Mini DVI to VGA or Mini DisplayPort to VGA

I've used up all the HDMI connectors on my 1080p LCD, so need to use the VGA connection, which thankfully supports 1920 x 1080 native.
I was in the Apple store today and noticed they sell both a mini DVI to VGA adapter, as well as a mini DisplayPort to VGA adapter - the latter being $5 more expensive.
Since it's converting to analog in both cases, I'm wondering if there's any potential advantage of one vs. the other.
I'm looking for the best possible picture as my new mini will be serving as my media hub, so any input is appreciated.
And I've been connecting a laptop to my TV via regular VGA up till now and it looks amazing, so not worried about going VGA instead of HDMI...
Edit: Sorry - somehow posted this in the totally wrong forum but don't see any option to move it to Early 2009 -> using the Mac mini...

Welcome to Apple Discussions!
I was half expecting to see that there would be a difference in maximum resolution between the two connectors when used with VGA adaptors, but there is not. You can get up to 2048x1536 using either. There should not be any difference in quality of output between them.

Similar Messages

"Mini DVI to HDMI" or "Mini DVI to VGA" to go to Samsung LN32B460 HDTV?

I recently purchased a "DOA"/defective "Mini DVI to HDMI" converter off of ebay, and the company is making me spend the $10 to return it to China - which I'm not doing (I only paid $10 for it in the first place).
I am wondering if I should buy another one, from a more reliable seller of course, or if I should buy the "Mini DVI to VGA" instead?
I don't play games, so it would be mainly for playing movies and browsing the web. My display is a 32" Samsung 720p (Model LN32B460). It is has a native resolution of 1360x768, 60Hz refresh.
Will I see a quality difference for the basic stuff that I am doing that I should get the "Mini DVI to HDMI" or will the "Mini DVI to VGA" be enough?
Thanks!

I'm attempting to connect my MB to a plasma 50 inch Panasonic TV, and am about to purchase the necessary cables from www.monoprice.com.
I've discovered so far that the HDMI connection directly between the MB and the TV (using the appropriate mini DVI adapter of course - product # 4852 at monochrome.com and an Apple HDMI cable which I'll return to get a better price at monochrome) transmits only video/pictures but not audio.
So far, an old, short RCA (red/white) 2-way audio test cable (again using the appropriate adapter to connect to the headphone jack on the MB) does not transmit audio directly to the TV.
1) Could audio be transmitted from the MB to the TV using a "Coax (RCA) to Optical Toslink Digital Audio Converter" (product ID # 2947 at www.monochrome.com) to connect directly to the TV (in which case, what digital audio cable would I need to connect the converter to the TV)? And if so, would it be stereo or mono?
OR...
2) Should I wait until I get my Onkyo surround sound system (later this week) to see if the RCA cable will transmit directly from the MB to the sound system?
Thanks.

Mini-DVI v.s. Mini VGA

Hey guys im new to the dual desktop monitors, im trying to get a cord for my macbook to do dual monitars, do i need the mini-dvi or teh vga, im just trying to hook it up to a standard monitor?

If you could post more about to what kind of external monitor you will hook it up, we might have better suggestion.
Some monitor still use vga port (db-15) even if it is lcd screen. And some DVI monitor reportedly not work that well or not work at all.
Here is the list of what you might need and read review from user that already bought and us it.
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wo/0.RSLID?mco=C A995172&nclm=B30BC981
Here is link to learn more:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVI
http://www.datapro.net/techinfo/dvi_info.html
Good Luck

Can I get a Mini DVI (old type) to Mini DVI new type adaptor? Does it exist

I have a number of the old Ibook mini DVI to VGA/S-Video adaptors. My IBook died and got a macbook that has a mini DVI port - but not the exact same type as the Ibook. (Its NOT the Macbook pro type port). Does anyone know if there is a patch cord that has a male Ibook type mini DVI on one end and a female mini DVI on the other so these various adaptors I have will function.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Skip

Could it possibly be with the new software upgrade? I just updated from 10.6.1 to 10.6.2 and all of a sudden my Mini-Dvi to Video stopped working too. I'm using my Mini-DVI to VGA without problems at work with the same computer and a few minor adjustments to the display prefs.
Apple says the 10.6.2 update was supposed to correct display issues. Could they have accidentally deleted support for the adaptor while correcting other issues?
Perhaps the cheapest solution to this would be to downgrade back to 10.6. Any advice on this?
I'm running a 2.2 Core2 Duo MacBook from mid-`08.

Mini DVI to VGA Adapter Video Problem

This year at Randolph-Macon College we replaced the Math lab Emac computers with IMac G5 Intel machines. The laboratory has an NEC model MT1050 projector with a manufacturer’s date of August 2002. We can not seem to get rid of ever present scan lines. We can slow them down and speed them up by adjusting resolution and refresh rates, but nothing will remove them. We are connecting the IMac to the projector via the Apple Mini-DVI to VGA Adapter. It is specifically designed for use with the iMac (Intel Core Duo), and the adapter connects to the Mini-DVI port of the computer and the VGA end of the adapter to an external VGA monitor or projector.
Troubleshooting the problem we have swapped IMac Intel computers with no luck, but we still have to use the Apple Mini-DVI to VGA Adapter. When we hook the projector to a Intel Mac Book Pro, we have to use a different adapter, but then it works perfectly. In fact, everything we try using other adapters works fine, it’s just when we use the Apple Mini-DVI to VGA Adapter that we experience the video problem.
Has anyone experienced this problem and if so, have you been able to remedy it?
iMac (Intel Core Duo) Mac OS X (10.4.8)

I don't have much to suggest, except to ask if you can try with a different mini-DVI to VGA adapter. (i.e. do you have more than one on hand to make sure yours isn't just defective?) Make sure it is firmly seated into the iMac.
I use the same adapter to provide an extended desktop on an old CRT monitor and the display is great.

No video with mini dvi - vga adapter (2007 Macbook)

Connecting an external TFT display (Nokia 500 Xa) to my MacBook's mini dvi port with a mini dvi to vga adapter, there's no video.
Any ideas about what might cause this? the monitor is a bit old, but VGA should still be the same, eh?
I thought maybe it's the adapter's pin configuration... What exactly does the adapter let through?
Grateful for any ideas.

MacBook top-level
MacBook Display

Monitor won't work via mini-dvi to dvi adapter

It's a brand spanking new mac mini. I attached a 5 year old lcd monitor (always used before as VGA) using the mini-dvi to dvi adapter. I am using the monitor's dvi connector. The monitor resolution is 1280x1024.
The monitor does not work when using the mini-dvi to dvi adapter. If I remove the mini-dvi adapter and use a mini displayport to dvi adapter, it works just fine. I can keep both adapters plugged in and plug the cable into one or the other. It always works instantly when attached to the minidisplay port and doesn't work if I switch to the mini-dvi port.
I've tried the display with mini-dvi adapter on my macbook too. On the laptop, it acts like there are two screens attached, but there is no action on the external display.
As a further test, I attached the mac mini to the TV via a mini-dvi to hdmi adapter. The mini-dvi port on the mini works fine, as does the port on the laptop. The monitor works fine via minidisplay, but not mini-dvi.
Naturally, I concluded that the mini-dvi adapter was faulty. A second adapter came today, and nothing has changed. Could I have received two Apple mini-dvi adapters in a row with problems? Is there something about the monitor that doesn't like the mini-dvi port? It seems like it wouldn't like the minidisplay port either, but that one is fine.

• Went to Best Buy
• Paid for a DYNEX Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter ($25)
• Came home and plugged in the adapter then the HDMI to DVI cable to the monitor. (Note: Monitor is a LG Flatron L22WTG) - DID NOT WORK
• iMac knows monitor is plugged in and I can change the resolution on both monitors and mirror. (Note: Changed to every resolutions with/without mirror image.) - DID NOT WORK
• Restarted computer - DID NOT WORK
• Turned off/on LG monitor many times - DID NOT WORK
• Unplugged/plugged back in many different ways - DID NOT WORK
• Changed the HDMI to DVI cable with a better cable - DID NOT WORK
• Installed BootCamp with Windows 7 - *BOTH WORK 100%*
• Rebooted to OS X 10.6.7 (Snow Leopard) - DID NOT WORK
• Installed Windows XP - *BOTH WORKED 100%*
• Reinstalled OS X 10.6.4 (Snow Leopard) - *BOTH WORKED 100%*
• Updated OS X from 10.6.4 to 10.6.7 - DID NOT WORK
Seems to be a driver problem with the new update (10.6.7). I will not update again till drivers are fixed.

How do I get my projector to recognize a mini DVI to s-video connection? (2007 iMac)

I purchased an adapter to display my (mid-2007) iMac screen through a projector. With the adapter attached to the mini DVI port, and an S-video cable attached to the projector, I get nothing (the projector says "no source found"). I tried "system preferences--->displays--->detect displays" and nothing happened (the only other option in that window is "gather windows" which also does nothing). I guess it's possible I could have gotten a defective adapter. I know the s-video cable is good since it works from my DVD player to projector. I'm trying to play a movie file on the iMac and project in onto a screen through a projector. Any thoughts? Thanks.

klimberdude wrote:
hey, thanks for those links! But, do you really it's a defective adapter?
You are welcome..! It most likely is incompatible.
I'd be bummed out if the OEM one didn't work either.
That is the problem with needing or having to buy outdated hardware that no one makes or supports.
What if it's the DVI port that's the problem?
The only way to find out is to test it with one of the following Mini DVI Adapters.
The Mini DVI to DVI adapter, a DVI cable and a DVI monitor.
The Mini DVI to VGA adapter, a VGA cable and a VGA monitor or VGA projector.
The Mini DVI to Video adapter, an S-Video or composite cable and an old TV or projector.
Several posts suggest selecting "mirroring" in the displays section, but that option doesn't show up)
The Extended Desktop and Mirroring options only work if a second monitor or projector is detected by the display preferences.

Is that actually a mini-DVI port on my G5 iMac?

So I can't seem to figure this out...
Is the Mini-DVI connector on the back of the G5 iMac (2 GHz, pre-camera or remote) a jack (male) or a port (female)? I bought one of the Apple mini-dvi -> S-Video & RCA adapter cables, but the mini-DVI end seems to be identical to the machine's connector, and thus they won't mate. Did I just buy the wrong adapter? I doubt this because Apple would have no reason to even make such an adapter, as all its models of computer should have the same sex of plug built-in, and thus no need for a choice between mini-DVI (M) -> whatever versus mini-DVI (F) -> whatever.
Any help or advice?
The mini-DVI connector on the cable has a rectangular metal rim with rounded corners on the bottom. Inside that is a C-shaped (like 3 sides of a long, low rectangle) plastic element with 8 axially parallel contacts on each of: the outside of the top of the C; the inside of the top "..."; the inside of the bottom "..."; and the outside of the bottom "..."; this totals 32 contacts.
This doesn't appear to work with the port on the iMac. The whole in the machine's external frame doesn't immediately contact the outer metal rim of the jack; it appears there's enough space for the sleeve of the connecting plug to slide in betweeen them. Also, the rim seems slightly more rounded/angled than that of the adapter above. Thirdly, the plastic center element is a wide, low rectangle with barely rounded/angled bottom corners (4-sided versus the adapter's 3-sided/C-shpaed central plastic element). Lastly, there are 14 (not 32) contacts in a staggered (not axially parallel) layout which only exist on the inside (not the inside and outside) of the center plastic element.
So what's the story? Do I actually have a mini-VGA port (as in some of the laptops which were advertised as having a mini-DVI port but which were actually mini-VGA)?
Help! I need to get split screens going to start building the audio>visual>audio interface I need for a major installation/performance piece I'm working on.
Thanks,
RealJake

Real, Welcome to the discussion area!
Sorry to douse your enthusiasm but that is NOT a mini-DVI connector. It is a mini-VGA connector.

Monster iTV Link for Macbook- Mini-DVI ports different...

I have been watching movies etc. on my TV through my 14" G4 iBook for the last year using the Monster iTV Link with the mini-DVI end. I recently bought a Macbook and expected to do the same with it, but the mini-DVI ports are a different shape!
I have scoured the internet for some information on different mini-DVI ports but have come up short. Can someone explain why Apple would install a different mini-DVI port on the Macbook? Or not install an S-video?
Regardless of why they did this, I now need a new adapter or Monster needs to make a new iTV Link cable for Macbook. Has anyone seen an iTV link for Macbook? Is there one out there I can use?
I am assuming my other option is to buy the mini-DVI to video adapter, use the audio part of the Monster cable I currently have and get a S-Video cable. However before I acquire more cables and adapters...
Can someone confirm that the the Mini-DVI end of the Mini-DVI to Video adapter is the correct shape (version) for the MacBook.
THANKS
Macbook Intel, 14" G4 iBook Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Welcome to Apple Discussions!
It would appear the Monster guy is confused what cable you got. The iTV cable I bought up on Google has the standard round-din S-Video connector found on 15" and 17" Powerbook G4s of the same generation, but I don't think that is found on the 12" Powerbook. What you need is a DVI to S-Video connector to hook up the iTV cable from all indications.
This may be what you are looking for:
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore?productLearnMore=M92 67G/A

VGA signal output type mDP-VGA adapter

Howdy.
Working on a way to plug our new mini (early 09) into a crusty ol' analogue tv, whose best quality input is up to 576p component. Tv manual say to plug component source (either YPbPr, YCbCr or Y B-Y R-Y) into the component input on the tv (Y Pb Pr).
My understanding of signal types is limited, and I am looking at a VGA to component converter as my first preference option since svideo and composite are so crusty.
Can anyone be really specific on the exact type of signal output from the miniDP-VGA adapter? As far as I know, most computers output a vga signal referred to as RGB, which SOME tvs can read via component in. Can anyone tell me if this RGB equates to any of the above signals (such that i could simply use a vga-component cable that I already possess), or if i will definitely need to get a converter box? I have plugged my older mac mini into the tv (using dvi-vga adapter supplied and then vga-component cable i purchased form some dodgy online ebayer) and had no luck.
can anyone tell me the potential ramifications of messing around with this stuff? Can inputting incorrect signals damage any of my hardware?
does anyone have any brilliant ideas on how to run an early 2009 mac mini into a tv via component? At this stage it is going to cost me around $200 for a decent converter box , and being a younger generation I want a solution ASAP and would prefer not to wait weeks for shipping from the States.
It seems as though the new minis only do dvi-d, while my older one has dvi-i - this is why the dvi-video adapter is not compatible with the early 09 models. i have spoken to apple tech support several times but it seems as though they are getting their dvi types mixed up and don't understand my predicament fully, as their suggestions are not possible with dvi-d. Is there such a thing as a DVI-d to DVI-I adapter? Would it make any difference?
Any clarification people have to offer on this one would be greatly appreciated.

A few comments; first off, you can't damage a TV with wrong signal types, although some old TVs can be damaged from wrong timings. That's going to depend a lot on the TV's age whether it has a more modern, multi-sync type chassis or not.
The Mini DVI output on the new mini is DVI-I. That is how it is able to support the Mini DVI to VGA Adapter that Apple sells for the new mini. But you are right it no longer supports the Mini DVI to Video Adapter. But that is an issue with drivers and has nothing to do with the mini having a DVI-I output or not. But it is definitely Mini DVI-I.
So to connect a component converter box, you could use either the Mini DisplayPort or the Mini DVI output of the mini. I would tend to recommend the Mini DVI as being somewhat more standard. However, a Mac really wants to see something called a plug-and-display driver, which is also known as EDID, whenever it is connected to a display. So try and see if you can find a component video converter having a VGA input that has an EDID loaded into it or else the Mac will not be happy and it could all be money down the drain that would have better been spent on a new TV.
Hopefully you will get some more specific information from someone else. Good luck.

Mini-DVI to VGA or Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter?

Hi There,
I am so close to purchasing a new Mac Mini that I can almost taste it. When I finally get the Mini, I want to hit the ground running, so I am trying to research everything out so I do have any stupid delays.
With the Mini, I want to use my 17" Apple CRT Studio Display with its 15-pin miniature D-type connector (I'm assuming that this is the typical VGA display connector). When I first started looking into the Mini, I figured that I could use a Mini-DVI to VGA connector and just be done with it. When I looked at the Mac Mini Accessories page that Apple set up, however, Apple says that I need a Mini Display Port to VGA adaptor and doesn't say boo about the Mini DVI adaptor. Doing some cursory Googling lead me to believe that the most current MacBooks and Minis will not support Mini DVI to VGA adaptors. Is this true?
If you were me, if either adaptor can be used, which VGA adaptor would you use? Is one superior over another? Inquiring minds want to know.
Thank you very much in advance for your reply.
Sincerely,
Malcolm Fuller

Personally, I'm using a minidisplayport to vga adapter I had to pay $30 for and it's working great for me and I can't tell the difference in image quality from the minidvi to dvi cable that comes with the mini.
Also, why not get the displayport so you can run 2 monitors at once?
If the displayport doesn't work with your monitor then I would try the mini-dvi version.
But yeah don't be suprised if you have to mess with it to make it work since it seems to work for some like me and not for others:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=9486562&#9486562

Mini-Displayport to DVI adapter not working, but Mini-Displayport to VGA and Thunderbolt work fine

Mini-Displayport to DVI adapter not working, but Mini-Displayport to VGA and Thunderbolt work fine.
This is a brand new MacBook Pro (15-inch, mid-2012) just received. I suspect that this is a hardware problem as:
The mini-displayport to DVI adapter and the external monitor that I am utilizing connect and operate just fine using my older MacBook Pro (mid-2010) with the same OS.
The new MacBook Pro powers the external monitor with a mini-displayport to VGA adapater without issue.
The new MacBook Pro powers an Apple Thunderbolt display without issue.
Both MacBook Pro's are running OSX Lion 10.7.4.
The only combination which does not work is the mini-displayport to DVI adapater used in conjunction with the brand new MacBook Pro (mid-2012).
All adapters and components (mini-displayport adapters) are Apple retail adapter.
I have tried several external monitors, including my Dell U2412m.
When I connect the mini-displayport to DVI adapater to the new MacBook Pro (mid-2012), nothing happens. The external monitor reports "no signal" and attempts to go into sleep mode. Using the "Detect displays" button has no effect, even when used multiple times. Rebooting does not help, nor does resetting the SMC or PRAM.
Any other suggestions before I take it to the Genius Bar?

I turns out that the logic board of my MacBook Pro was faulty (despite being brand new).
I took it to the Apple Store, presented the problem, and one of the Tech's came to the same conclusion that I had -- hardware failure. Phone support was no help in the matter (and even told me that what I was trying to do wasn't a supported option, which is rediculous). However, the Genius Bar did take care of the problem, and my MacBook Pro was back to me with a replaced logic board within a few days.
Hope that htis helps.

Preferred adapter for VGA? Mini DisplayPort to VGA or Mini-DVI to VGA?

Which is the preferred adapter for connecting a VGA-only LCD display to the new Mac mini?
The official Mac mini accessories page <http://www.apple.com/macmini/accessories.html> prominently features the Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter.
However, the Tech Specs knowledge base article <http://support.apple.com/kb/SP505> suggests the Mini-DVI to VGA Adapter.
I'm sure Mac OS X will work fine with either. But is one more likely to work better with Windows XP using Boot Camp?

I've come up with my own answer to my earlier question...
It's the Mini-DVI to VGA adapter.
I ended up trying both adapters, and got the results I described here: [http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=9255959].
Besides the simple fact that the Mini-DVI to VGA adapter is the only adapter that fully worked for me, it's also cheaper.
Also, from a mechanical point of view, the nuts to secure a VGA cable to the DisplayPort version of the adapter are recessed into the end of the connector housing. This prevented my VGA cable from being able to be properly secured to the adapter--although this might be a defect with my cable!

Connecting an external monitor - should I use mini displayport to VGA or to DVI?

I just hooked up a ViewSonic 24 " monitor to my MacBook using a mini Display Port/VGA adapter cabled to the D- sub port (whatever that is). The quality of the display is decent.
The other option would have been mini Display port/DVI adaptor to the monitor's DVI port. Are each of these options equally good in terms of display quality? Or is one superior to the other?
ViewSonic provides VGA and a DVI cables. I went the VGA route simply because i had the adaptor on hand. I would purchase a DVI adaptor if I thought the display quality would be superior.
Does any one have any insight?
Thanks,
WindyPoint

I've come up with my own answer to my earlier question...
It's the Mini-DVI to VGA adapter.
I ended up trying both adapters, and got the results I described here: [http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=9255959].
Besides the simple fact that the Mini-DVI to VGA adapter is the only adapter that fully worked for me, it's also cheaper.
Also, from a mechanical point of view, the nuts to secure a VGA cable to the DisplayPort version of the adapter are recessed into the end of the connector housing. This prevented my VGA cable from being able to be properly secured to the adapter--although this might be a defect with my cable!

Mini DVI to VGA or Mini DisplayPort to VGA

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