HDMI vs. DVI vs. VGA

I have a 24 inch full 1080P HD external monitor that I am using with my Macbook Pro. I"m not really a gamer, so I have a question.
1st. What is the difference if I use the HDMI connection or the DVI connection to my monitor? Is there a difference?
2.nd - what about just using VGA
Would the normal user, who isn't a gamer notice the difference in any of the 3 options?
Also- I am only using this set up to have a bigger monitor. I'm not doing the extended desktop.
Any feedback you have for me would be nice.
thanks!
twitter - http://twitter.com/Rick_Smith

I have a 24 inch full 1080P HD external monitor that I am using with my Macbook Pro. I"m not really a gamer, so I have a question.
1st. What is the difference if I use the HDMI connection or the DVI connection to my monitor? Is there a difference?
HDMI and DVI use the same digital video signals, so should give the same image quality.
2.nd - what about just using VGA
It may not be as sharp as DVI or HDMI since the signal may not be sampled at exactly the correct pixel positions, and it cannot handle sharp vertical edges as well as digital.
Would the normal user, who isn't a gamer notice the difference in any of the 3 options?
A gamer is less likely to notice the difference because of fast moving images.
Also- I am only using this set up to have a bigger monitor. I'm not doing the extended desktop.
Unless you have a 1920 x 1200 display on the MacBook, you won't be able to use the full resolution of the 1080p display in mirroring mode, since it is a pixel-to-pixel mirroring. You can get full resolution by running with the MacBook closed if you use exteernal keyboard and mouse.
<http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3131>
Note: some 1080p (1920x1080) don't work properly with computers at 1920x1080. They may have overscan, which will blur the picture and put the menu bar and dock off the screen, or they may tell the computer to run in 1080i mode, which makes thin horizontal lines flicker. Sometimes this can be fixed with software, such as switchResX
<http://www.madrau.com/html/SRX/About.html>
or DisplayConfigX
<http://www.3dexpress.de/>

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http://i.imgur.com/oJpkr.jpg
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Welcome to  Discussions!
What you are seeing is the difference between an analog and digital DVI connector, as DVI as a specification can provide both types of signal, depending on implementation. When used in a mode where only one or the other type of signal is provided, the different connectors prevent a mismatch. VGA being analog, the DVI to VGA adapter is using an analog DVI connector. The other connector you are dealing with is a digital only connector. HDMI is digital only, hence the HDMI to DVI adapter being digital only. Thus you can not adapt from the HDMI port to VGA with just passive adapters, you would need a conversion device between. It would be cheaper and more effective to use a Mini DisplayPort to VGA adapter.

No HDMI or MiniDP-to-VGA output, but HDMI-to-DVI is okay

I purchased my Mac Mini almost a week ago and I've been having strange issues with getting my various monitors to work with it.
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When I have OS X installed on my Mac Mini, the Apple MiniDP-to-VGA adapter works with my VGA monitors, but only when OS X has loaded. My monitors all say "no signal" during the boot-up phase. However I had no problems when I connect my LP2475w monitors to the Mac Mini via the HDMI-to-DVI adapter: I see the grey screen during bootup, can see/access the boot menu, and everything works fine.
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When I use a direct HDMI connection my LP2475w says there's no signal, unless I plug the cable in during the text-mode portion of Windows' bootloader (under Boot Camp). As soon as Windows loads, or during the grey-screen bootup section my monitors all say there's no signal. There is nothing wrong with the cable or my monitors.
Here's a table:
Connection
Can see boot screen/boot menu
Can see OS X (when loaded)
Can see Windows (when loaded)
HDMI from Mac Mini to LP2475w
No
Not tested
No
HDMI-to-DVI from Mac Mini to LP2475w
Yes
Yes
Yes
MiniDP-to-VGA from Mac Mini to VGA monitor
No
Yes
No
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SOLVED - I purchased a third-party MiniDP to DVI adapter instead and it works a treat.
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MB560 wrote:
1. In Mac system, I only get blue screen of computer on TV with out any writing or pictures or tool bar.
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