M2 Mini and Apple LED Cinema Display

[kirbyrun]

Well...

Got my M2 Mini today, and after waiting all afternoon for Migration Assistant to do its thing, I plugged in a Dell monitor on USB-C (works fine!) and then my trusty Apple LED Cinema Display via a MiniDisplayPort -> HDMI adapter.

I wish I could say nothing happened because that would be easy, but it's weirder than that!

The Mac knows the Apple display is attached -- it shows up in Settings -> Displays and I can pull my mouse over there. But the display itself is black. No image. It worked with my old system five minutes ago, so I don't think it died...

I tried connecting it to USB with a mDP -> USB-C adapter. Same deal -- the Mac knows its there, but no image.

Then I tried disconnecting the Dell and just using the Apple display. Nope.

I know the M2s are super-new, but does anyone have any thoughts on what's going on? Is there a way for me to fix this, or am I buying another display?

ETA: Solved! See post below!

 

[tevion5]

What sort of I/O / adapter did you use for the LED Cinema Display before?

I'm not sure I've had much experience with HDMI (computer) to (m)DP (display) setups before.

I had success with a mDP -> USB-C adapter for an even older Apple display that had an extra adapter in the chain here:

Mac Pro 2019 & Apple Cinema Display 30"

Having barley justified the cost of my lovely new 7,1 Apple's new 6K display is out of the question. I've used my ageing but capable 30" Apple Cinema Display for a while now and it still suits me very well. For audio production I really appreciate all that 16:10 visual real estate and it's one...

forums.macrumors.com

Do you have another device to test that USB-C adapter?

 

[kirbyrun]

What sort of I/O / adapter did you use for the LED Cinema Display before?

I'm not sure I've had much experience with HDMI (computer) to (m)DP (display) setups before.

I had success with a mDP -> USB-C adapter for an even older Apple display that had an extra adapter in the chain here:

Mac Pro 2019 & Apple Cinema Display 30"

Having barley justified the cost of my lovely new 7,1 Apple's new 6K display is out of the question. I've used my ageing but capable 30" Apple Cinema Display for a while now and it still suits me very well. For audio production I really appreciate all that 16:10 visual real estate and it's one...

forums.macrumors.com

Do you have another device to test that USB-C adapter?

I didn't need an adapter before -- the mDP plug on the display went right into a Thunderbolt port on my 2015 27" Mac mini. Worked great!

Unfortunately, I don't have another USB-C device I can use to test the adapter.

I did, however, do a little more troubleshooting -- with the exact same mDP -> HDMI adapter, the monitor works fine with an old 2012 Mac mini. And when I plug a boring old HDMI 1080p TV into the M2's HDMI port, that works.

So both the display and the M2 are working fine -- it's something in the connection.

I'm thinking I need more adapters.

Like you did in your post, I'm going to try adding something to the chain -- I've ordered an mDP -> DisplayPort adapter, as well as a DisplayPort -> USB-C adapter. I'll see if chaining them together works some sort of magic.

 

[kirbyrun]

Happy to report that this has been resolved! This cheap adapter works beautifully and all is good in the world again. (Or at least on my desk!)

 

[Cham2000]

This thread is interesting. I still have a 17 years old 20" Apple monitor, and would like to temporarily use it on a new Mac mini M2 (non-pro), before getting a new Studio monitor. Is this possible? What adaptor would I need?

 

[tevion5]

This thread is interesting. I still have a 17 years old 20" Apple monitor, and would like to temporarily use it on a new Mac mini M2 (non-pro), before getting a new Studio monitor. Is this possible? What adaptor would I need?

For the old Apple Cinema Display monitors (I own all 3!):
20" & 23": Any basic USB-C to DVI adapter will do because resolution is 1920x1200 or below
30": Requires a USB-C to MiniDP adapter, then also an Apple MiniDP to Dual Link DVI adapter because the resolution is too high for standard DVI (see my linked post above)

 

[Luvontherun]

Happy to report that this has been resolved! This cheap adapter works beautifully and all is good in the world again. (Or at least on my desk!)

Could not open link. - could you share the adapter description?

 

[kirbyrun]

Could not open link. - could you share the adapter description?

Weird! Looks like it's redirecting from somewhere else... Try this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PFH4ZR5

Failing that, the full description is:

USBCele USB-C (Thunderbolt 3) to Mini DisplayPort Adapter, USB Type C to Mini Display Port 4K Cable Adapter for MacBook Pro, iMac, LED Cinema Display and More​

 

[August West]

This one works great with my 24" Cinema Display. I purchased it at the beginning of last year but ended up not getting my M2 mini until a few weeks ago. At the time of purchased it was the one that people seemed to have the best luck with and I didn't want to get everything setup and find out the adapter didn't work (some don't). If the cheaper one works I'd go with that though.

UPTab USB C to Mini DisplayPort Adapter UPTab (4K@60Hz) USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 to MDP Adapter with Power Port for New M2 MacBook Pro/Air, iPad Pro, Mac Mini M1/M2, iMac and More (Silver)

UPTab USB C to Mini DisplayPort Adapter UPTab (4K@60Hz) USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 to MDP Adapter with Power Port for New M2 MacBook Pro/Air, iPad Pro, Mac Mini M1/M2, iMac and More (Silver)

www.amazon.com

 

[BluesBrother]

Like some of the other respondents, here, I'm successfully using my trusty old 27" LED Cinema display with Mini DisplayPort with my new M2 MacMini. I'm doing this using an inexpensive MiniDP-to-USB-C passive adapter plugged into one of the Mini's Thunderbolt ports. The adapter I'm using is a Lention 4K@60Hz USB-C to Mini DisplayPort Adapter ($11.99).

However, what I want to do is plug my display into the Mini's HDMI port (which the OP mentioned). Unfortunately, I've had no luck so far doing this. To begin with, MiniDP-to-HDMI adapters are practically non-existent. I finally found one, an Answin HDMI-to-MiniDisplayPort Adapter, but it's not cheap ($51.99). Also, this is an active device.

Unfortunately, no joy - the LED Cinema Display screen is blank. Based on other comments in this thread and my own tinkering, I suspect that this particular combination (M2 MacMini HDMI-to-LED Cinema Display) is problematic for some reason. Has anyone had any luck using the M2's HDMI port to drive an LED Cinema Display with MiniDisplayPort? If so, what combination of hardware adapter(s) are you using? TIA

 

[BluesBrother]

Found it! The Cable Matters HDMI to DisplayPort Adapter coupled with the Cable Matters Display Port to MiniDisplayPort Adapter works perfectly; problem solved!