; I know you have one . )
A few well - review adapters let in one fromBenfei($9.99),Cable Matters($24.99 ) , andWeton($20.49 ) . Weton ’s transcriber also supports end product to VGA and HDMI .
The two-fold - data link DVI port wine on the 30 - column inch Apple Cinema HD Display requires a different approaching to pair together the separate DVI signals that repel the larger display . At least one reader had success withthe Club 3D dual - link DVI to USB - C adapter($53 ) .
you could also opt to rule an Apple Mini DisplayPort to Dual - Link DVI Adapter , which is no longer fabricate but shows up on eBay and elsewhere from fourth dimension to time . This adaptor pair with a Mini DisplayPort adaptor or dock with the larboard remark for Mini DisplayPort - era proctor has worked for some .
You might also be concerned to say : How to use a Mac laptop or iMac with a check exhibit .
