IMac to Samsung HDTV

Hi
Been through the forums and can see nothing that answers this in a positive fashion.
I have a Samsung LCD HDTV.
My iMac is in same room but I would like to connect my Alu iMac to it.
What adapter and cable do I need to buy to reach between iMac & TV ?

Samsung sets come with a variety of inputs, the type and number of which are dependent on the model of set, so there's no specific answer without knowing the model number (and date of manufacture). The following inputs are founds on various models of Samsung HDTV sets: composite video, CATV, component video, SVGA, HDMI, and DVI. If you are using one of their sets with CableCard, you may also have a FireWire input. Your Mac has a mini-DVI output.
To connect your Mac to your TV, you will need to determine which inputs your TV has, and then which ones you are going to use to connect other devices (for example, connecting your cable box and DVD player to your set). Once you've figured out which inputs aren't already spoken for, you need to decide which you want to use for your. In order of quality: HDMI > DVI > SVGA > component > composite > CATV.
Once you've worked that out, you need to purchase the appropriate adapter (mini-DVI to whatever format you decided on), and possibly a cable (the adapters tend to be a about 6-inches long, not enough to reach). HDMI and CATV include the audio, so for those you'll want to make sure the adapter includes an additional cable that connects to the Mac's audio jack. For the others, you want a separate audio adapter to connect to the audio inputs associated with the video connector on the set. It should be noted that there are a small number of Samsung sets that have a separate audio-in associated with an HDMI port, specifically for the case where you are hooking up a computer.
Hope that helps.

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Get a Samsung HDTV and ATV or wait for the latest model?

A newbie to HDTV, video and ATV.
I have almost decided to buy the Samsung 50" plasma HDTV PN50A650. But have discovered that Samsung has a new model PN50A760 with added capabilities for playing video and wireless networking.
Connectivity is an issue to me. Spending all the green on a HDTV, I do not want it to be obsolete in 4 years. What if I get a digital camcorder? Or Apple introduces a flat-rate movie-rental scheme? My options:
OPTION A) Wait a few months until the $500 premium for the new model drops.
Some excerpts for reviews of the latest 760 model:
"The 7 series can playback video content stored on a USB device while the 6 series are limited to images and audio."
(Naively, I thought that all HDTVs should be able to play back video.)
"The 7 Series can stream audio, video and pictures over your home network."
"The TV recognizes not only MP3 and JPEG files but also XviD and MPEG4 files to enjoy video playback."
"The TV can also reach out to your home network and play back photos, videos and music stored on networked computers. You'll need to install special software, included with the TV, onto your PC." This could be some very basic software. Suitable for Macs?
"While this feature seems pretty cool, it's not as good as similar functionality built into a PS3 or an Xbox 360, let alone that of a dedicated network media streamer like Apple TV. Despite being billed as DLNA-compliant, the TV won't play nice with DLNA server software like Windows Media Player 11 or TVersity, so you're stuck with the included proprietary software. Samsung's software is basic..." (Compatibility with Macs?)
OPTION B) Buy the older model and then, add ATV. The total cost will be less and I think, the video playback (through my iMac?) and networking capabilities (2Wire Wi-Fi) will be much better. But I see there have been problems between ATV and Samsung HDTV.
Isn't the combo with ATV a much more capable and flexible (and cheaper) long-term solution? Which Samsung is unlikely to match?
Thanks for your valuable advice! (Urgent for the X-Mas season!)

Winston, I think you're missing my points:
1) If you're interested in a device for watching HD video, then you can compare the AppleTV and Blu-Ray. You then have to look at what other features they provide, or don't provide as the case may be, and decide. I was just giving my opinion on an alternative.
2) There was no detailed information given as to what the streaming capabilities were and so I was giving my opinion again.
To say that there is little difference quality wise between current HD broadcasts (even if some are 1440x1080i) and the maximum output of the AppleTV at 1280x720 shows a total lack of experience on your part of watching HD broadcasts on a TV capable of 1920x1080, or a lack of appreciation of the better detail contained in the picture. It's like comparing AppleTV HD at 1280x720 with DVD PAL native resolution of 720x576 and saying there is little difference quality wise. But then if you look at the US market where 30fps is standard, the AppleTV cannot support resolutions higher than 960x540, and then you really are lowering the benefits of the AppleTV over DVD quality, and the difference between the AppleTV and HD broadcasts is even bigger.
I have compared video from HD broadcast at 1920x1080 with the same video converted down to 1280x720 on the AppleTV, and the loss of detail is noticeable, especially when watching on a 40" TV, not an uncommon size these days with them being used with games consoles. Before you comment, no it is nothing to do with how I convert them, there is just physically far fewer pixels available. I much prefer watching 1920x1080 through my Media PC than watching 1280x720 through my AppleTV.
Also, as we all know it happens, there is software available freely on the internet - no names will be mentioned - that allow the convertion of movies from DVD to a PC, and likewise from HD-DVD and Blu-Ray to a PC. So reality is that it's available now and with the cost of 1TB and 1.5TB HDDs so cheap, the potential for a 1920x1080 resolution video collection for playing on a 1920x1080 TV is already there. Saying it's not going to happen 'any time soon' is rediculous as it's already happening, albeit quietly, especially as talk of how to do such things is not allowed on this forum.
You keep using this phrase 'any time soon' without quantifying it. You use words like 'unlikely'. We live in a fast changing world. The world of televisions has changed dramatically in the last two years, whereby nearly all mid-priced TVs (both plasma and lcd) from about £800 GBP upwards now support native 1920x1080. Two years ago I paid over £1500 GBP for a 37" plasma supporting native 1024x720. You can now buy Sony OLED 11" TVs, which a couple of years ago were just being shown off as prototypes. In my opinion, OLED will blow away lcd and plasma tv sales within 5 years, and in my timescale, that is any time soon.
12 months ago I bought a blu-ray player for a PC, whilst people around me were going for hd-dvd. The format wars was predicted as not going to end 'any time soon' and no one could have forseen that within 6 months the whole blu-ray / hd-dvd argument would be over.
For your information, ABC in the US have been broadcasting in HD for over 10 years.
But as I keep saying Winston, these are my opinions. You're allowed yours and I'm allowed mine.

When I connect my iMac to a hdtv, the screen goes white with snow

When I connect my imac to my samsung hdtv through DVI miniport to HDMI on the tv, the connection is fine for about 10-15 minutes and then goes white with snow. I had a macbook pro before and used to use the same connection on the same tv and it worked perfectly fine. Please help

Nope it won't do that on the mid 2011 iMacs. What you're trying is called Target Display Mode, the only way it would work is if the PC has Thunderbolt (which no PC has) and you use a Thunderbolt cable.
What you can do is hook up to two external monitors on your iMac (giving it up to 3 monitors) which is very cool and can improve productivity depending on what you use your iMac for.

Running my imac on my HDTV-please help

hey guys i have a 20' imac and i also have a 50' Samsung DLP HDTV, now, i have a question, can i hook my imac to my HDTV and watch video from my computer on the HDTV? i just dont want to go through the hassle of converting the videos to the format playable by my various media players(ps3 etc), so is it possible? i believe i read somewhere about a mini-dvi cable, is that what i need? where can i get these? do best buys or any other similar retailers(CC,target etc) carry these cable? btw online shope is not an option for me

Depending on the inputs available on your TV use on of the following:
Apple Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter
Apple Mini-DVI to VGA Adapter
Apple Mini-DVI to Video Adapter.
All available for $19 online or as you say this isn't an option you can get any of the above parts in any Apple Retail Store and from most Apple suppliers. Bear in mind they are short; say 15cm only, so you'll need a long DVI/VGA/S-Video cable too.
The other option might be tv if your TV isn't that close to the iMac. Have a read of this page (link).
kind regards
mrtotes

How Do I Transmit Audio from My 2008 MacBook Pro to My 2011 Samsung HDTV?

Hello,
I'm trying to transmit audio from my 2008 late model MacBook Pro to my 2011 Samsung HDTV. My MacBook's Model Identifier is MacBook Pro 4,1 (ancient, I know). I purchased this DVI to HDMI cable which does a beautiful job of transmitting the video to my HDTV, but no audio (as advertised): http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E8SY5Q/ref=oh_o02_s01_i00_details HELP!!
Thanks very much.

I figured it out! I plugged in my 3.5MM auxillary cable I use to plug my iPhone into car stereo jacks from the headphones port on my MPB to the "PC/DVI Audio In" on the back of my Samsung HDTV and voila! It worked! No additional cables (other than these two). No upgrading OS. Yay!
Here's the auxillary cable: http://www.amazon.com/AUDIO-3-5MM-JACK-AUXILIARY-CABLE/dp/B002Q3K0QS/ref=sr_1_1? ie=UTF8&qid=1330576344&sr=8-1
This looks like a great workaround to the MPB to HDTV audio problem! Hopefully my geek status is still intact. W00T!
When in doubt, try all the cables you have in all the different ports. AV hasn't changed much over the years and you can often rig things to work with what you already have. Yay for keeping cables out of landfills and repurposing!

I have a macbook pro 5,3 white I am trying to hook up to a samsung hdtv. I have used a mini dv to hdmi adapter but I get no sound on my tv. What can I do to get sound?

I have a macbook pro 5,3 white I am trying to hook up to a samsung hdtv. I have used a mini dv to hdmi adapter but I get no sound on my tv. What can I do to get sound?

The Mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI adaptor will only pass video in most cases. You will need to run a separate audio cable along with it. Likely a 3.5mm (male-to-male) cable. Or a 3.5mm (male) to red/white RCA (male) cable. Just depends on what audio input ports your TV has dedicated to the HDMI input.

I am trying to connect my Macbook pro 2010 to my Samsung HDTV using a mini display port to hdtv cable. Trying to play a slide show in IPhoto but I only get sound with no picture. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I am trying to connect my Macbook pro 2010 to my Samsung HDTV using a mini display port to hdtv cable. Trying to play a slide show in IPhoto but I only get sound with no picture. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I keep saying this over and over, in the hope that people who do a search will find it. Apple cannot possibly test for or be reponsible for the bazillion combinations of adapter, cables, and TV's out there. The only monitors that are 100% guaranteed to work with the MacBook Pro are the Cinema Displays and Thunderbolt Displays, because, they're made by Apple. They're expensive, but they work perfectly.
My guess is that you bought a cheap MDP to HDMI cable, or have a defective one. From my reading of these boards over the past few months, cheap cables have a high failure rate. And the regular priced ones have only a slightly less of one. Try a new one. Make sure you do not damage the Thunderbolt port.

Mac Mini to Samsung HDTV

My new mini should be here Wed. I was going to connect it to my Samsung HDTV. I just noticed that the mini has a DVI-I connection in back, while my TV has a DVI-D connection in back. Is there a cable for this? I'm not having much luck finding one.

I suggest you read this primer on DVI interfaces, it will answer many of your questions:
http://www.datapro.net/techinfo/dvi_info.html#Page02
Basically, the mac mini having a DVI-I plug is good, meaning it can go either way -- DVI-A (analog) or DVI-D (digital). You will simply want a DVI-D cable to connect to your TV, and you should be good. a DVI-I cable would also probably work.

Audio from Macbook to Samsung HDTV

Hi,
I have this common problem of trying to get audio from my Macbook when connecting it to my Samsung HDTV (40in)
I have a 2009 Macbook.
This is what I'm using. I'm not great on the jargon, but I think this is a HDMI cable for the video which works fine, but carries no audio.
The problem is the audio, which I have an RCA cable for, but maybe I'm not connecting it to the right place. I've tried all combinations though.
The only thing I can see that may be an issue is everyone seems to talk about red and white cables, mine are red and black, don't know if that makes any difference.
I also can't see anything in the TV menu to help with audio setup.
Can anyone help, it's driving me nuts!
Thanks!
Beano

beano2100 wrote:
mrjferrell wrote:
Or check your TV manual for an input mode labeled HDMI/DVI (it may be labelled HDMI 1 or 2). This should take picture from the HDMI but listen to audio from your stereo audio input you have already connected up.
There is an audio input labelled PC/DVI - is that the one you mean? if you look at my picture (of the back of the TV) it's pretty much bang in the middle of the pic. But I don't recognise the input. What kind of cable is that - it is circular in style....
HDMI 1 is actually labelled HDMI 1 (DVI) (not too clear in the pic)...maybe that's what you are referring to?
I do not have the same model TV as yours, however on mine, the small round AUDIO INPUT jack accepts the same kind of connector as that goes into the computer earphone jack. Therefore I use a cable with the same kind of connector on each end.

Macbook to samsung hdtv

after connecting mac to samsung hdtv with relevant cables ,screen saver appears on tv nothing else
is there something else i need to do .
would appreciate any advice

When you say +screen saver+, do you actually mean your desktop wallpaper? If so, what you probably have is an extension of your MacBook screen showing on the tv. What is it that you would like to see on your MacBook? on your tv? Your options are:
The same thing on both or mirror.
The main stuff on the tv and just the +screen saver+ (desktop wallpaper) on the MacBook (which is the opposite of what you have now.
Some stuff on each.
Everything on the tv and close the lid on the MacBook.
The answers to these will determine what you need to do next. If you do nothing, you are able to move your curser or a window to the right off the MacBook screen and it will appear on the tv. The settings can be found in System Preferences/Displays.
btw... the screensaver/desktop thing is very common and I find it humorous. Please don't take offense.
Message was edited by: GfulDedFan

Issue with Lion OSX and Samsung HDTV

Hi everyone,
I have a problem while connecting my Samsung HDTV model LNT3242HX with my Mac ever since I upgraded to Lion (I was previously on Snow Leopard).
I'm using a Macbook 2.13 GHZ Intel Core 2 Duo (Mid 2009).
I use the Mini DVI to VGA cable and I hook it up with my TV. The thing is, with Lion, when I connect my TV, it doesn't fit the whole TV screen. There's about an inch to the left and the right where the screen stays dark. I did not have this problem with Snow Leopard.
When I check in my display preferences, my resolution is set to 1360x768 , however it says Usable Resolution 1280x768...And there's no way to change the refresh rate to anything else besides 60 hertz....
I don't really know if anyone can help? As it used to work just fine before, I assume there must be some kind of glitch between OSX Lion and my HDTV. I tried hooking it up to my other LG HDTV, and there is no problem, it's just with my Samsung TV.
Thanks in advance for anyone who can help me out!

I have the exact same problem except mine is a 52 inch tv and there is at least 6 inches on either side plus 3+ inches on teh top and bottom. Wasnt an issue with Snow Leopard. I read somewhere that I may need to buy a $100 adapter instead of using the DVI to VGI cable. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated as I use this setup when I telework and the screen resolution is too small to be useful now.

Connect imac 2011 to hdtv

Hi,
I am trying to connect my mid-2011 iMac to my HDTV but can't find any useful information on the Internet. The iMac lacks a display port thus I am not sure what connector I need to purchase to have a dual screen setup.
Is there any adapter in the market which allows me to have dual screens via the Thunderbolt ports?
Regards,
RingoComp

You should be able to use existing mini display port to HDMI adapters -- Thunderbolt ports also provide display port signals.
Some examples (untested by me):
Moshi adaptor at the Apple Store
One of several mini Display Port to HDMI cables at Amazon (read the product description section for tips on enabling sound through the port)

Imac streaming to hdtv. Do I leave the cable plugged in?

I'm not sure if I'm asking this quesiton in the right place, but any help would be appreciated.
I have connected my Imac to my hdtv using an hdmi cable through a thunderbolt port. It works great. I only use it occasionally (3-4 times a week) for streaming video from sites like MHZworldview.
My question is- Should I leave the hdmi cable plugged into the computer via the thunderbolt port all the time? Or should I only have it plugged in when its in use?
The hdmi cable is 100 ft., and has an equalizer that stays lit when connected.
Thanks

Welcome to the Apple Support Communities
You don't have to keep the cable connected when you aren't using your TV as a screen for the iMac, so you can unplug it without any problem, but nothing should happen if you leave it plugged to your TV

Will Mac Min Work with 26" Samsung HDTV?

Hey all,
Thinking of getting a Mac Mini, just wondering if i simply plugged it in via HDMI or VGA to my 26" Samsung HDTV, will it work? And what would the res. be?
Thx

Looks like it will work per the manual. And it looks like it will work at 1360 x 768. Do you own a PC now? Have you tried attaching a PC to the TV? If that works, there is a good chance the mini will.

MBP to Samsung HDTV

Before anyone questions, I did a search, but I still come away with questions. OK, here's the scoop; I've got a 15" MBP (Nov '08) and I want to connect it to a 26" Samsung HDTV. If I'm understanding correctly, the MBP has Mini Display Port and the Samsung HDTV has both HDMI and DVI, so do I convert from Mini to DVI or Mini to HDMI? Where's the best place to get quality adaptors and cables?
Please forgive my ignorance, I'm new to Macs(loving the experience). Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Paul

You can use either DVI or HDMI - both are digital, so there's no quality difference. For HDMI, you need the mini-DisplayPort to HDMI adapter from Monoprice, then an HDMI cable. For DVI, you'd need Apple's Mini-DisplayPort to DVI adapter and a DVI cable.
You'll also need a separate cable for audio - mini-toslink to toslink if your TV has digital (optical) audio input, or a mini-stereo to RCA cable if it's analog only.
Note that some TV's need you to use a specific HDMI port (if they have more than one) to use a separate audio input (HDMI can carry audio, and does from a DVD player, for example, but the MBP does not output audio via the mini-DisplayPort). Check your TV's manual.

IMac to Samsung HDTV

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