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This is a limitation due to the motherboard. On the first generations of Mac equiped with Mini DisplayPort (MacBook Pro 2008/2009, etc), the sound is not transmitted on Mini DisplayPort. Specifically, a Mini DisplayPort adapter runs on a Thunderbolt plug.
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Technically, the plug is the same and the only difference is that the Thunderbolt connector can carry – in addition to the classic Mini DisplayPort – a Thunderbolt signal, which is a signal PCI-Express (4 lines).
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Thunderbolt is fully compatible with Mini DisplayPort peripherals.
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As this issue os often misunderstood, I will expose the difference ( and also similarities ) between Thunderbolt and Mini DisplayPort.
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