Questions & Answers
67 Questions from the Community
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Can I connect the thunderbolt cable to hdmi port?
I would like to connect my Mac to my HDTV. I would like to try to use the thunderbolt cable. is there anyway that it can connect to my HDTV via HDMI or any other port.
- Asked by Ahmed S from Mississauga
- Jul 8, 2011
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Best Answer
If you go to the Mac accessories and go into cables, you will find cables and adapters for thunderbolt to HDMI. an important note is that they will say Mini DisplayPort, not thunderbolt..
- Answered by Ryan G from Abbotsford
- Jul 23, 2011
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thunderbolt to VGA
Is there currently or soon-to-be a cable for thunderbolt to VGA to allow an iMac to use a second display since there is no other way to hook up.
- Asked by Stacy W from Chapel Hill
- Jul 3, 2011
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Best Answer
You can use a Mini DisplayPort to VGA adapter, available from the Apple Store. Thunderbolt is backwards compatible with Mini DisplayPort.
- Answered by Adam B from Saint Paul
- Sep 10, 2011
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Thunderbolt to MINI DVI
What cable do I need to connect a Macbook Air (2011) thunderbolt port to a 24" iMac (2008) DVI port to be able to run the Macbook Air in target mode. In other words, the iMac would act as an external display for the new Macbook Air.
Thank you in advance,
MINIc- Asked by Janet R from Lakewood
- Jul 26, 2011
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How can I connect the newest Macbook Pro to a projector?
- Asked by Nan L from Changping District
- Jul 2, 2011
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Are USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt compatible, is there an adapter presently on the market? If not can I upgrade my USB 2.0 to 3.0 on my Macbook?
I currently have a Macbook Pro 13' and have USB 3.0 1 TB external hard drives for my media needs. I would like to be able to use the speeds of Thunderbolt or USB 3.0 when moving things around. I have searched for an adapter without success, so if there is nothing currently available could I upgrade my USB ports?
- Asked by Joshua T from South Abington Township
- Jan 2, 2012
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Answer
In short the answer is no, there is no adapter at present.
I agree though, there needs to be an adaptor, USB 3.0 is widely available, and affordable. I cannot afford thunderbolt drives, but I already own usb 3.0 drives, but i cannot utilize their speeds. An adaptor for my Macbook Pro would be hugely needed.- Answered by Jacob V
- May 3, 2012
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can thunderbolt and mini display port be used interchangeably? to watch hdtv using 15 in mac pro, do i use the thunderbolt slot to connect mini cable
- Asked by Lindsey G from Wilmington
- Jul 6, 2011
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Best Answer
Yes, thunderbolt port & mini display port is one & the same on 2011 macs.
The difference would be on the cables/adaptors you are using & where you would be connecting your mac to.- Answered by Amador Jr M from Olongapo City
- Jul 14, 2011
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can i connect a thunderbolt display to my 2010 mac pro?
- Asked by David D from Sarasota
- Aug 30, 2011
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Best Answer
No. I've spent the past two days looking for a solution. I expected my ATI Radeon HD 5770 graphics card to drive video to my new Thunderbolt Display though the mini Display Port connector. Unfortunately, it doesn't work. Very frustrated.
- Answered by Ben O from Marina Del Rey
- Oct 3, 2011
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Can I connect my 2011 macbook pro to a Cinema Display with thunderbolt or Firewire
I cannot find a cable to connect my new macbook to my monitor(Cinema Display)
- Asked by Jay B S from Odessa
- Aug 20, 2011
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Best Answer
You can just use the Mini Display Port cable that came with the 27 inch cinema display. Mini Display Port is the exact same plugin as Thunderbolt, so this is all you need. If you lost the cable, what you're looking for is a Belkin Mini Display port to Mini Display Port cable.
- Answered by Matt M from Austin
- Aug 21, 2011
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Can this cable be used to transfer data between Macs?
Can this cable be used to transfer data between Macs?
- Asked by Noah K from Escondido
- Jun 28, 2011
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Best Answer
Yes, using Target Disk Mode between two thunderbolt equipped Macs.
- Answered by Mario C from Valley Glen
- Jun 28, 2011
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How do I transfer data from my iMac without thunderbolt (only firewire) to my new Macbook Air with thunderbolt?
I upgraded from the Macbook Pro 2010 model to the new Macbook Air. I transfered the data from the Pro to my iMac via firewire. Now I need to transfer the same data from iMac to the new MBA with thunderbolt. Is there a cable that connects the firewire port on my iMac to the thunderbolt port on the new MBA?
- Asked by Arvin V
- Aug 14, 2011
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How would I hook up an HDMI TV to a new iMac with Thunder bolt?
- Asked by Catherine A from Kaunakakai
- Jul 23, 2011
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thunderbolt cable connect to a macbook air to an external storage device through firewire port on device?
- Asked by Richard P from Bellingham
- Oct 27, 2011
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Answer
Thunderbolt cables are special cables to be used only between two Thunderbolt-capable devices. If your storage device has only FireWire ports, you need a Thunderbolt to Firewire adaptor, but these are pretty expensive as are the Thunderbolt-native storage devices currently on the market. Sorry no simple, inexpensive solutions, at lease not yet
- Answered by Tom R from Cupertino
- Jan 3, 2012
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The standard cable on the Thunderbolt display is pretty short. Can I use this cable to extend it?
It seems that this cable is male-to-male only. Is there a male-to-female version?
- Asked by Dimitri A from Long Island City
- Jan 5, 2012
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Answer
The quick answer would be no - This cable is designed to go between computer and computer or computer and hard drive, it's not an extension cable.
- Answered by John N from Buccan
- Jan 27, 2012
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Answer
Not many products support Thunderbolt at the time. Currently, all thats available at the time is the Apple Thunderbolt Display, some storage devices, some video capture devices and adapters for FireWire 800, Ethernet and fiber channel.
- Answered by Ryan G from Abbotsford
- Jul 23, 2011
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Can I connect a time capsule with a thunderbolt cable?
- Asked by Anthony R from Naples
- Mar 8, 2012
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Answer
No, there is no Thunderbolt enabled Time Capsules as of yet. You, like me, will have to wait.
- Answered by Robert B. H from Rex
- Mar 26, 2012
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can you daisy chain monitors to a macbook pro?
- Asked by Kris C from Houston
- Jun 28, 2011
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Answer
You can run 2 thunderbolt compatible imac's or soon to be released displays off of a macbook pro... and 2 monitors off a current model iMac... all through daisy chain.
- Answered by Ryan H from Acton
- Jul 19, 2011
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How many devices can be connected - simultaneously - to one thunderbolt port?
I work with video production but the budget is yet limited, so I can't afford a Mac Pro. But with an iMac I might be able to work just fine. But before I buy a mac I need to know if the thunderbolt can support multiple devices as in a hub. Could I plug two, three monitors, a pci express for playing hard videos, and also connect a Raid of Hard drives?
- Asked by Diego G from Salvador
- Oct 28, 2011
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Best Answer
Thunderbolt is a point-to-point interface, that also allows daisy-chaining to up to seven devices. The new iMacs have other ports besides just Thunderbolt out their back, so in effect it already is a hub for these different port types. IF you want to chain via the Thunderbolt port, you need to make sure each device connected to your iMac has two Thunderbolt ports, one for its "upstream" Thunderbolt partner and one for its "downstream" device chain. Be careful, though, for not all Thunderbolt devices have this second port, so they have to be wired into your string as the last/end-point
- Answered by Tom R from Cupertino
- Jan 3, 2012
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Is this cable used to transfer files between two macs?
Hi. I am planning to purchase a new macbook pro since the keyboard of my old one broke. I remember when I first bought this macbook pro, I also bought a cable that transferred all files to from my Macbook. Will this cable do the same things and transfer all files? I am not a tech-person, so I really don't understand the description. It would be great if you could help me. And if this isn't the product, will you please suggest what cable is good for transferring files?
- Asked by Kiyomi R from Carpinteria
- Mar 20, 2012
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Is this cable backwards compatible with mini display port?
Meaning could I use it on my 2009 macbook pro as mini display port to mini display port or mini display port to thunderbolt. I was looking into getting one and if this can do both I would get this for whenever I upgrade my macbook pro. I dont think it is but just wanted to make sure.
- Asked by Eric N from Newington
- Jun 28, 2011
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can i use thunderbolt cable for apple tv
- Asked by Sharareh A from Rancho Cordova
- Sep 5, 2011
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Answer
No, the Apple TV does not have Thunderbolt, let alone Mini DisplayPort.
- Answered by Alex H from Cedar Rapids
- Sep 5, 2011
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