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TribeLeader · Jul 4, 2009, 12:48 AM

I am waiting for my new MBP to be shipped and am trying to figure out how I will connect it to our Samsung LCD TV (I used S-Video with my PB). It's not a high priority, but I'd like to be able to do it if I can.

I've been Googling, searching for forum, and reading so much that now I'm not sure what I need to do. I want to make sure I buy the right adapters and cables. Is it just a matter of buying a Monoprice MDP to HDMI adapter and HDMI cable (which I already have connected to my DVD player) or is there something else (or a better way)?

Thanks in advance!

tooki · Jul 4, 2009, 03:35 AM

Yes, HDMI or DVI is the best way, definitely.

TribeLeader · Jul 4, 2009, 11:59 AM

Thanks.

I found/checked my TV's manual this morning and it gives instructions for connecting a computer via DVI>HDMI.

So, if I understand correctly, it looks like I have two options: (1) DVI>HDMI (via MDP>DVI Adapter) or (2) HDMI>HDMI (via MDP>HDMI Adapter), is that right?

Is one option better than the other?

Cold Warrior · Jul 4, 2009, 12:13 PM

Does MDP include audio? If yes, then the HDMI adapter should include audio too.

DVI does not include audio, so you'd have to connect that separately.

CharlesS · Jul 4, 2009, 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by Cold Warrior

Does MDP include audio?

It's supposed to according to the DisplayPort spec, but Apple's implementation doesn't do it (yet - I'm hoping for this getting fixed in a firmware update).

kylef · Jul 4, 2009, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by CharlesS

It's supposed to according to the DisplayPort spec, but Apple's implementation doesn't do it (yet - I'm hoping for this getting fixed in a firmware update).

Is a decent monitor with good speakers that works over MDP wishful thinking? Or is MDP just another Apple tangent..

CharlesS · Jul 4, 2009, 02:00 PM

No, because there are cables and adapters that can connect a MDP port on a Mac to any DisplayPort-equipped monitor. The trouble is that Apple doesn't seem to be sending audio out through the MDP port, so no audio will get to the display's speakers until Apple fixes this.

mduell · Jul 5, 2009, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by TribeLeader

So, if I understand correctly, it looks like I have two options: (1) DVI>HDMI (via MDP>DVI Adapter) or (2) HDMI>HDMI (via MDP>HDMI Adapter), is that right?

Is one option better than the other?

DVI is less likely to fall out of the socket than HDMI (screws vs friction), so I'd go that route. Since Apple's implementation of MDP doesn't support audio, HDMI doesn't help there.

SSharon · Jul 5, 2009, 01:40 PM

I am planning on getting a MDP to DVI adapter just because I see it as more flexible. It is also easier to find a DVI to VGA adapter for me in case I need that.

I have been looking at Newegg.com - mini displayport
but I forgot about monoprice so I will do some comparisons.

CharlesS · Jul 5, 2009, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by SSharon

I am planning on getting a MDP to DVI adapter just because I see it as more flexible. It is also easier to find a DVI to VGA adapter for me in case I need that.

Unfortunately, that won't work. You'll have to get a MDP to VGA adapter - piggybacking a DVI to VGA adapter on top of the MDP to DVI adapter won't work.

SSharon · Jul 5, 2009, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by CharlesS

Unfortunately, that won't work. You'll have to get a MDP to VGA adapter - piggybacking a DVI to VGA adapter on top of the MDP to DVI adapter won't work.

Really? I thought the problem was only with the apple adapter.

This definitely changes my strategy, thanks for the heads up.

CharlesS · Jul 5, 2009, 03:14 PM

Nope, all the adapters work by telling the GPU (NVidia in this case, fairly industry-standard) which type of signal it should be outputting. If you use the DVI adapter, no VGA signal is being sent, and thus there's no way VGA is going to work. A DVI-HDMI adapter would probably still work, though, since HDMI and DVI use the same video signal, if I understand correctly.

SSharon · Jul 5, 2009, 03:54 PM

Then how do any DVI -> VGA adapters work? Do some DVI ports output both DVI and VGA signals and is that the DVI-D DVI-I distinction that I never understood? I am using a DVI -> VGA adapter right now to connect my MDD to a VGA display (the second display I have uses an ADC -> DVI adapter).

Sometimes I don't like when apple is ahead of the curve adopting new technologies and ports. I would have been happy with a plain old mini dvi port and instead I have to figure all of this out. I just want the cheapest combination of adapters to allow me to output vga, dvi, and hdmi.

CharlesS · Jul 5, 2009, 04:08 PM

Your MDD uses DVI as its native video output format (ADC is just DVI with a different connector and a few other pins for USB and power), so the DVI-VGA adapter there is just telling the MDD's video card to output VGA instead of DVI, just like the MDP-VGA adapters for the newer Macs tell the video card to output VGA instead of DP.

mduell · Jul 5, 2009, 04:10 PM

Originally Posted by SSharon

Then how do any DVI -> VGA adapters work? Do some DVI ports output both DVI and VGA signals and is that the DVI-D DVI-I distinction that I never understood? I am using a DVI -> VGA adapter right now to connect my MDD to a VGA display (the second display I have uses an ADC -> DVI adapter).

Sometimes I don't like when apple is ahead of the curve adopting new technologies and ports. I would have been happy with a plain old mini dvi port and instead I have to figure all of this out. I just want the cheapest combination of adapters to allow me to output vga, dvi, and hdmi.

DVI-VGA adapters (the $2-20 variety) work by signaling to the card to output a different signal.

The cheapest way to get VGA, DVI, and HDMI is MDP-VGA, MDP-DVI, and DVI-HDMI.