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Possible to connect a mini-DP cinema display to HDMI video card?

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cameronjpu

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Aug 24, 2007
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I updated the video card in a Mac pro and the new card has only DVI and HDMI. The existing Cinema display has only thunderbolt/mini-DP. Is it possible to connect the two? I'm beginning to suspect the two are not electrically compatible, so I'll need a more expensive hardware solution than just a cable adapter. But perhaps something like this? https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812200691 plus https://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod...displayport_female-_-1B4-0087-00131-_-Product

That will take the Cinema display input miniDP male --> (miniDP female--DVI male) --> DVI female GPU output.

Is that correct? Do I need to worry about this being possible despite the connections physically being there? Any other suggestion? Thanks!
 
C

cameronjpu

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Aug 24, 2007
1,368
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Intell said:
You would need something like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003LGOWNQ Note that if your LED Cinema display takes and HDMI->mini DisplayPort as input, it will be limited to 720p. This cannot be changed.
Click to expand...

I'm not following your second to last sentence - if the cinema display takes AND HDMI->mDP... what does that mean? I assume you meant to say 'an' but it still doesn't parse.

Are you saying that no matter what solution I use, I won't get more than 720p resolution? Or that with THIS specific solution you linked, it is limited to that? Also, what you linked doesn't seem to be the right solution, as it says "Converts HDMI input to DisplayPort format". What i'm trying to do is the opposite - convert HDMI OUTPUT to DP format. Do you think that's just a typo maybe? Sure would be nice if a product like that would include images of all sides of the device to actually see what i'm getting.
 
Intell

Intell

macrumors P6
Jan 24, 2010
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My wording is correct and that is the correct adapter. If you send an HDMI signal, with proper active adapter, to an LED Cinema Display, it'll only accept 720p as a resolution. That adapter takes the HDMI output of a computer/PlayStation/Xbox/Blu-ray player and turns it into a mini-DisplayPort signal.
 
tracer1

tracer1

macrumors regular
Jan 6, 2013
240
38
SC
Just out of curiosity, how can you tell what the resolution is of the display? Is this only with a HDMI adapter that reduces it to 720?
 
Intell

Intell

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Jan 24, 2010
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The display tells the source what it can display in that format via ECID. I have that adapter and with it, the display will only take a 720p source. Unless you've connected it with something that uses the full DisplayPort protocol, which HDMI does not.
 
C

cameronjpu

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Aug 24, 2007
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Ugh. So, since changing the GPU is not an option, basically my only option is to replace the screen. Any disagreement there? Can't run a 27" display at 720p :(
 
tracer1

tracer1

macrumors regular
Jan 6, 2013
240
38
SC
I thought the ACD could run 1280x720. Glad I looked at the thread, I know now not to get a card without a display port, well, as long as I have this monitor. Thanks cameron & intell.
 
Intell

Intell

macrumors P6
Jan 24, 2010
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KevinLG said:
https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Mini-DisplayPort-Thunderbolt-Adapter/dp/B00NH13K8S

One of these cheap adapters (can be found even cheaper if you shop around a little) might be worth a shot. They're meant to convert a mini-DP output to HDMI (which I can confirm works fine with my 4,1 and 5,1) but I'm not sure if it'll work in reverse.
Click to expand...

That adapter will not work. DisplayPort requires an active adapter. DisplayPort to HDMI or DVI will work with a passive adapter.
 
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svlad

macrumors newbie
Aug 16, 2018
1
0
Intell said:
My wording is correct and that is the correct adapter. If you send an HDMI signal, with proper active adapter, to an LED Cinema Display, it'll only accept 720p as a resolution. That adapter takes the HDMI output of a computer/PlayStation/Xbox/Blu-ray player and turns it into a mini-DisplayPort signal.
Click to expand...

Your wording is incorrect, or you otherwise intended on writing nonsense. Here is what you wrote:

Intell said:
Note that if your LED Cinema display takes and HDMI->mini DisplayPort as input, it will be limited to 720p.
Click to expand...

Reread that very carefully. The and in the middle should probably be "an", otherwise the sentence makes no sense.
 
T

tu2thepoo

macrumors member
Nov 14, 2017
75
59
Tripp Lite HDMI to DisplayPort Active Converter w/ USB Power 4Kx2K @ 30Hz HDMI to DP M/F 6in 6" (P130-06N-DP-V2) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074DBS84T/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_YvADBbA1GRBSX

That adapter claims to go up to 4K, so it may be what you’re looking for. Just combine that with a DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort adapter.

There’s a bunch more if you search “hdmi to displayport active adapter” on amazon. I’ve only gone the other direction (DP to HDMI) so I can’t offer any direct experience. But it may be worth trying before you replace the monitor.
 
Last edited:
Intell

Intell

macrumors P6
Jan 24, 2010
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svlad said:
Your wording is incorrect, or you otherwise intended on writing nonsense. Here is what you wrote:
Reread that very carefully. The and in the middle should probably be "an", otherwise the sentence makes no sense.
Click to expand...

I'm human after all. Even with the typo, the conveyance of the thought comes through to native English speakers or those not actively looking for mistakes in web forum posts.
 
HAx2S

HAx2S

macrumors newbie
Apr 16, 2019
2
0
2019 SOLUTION

COMPUTER

Mac Pro (Early 2009)
2 x 3.33 GHz 6-Core Intel Xeon
64 GB 1333 MHz DDR3
Jason's M.2 512GB (PCI Adapter)
Radeon Vega Frontier Edition 16 GB (running macOS Mojave 10.14.4 natively with boot screen)
16TB RAID 0 Storage
3TB Archive
1TB Samsung SSD T5 Scratch Disk via USB-C (PCI Adapter)

DISPLAY
Apple Cinema Display (A1316)
27-inch (2560 x 1440)

I used this adapter and extension cable to get it working!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003N3DTKY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KRLQG2M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

As far as the Apple Thunderbolt Display, I don’t own one to test. As far as the reading I’ve done, it won’t work because its Thunderbolt, as opposed to on the Cinema Display, Mini DisplayPort. It’s worth trying when the adapter is that cheap!
 

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HAx2S

HAx2S

macrumors newbie
Apr 16, 2019
2
0
W1SS said:
How did you manage to get boot screen support on the Vega FE?
Click to expand...
I’m sorry, but I’m ignorant in this area, but it’s the stock grey screen of the Apple with a loading bar. I bought it on eBay as is; couldn’t tell you what to do.
 
T

tommy chen

macrumors 6502a
Oct 1, 2018
907
390
HAx2S said:
I’m sorry, but I’m ignorant in this area, but it’s the stock grey screen of the Apple with a loading bar. I bought it on eBay as is; couldn’t tell you what to do.
Click to expand...

this is NOT an bootscreen

there will be no bootscreen with polaris or vega cards in a cMP
 
Eweie

Eweie

macrumors regular
Oct 5, 2013
152
84
this community is useless.
[doublepost=1564645770][/doublepost]
HAx2S said:
2019 SOLUTION

COMPUTER

Mac Pro (Early 2009)
2 x 3.33 GHz 6-Core Intel Xeon
64 GB 1333 MHz DDR3
Jason's M.2 512GB (PCI Adapter)
Radeon Vega Frontier Edition 16 GB (running macOS Mojave 10.14.4 natively with boot screen)
16TB RAID 0 Storage
3TB Archive
1TB Samsung SSD T5 Scratch Disk via USB-C (PCI Adapter)

DISPLAY
Apple Cinema Display (A1316)
27-inch (2560 x 1440)

I used this adapter and extension cable to get it working!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003N3DTKY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KRLQG2M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

As far as the Apple Thunderbolt Display, I don’t own one to test. As far as the reading I’ve done, it won’t work because its Thunderbolt, as opposed to on the Cinema Display, Mini DisplayPort. It’s worth trying when the adapter is that cheap!
Click to expand...
This is not a solution for the question asked.
[doublepost=1564645882][/doublepost]yeah we know, genius, if your GPU has DP then obviously the apple LED display will work natively.
The question is how to convert HDMI, do you know what that is? HDMI to DP for the apple Cinema Display. if there is an adapter that doesn't convert to 720p only.
learn to read.
 
I

Inspiring

macrumors newbie
Jul 12, 2008
17
3
Last edited:
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C

CaptainZag

macrumors newbie
Dec 31, 2021
9
2
Inspiring said:
If the OP is still searching for HDMI -> Apple Cinema Display Mini input, this cable should work, one of the feedback says that it works with Apple Cinema Display.


And then coupled with this

www.amazon.co.uk

StarTech.com DP2MDPMF6IN 6in DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort Video Cable Adapter - M/F, Black

StarTech.com DP2MDPMF6IN 6in DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort Video Cable Adapter - M/F, Black
www.amazon.co.uk
Click to expand...
Just incase anyone else comes across this post, I can confirm that @Inspiring is correct. I use the same paired connectors above on 2 of my cMP's with Apple Cinema displays that have the male mini-DP connectors.
 
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