27" LED Cinema Display (not Thunderbolt) with Mac Mini 2018?

[futurevibe]

Hi guys,


I’m planning on getting the new Mac Mini and was wondering if i could use my Apple 27" LED Cinema Display (not Thunderbolt) with it? Is there some kind of adapter i can use to connect the Mini-Display Port to the Mac Mini’s Thunderbolt, USB or HDMI ports? If so, what would be the best way to go with this?


Thanks!

 

[chrfr]

Hi guys,


I’m planning on getting the new Mac Mini and was wondering if i could use my Apple 27" LED Cinema Display (not Thunderbolt) with it? Is there some kind of adapter i can use to connect the Mini-Display Port to the Mac Mini’s Thunderbolt, USB or HDMI ports? If so, what would be the best way to go with this?


Thanks!

It'll work fine. Just get a USB-C to Mini Displayport adapter. You'll need to plug the display's USB cable into one of the USB-A ports on the Mini too.

 

[futurevibe]

It'll work fine. Just get a USB-C to Mini Displayport adapter. You'll need to plug the display's USB cable into one of the USB-A ports on the Mini too.

Thanks for replying! Would something like this do the job? http://amzn.eu/d/3pDdMfH

 

[chrfr]

Thanks for replying! Would something like this do the job? http://amzn.eu/d/3pDdMfH

It should work fine, although I'd probably pick something that has a short cable instead of the one-piece adapter to keep a little more room around the ports.

 

[Techieman75]

I would be careful, I just got my i7 w/ 16 gb of ram and connected it to a 27” display via HDMI 2.0 and it runs like crap. The unit runs very sluggish and is almost unusable. I’m going to try and eGPU, but I’m kinda pissed that I spent over 1k for the mini and the unit can’t even handle a single display well let alone two, that’s even worse.

 

[futurevibe]

It should work fine, although I'd probably pick something that has a short cable instead of the one-piece adapter to keep a little more room around the ports.

Yeah, good point. Thanks lot for your help!
[doublepost=1541786351][/doublepost]

I would be careful, I just got my i7 w/ 16 gb of ram and connected it to a 27” display via HDMI 2.0 and it runs like crap. The unit runs very sluggish and is almost unusable. I’m going to try and eGPU, but I’m kinda pissed that I spent over 1k for the mini and the unit can’t even handle a single display well let alone two, that’s even worse.

Ahhh, really? Please let me know how you get on with it. Cheers!

 

[saulinpa]

I would be careful, I just got my i7 w/ 16 gb of ram and connected it to a 27” display via HDMI 2.0 and it runs like crap. The unit runs very sluggish and is almost unusable. I’m going to try and eGPU, but I’m kinda pissed that I spent over 1k for the mini and the unit can’t even handle a single display well let alone two, that’s even worse.

What are you seeing/doing that is slow?

 

[mikehalloran]

I would be careful, I just got my i7 w/ 16 gb of ram and connected it to a 27” display via HDMI 2.0 and it runs like crap. The unit runs very sluggish and is almost unusable. I’m going to try and eGPU, but I’m kinda pissed that I spent over 1k for the mini and the unit can’t even handle a single display well let alone two, that’s even worse.

Not enough information. It should work fine with the right adapter.

 

[FearGhost]

In can confirm that my Mac mini 2018 is working flawlessly with my Cinema Display 27". I bought a USB-C to MDP adapter from Amazon and everything works as expected. Volume and brightness keys also work fine.

 

[futurevibe]

In can confirm that my Mac mini 2018 is working flawlessly with my Cinema Display 27". I bought a USB-C to MDP adapter from Amazon and everything works as expected. Volume and brightness keys also work fine.

That's great to hear Thanks mate! Could you please link me to the adapter you bought on Amazon? Cheers!

 

[FearGhost]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/nonda-Disp...sr=8-1&keywords=nonda+NDMDBKAMZ+USB-C+To+Mini
[doublepost=1541792694][/doublepost]I had to block access to the HDMI port on the Mac mini due to the right angled connector but that's no issue

 

[MacBird]

In can confirm that my Mac mini 2018 is working flawlessly with my Cinema Display 27". I bought a USB-C to MDP adapter from Amazon and everything works as expected. Volume and brightness keys also work fine.

Good to hear that it works. Did you get an adapter like this? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...ac9-26d103f6c586&pf_rd_r=88A018HSDB1HKZFZV2JB

 

[FearGhost]

That looks very similar to the one I bought (see link above). I looked for good reviews from Mac users before purchase.

 

[futurevibe]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/nonda-Disp...sr=8-1&keywords=nonda+NDMDBKAMZ+USB-C+To+Mini
[doublepost=1541792694][/doublepost]I had to block access to the HDMI port on the Mac mini due to the right angled connector but that's no issue

Thanks mate! It's pricey but definitely the best looking one i've seen. Would go nicely with the Mac Mini. Cheers!

 

[Techieman75]

Not enough information. It should work fine with the right adapter.

This is the adapter I’m using and the lag is horrible. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B075V68NVR?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_yo_pop_mb_pd_t2

Resolution is 3840 x 2160 @60Hz

 

[mikehalloran]

And?

 

[Anonymous Freak]

This is the adapter I’m using and the lag is horrible. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B075V68NVR?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_yo_pop_mb_pd_t2

Resolution is 3840 x 2160 @60Hz

Why wouldn't you just use the Mini's built-in HDMI output port?

Or are you using two separate 4K displays? The mini may be a bit underpowered to effectively run two 4K displays, even though it technically supports it.

Also, what applications are you experiencing lag in?

 

[Techieman75]

Why wouldn't you just use the Mini's built-in HDMI output port?

Or are you using two separate 4K displays? The mini may be a bit underpowered to effectively run two 4K displays, even though it technically supports it.

Also, what applications are you experiencing lag in?

Resizing windows such as chrome is horrendous and even video playback from YouTube is bad. I’ll try to make a video. I did try one of the 4K monitors on the built in hdmi port and it was better but still sluggish in my opinion.

 

[Techieman75]

Here is the video.

Link -
https://cloud.cpnllc.com:4443/nextcloud/index.php/s/XNGkHejiTJK75jL/download

I’m sure I’m doing something wrong.

 

[futurevibe]

Resizing windows such as chrome is horrendous and even video playback from YouTube is bad. I’ll try to make a video. I did try one of the 4K monitors on the built in hdmi port and it was better but still sluggish in my opinion.

Any signs of this with you @FearGhost ? It would be just my luck to have the same issues

 

[Synchro3]

Resizing windows such as chrome is horrendous and even video playback from YouTube is bad. I’ll try to make a video. I did try one of the 4K monitors on the built in hdmi port and it was better but still sluggish in my opinion.

Resizing Safari windows while playing videos is horrible in 4K resolution, even with my GTX Titan X graphics card in my Mac Pro 4,1. E.g. when resizing the Quicktime Player window all is smooth.

However; the Intel HD 630 graphics isn't really strong, especially with two 4K display's. I would recommend an eGPU.

 

[FearGhost]

Any signs of this with you @FearGhost ? It would be just my luck to have the same issues

No, I don't have this problem. As you know the Cinema Display is 2560 x 1440 and I haven't noticed any differences at all than when I was using my 2012 Mac mini server.

 

[futurevibe]

Thanks for all your answers guys! I only use my computer for music production, so i'm guessing i'll be ok without an eGPU?

 

[Anonymous Freak]

Thanks for all your answers guys! I only use my computer for music production, so i'm guessing i'll be ok without an eGPU?

You should be just fine.
[doublepost=1541884415][/doublepost]

Here is the video.

Link -
https://cloud.cpnllc.com:4443/nextcloud/index.php/s/XNGkHejiTJK75jL/download

I’m sure I’m doing something wrong.

That is extremely strange.

Here is the video.

Link -
https://cloud.cpnllc.com:4443/nextcloud/index.php/s/XNGkHejiTJK75jL/download

I’m sure I’m doing something wrong.

That seems "normal" to me. I have a 2012 MacBook Pro with discrete graphics that are old enough to be about the same as the integrated graphics on the modern mini, and that's what I get on a 1080p monitor or a 4K monitor. It's just "too much" for the CPU+GPU to handle updating the window while resizing. If you resize a Finder window, do you see the same? I would guess not, since there is far less to update while resizing.

 

[Techieman75]

You should be just fine.
[doublepost=1541884415][/doublepost]

That is extremely strange.


That seems "normal" to me. I have a 2012 MacBook Pro with discrete graphics that are old enough to be about the same as the integrated graphics on the modern mini, and that's what I get on a 1080p monitor or a 4K monitor. It's just "too much" for the CPU+GPU to handle updating the window while resizing. If you resize a Finder window, do you see the same? I would guess not, since there is far less to update while resizing.

Finder is fine, it's just anything that has some graphics in it. Standard web browsing or watching videos. I'll post an update once I get the eGPU tomorrow and see how it handles.