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Thunderbolt Display w/ R6970 Lightning

U

UberApfel

Junior Member
Going by Apple.com flaunting "backwards compatability with mini displayport" and the word of an apple specialist; I bought a 27" Thunderbolt Display.

Apparently it doesn't work with my AMD-based Windows. Do I have to send it back?
 
What are you planning to use Thunderbolt for? I've read it has huge bandwith and can run multiple devices, but what acts as the hub for all those devices to plug into? I see a single cable, but am unclear where the trasnport of multiple (non thunderbolt/affordable) devices info makes its way onto thunderbolt.

For your original question, it is the current Apple lineup of computers that provide thunderbolt capability, not the display you just bought. The display can simply run off existing thunderbolt system, and to answer my question act as a hub for other devices. You need a thunderbolt capable system to then run to the display and as a perk, that display can be mini DP. It appears to me that a system with Mini DP, yours, is not suitable to run to the thunderbolt display, rather a thunderbolt system can run to a Mini DP screen. Given the genius recommendation I may be wrong here, this is something he should certainly know better if he's reccomending thunderbolt displays for use with Mini DP capable video cards. Though it appears clear enough to me that you need a thunderbolt enabled Mac computer to run the 1000 dollar display you just bought.

High performance on display.

Thunderbolt I/O technology provides native support for the Apple Thunderbolt Display and Mini DisplayPort displays. It also supports DisplayPort, DVI, HDMI, and VGA displays through the use of existing adapters. So you can connect your Apple LED Cinema Display or other display, along with multiple high-speed devices, all from a single port.
Click to expand...


Edit: I'm unclear on the single port,... it seems obvious that the display/displays and other devices still need to all connect to the screen. I'm uncertain how having to connect everything to a screen saves a connection count compared to simply having those devices hooked into the system itself. Thunderbolt looks like a glorified dockingstation with a large price tag.

This highlights a major difference between Apple and everyone else. To get thunderbolt you need a new $1500 system and a new $1000 display. For anyone on a 4 year old PC who wants to add USB 3.0, they buy a $20 USB 3.0 PCI-Express card.
 
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UberApfel said:
Going by Apple.com flaunting "backwards compatability with mini displayport" and the word of an apple specialist; I bought a 27" Thunderbolt Display.

Apparently it doesn't work with my AMD-based Windows. Do I have to send it back?
Click to expand...

Yes, there is no non-apple hardware available that it works with. If you can still find a 27" LED Cinema Display that uses actual display port, it will work.

Apple store, Amazon, and B&H have them now, but they will go in and out of availability as technically it is discontinued (Apple store most likely to be in stock).
 
I wasn't planning to use Thunderbolt for anything, I just see an old monitor and new monitor of roughly the same quality for the same price; I prefer the newer. Considering I was under the illusion that thunderbolt is backwards compatible enough with it's connector that at least the display would run.

Suppose I'm out-of-luck then. Just sucks that amazon will take a year to refund me. Ever hear any miracle stories of Apple store doing exchanges for 3rd party vendors?
 
Have you try with Amazon yet? They have great return policy and pretty quick with the refund.
Click to expand...

I'll second this. I've had very good experience with Amazon and returns. I felt they were genuinely concerned with making sure I was taken care of.
 
you are SOL unfortunately as the "genius" has sold you a big fat lemon.

anands review indicates it is part of the fruit farm's practice of killing legacy standards. they are probably blocking DP because other than highspeed external hd support, displayport does everything (video, video daisychaining, audio, peripheral pass thru) that thunderbolt does. only DP is open support and no fat royalties.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4832/the-apple-thunderbolt-display-review

return the monitor and chalk one up to experience.
 
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