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dreamersrevenge · Feb 1, 2008, 02:48 PM

I recently picked up a used 1.42ghz PPC mini and it worked great hooked to my 20" Acer LCD via DVI while reinstalling the OS. However, when I went to get it all moved over to the desk and in the spot it was going and got it booted the video started to give me issues. When I used the DVI cable the mini came with (some Monster cable thing..) the screen showed a lot of static, as if possibly the GPU was going bad (artifacts which would get worse as the hard drive churned away). I tried rebooting it and even using a different DVI cable but couldn't get any video. Right now I've got it hooked up to the LCDs VGA port via the DVI->VGA adapter and it works ok, but DVI looked so much better IMO. Any ideas why it works via VGA/adapter and not DVI? The LCD is less than 6 months old, and I had it hooked to the Sawtooth via DVI and it worked just fine so I doubt its the monitor.

Big Mac · Feb 1, 2008, 03:07 PM

The mini used to have some DVI issues. I think the port's output was weaker than standard and that caused problems with some displays. I have a VGA connection on mine.

dreamersrevenge · Feb 1, 2008, 03:24 PM

Ok, I was wondering about that. I tried googling but didn't turn up a whole lot, but knowing my luck I did too broad of a search, or too specific. It never fails.. lol Anyway, even after resetting the PRAM it'd not display video via DVI, so I'll just use VGA for the time being. My VGA cable is a little more flexible compared to that Monster thing anyway.

G5man · Feb 1, 2008, 08:01 PM

Originally Posted by dreamersrevenge

Ok, I was wondering about that. I tried googling but didn't turn up a whole lot, but knowing my luck I did too broad of a search, or too specific. It never fails.. lol Anyway, even after resetting the PRAM it'd not display video via DVI, so I'll just use VGA for the time being. My VGA cable is a little more flexible compared to that Monster thing anyway.

I was having the exact same problem with my 2008WFP, but someone got it to work on their mini. Is there anyway to fix this output issue?

dreamersrevenge · Feb 1, 2008, 10:38 PM

Originally Posted by G5man

I was having the exact same problem with my 2008WFP, but someone got it to work on their mini. Is there anyway to fix this output issue?

If I find out anything more I'll post it, but for now it's running fine and I'll leave it that way. It'll look way better once its off of the KVM though. I had a last minute Dell to work on, so it's run through that and looks even worse.

anselm · Feb 4, 2008, 10:50 AM

Is this also a problem with the current Mac mini model?

mduell · Feb 4, 2008, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by anselm

Is this also a problem with the current Mac mini model?

No, it only happened (at least in any widespread way) with the G4 minis.

Tom53092 · Feb 6, 2008, 06:34 PM

I have an analog CRT hooked to my mini, so this may not apply, but try it. The weight of the cable can pull downward on the connection, causing lack of proper connection. I have a matchbook shoved under the connector to keep it propped up and horizontal. That has worked fine for me.