New Displays and Possible Thunderbolt Mac Pro Quandary

[3282868]

I just had 2 problematic 24" LED LCD's replaced with 2 new 27" LED Cinema Displays. I have a current gen (i.e. 2010) 12-Core Mac Pro with mini-DisplayPort as they do not have "Thunderbolt" systems (yet).

I'm wondering if I should exchange one of the for a "Thunderbolt" display as they have more features and I could daisy-chain the mini-DisplayPort model to it as it is backwards compatible. This hinges on Cook's promise of a new Mac Pro this year.

I would love any advice. I realize this is a decision I need to make on my own, but I would welcome any input to help balance the scales.

Thanks!

 

[chevelleguy3]

As far as I know, the Thunderbolt display is not compatible with the Mini Displayport. Yes you could daisy chain the Displayport off of the Thunderbolt display, but that would only work if you had a Thunderbolt port on your MacPro, which doesn't exist.

 

[3282868]

As far as I know, the Thunderbolt display is not compatible with the Mini Displayport. Yes you could daisy chain the Displayport off of the Thunderbolt display, but that would only work if you had a Thunderbolt port on your MacPro, which doesn't exist.

Exactly, that's my quandary. I could make do with one display for my current Mac Pro in hopes a Thunderbolt model is released since I cannot use it with my current gen ATI Radeon HD5780 card. However, I could connect a Thunderbolt display to a new Thunderbolt equipped Mac Pro, and the mini-DisplayPort display to that display.

I only have 2 weeks to decide on the exchange, however that's riding on a lot. I would really like to daisy chain my displays, and the extra connections and HD camera on the Thunderbolt displays would help a great deal. If not, I'll live, I just don't want to make a bad decision. Hmmmm.

 

[applegeek897]

You can't daisy chain the displays but the thunderbolt display will work work on the Mac Pro with a Mini Display Port, you could take both displays back and get 2 thunderbolt displays they will both work on the MDP

 

[3282868]

You can't daisy chain the displays but the thunderbolt display will work work on the Mac Pro with a Mini Display Port, you could take both displays back and get 2 thunderbolt displays they will both work on the MDP

There's a Thunderbolt port on the display, which being bidirectional should output to another mini/Thunderbolt display, no?

Just checked online, you can connect another display to the Thunderbolt port, allowing for daisy chaining. Since the mini-DisplayPort is the same connection and backwards compatible, it should receive a signal from the first thunderbolt display (I think?).

http://store.apple.com/us/questions...t-display-27-inch?fnode=53&so=mostInteresting

The second display can connect directly to the first Thunderbolt display (in a daisy chain fashion) as each display has a Thunderbolt port. So you do not need any additional cables !

 

[deconstruct60]

I just had 2 problematic 24" LED LCD's replaced with 2 new 27" LED Cinema Displays. I have a current gen (i.e. 2010) 12-Core Mac Pro with mini-DisplayPort as they do not have "Thunderbolt" systems (yet).

I'm wondering if I should exchange one of the for a "Thunderbolt" display as they have more features

Unless looking for more Ethernet or FW ports, not much more in the "display" functionality dimension.

There is likely also a newer, less glossy, TB display coming at some point this year. ( the TB display is scaled back iMac and the iMacs changed). Even if want a TB display buying the current one is a but dubious at this point. Especially if don't have a TB Mac to use with it.

Kind of wondering what the deep seated problem is here too. If a new Mac Pro comes with two TB ports then can still use the two Display Ports montiors with it. They just go at the end of the two TB chains. Unless you are trying buy lots of TB chain ending devices, it is a low function gap issue.

 

[3282868]

I could use the extra ports on the Thunderbolt display (for docking, peripherals) in addition to having a better camera than the Cinema Displays. As I do a good deal of video conferencing for work I use a logitech USB camera as it's far superior to the stock iSights on these guys.

Yup, I realize it is an iMac panel. When the iMac's came in 24" models, the displays offered were 24" at the time. However, Thunderbolt allows for increased bidirectional data thus bringing more connections and HD video camera. In addition, I would not need USB/Mini-displayport extension cables to reach my Mac Pro as I can daisy chain them. Not dealbreakers, but certainly worth contemplating.

 

[Stetrain]

There's a Thunderbolt port on the display, which being bidirectional should output to another mini/Thunderbolt display, no?

Just checked online, you can connect another display to the Thunderbolt port, allowing for daisy chaining. Since the mini-DisplayPort is the same connection and backwards compatible, it should receive a signal from the first thunderbolt display (I think?).

http://store.apple.com/us/questions...t-display-27-inch?fnode=53&so=mostInteresting

As far as I know you can only connect another Thunderbolt display directly to the back of the first Thunderbolt display to daisy chain.

If you want to connect a normal mini-displayport display you would have to have another Thunderbolt device in between, like a hard drive.

This is because each Thunderbolt device gets one displayport video output. A Thunderbolt hard drive will connect that video to the outgoing Thunderbolt port. The Thunderbolt display uses that video internally for its own display so there is no video channel left over for the outgoing Thunderbolt port.

 

[CaptHenryMorgan]

You can't daisy chain the displays but the thunderbolt display will work work on the Mac Pro with a Mini Display Port, you could take both displays back and get 2 thunderbolt displays they will both work on the MDP

No they won't. You can use a Cinema Display from a Thunderbolt port, but not a Thunderbolt Display from a MiniDisplay Port.

 

[3282868]

No they won't. You can use a Cinema Display from a Thunderbolt port, but not a Thunderbolt Display from a MiniDisplay Port.

Exactly, thanks!