30" Apple Cinema Display and Early 2006 1.66Ghz Intel Mac Mini

[Omek]

Hi, I was just wondering if the 30" Apple Cinema Display will work with the Early 2006 1.66Ghz Intel Mac Mini. I've heard that you can hook up the 30" to a Mini, but depending on the size, the resolution will be limited. I don't really care about not being able to use it in its maximum resolution. I just want to know whether it will run or not.

 

[Nameci]

I am afraid that the mini will not be able to drive the 30" display. The display needs a dual-link dvi gfx card for a driver. And the mini has a maximum of 1920x1200 resolution on its primary adn support for a second monitor. It is a limitation of the GMA 950gfx card on the mini.

 

[powerbook911]

Am I correct that even on a new Mini, if you were to use the Disablayport (thunder bolt) to Dual DVI, you would then never be able to connect a thunderbolt hard drive for example? Or could you go through the hard drive drive, and then to the display?

Or should we really be waiting on TWO thunderbolt ports on the Mini?

 

[Omek]

Am I correct that even on a new Mini, if you were to use the Disablayport (thunder bolt) to Dual DVI, you would then never be able to connect a thunderbolt hard drive for example? Or could you go through the hard drive drive, and then to the display?

Or should we really be waiting on TWO thunderbolt ports on the Mini?

Ya, I second that. Can you use a thunder bolt or displayport to dual DVI adapter on the new Mac Minis to hook this monitor up?

 

[Edge]

I am afraid that the mini will not be able to drive the 30" display.

Not exactly. The Intel GMA950 Mac mini will display at 1280x800 on the 30" HD Cinema Display. But as you say it will never display at native resolution.

 

[Omek]

Not exactly. The Intel GMA950 Mac mini will display at 1280x800 on the 30" HD Cinema Display. But as you say it will never display at native resolution.

So it will run then? I was seeing conflicting answers like this every time when this topic came up.

 

[Edge]

So it will run then?

Yes. I have used this setup occasionally with a 1.66 Core Duo GMA950 Mac mini. (It looks ugly, because every pixel is four times the size, but it works.)

 

[Omek]

Yes. I have used this setup occasionally with a 1.66 Core Duo GMA950 Mac mini. (It looks ugly, because every pixel is four times the size, but it works.)

Well, I finally tested it today, and it does work, but like you said it's pixelated. So, the final answer is that a 30" does work with my mini, but it just doesn't display correctly. At least I was able to test it. It's such a beautiful monitor. I think after I sell some of this other stuff, I might get a newer Mac Mini and an adapter for this monitor. I have two of these 30-inchers and an Xserve RAID, so I should be able to make a decent amount on everything.

So has anyone had success with the monoprice dual link DVI adapter for Minis or other newer Macs? http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10428&cs_id=1042802&p_id=6904&seq=1&format=2

 

[powerbook911]

Well, I finally tested it today, and it does work, but like you said it's pixelated. So, the final answer is that a 30" does work with my mini, but it just doesn't display correctly. At least I was able to test it. It's such a beautiful monitor. I think after I sell some of this other stuff, I might get a newer Mac Mini and an adapter for this monitor. I have two of these 30-inchers and an Xserve RAID, so I should be able to make a decent amount on everything.

So has anyone had success with the monoprice dual link DVI adapter for Minis or other newer Macs? http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10428&cs_id=1042802&p_id=6904&seq=1&format=2

Weren't those Cinema Displays great. Apple kept selling the 30-inch quite a while too. I wish they still had them today. Oh so impressive displays.

Nice find on the cable. I hope it works!

 

[Edge]

So has anyone had success with the monoprice dual link DVI adapter for Minis or other newer Macs? http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10428&cs_id=1042802&p_id=6904&seq=1&format=2

I have been using the Apple Dual-DVI adaptor (not the Monoprice) with my Core i5 Radeon6630M Mac mini. I had no trouble until the EFI/Thunderbolt updates recently. The mini has not worked since, constant kernel panics, overheating and is currently being Geniused at the Apple Store.