How to Use Apple Cinema Displays (23" 27" etc) with You Mac Mini M4

[@FamilyGeekery]

Which old Apple Monitors are you still using?

[@ichigen511]

Purchased a 20" Apple Cinema Display in 2006 with my first Mac ever, a 15"(?) MacBook Pro. I am still using this 20" monitor to this day as my main monitor. It's only 1680 x 1050 but watching 1080p movies on it I can't tell because it looks perfect. Love the color on this beast. My next computer was a 2014 Mac Mini and I continued to use the 20" monitor with it. I am now upgrading for my 3rd Mac ever, an M4 Pro Mac Mini. I also purchased a near mint 30" Apple Cinema Display to use both the 20" (vertically) and the 30" (horizontally of course). I haven't reveiced the Mac Mini yet but I did receive my 30" Cinema Display and it's basically brand new and glorious (I tested it on the dual DVI MacBook Pro from 2006, which still works of course). Love Apple's quality and can't wait to set up my new bat cave with dual Cinema Displays and an M4 Pro Mac. Stoked!

[@rgarlinyc]

Thank you - I have an old 30" Cinema Display that cost me a squillion dollars in 2009, but has been sitting idle for a while. Now, thanks to you, I'll try connecting it to my Studio M2 Ultra...!

[@fmarinosfromafar9512]

You're right on about good examples of these monitors being better than the cheap new ones in similar resolution - I love my old Cinema Displays! I've moved on the 20-inchers, sadly, but keeping the 23s. You can connect them to an iPad Pro as well though from my testing it seems to need to be a USB-C to Dual Link DVI adapter such as one by Club3D (which is quite pricey).

[@EGlideKid]

Great vid! Now would you please show us how to hook up a mid 2017 iMac Pro 5k retina (or newer) to an M4 Mac Mini using usb c 3.2? I’ve seen it done with the Luna dongle from some company out there, but not sure the vid I saw is completely accurate. Thanks!

[@TheGreenTableHome]

Hey I’ve literally just done that - I’m in the process of doing a video on it right now - I’m fairly new to KZbin tho so don’t expect much tho 😆

[@EGlideKid]

@@TheGreenTableHome Thanks so much! I'll keep watching!!!

[@frankphoto2]

how this work with a 30 cinima display on a m4 mini

[@Frenzytom5]

For the 20” Mac display, couldn’t you plug the USB-A cable into the Mini the same way you did for the 27” and get sound from the monitor as well?

[@FamilyGeekery]

The older displays didn’t have integrated audio. No speakers.

[@datelifesf]

Thank you for making the video. I’m just wondering, will the Mac Mini M4 Pro work the same as this setup? Since they are Thunderbolt 5 port🤔️

[@FamilyGeekery]

I haven’t tested it, but I would guess they would be backwards compatible with TB4.

[@datelifesf]

@ I just try! Works on my M4 Mac mini pro😊

[@robwyers5306]

Thanks for the video… I have 2 Cinema 30” and a new Mac Mini M4… Can’t seem to get them working - - - any hints? Tried the DVI to USBC no luck. Is it because of the higher res (2560 X 1600?

[@FamilyGeekery]

I believe the 30” requires a dual link dvi adapter. Last I checked, they weren’t cheap.

[@sail3695]

Just got a new Mini. I'm trying to use it with my old Thunderbolt display. I have a Thunderbolt adaptor that I tested the display with on 2 Macbook Pros, 1 an Intel and the other an M2. It worked perfectly in both cases. When the Mini arrived, I hooked everything up and got no result. After swapping inputs I took it down to my office to test. The Mini came right up on my monitor. What am I doing wrong?

[@FamilyGeekery]

Did you use the front usb-c ports for the Thunderbolt Display, or the back ones?

[@sail3695]

@@FamilyGeekery I tried them all, actually, a couple times. It took a few attempts and reboots before the magic of old Thunderbolt syncing up with new video card seemed to occur. It just started working. Once I'd gotten far enough into the setup I checked resolution and found it had located the Thunderbolt's native rate. FYI, currently using the center back Thunderbolt 4 port to feed the display.

[@alemacgirl]

I had the 24" Apple Cinema Display connected to a Mac Pro 5.1 for 14 years, the sound showed as Display Audio, but was from the USB connection,, maybe because HDMI has Audio pins it believes it has a connection, but the converter from HDM to Mini Display Port loses something

[@FamilyGeekery]

The 24” has built in speakers and camera just like the 27”. The 23” I have does not have audio or camera. I’m keeping my eyes open for a 24” to add to my collection, lol.

[@mylastore]

What about an Intel iMac 27-inch? I couldn’t use that as a monitor.

[@FamilyGeekery]

Some of the older iMacs allowed “Target Mode” which allows you to use it as a monitor. Search that and you’ll find a page on Apple’s website that lists the compatible iMacs.

[@ichigen511]

I know you can use a MacBook Pro as an extended desktop on current Mac OS, you might be able to use an iMac in the same way.

[@Enfrance2003]

From what I can deduce, the Lunar Display dongle can give you a connection to use a - in my case - 2015 27” iMac screen. RunningMonterey. 😅I’ve not done it yet and am tempted.