Trouble connecting 27" LED Cinema Display to Mac Mini M4

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Level 1

9 points

Trouble connecting 27" LED Cinema Display to Mac Mini M4

So, I just replaced my 2013 trash can mac pro with a Mac Mini m4.

The Mac Pro was connected to 3 monitors, a 43" HDMI 4k display as it's main, and 2 27" LED Cinema Displays with Mini Displayport interface (MC007LL/A).

The Mini just refuses to work with the 27" apple displays. Works fine and typing on it now with the 43" 4k display, plugged into the single HDMI port.

I've tried 2 different adaptors from Amazon, both of which said they should work with the MC007LL/A displays. I've tried on both monitors, with both front USB-C ports on the Mac Mini. I've also tried initially in one of the rear Thunderbolt 4 ports before I learned enough to know that wouldn't work.

These adaptors are from 2 different mfg's.

I was at an apple store today, and they don't sell any cables/adaptors for their 27" display to their Mac Mini.

Has ANYONE had luck getting this to work? If so - what source for an adaptor?

I presume this should be plug-n-play, as in: When I have the right cable adaptor, I just plug in and the 27" display will come on.

I've tried rebooting, yes. Twice. And both of the 27" displays were working a few days ago when I detached them from the powered off Mac Pro.

Posted on Nov 21, 2024 1:47 PM

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Answer 1

Nov 21, 2024 2:11 PM in response to Dean Heistad

As I read the tech specs for the Mac mini M4, it seems that the rear Thunderbolt/USB ports are the preferred ports for DisplayPort video output.

Mac mini - Technical Specifications - Apple

❝ M4

Simultaneously supports up to three displays:

Up to three displays: Two displays with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt and one display with up to 5K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt or 4K resolution at 60Hz over HDMI
Up to two displays: One display with up to 5K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt and one display with up to 8K resolution at 60Hz or 4K resolution at 240Hz over Thunderbolt or HDMI

Thunderbolt 4 digital video output

Support for native DisplayPort 1.4 output over USB-C ❞

❝ On back (M4):

Gigabit Ethernet port (configurable to 10Gb Ethernet)
HDMI port

Three Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports with support for:

Thunderbolt 4 (up to 40Gb/s)
USB 4 (up to 40Gb/s)
DisplayPort ❞

It may be that the DP adapters you bought do not meet spec. Apple's devices can be very finicky where adapters and peripheral accessories are concerned. You might give the folks at OWC/macsales a call and see what they offer and/or recommend for cabling.

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Answer 2

Dean Heistad Author

Level 1

9 points

Nov 21, 2024 5:19 PM in response to D.I. Johnson

Superfine idea actually. Talked to their customer support, and although they don't have any viable adaptors or cables, they do have a (hopefully) nice dock that has one mini displayport on it. If that works (will get tmrw thanks to Amazon), then at least I'll have 2 monitors again (and hopefully an iSight camera for zoom/teams/facetime again).

If it doesn't work - I'm back to square one. But if it does - at least I can still just keep buying different adaptors and when they don't work, send 'em back.

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Answer 3

Nov 21, 2024 5:27 PM in response to Dean Heistad

Good to know that you've got a plan to get a handle on this. I hope all works out. Please keep us updated if and how you make it happen. 🙂

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