VGA Cable Question

I have (3) 23" Sony CRT monitors connected.
Two of them have VGA cables with some kind of hard rubber capsule (about 2" long and three times the diameter of the cable itself) on one end. What is this "capsule". The tech at Best Buy said it was a "terminator". Is that correct? Is it needed? What does it do?
My 3rd monitor does not have this in the cable, but that is the one that just started experiencing wake-up issues.

It's nothing more than a ferrite bead encased in plastic around the cable end. Google Ferrite Bead and you'll see.
It helps dissipate high frequency "noise". The Best Buy tech is an idiot, so what else is new....
Has nothing absolutely to do with the problem though...

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VGA cable question, and a problem

My PowerBook is connected to my 17" LCD via the cable that was included with the monitor. I bought a replacement VGA cable the other day. (I needed the original VGA cable to connect my Mac mini to the TV.) The original cable works perfectly with both the LCD and the TV. With the new cable there's visible ghosting appearing when connected to both the LCD and to the TV. What the ****? It's a brand new cable. It's a "Replacement/Switchbox Cable VGA/SVGA High Desnsity DB15 Male/Male" cable. Is that what I need? I noticed that the original cable has 15 pins and the new cable only has 14. Is that the problem? I didn't see any 15 pin cables at CompUSA.
Do I have a bad cable? To I need to return it in exchange for something else? What gives?

Welcome to the discussions Michael,
It sounds like a poor quality cable - either an individual dud or just a bad brand. I wouldn't worry about the missing pin - VGA cables have three pins that aren't used for anything, so manufactures often leave one or more of them out.
Take it back and look for a good quality shielded cable. Ask the the staff if necessary. It may cost you more than you spent on the one you currently have. Try looking for a Belkin cable - they're usually a good brand (assuming your current cable isn't made by them...)

Streaming to TV using VGA cable questions!

I've been streaming my mid 2009 Macbook pro to my LCD TV for years now. For some reason in around Feb. 2012 it just stopped working. I'm using a VGA cable with a seperate audio cable. Anyone else have this happen? For some reason I think it stopped working after a software update around the time that the troubles started. Anyone have any idea? Trouble shooting suggestions? Anything helps, thanks.

Only HDMI will carry the Aduio and Video together, if you use VGA, a audio cable is still required in the headphone jack to carry the sound to the TV.

Mini DVI to VGA cable won't fit. Too big for slot on 12 PowerBook G4

Are there more than one type of cable?

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2369 shows only one kind of mini-DVI port for the 12" Powerbook. Sounds like you got something that is not an mini-DVI port based cable. Mini-VGA cables look very similar, and can be misidentified. What are you connecting to from the Powerbook G4? Make, model # is important. Often DVI-HDMI adapters are better than DVI to VGA if there is an option. Cause DVI-VGA you need a proper digital/analog converter in the cable in question.

Mini DisplayPort to VGA cable, when available?

With this new MacBook aluminum, the I/Os are changed a little bit. The Mini DisplayPort in particular, it is said to be perfect to connect to Apple LED Cinema Display, but what if I want to connect any regular projector in order to do presentations? or any other monitors? I have searched here in China for Mini DisplayPort to VGA cable, but with no luck, then I googled it, seems it is not available in the market yet? Keynote is so good that makes me irresistible to do a presentation with my Mac.
So my question is: where can I get a cable like this? and how much would that be?

Hi and welcome to Discussions,
it's avaiable in the US Apple Online Store http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB572Z/A?fnode=MTY1NDA5OQ&mco=MjkyNjI0MA
Not sure how to get it to china though.
Stefan

Vga cable: 14 vs 15 pin

I recently bought VGA splitter, that's 14 pin. My VGA cable is 15 pin.
After connecting the Cable to the splitter the monitor resolution goes down, then if the VGA cable is directly connected to the PC vga adapter.
So, I looked online to see diffrence between the 14 and 15 pin VGA. I could not find much information, but few blogs. They say 1 or 2 pins are obsolute, so there is no diffrence between 14 and 15 pin cable.
Then, I boght a 14 pin VGA cable to try. But it don't give the high resolution as 15 pin cable. It's same low resolution picture as 15 pin cable with splitter attached.
So is it right that 14 and 15 pin VGA cables are same, and if that's right do I need and display setting changed?
Connecting 14 pin cable don't even give the resolution option as 15 pin cable give in Display settings. There is only 3 option.

I have seen this problem and question in various forms many times, and have never seen the correct answer given. So here is the answer. Please spread it around, since many people seem to have the problem:
VGA 15 pin cables often have only 14 active pins. Pin 9 is missing. (This missing pin is on the middle row of pins, one pin from the end.) This missing pin is a problem for flat screen TVs.
Pin 9 is required by most, if not all, plasma and lcd TV's to supply back to the computer graphics card information about the available resolution of the monitor. Pin 9 carries a 5 volt signal to the DDC (display data channel). New computer monitors (LCD or CRT) do not seem to need this pin, and work fine without it -- as a result the majority of VGA cables labeled as "15 pin" really only have 14 pins, and this is never explained or noted in the packaging or product specifications! The only way to tell if a "15 pin" VGA cable actually has all 15 pins is to look at the connector and count the pins. If the middle row has only 4 pins, then the critical pin 9 is missing.
From the posts I have seen -- and from my own experience with my 50" Pioneer PDP-5070HD plasma TV -- nearly all flat screen TV's DO NEED this pin to return information about the native screen resolution.
I have seen dozens of posts by people trying to set up their HTPC's to work with their big screen plasma, but not being able to set the resolution (usually 1360 x 768) on their video adapter card. Some people on the forums argue they had "no problem" while others cannot make it work. People blame the video card or video card drivers. No one seems to figure out the problem is a missing pin on the supposedly standard "15 pin VGA cable" many people are using!
I had the same problem with my ATI 9800 Pro graphics card using a 15 pin VGA cable with only 14 pins. When I changed to a full and true 15 pin cable, the ATI 9800 immediately sensed the native resolution of the plasma TV.
So the difference between a 15 pin and a 14 pin VGA cable is not "just one pin", as one sarcastic idiot answered to a previous post of this question. The absence of the pin 9 signal (5 volt to the DDC) means your your very expensive plasma or LCD TV cannot notify your computer graphics card about its supported resolution. Get a VGA cable with all 15 pins, and your problem may be resolved. But you will have to search to find one by visually examining the plug. Remember, all the VGA cables are labeled and sold as "15 pin VGA cable" even if they actually have only 14 pins. Check it out.
(BTW, there is a reason to leave the 5 volt signal off the cable when it is not needed. However, for LCD and Plasma TV's, it is needed.)

IPad 1 - VGA cable not outputting to projector, monitor or TV?

I recently purchased the apple VGA cable so that i could project powerpoint presentations using my iPad 1. I have no success at all using any applications to make this work. Slideshark, Keynote etc.
I had read that only video streaming is supported, however, i cannot get Youtube or any other content to show up. The cable works fine with my iPhone 4S.
Is there a setting I need to adjust on my iPad? When I plug it into a computer monitor, projector, or TV it seems to detect a signal but the screen stays black.
Any help would be very much appreciated.
Aleks

Thanks all... of course after I posted the query, I decided to do a forum search and found that this was not a unique question...in fact the VGA connector for the iPad1 is about useless. I did do a Slideshow and the images DID display on the external monitor. So the system does work, albeit with some decided limitations.
Well, not a reason to get an iPad2 yet, this was an experiment and not a regular requirement for me.
Still.... an odd decision by Apple to be so selective about what it allows to clone. And while they are at it, next time around, an extended desktop option would be really, really neat.

Confused between getting an APPLE TV or VGA cables...

Hey Folks.
Im not sure if I should get an APPLE TV or a VGA cable to connect my MacBook Pro to my LCD TV... what do you recommend. Im a heavy film buff, so I watch a lot of movies - with that said, APPLE TV seems like a good selection since I can purchase a movie without actually leaving my house to the store nor having a hard copy, all is stored on the APPLE TV (correct?)
question; how long does it take to download the movie? Or is it streemed?
Moreover all the films must be in iTunes correct? For example, I do a lot of shoots on my HD video camera and I love to mess around in Final Cut - now those films I would make I would need to transfer them into iTunes (what format?)
What else??? Basically Im just trying to see the benefits of having an APPLE TV.. let me know your honest thoughts.
my best,
-Joey

Without doubt a VGA cable will do the job with front row, although you won't be able to rent HD movies. It is however a matter of choice as to whether you can put up with the inconvenience of the cable.
You can purchase content from either the mac or the tv, but anything purchased on the tv will be transferred to the mac.
The time these purchases take to download will vary depending on size and the speed of your internet connection, anything over 6 Mbps should be able to let you start watching almost immediately.
Final Cut and imovie both have options to convert to an tv format, there isn't really any need to know more but essentially it's h264 up to 5 Mbps, you can go up to 540p with NTSC or 720p with PAL or 24 fps.
I think it will make a great addition to your home but then I have a number of them so I clearly like them.

VGA cable pixel distortion with Acer Monitor

Greetings:
Here is my problem:
     1. With my home office configuration, my MacBook is needs a 10ft cable to reach my monitor.
     2. Because of this, I cannot use the Acer monitor cable provided from the manufacturer.
     3. I've had to buy two different VGA cables and neither of them work.
     4. Here is the problem: For some reason, when you close the MacBook and use the external monitor, the display gets stretched. This only happens when the laptop is fully closed. When it is open and utilizing both monitors, it is fine. Also, When the laptop is open, I have more pixel display options available on the Acer than when the laptop is closed.
I bought a high end VGA cable and I know it is able to carry the correct pixels because my HP works just fine on it at 1600 x 900.
Is it the cable? Or is there a glitch with the MacBook????? Is there a special cable I need to order???? Please help!
Thanks,
Jon

Hi DoriOh,
Welcome to the Support Communities!
The articles below may be able to help you with this.
Click on the links to see more details and screenshots.
Apple Mini DisplayPort adapters: Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3382
Mac notebooks: How to use your computer in closed clamshell (display closed) mode with an external display
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3131
OS X Mountain Lion: About the Display pane of System Preferences
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht5369
Cheers,
- Judy

VGA cable extension causing resolution problems

Pavilion 6507c with HP 2010i monitor, Windows 7 64-bit. I am trying to separate the CPU and monitor by a few feet more than the original 6' VGA cable allows. Have tried an extension plus original, and also a single longer cable. With anything but the short original cable, the computer no longer recognizes the monitor - it shows it as Generic non-PnP, and will not allow 1600:900, so the picture is stretched. Re-installed 2010i drivers - still comes up generic.
Is there any way to extend the monitor distance without sacrificing proper resolution?
This question was solved.
View Solution.

I wouldn't be too concerned about receiving a no signal message when shutting the PC down. With a longer cable, the signal may degrade sooner causing the no signal message to appear during the shutdown process.
Displays work by the monitor sending the EDID information to the PC and this is part of how the PC identifies what resolutions are available to this monitor. The original cable is allowing this information to be sent from the monitor back to the PC. The PC then retains this information which is what allows it to work with the longer cable after swapping out the 6' VGA cable for a longer or extended one. Once the system is shutdown, the EDID information is lost. This is why it doesn't work once the system is shutdown and started with an extended or long cable.
You did mention an important difference between the cables: the lack of a ferrite core. This Wikipedia entry discusses ferrite beads (aka: ferrite core) and what use they have. Essentially, it reduces the level of interference which could cause the EDID information to be lost before reaching the PC. This is more noticeable when using a long cable, so this could be due to the lack of the ferrite core. However, the adapter listed in my previous post should rectify the resolution issue (though, it would still be listed as a generic PnP monitor).
I would weigh the cost of a cable with the ferrite core against the cost of getting an EDID emulator and select the cheaper option. I know an EDID emulator will rectify this issue, but I cannot say that getting a cable with the ferrite core will correct this issue with 100% certainty. I do know not having a ferrite core can cause signal quality issues. If you can still exchange the cables, then that may be the cheaper option.
Let me know what happens.
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Mini DVI to VGA cable doesn't send signal to the projector

I just received a mini DVI to VGA adapter cable today.
I connect mini DVI side of cable into my Macbook v. 4.1 and connect the other side into DGA cable, which connected to LCD projector.
When I connect the cable to my Macbook, the opened application streched out to a full screen (seems like computer detets the cable) but projector says 'no signal'.
Can any one tell me what is wrong it is?
Thanks much
Mike

I'm still stucked.
By reading some articles, it says even using mini DVI adapter, the signal is still digital and if the projector doesn't accept digital signal then it's no use....
My projector is Epson EX3200 and it doesn't have any DVI or HDMI input.
Does this mean my projector doesn't accept a digital signal?
But, but, but if even uing mini DVI adapter cable it still doesn't conver to analog signal then why they call the cable a mini DVI to VGA cable???
Why should this world be so complecated.....

I bought a mini DVI to HDMI convertor and a HDMI to VGA cable to connect my mac book pro to a tv but it doesn't work any one can help.\\\\\

i bought a mini DVI to HDMI convertor and a HDMI to VGA cable to connect my mac book pro to a tv but it doesn't work any one can help.

I would suggest looking into a Thunderbolt to HDMI connector. In this case, you may be able to use the TV as an external monitor. For this option, please confirm through additional research. I have not tested it personally.
You can also use an Apple TV, which connects with HDMI. In this case, you can use Airplay Mirroring. Not all Macs support Airplay Mirroring, so you need to check first. I have a Mid-2011 27" iMac, and it supports Airplay Mirroring. I don't use it often because my TV is in another room, but I just tried it and it worked. It had to change the screen resolution to work well, so I don't know if I would want to use it as my day to day monitor. http://support.apple.com/kb/ht5404

Apple mini displayport to vga cable. ...doesn't work. help.

Tried hooking up my mac mini using the apple mini displayport to vga cable to my 22" acer monitor but im getting nothing. At the same time I hooked my tv to the hdmi connection and could see in the display settings on the mini that a dialogue box for the settings for the acer had appeared but no signal on the monitor itself.....any ideas?

Try resetting the PRAM.
Shut down your Mac.
Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command (⌘), Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.
Turn on the computer.
Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys before the gray screen appears.
Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
Release the keys.
(from http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1379)

I am trying to play a DVD on my MacBook Pro and transmit it to my TV (use my TV as the monitor) utilizing a VGA cable and adapter for the Mac but the only image that shows up on the TV is the MacBook wall paper, any ideas on how I can transmit to my TV?

I am trying to play a DVD on my MacBook Pro and transmit it to my TV (using my TV as the monitor) utilizing a VGA cable and adapter for the Mac but the only image that shows up on the TV is the MacBook wall paper, any ideas on how I can transmit the movie from my MacBook to the TV? I also tried an HDMI cable and had the same issue.

you are probably seeing the extended display.. to see ur main display go to pefrences then display steeings and turn mirroring on.
this will display ur mbp main screen. good luck.

Vga cable doesn't work mini

I have a mac mini and I purchased the mini display port to vga cable for it. When I start the mac, I get the apple logo and then the screen goes blank. I have connected the mini to my tv using a hdmi cable and that is working.

Try resetting the NVRAM / PRAM, as per > About NVRAM and PRAM
Are you using Apple's > Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter and a VGA cable or an aftermarket DisplayPort to VGA cable...?

VGA Cable Question

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