Questions & Answers for Apple Thunderbolt Display (27-inch)

The cable attached to the display is the connection that plugs into any Mac with a Thunderbolt port. The cable also has a MagSafe connector that will charge any Thunderbolt equipped Mac laptop.

The Thunderbolt Display becomes a hub for all other connections to any Thunderbolt equipped Mac. USB 2.0, FireWire 800, Ethernet, camera, microphone, and sound system, as well as additional Thunderbolt port all feed the Mac through the single Thunderbolt Connection… no adapters required.

One exception would be newer Macs that have USB 3.0 ports would need to have high speed USB 3.0 devices connected directly to the Mac to achieve full 3.0 speed. The USB ports on the display are currently limited to USB 2.0 speeds.

• Answered by James H from Portland
• 26-Dec-2012
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Unfortunately, due to the thunderbolt port being the only way to accommodate the large amount of extra ports (3 USB 2.0, Firewire 800, gigabit ethernet) the only macbook pros that can run this display are the models that have the thunderbolt port. If you have an older model macbook pro, you can use the LED Cinema display. It's identical to the thunderbolt display minus the thunderbolt port and extra ports.

• Answered by Dustin G from Canton
• 4-Feb-2013
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There is an integrated cable that comes out from the back of the Thunderbolt Display. At the end of the cable it splits into two cables -- one that connects to the power port of your MBP, and the other that connects to the Thunderbolt (formerly MiniDV) port of your MBP. Your MBP must be late 2011 or later (I think) in order to have the proper Thunderbolt port necessary for using a Thunderbolt Display.

• Answered by Ed Q from Columbia
• 6-Dec-2012
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No. The Thunderbolt Display needs to be driven from a Thunderbolt port.

• Answered by James H from Portland
• 20-Jun-2012
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All Macs , excluding the Mac Pro (which has not been refreshed for Thunderbolt) , are Thunderbolt enabled.

Just to be clear, the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac Mini and iMac are all Thunderbolt enabled

• Answered by Marian O
• 12-May-2012
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I have a MacBook Air 11.6" (Mid 2011 Model) and I connect to the Thunderbolt display at 2560 x 1440.

There are other resolutions listed as being available also:

2048 x 1152
1920 x 1440
1920 x 1080
1600 x 1200
1600 x 900
1344 x 1008
1344 x 1008 (stretched)
1344 x 756
1280 x 960
1280 x 960 (stretched)
1280 x 720
1024 x 768
1024 x 768 (stretched)
800 x 600
800 x 600 (stretched)

• Answered by Jason C from Mitcham
• 2-Feb-2012
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This will be arriving about the 25th of april - and will be able to tell you then. but for now am planning on this to happen with the following - VideoSecu LCD LED TV Wall Mount Full Motion with Swivel Articulating Arm for 23-37, up to 42 in TV Flat Panel Screen With VESA 200 100, 20 in extension and Post-installation Leveling System A35 by VideoSecu - am using amazon.

• Answered by Virgil P from Lake Oswego
• 23-Apr-2012
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The Apple Thunderbolt displays come with built-in Thunderbolt cables so there's no need to buy extra cables unless you need them.

• Answered by Sam R
• 23-Nov-2012
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