Mac – Dual screen setup Apple Cinema Displays Mac mini

cinema-displaymac-minithunderbolt

How do I connect dual screen setup on a Mac Mini?

Mac Mini: Late (2012)
Apple Cinema Display 27"
Apple ThunderBolt Display 27"

ThunderBolt Port: Apple ThunderBolt Display 27"
Tried two different Kanex XD units and did not work.
Kanex XD: Mini display port female to HDMI female converter to HDMI cable to HDMI Port on Mac mini.

Does anyone have a link to a converter that work or an option to hook up?

Best Answer

With the two monitors you have listed, it's not feasible (most definately, not economically).

  • The 27" Apple Cinema Display requires miniDisplay Port

  • The 27" Apple Thunderbolt Display can only support another Thunderbolt display. From the Thunderbolt Display User Manual:

    Connect Thunderbolt-compatible devices for high-speed data transfer, or connect another display that uses Thunderbolt. This Thunderbolt port is not compatible with DVI, VGA, or DisplayPort displays or adapters

The Thunderbolt Display must be used with the Thunderbolt port and cannot be converted from HDMI. This is a limitation you can't overcome because these are two completely different signals.

For the Cinema display, you need a mini DisplayPort (DP) which is not available if you plug in the Thunderbolt Display.

Daisy Chaining

You can't. The Thunderbolt Display will only daisy chain to another Thunderbolt Display.

Using a Dock

You could use a dock like the OWC 12 Port Thunderbolt 2 Dock that has multiple TB ports out that includes support for video.

The problem with using a dock like this is two fold:

  1. It's already obsolete technology. You're using tech that's already 5 years old and has already been surpassed by Thunderbolt 3. This product will soon be EOL'd if not already.
  2. It's expensive. You're looking at spending about as much for a new monitor to get an obsolete device to connect obsolete monitors.

Bottom Line...

You are going to spend more than the Cinema Display is worth in adapters only to end of with EOL'd products. (IMO) Your best bet is to sell your Cinema Display and use the procedes to get a newer, modern display that has multiple input formats like HDMI and DisplayPort. This way, you can avoid all of the extra, unnecessary signal conversions and you end up with a monitor that will last you at least several years.

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