#MAC CINEMA DISPLAY DRIVER FOR PC PLUS#
#MAC CINEMA DISPLAY DRIVER FOR PC MAC#

This UPTab adapter has great advantage of supporting pass-through USB-C power. I found four distinct options that worked perfectly well. However, if you're using a USB-C hub or dock with multiple Type-A ports, that can take care of that problem.

#MAC CINEMA DISPLAY DRIVER FOR PC MAC#

Plugging in USB also enables a built-in iSight (640×480 pixel resolution) camera and microphone, which are redundant to a Mac laptop's mic and FaceTime support.įor a MacBook Pro, using USB 2.0 means giving up two ports to get brightness and other features: one for the Mini-DisplayPort adapter and one to connect a USB plug. You need to use a USB-C to Type-A adapter to connect the monitor's USB Type-A plug, and then you can control brightness via a keyboard, Touch Bar, or Displays system preference pane, as well as plug in a keyboard, mouse, and other low-data-speed devices. I didn't find the default brightness level distracting or glaring, but that's a very individual judgement. The missing piece, however, is brightness and USB 2.0 data passthrough. The only glitch seems to be a small line of missing pixels in the upper right corner of the display when connected through the CalDigit dock, but that's nearly unnoticeable.

Power (but not data) to the USB 2.0 ports in the display's back.

External audio via the display's speakers and control of audio volume from the laptop.

External 1440p (2560×1440 pixel resolution) display.

Plugging in just a Mini DisplayPort adapter gets you the following with the products tested: Not everything works perfectly over USB-C with the Apple LED Cinema Display, but it's a pretty close match. I discuss it below and in a separate review, but it has both HDMI and full-sized DisplayPort jacks, and requires just a sub-$10 Mini-DisplayPort female to full-sized DisplayPort male adapter to work with an LED Cinema Display. If you're looking for a full-scale USB-C dock, look for one like the CalDigit USB-C Dock. Its secret weapon? A pass-through USB-C power jack. To cut to the chase, the clear winner on features is the UPTab USB-C to Mini-DisplayPort adapter ($35). Some of the adapters tested go in and out of stock rapidly, which is why I provide a few alternatives.

I searched across Amazon, product manufacturers' sites, and other retailers for potential adapters, read reviews, and settled on four adapters to test. (Don't make a mistake and order one of the male Mini-DisplayPort to female HDMI adapters on the market.) While there are a variety of USB-C docks on the market that accept external video, nearly all of them only have an HDMI jack, and there is not, say, a female Mini-DisplayPort to male HDMI adapter available. Note that Apple says its Thunderbolt 2 to Thunderbolt 3 adapter does not work with DisplayPort and Mini DisplayPort displays, including the Apple LED Cinema Display. (You can find some options for DVI, but we opted to not test them given the smaller number, display quality, and age of those that remain usable.) I'm interested here in the second connector type, Mini DisplayPort, which is distinct from Thunderbolt 2, even though both standards use the same connector type.

#MAC CINEMA DISPLAY DRIVER FOR PC PLUS#

My testing shows three affordable and viable options, plus a reasonable option for a full-featured USB-C dock that requires just a simple adapter.Īpple made multiple generations of its displays: the first used DVI (in single-link and dual-link flavors) the second, Mini DisplayPort the third, Thunderbolt 2.

I purchased several adapters and cables that can take the LED Cinema Display's Mini DisplayPort (not Thunderbolt) and convert it into something that passes over USB-C in a compatible chain that allows you to connect to a USB-C equipped MacBook. Apple rarely releases sales figures on particular models of products they offer, but I have to imagine they shipped at least hundreds of thousands of its two Apple LED Cinema Displays ( 24-inch, 2008 to 2010, and 27-inch, 2010 to 2013) based on the number of people who have reached out and want to connect them to a USB-C equipped MacBook.

Mac cinema display driver for pc