Waiting to buy ... do I .. DVI, VGA or HDMI? (Samsung 23" TV)

Hello,
I'm currently very near to buying the basic Mac Mini model, customized to include;
1.83GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
120Gb HHD
1Gb RAM
My question is, I have a 23" Samsung HDTV and the ports on the back are HDMI and VGA with audio. I know the Mac mini comes with a DVI to VGA adapter but am wondering which is better for my situation, and why?
Also what type of cable would I need for the better option? Currently I have none. I have a 3.5mm jack audio cable, which has the same male connector on both ends. Would I need any of the following to get setup:
DVI to VGA cable?
VGA to VGA cable?
DVI to HDMI cable?
I'd rather not use Apple's adapter, if possible. I've found straight connections to work better than through an adapter of any kind.
I'm trying to get everything ready, so that when it does come, I can simply plug in and use straight away, without having to go out and buy a cable before hand
Thanks for your help and advice,
R-Fly

Since no-one has replied so far, I'll throw in a thought or two:
It might help if you post the model number of the TV, such that those with experience of it, or the opportunity to do some digging, can let you know whether the HDMI option is suited to your needs or not. However, you can be pretty sure that the VGA connection will work just fine, since by far the most common complaint has been with minis which do not correctly get ID from the display when connected via HDMI.
In your situation I wouldn't be so much concerned at using an adaptor - there's no reason to think they would not work perfectly well as long as they are firmly connected. Certainly I've used both DVI/VGA and DVI/Composite adapters with Mac minis for quite some time and not experienced any problems.

Similar Messages

What is the best way to connect my new MBP to monitor - DVI, VGA or HDMI

What is the best way to connect my new MBP to a computer monitor? DVI, VGA or HDMI? Thanks

I recommend the Apple MiniDisplay Port to DVI adaptor. I would avoid VGA. MiniDisplay Port to HDMI will work as well (3rd party).
http://www.apple.com/search/?q=dvi%20adaptor&section=mac&geo=us

Should I wait to buy a Macbook?

I have read so many great things about the Mac. I've read superb reviews from sites like Cnet and PCMag. Now that I looked into wireless networking with the Mac, I am thinking about waiting to buy one. I have read a few posts about crashes and kernels when running wireless on the Mac because of update 10.4.10. Has there been a patch for this problem? Also, I already have my wireless setup on my PC. I have a Linksys WRT54G router with a Motorola Surfboard SB5101. If I buy a Mac, would I have to reinstall the router software on it? Thanks for the help...
Message was edited by: SlickNick 94

Like most things in life, it depends...
I bought a 1.83 GHz core2 duo Macbook in July 2007. For the most part, the Macbook is a very nicely designed and manufactured machine.
High points: nice keyboard, magsafe power connector, long battery life when running OSX, ability to run Windows XP or Vista natively, iLife software suite.
Low points: WiFi disconnects in OSX 10.4.10, lackluster LG/Philips LCD has a relatively narrow viewing angle and "only" 262,000 (18 bits) of color resolution. No PC-X or PCMCIA card slot.
I guess I'm biased because I bought a Macbook. I tend to run Vista on it more than OSX due to the WiFi issues in OSX (WiFi is OK in Vista). More importantly, I can run the current release of MS-Office in Vista. The Macbook is nice in that I can run either OS without 3rd party software or goofy emulators. I love tinkering with Garage Band in OSX for recreation. If you are planning to run Vista, upgrade to 2G of memory. The Macbook is nice for doing presentations, but you'll need a VGA or DVI pigtail adapter, each of which is a $20 accessory. Apple should've put a standard VGA socket on the Macbook, as VGA cords are the de facto video port in most every conference room.
The main reason you might want to delay purchase would be to have Leopard pre-installed or at least qualify for a low cost Leopard upgrade.
Bill

Mini-Dvi - VGA Problems

I just bought a mini-dvi to vga adapter from apple but can't get it to work with my philip's hdtv. It works perfectly when plugged into my pc monitor, but when going into the tv I just get a blank screen with "no signal detected". I've using a VGA to DVI convertor on the cable going into the tv, I know I should have gotten a straight mini-DVI to DVI cable, but I wanted to be able to use VGA as well.
My old iBook worked perfectly, but it detected my tv as a VGA monitor, whereas the MacBook detects it as a HDMI display. Is there any way I can force OS X to set my TV as a VGA display? Or is there any other fix around?
My tv is DVI-I in I think, which I read elsewhere has caused some conflict with mac mini's.
Thanks in advance...

Well, I just got myself a mini-DVI to DVI adaptor so that I could connect it to a DVI-VGA adaptor and on to my VGA (Apple) CRT.
I may get a DVI-capable monitor in the future, so it seemed like a good future-proofing exercise. Unfortunately the DVI plug has four more pins (around the flat-blade pin) than the port on the mini-DVI adaptor has holes!
so it doesn't fit.
DRAT! I have been waiting for the DVI adaptors to come into the Apple Centre for a couple of weeks, and now it's no good! Grrr.

How can i use the DVI-VGA adaptor under this particular circumstance?????

I got a LCD only has DVI-I port, while as u guys has noticed, the MBP only got DVI-I too. So, my first thought is to get another DVI-VGA adaptor. What i'm doing is to hook up the VGA port then plug each DVI port to LCD and MBP. Well, the problem comes out that MBP was able to indentify the Monitor but no image apears on Monitor. How can i solve this problem? Or do i need to buy any other accessaries to configure my MBP in order to make it work with the **** Monitor!

Right. You don't need a DVI-to-VGA adapter to connect DVI-to-DVI, obviously. The included DVI-to-VGA adapter is not meant to connect to the external display/projector, but merely to give you the proper connection to connect the VGA cable of the display/projector. I give a lot of presentations, everywhere I go there is a long VGA cable (at the podium, conference table, etc.); the short adapter is nice because I'd rather not carry a long cable with me...

Dual Monitor Hook-up, DVI/VGA/HDMI?

I think it's time to retire my aging samsung 22" and buy a few 23" LED's to replace it.
My graphics card only has DVI out (x2), and the 3 monitors I'm looking at do not have dual DVI (either dual HDMI and DVI, or DVI/VGA/HDMI), so I would need adapters from DVI to HDMI/VGA. I'm guessing that's all handled at the adapter/hardware level, so linux should have no problem finding them, but if I'm hooking 1 up natively to DVI, and the other through an adapter (or both through adapters), will I notice any quality difference between the 2 monitors?

Cyrusm wrote:
Personally I use my HDMI monitor as my main monitor and have the secondary monitor attatched to VGA. I can't really tell the difference in performance between the two, however I never work with anything terribly graphics intensive.
and it hurts to hear that my Samsung 22" is also 'aging' of course so is my 17" secondary I guess maybe that'll be my next investment...
Sorry about the aging comment
But this is the answer I was looking for! I don't want to have 1 monitor hooked up via HDMI and the other VGA and be able to see a noticeable difference between the 2. I don't do anything graphics intensive either.
Thanks for all the responses!

HOW TO Connect G5 to an HP2311x Monitor. ( G5 ADC outlet to DVI & VGA/HDMI Monitor )

I have a G5 I need to connect it to an HP2311x Monitor. How can I convert the G5 ADC outlet to the DVI & VGA / or HDMI outlet on the monitor. What is the best process? Can i convert the ADC to HDMI then go HDMI to HDMI ?! or do I need a splitter for ADC to VGA&DMI ? Pls HELP!
What cords / splitters / converters do I need to Buy?
O.O THANKS!

Hello,
First you need an ADC-> DVI converter...
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=219101&is=REG&A=details&Q =
Then if the Monitor doesn't have DVI, a DVI to HDMI adapter.

No widescreen modes available using dvi-vga adapter

I have a sony gdm-fw900 24" widescreen CRT monitor and just bought a new mac mini (1.66 dual core, 1GB etc). For some reason the mini does not detect that this is a widescreen monitor so all i get are standard 4:3 resolutions in the display system preference. I'm connecting through the standard white dvi-vga adapter that came with the mini.
Is there a way to enable other resolutions? I want to run it at 1920 x 1200
Thanks in advance,
Shay
Mac Mini 1.66 Dual Core Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Thanks for the expertise, its just that I'm buying a 26" Sony Bravia for my bedroom when I save up enough which will serve for my Mac Mini, (via vga), and for my PS3 (via HDMI when it is released). It would be ideal for the Bravia to have a DVI connection of that of a monitor, however I still think that VGA is a sound connection as I have seen in pictures off 123MacMini.com of users having connected that way.

DVI-VGA Converter Help...

I have an older model G5, My display which was one of the old models with the clear plastic frame around it broke, so I just replaced it with 2 LG screens that I am going to link together. I got a DVI/VGA adapter for both of the screens and only one fit into the back of the computer. The other input seems longer than the normal DVI input. Would anyone know which converter I need to buy and where I can purchase it? Thank you.

Thank you. I know this may sound insane but let me know if u think this will work. I already have a VGA to a DVI adapter. If I get a ADC to DVI adapter, can I think link all 3 of them together?
ADC to DVI adapters use DVD-D. They only transfer the digital video signals. A DVI to VGA adapter needs the analog video signals from DVI-A or DVI-I. It will not work with (or even plug into) DVI-D.
(Some ADC to DVI adapters may use a DVI-I connector, but the analog video pins are not connected, so will not work with a DVI to VGA adapter.)
Do your LG didplayd hsave DVI ports?

Sudden no DVI/VGA signal

Pavilion p6210y. Stock, nothing fancy.
Over a year ago my power supply exploded abut I replaced it with a Norwood Micro 350W I found in a free box. It worked just fine, we used the computer for about 6 months then set it aside because we got a laptop. The other week I started it again and it worked fine for about 30 minutes then the monitor shows me no DVI/VGA signal and go to sleep. The computer is still running. I let it rest for a day and then started it again and the same thing happened. Power supply? Motherboard?
Thanks!,
Joe, Mpls

Hi Joe,
Your PC might be full of dust and then overheating.
Try this procedure:
Unplug the PC and open it up. Clean out all the dust. Carefully remove and replace all the cables going to the motherboard one at a time. Do the same for the memory dimms and the video and sound cards if you have any. You might want to buy a can of compressed air to blow the dust out of the CPU heat sink. Plug your PC back in and give it a go.
HP DV9700, t9300, Nvidia 8600, 4GB, Crucial C300 128GB SSD
HP Photosmart Premium C309G, HP Photosmart 6520
HP Touchpad, HP Chromebook 11
Custom i7-4770k,Z-87, 8GB, Vertex 3 SSD, Samsung EVO SSD, Corsair HX650,GTX 760
Custom i7-4790k,Z-97, 16GB, Vertex 3 SSD, Plextor M.2 SSD, Samsung EVO SSD, Corsair HX650, GTX 660TI
Windows 7/8 UEFI/Legacy mode, MBR/GPT

Macbook 2,1 dvi-vga video adapter, which one will work?

Hi all,
I just purchased a mini dvi-vga video adapter (M9320GA) for my macbook 2,1 and it didn't fit. So this time I want to make sure I get the right one so I can hook up my external monitor to my laptop. Would you be kind enough to point me in the right direction?
TIA, Tross

Thank you for the welcome Doug!
Well if it should fit all macbooks my Macbook is either a mutant or the adapter is, as it is the laptop-adapter connection, that is the problem. I intend to plug it into a DVI monitor and that end fits fine.
To be more specific the avi connection when compared to the port it plugs into, is too narrow. That is, the sides are the right width but the adapter connector isn't tall enough to fit. Perhaps it would help you understand what I'm saying better if you saw it, so I'll include a link to the ebay page I'm reselling it on:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Apple-Mini-DVI-To-VGA-Adapter-M9320GA_W0QQitemZ260189585262Q QihZ016QQcategoryZ80063QQtcZphotoQQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
TIA,
Tross

Mini DVI - VGA Issue

I purchased a Mini DVI-VGA adaptor from Apple over a year ago. I've used it only to connect my Macbook to a projector. Once connected, the screen will flash briefly and then the resolution will change and I will be able to switch back and forth from single screen to dual screen by clicking F7...but this was back when things were beautiful and I had no issues.
Now, my adaptor will not work...neither would another Min DVI-VGA adaptor that I tried...but yet the port will work when I connect my Mini DVI-SVideo/RCA adaptor.
Is there a setting that I may have changed? It doesn't seem to be a hardware issue because the port will work with a different type of adaptor.

Hi. I have pretty much the same problem: everything was fine until yesterday. As usual, the screen flashed briefly but then the resolution DID NOT change and the projector could not connect. After removing the adaptor, the screen flashed again but that's it but there was no difference as the resolution had not changed. To note that the adaptor is (grrrr) new (bought about a month ago). Could it be an issue with MAC OS 10.6.2? or maybe the firmware needs an update? I'd be glad if someone could help. Cheers,
Message was edited by: pbeauverd

Mini dvi-vga problem - Need help

When I connect my mac mini to a 32 inch Samsung HDTV via a dvi-vga adapter, the source is not recognized. I jsut get a black screen. However, when I connect it to the HDMI port, it works great. But, I wantto use the HDMI port for the Television source, not the computer source.
Any ideas?
Thanks

Did you get the mini-DVI to VGA adapter from Apple? Are your other cables okay?
Perhaps a mini-DVI to video adapter would be a better choice for you.
~Lyssa

Macbook mini-dvi -- VGA projector problems

Hi
At the school i teach at we have problems hooking up our new macbooks to one of our projectors. We use a mini-dvi --> VGA cable to hook up the projector. The mac recognises the projector and it gets listed under screens, the resolution also changes. But no picture is beeing projected by the projector.
If we use a mini-dvi --> s/video/rca cable it works fine, but the quality of the picture is too low. The projector works nicely with the older macs we have, wich use the mini-dv --> vga cable.
Any toughts on what may be the problem, or what we could try?

I am having the same problem. I have to do powerpoint presentations at college and it was so embarrassing to go up there and my macbook not sync up. It use to work. I even bought a new adapter. It did not fix the problem. All the windows laptops were able to sync up to the projector but mine did not. This one one of the main reasons I bought a macbook. I need to take my work to school and connect to projectors. I am using the mini-DVI to VGA adapter. There appears to be no physical damage. When I click detect displays nothing happens. Now I have to redo everything on windows. Please, I hope someone has a fix for this. I am using the following; 2 GHZ Intel Core 2 DUo, 1 GB RAM, Mac OS X 10.4.10

Problems displaying images on tv using dvi-vga cables

I connected my macbook to a Samsung hdtv via dvi-vga cables. The picture looked great on the tv, however it only displays my background. The tv does not display any open windows, desktop folders, or even the application dock at the bottom of the computer screen. Any ideas on what I may be doing wrong??

You need to go to System Preferences > Displays > Arrangement > Mirror displays
Voila

Waiting to buy ... do I .. DVI, VGA or HDMI? (Samsung 23" TV)

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for