Mirror Monitor on LCD HDTV

Hello & Greetings,
I wish to connect my iMac to a HDTV so that the TV mirrors whats on my iMac. Reading other topics I have figured out the cables that I require (Mini DVI to DVI & DVI to HDMI). My question is weather my graphics card (ATI, Radeon HD2600, with 256mb VRAM) is capable of running the TV or weather the graphics card even plays a role?

When all is connected up, fire up the Mac and TV. The Mac should detect TV automatically.
Go into 'System preferences/Displays'. You should now have an extra option called 'Arrangement'
In Arrangement you will need to tick the box called 'Mirror'. If you leave this unticked your TV will be treated as an extension to your Desktop rather than as a mirror of it.

Similar Messages

Using Samsung LCD HDTV as a monitor

My TV tells me 'format not supported' when I plug in my 14 ibook g4 using the VGA connection. The TV is an '06 Samsung 32" LCD HDTV flat screen. Anyone have any advice?

Is there a difference in video cards for pc's and mac's?
Just about every PC or Mac has different video capabilities so the answer would be yes in almost every situation.

Connecting a Mac Pro to an LCD HDTV

It seems that LCD monitors don't come as big as LCD TV's, and I want to use my Mac Pro to watch movies and gaming. A Samsung 35T (30") costs around 1200$ where a 46" lcd HDTV costs about the same price. There is a card you can buy for the Mac Pro which allows you to connect a TV to it through HDMI for the best quality possible: http://www.decklink.com/products/intensity/ (yeah $250 bucks)
What's my best option for an LCD around the $1000-$1500 range that is good for normal day use, gaming and watching movies. Thanks in advance for any suggestions, advice.

Since I can't afford to go out and buy several TVs to try them out is there a list somewhere that can confirm what large screen LCDs (40-50-60") do work with the Mac Pro?
Take your MacBook, a Mini-DVI to DVI adapter
<http://store.apple.com/us/product/M9321G/B?fnode=MTY1NDA5OQ&mco=MTI1Njk>
a DVI to HDMI cable
<http://store.apple.com/us/product/TR842LL/A?fnode=MTY1NDA3Ng&mco=MTUwODQxMw>
and a DVI-D (M) to DVD-D (M) cable to the TV store and try various sets. If they won't let you try them, go to another store.
Find a DVI or HDMI port on the TV that supports 1080p and connect it to the MacBook.
In the "Arrangement" tab of "Displays" system preference, turn off Mirroring. Set the resolution of the external display to 1920 x 1080 non-interlaced. Make sure there is no overscan (the pointer should not go off the edges of the screen). In the "Arrangement" tab of "Displays" system preference, drag the picture of the menu bar (aim carefully, so you get just the menu bar, not the whole display) to the picture of the external display. Make sure the entire menu bar and dock show on the TV.
If a TV works well on the MacBook's DVI port, it will work with a Mac Pro.

Connecting MBP with VGA to 32" LCD HDTV?

What's up everyone,
I'm looking at buying the new 15" Macbook Pro and connecting it to my Westinghouse 32" LCD HDTV. My TV does NOT have DVI input, but does have VGA and HDMI. Has the issue with connecting these bad boys been resolved yet? Has anyone successfully connected a Westinghouse HDTV to a MBP using VGA or HDMI? Please let me know, as I don't want to waste money on the new MBP if it isn't able to connect with my large external display (without problems).
Thanks,
Zac

Hi. I wanted your help on choosing the best settings for my external display. I currently have it out to HDMI on my 37" LCD Toshiba.
I tried to display without "mirroring" but if i dont the display on my tv is too large - very simlar to a zoomed in look. When i mirror the screen i can not see the top bar.
Video looks great on the screen.
I want my tv to display similar to a computer monitor!
Many thanks,
Tim

Mini DVI to VGA issues w/ LCD HDTV

I have looked all over and I can't find a solution.
I recently purchased an LCD HDTV, Insignia Brand which is a Best Buy Brand, and I bought a DVI cable to hook up to my Powerbook G4 using the Mini DVI to VGA cable. When I hook it up to my tv it works, but the screen on my Powerbook looks magnified as does the LCD TV. When I launch Safari or any other program it doesn't fit on my screen or the LCD TV and I have to resize it.
After I look at displays in system prefernces it says my max resolution is 1024 x 768.
Any help would be appreciated.
Jeremy

Just guessing - the TV's "VGA" input is limited to 1024x768, which is possible although some "VGA" inputs will work higher. Do the instructions mention a limitation like this?
I think if you turn off mirroring on the Powerbook, at least the Powerbook screen will have normal resolution, and the TV 1024x768. The TV apparently scales up image to fill the screen unless using HDMI, where is leaves the extra 342 pixels blank on the sides (1366-1024). Perhaps the TV has a mode for adjusting how the TV handles lesser resolutions (stretch, dot-by-dot, etc)

Switching between a DVI monitor & an LCD TV?

My Mini is attached via DVI to my LCD monitor. My cable tv, vcr and eyeTV work with my VGA only LCD HDTV.
The tv makes a lousy internet viewing screen, but a great video watching one.
The tv has compposite, component, and S-video ports.
The computer monitor only sports DVI.
The operator is nontech saavy.
What would I need to be able to switch my Mac Mini from the monitor to the TV without having to unhook the monitor and use a DVI/VGA adaptor each time I wanted to unplug one or the other each time I switched?
Is there some sort of switching control device that would require just the moving of a toggle or press of a button?
I don't want to have to purchase a new tv/monitor with both VGA and DVI ports even if one exists.

What are you going to use it for?
A monitor is built to be a monitor, while a TV is built to be a TV first. If you're only doing your computer for general things, either will do, but if you need accurate graphics and color, the TV will not be as good.
Also, as Malcolm said, they use two different pixel densities. The 30" Apple Cinema Display and similar Dell and HP displays of that size have 2560x1600 pixels. You probably cannot find a 30" TV with such fine resolution. In fact, most LCD TVs top out at 1920x1080 because their purpose is to display up to Blu-Ray HDTV, and that's 1920x1080.
In other words, if you were to choose a 52" LCD TV thinking you would have gargantuan screen space, in reality you would have no more screen space than the cheapest 21.5-inch iMac, because both are 1920x1080. LCD TVs don't attempt to have more resolution than that because they are intended to be viewed from 10 feet away on the sofa, not right up to your face. On the sofa, you wouldn't be able to see the resolution that a computer monitor would have.
If you are going to use it as a living room monitor, then it's fine to use an LCD TV. I do this since one of my TV inputs is connected to an old Mac so I can surf from tha sofa. But if you actually need a desktop monitor, you should use a real computer monitor.

Using MBP with LCD HDTV

So I've been looking at getting a new LCD HDTV. Someone said that I needed to get a minimum of a 42'' and also at least 1080p resolution. I was going to hook this all up using the HDMI out into a DVI in the TV.
Is this true? What are your set ups? I'm pretty anxious. I want to use this for movies but also possibly as an external monitor (I know a little ridiculous, but not all the time). Let me know guys! Thanks.

It is easier than you think. First, get a TV with at least 2 HDMI ports. You may wish to connect the other to a HDTV DVR (cable or satellite) or even an HD-DVD/BluRay player.
Next, measure the distance. This is critical. 1080p has TWICE as much bandwidth used as a 1080i signal.
Now, open a new tab in your browser (Apple+T) and go to my favorite cable guys www.bluejeanscable.com I say they are my favorite as they were courteous and honest. Alan Denke, the proprietor of the business, answered truthfully when I asked if his cheapest line of DVI-HDMI cables, the Tartan series, would make it at 50 feet. He asked what kind of hardware I was connecting. I told him, "Well, a brand new 47-inch Vizio with 1080p native support, and a 2.4GHz MacBook Pro." It was then that he said the display didn't really matter, but the source did. And he said the MBP would work just fine.
Cable arrived here from Oregon in one business day, though I didn't pay anything extra for it. Just plain old Priority Mail.
It was then I learned I needed about 30 feet, rather than 50. Remember the step up there where it says ,"Measure?" Yeah, I guesstimated. I kept the cable though, thinking that some day I might use the computer in the kitchen or something.
Now, you'll need to get appropriate playback software. Quicktime just doesn't do .ts (transport stream) files, nor does it do .mkv (Matroska Video Codek) files. It ought to, but it won't. So, no Front Row for HD playback at 1080i. There is hope on the Open Source horizon, though. Go off and open another tab to direct yourself to www.videolan.org
The latest release even has support for the Apple Remote!
Getting audio to your setup is a slightly different thing, but can be done with parts from (ugh) radio shag. For analog audio (which is fine for me as my system don't do any better with digital input), just get a 1/8" STEREO (will have 3 conductors [or two 'rings']) to dual RCA out. They usually have 3 and 6 foot versions of this cable. To extend, you've got 3 options: 8', 16' or 20' male to female 1/8" stereo.
Hope this info helped. If you haven't bought your lcd tv yet, take a look at Vizio. I believe them to be the best bang for the buck out there.
Doctor V

Connecting to an LCD HDTV: DVI to HDMI male or female?

Unwilling to plunk down $40 at Best Buy I bought a cable advertised on eBay for $2 described as HDMI male to DVI male. However, when I got it, it turned out to be DVI male to HDMI FEMALE.
I want to be able to use my LCD HDTV (46" Sharp Aquos, 1080p, if it matters) as a monitor, hopefully to even and edit text using my wireless keyboard and mouse.
Do I have the right cable?

you'll need a male DVI to male HDMI To connect to your HDTV. You'll find good cable prices at monoprice.com , only place I buy cables. My mini is hooked up to my Aquos too and it looks great.

Minidisplay Port with HDMI to LCD HDTV

Hi,
I am trying to set up my Macbook so I can use my LCD HDTV as a monitor while I am sitting on my couch and to run iTunes, etc.
I can get everything to appear on the TV via the Minidisplay port HDMI connector, but the problem is that all the fonts, especially those in the browser are very small and hard to read from the couch.
I have a 52 inch LCD TV and sit about 12 feet from it, I would think there must be a way or a setting to change to make things on the TV bigger, but I cannot figure it out.
Anyone have any ideas?
Thanks,
Ben

So is the TV being run at 1920 x 1080? Are there other options in Displays Preferences, like either 1366 x 768, or 1280 x 720? If so, have you tried those settings? That should enlarge things.

Are there any LCD HDTVs with built-in bluetooth?

So I'm going to buy an LCD HDTV and I'd like to be able to use it occasionally as an external monitor for my iBook G4. Does anyone know of a brand that makes LCDs with built-in bluetooth? I could only find two--a Samsung that has been discontinued, and an LG that is only available in Europe.
If not, are there any ways to use my to-be-purchased tv as a wireless computer monitor?
Thanks.
-EM

Having an LCD TV with Bluetooth wouldn't help you to use it as a wireless monitor at all. Bluetooth is nowhere near fast enough to transfer real-time video data, let alone a high-resolution or HD computer display.
Bluetooth is for transferring small amounts of data. It would take 10-20 seconds to transfer 1 single medium sized JPEG image for example.
Wireless HD is a new technology that hasn't really made it to market yet as the standard is still being worked upon and adopted by manufacturers:
http://news.cnet.com/Chilly-forecast-for-wireless-HD-video/2100-1041_3-6219630.h tml
http://www.wirelesshd.org/welcome.html
Why does it need to be wireless? If you're close enough to be able to see the TV at a usable distance, you're close enough to simply connect a cable.

MBP 17" and Toshiba LCD HDTV HookUp HELP NOW PLEASE

I have tried to connect my MBP 17" to my Toshiba LCD HDTV Model # 42HL67 with a male to male VGA Cable as Toshiba will not let you go through HDMI so please don't send me that way and all I get on the Toshiba is nothing in the menu it has a PC where the HDMI and Ant. connections are and the PC is grayed out even though I have it connected using my Adaptor that came with my Macbook Pro 17" the adaptor is the only way I can connect the VGA cable to my MBP why can't I get the picture on the LCD when I'm using the F7 key to mirror is there something else I need to do on my MBP please go into detail as I know my Mac's this is the 1st time connecting any Mac to a TV?

Okay called Apple  and we had a talk and it wasn't
the cable and it wasn't the Macbook Pro 17"
it was the Input Labeling on Toshiba needed to be adjusting
all you have to do is Select it and change it from the
Grayed to the = sign then the PC shows in Input
So now my MBP 17" is on my Toshiba 42" LCD HDTV
and one other note you can use the HDMI adapter that Apple
sells so if you have the Model 42HL67 you can set a PC
up using the HDMI connection your not limited to the VGA...!
Thanks my Apple Family once again to ALL...!

Bad Picture Quality On SD Channels With HDMI And Panasonic VIERA 720p LCD HDTV

I just bought a new Panasonic VIERA 32" 16:9 8ms 720p LCD HDTV TC-L32X1 for my in-laws when they finally had Verizon FIOS brought into their neighborhood last month.
Install was by the Verizon tech using the HDMI cable I also had shipped to them.
The HD channels quality is excellent, but the SD quality is smeared -- almost looks like an impressionist painting.
It is not the TV -- the TV menus are crystal clear, as are the HD channels.
And, it is not just the broadcast HD -- the DVR box menus are also smeared when viewing as SD channel, as is the guide and the pop up channel info.
We've tried all the settings on the TV -- Zoom, 4:3, etc.
The other TV (an older CRT) actually has better SD quality than the Panasonic.
My research indicates we're not the only ones on FIOS with this problem. Someone suggested using the component hookup rather than HDMI?
Other say that IMG 1.7 is supposed to solve the problem, that the SD quality was fine before IMG 1.6.
Any suggestions, solutions, or updates?
The picture is virtually unwatchable.
Thank you!

Here's a particularly relevant post if you don't want to wade through all the above links:
(http://forums.verizon.com/t5/FiOS-TV-Technical-Assistance/bad-pq-on-std-def-channels/m-p/10917#M5540) -- second to last.
"Re: bad pq on std.def. channels
01-06-2009 03:55 PM
Joe01880 - Being a new customer as of last October, I have never seen anything other than IMG 1.6. My understanding from other posts is that before IMG 1.6, the SD PQ on an HD box was just fine. I'm not sure what the complaints/gripes/begs were for IMG 1.6 but it seems to me that, if Verizon knows what changes were made, it should be straightforward to determine which changes caused a deterioration of the PQ. I think it's been at least 6 months since the first complaints of poor PQ, so I don't really see how anyone can claim that Verizon is in danger of "rushing" an update to address this problem. I also don't think that a forum topic, no matter how much it complains or gripes, will cause Verizon to rush. I am much more worried that during a large portion of my 2 year contract that the issue won't be addressed at all, so I'm happy to add my voice to those complaining."

I am trying to connect my laptop to my TV. The computer flashes blue after I plug the cable in but the TV says there is no signal. I have a Mac Book Pro 2009 and a Samsung 32" Class (31.5" Diag.) 450 Series 720p LCD HDTV (2010 model)

Hello,
I am trying to connect my laptop to my TV. The computer flashes blue after I plug the cable in but the TV says there is no signal.
I have a Mac Book Pro 2009 and a Samsung 32" Class (31.5" Diag.) 450 Series 720p LCD HDTV (2010 model).
I am using a mini display port to VGA adapter. I have sucessfully hooked up boh devices but it stopped working after a handful of times. I was wondering if there is anything I can do to fix the problem or is my cable broken?

Some things you can try.
Startup Issues - Resolve
Startup Issues - Resolve (2)

I currently use a Samsung TV with an Apple TV to duplicate my MacBook Pro monitor. How can I use this system as a extended (not mirror) monitor?

Does anyone have a solution that allows me to use a Samsung TV connected via the AppleTV to my MacBook Pro as an extended (not mirror) monitor?
Thanks.

I would recommend upgrading your laptop. Does your current laptop have an HDMI port? If so, connect your Mac to your TV with an HDMI cable. Your TV must be compatible, if it is, you will have to understand that it will be no where near the quality of AirPlay.

About monitors and LCD displays

I want give you some directrices about the display sub system.
Like you all know there are CRT monitors and LCD displays.
CRT
CRT monitors are based upon electron beams hitting Electroluminescent phosphorus. In these monitors the most important parameters are:
1) Dot pitch
2) Refresh rate
Dot pitch is the size of a single phosphorus point, smaller is better. Typical values range between 0.24 and 0.25. Beware with monitors having a not constant dot pitch, there are monitors with dot pitch of 0.24 at center of screen and 0.25 at the borders. I recommend monitors with constant dot pitch size across all screen.
Refresh rate is the number of times a single electron beam travels across the screen drawing a single frame (from left to right and top to bottom) each second. It is measured in Herz (Hz). Bigger is better. Typical values range between 60 Hz and 120 Hz and the value depends upon resolution, more resolution goes to less possible refresh rate. If you are going to play games with shutter glasses, make sure your monitor is capable of 120 Hz minimun at the playing resolution. In 3D Stereo, each full 3D frame must be drawn 60 times/second (60 Hz) but a 3D frame is a single right eye frame and a single left eye frame, 60 Hz for left frame and 60 Hz for right frame are the full 120 Hz. If you CRT is not capable of these 120 Hz your eyes will suffer fatigue / strain and you would have a great headache after prolonged time periods.
LCD
A LCD display do not uses a electron beam to excite phosphorus and generate colored points, instead this it uses a grille and a special lamp. Instead drawing a frame line at line from top to bottom and left to right, it renders the frame in a step only and continuously, these displays are flat for this, there is no necesity for high voltage and magnetic fileds to move the electron beam. In these displays these are the more important parameters:
1) Dot pitch
2) Response time
3) Number of colors (color space)
Dot pitch is the same as with CRTs
Reponse time is the time it gets going from pure white to pure black. Less is better. It is measured in miliseconds. Good typical values range about 16 ms. If you are going to use the LCD to play games, response time is the more important parameter at all.
Number of colors are the simultaneus colors in screen. It have a inverse relationship with response time. It is measured in million of colors or bits. 24 bits of color depth are 16.7 million of colors. Typical values range agout 16 / 16.7 millions. Greater is better. LCDs with 16 ms response time have, usually, 16.5 millions of colors.
Somethimes, the manufacturer will provide you drivers (setup or inf files) for your operating system. I recomend install this drivers. Don't panic if there are no drivers for your display device, Windows, probably, will find the suitable driver for your brand and model.
If you have a CRT and you are stuck at 60~85 Hz you will need the right driver because Windows would not have found a suitable driver from its drivers base and it chose a standard monitor driver.
If you have a LCD and you are stuck at 60 Hz, all is fine, as i have told you yet, LCD displays paint the screen continuously, you will not appreciate any flicker at 60 Hz in these devices. You can check this if you have a digital camera, make a photo of a CRT with a shutter of <monitor refresh rate> * 1.5. You will see a partially drawn picture. If you take a photo of a LCD with the same shutter rules you will get a full picture. With LCD you will get full pictures always, independently of the shutter.
I hope al this info will be helpful to you.

I have found a very interesting link on the Anandtech Web site about LCDs, it is a old one but i think it will be useful.
The link is this

Mirror Monitor on LCD HDTV

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for