First off, you need the mini DP to dual link DVI adapter, not the regular mini DP to DVI, to get a decent resolution on the Cinema Display. Second, you need the Macbook Pro EFI Firmware Update 2.2. Third, you guessed it, you need a MBP with a mini DP.
So all this sounds like a no-brainer, but here’s my story:
- I bought the latest MBP and a mini DP to DVI adapter and the resolution sucked.
- Found out I had to get the dual-link DVI adapter (I can still use the single-link with my 24″ monitor). I was very worried by all the trash being talked on the Apple store about this adapter being flaky and dying suddenly but I ended up getting it anyway. I need my 30″!
- Everything worked perfectly. Woot!
- Upgraded to Lion. Boom. Cinema Display Dead.
- Brought MBP and dual-link adapter to an Apple Store. The genius plugged it into their monitor in the back room and it worked “proved with a photo” so I was told to bring in my Cinema Display because it was likely a power issue. My old MBP (late 2008) could still power it so I had my doubts. Anyway, suckage… the CD was dead to me.
- Lots of bitching and moaning in public forums to no avail and jumping out the window seemed mighty tempting.
- MBP EFI Firmware update comes along and “includes fixes that resolve issues with Apple Thunderbolt Display compatibility”. Sounds close enough. Install. Bam. Cinema Display Alive.
Long story short, I spent way too much time on an issue that nobody would acknowledge or help with or even let me cry on their shoulder about. I was in deep trauma for months. And now it is over! If this post helps someone, I’ll have done my job here.