Display Port Cinema Display to 2011 Thunderbolt, or USB port

[Paul Platts]

Hello, I can really use some good advice. I have a older Apple Cinema Display that utilizes a "display port" connector. It works great on my 2008 MacBook Pro, so I know it works fine. I recently purchased a 2011 MacBook Pro, that has a thunderbolt port. After doing some on-line research, I purchased a displayport to USB adapter, and thought this would connect the two. It does not work. Can anyone tell me definitively if these two machines are compatible, with some sort of aftermarket or apple adapter. If they can't work together, then I'll stop looking for a solution and go on my merry way. As of now, I've already spent $45 on an adapter with no resolution. Apple simply says they don't work together since there's no apple adapter. Please help?

 

[pigoo3]

Hello, I can really use some good advice. I have a older Apple Cinema Display that utilizes a "display port" connector. It works great on my 2008 MacBook Pro, so I know it works fine. I recently purchased a 2011 MacBook Pro, that has a thunderbolt port. After doing some on-line research, I purchased a displayport to USB adapter, and thought this would connect the two. It does not work. Can anyone tell me definitively if these two machines are compatible, with some sort of aftermarket or apple adapter. If they can't work together, then I'll stop looking for a solution and go on my merry way. As of now, I've already spent $45 on an adapter with no resolution. Apple simply says they don't work together since there's no apple adapter. Please help?

The Thunderbolt Port in a 2011 MBP also acts as a "Mini-Display port". Your 2008 MBP also has a "Mini-Display Port"...thus your Apple Cinema Display should plug into the 2011 MBP just fine...UNLESS...the model info mentioned is not correct.

It would be best if we knew the exact model MacBook Pro you have (there were at least 2 different MacBook Pro model releases in 2008)...which covers 7 different models. And it wuold be great to know exactly what model Apple Cinema display you have...so we can verify the ports it has.

- Nick

 

[Paul Platts]

Nick, thank you for taking the time to respond.

I am going to do my best to give good feedback, but am having a hard time trying to find the model.

I checked the apple website with the serial no.W8941BUV7XJ, and it shows up as a mid 2009 MacBook pro. I look up the Cinema display on system report, serial no.W82020A26JL, and it comes up, and I know, it's a LED "display port" cinema display.

Trouble shooting I've done so far:

Cinema display works great with 08, BUT, plug it into the 2011 late MacBook pro - it doesn't light up. (I just checked this again before responding). I've tried this like 5x or more, and wiggled cables etc... - Display works with 08, not 2011. From my initial research, I honestly thought this was going to be easily backwards compatible.

I'm also "borrowing" a Thunderbolt Cinema Display, and it instantly works with the 2011 - so I'm confident the thunderbolt port works in the 2011.

I purchased a display port to USB connector that I thought was the "fix" from research, but no signs of life.

Connector was a:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N4FQNYW/?tag=macforums0e4-20

and a:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01C2O5OM0/?tag=macforums0e4-20

to go from display port, to regular USB (2008 doesn't have mini USB port).

I hope this makes sense... Again, thanks for your initial response.

- Paul

 

[pigoo3]

First...thanks for all the info! The serial numbers make things easier!

Second...let's stop calling this a 2008 MacBook Pro...when the serial number search you did says it's a 2009 MacBook Pro. Sometimes the difference between models can make a BIG difference (in this case a 2009 vs. 2008 MacBook Pro).

So to recap. You have a:

- mid-2009 15" 2.53ghz MacBook Pro (older computer)...with a "Mini-Display Port" video port.
- late-2011 MacBook Pro (newer computer)...with a Thunderbolt port...which is backwards compatible with a mini-display port.
- 2012 27" Apple LED Cinema Display...which has a mini-display port.

Given all this information...your Apple Cinema Display should work with both the 2009 and 2011 MacBook Pro's. Can you please provide the serial number for the 2011 MacBook Pro?...since this seems to be the one detail we need to verify. If it's really not a late 2011 MacBook Pro...then this could explain things.

- Nick

p.s. By the way. Regarding the adapters. Nothing with "USB" in it will help. The USB port usually does not have anything to do with video-out & an external monitor.

p.p.s. Regarding the Amazon links above. Both of the adapters are "USB-c". Even if something "USB" related would help (which it won't)...late 2011 MacBook Pro's don't have USB-c ports.

 

[Paul Platts]

Thanks again. I apologize about the 08 mixup.

The 2011, shows as a "MacBook Pro (17-inch, Late 2011)

Serial Number is: C02GY1U2DV11