Macbook To My HDTV? (VGA Not Working, HDMI?)

[HappyDude20]

Hey everyone,

I wanted to connect my Macbook to my new Vizio HDTV. I have the Apple's standard Mini DVI to VGA small cable which I've used to connect to computers before in the past. This cable has the female end which and as luck would have it (sarcasm) the Vizio TV has a female end in the back of the TV as well.

I went and bought a male/male connection to hook up the "Mini DVI to VGA" cable and hook that up to the TV. Thankfully it fit perfectly.

However, the TV would not display anything from the macbook. According to the TV, it seemed like nothing was connected. However, on the Macbook's end the Macbook recognized both screens; it's own and the Vizio TV's. Yet nothing on the Vizio TV. I decided to fiddle with it only on the Mac's end since the TV didn't show any recognition signs and turned on Mirroring, yet nothing happened.

I find this situation very odd since I finally got the Macbook and TV to connect, even the Macbook recognized it but still nothing on the TV's end. BTW, I read the Tv's manual and it simply states to turn both the TV and computer off, connect them to each other, then turn them on...but nothing.

If you know of anything that might help i'm all ears, especially since I still have these connections right now.

If not, I just may go the HDMI route, but I checked Best Buy/Circuit City and the cables are too expensive. Can anyone say Recession?

My TV does not have a DVI port so would need to buy an HDMI to DVI cable, then buy Apple's Mini DVI to DVI cable correct?

Again, i'd rather fix the problem with the VGA stuff I have now....

I'll respond quickly.

[Resevdog]

Your story is nearly identical to mine, but I have the solution for you and it worked for me.

I have a Panasonic HDTV and a Macbook. I originally had the mini-dvi to video adapter and while it worked, it only could connect via s-video at best and that just didn't cut it on the big screen. So I went to my friendly neighborhood Mac store (5th Ave, NY, a zoo!) and found a relatively cheap solution. You'll need to spend about $40 but you'll get up to 1080p!

You're getting two things. First, the mini-dvi to dvi dongle from apple. $19. This gets you from the Macbook to a female dvi connector.

Next, you need the Belkin dvi to HDMI 6 foot cable. also only $19! It has a male dvi connection and the HDMI connection.

Connect the two dvi ends together. The rest is self explanatory. It works beautifully!

[HappyDude20]

awesome, thank you. ill def have to look into it.

so essentially just need 2 cables for video: the mini dvi to dvi cable from apple, and the hdmi to dvi cable. awesome.

i live by a frys electronic store and if i can find it for that price ill buy them today. ill also take a look on ebay, just cause prices were ridiculously high at circuit city last night. $50-$200 for an hdmi to dvi cable!

[SBA]

I can confirm this works great. I have the same set up (MacBook to Vizio LCD) and I've been using the mini-DVI to DVI connected to the DVI to HDMI, connected to my TV. Plug them in, turn on mirroring and you're all set!

[HappyDude20]

i love it! im using it now and looks amazing!

honestly, i think i only wanna use my mac now when its connected. thanks!

10ft hdmi to dvi: $20

mini dvi to dvi from apple: $20

audio connection: $1

[okatidubi]

i love it! im using it now and looks amazing!

honestly, i think i only wanna use my mac now when its connected. thanks!

10ft hdmi to dvi: $20

mini dvi to dvi from apple: $20

audio connection: $1

The smile on your face when your macbook is connected to the HDTV: Priceless.

There's something money can't buy. For everything else, there's mastercard! ;)

[m1ss1ontomars]

I have the Apple's standard Mini DVI to VGA small cable which I've used to connect to computers before in the past. This cable has the female end which and as luck would have it (sarcasm) the Vizio TV has a female end in the back of the TV as well.



Uh...did you know that it's supposed to be that way? The small cable is an adaptor, just like it says on Apple's website. It's not a cable and an adaptor all-in-one. I don't even want to know how you planned to set up your computer 3 inches away from the TV.

[DaveSchneid]

dont buy cables in stores, I got a DVI to HDMI 6 foot cable on newegg for 7$... yeah 7, okay 10 with shipping, and granted its not monster cable, but it really doesnt make a difference with digital cables

[Resevdog]

Yeah, I'm a big fan of Newegg. But sometimes you just want it now ;)

[lukepigott]

Hello everyone!

Sorry if I'm ressurecting an old thread, but it pertains to my situation exactly. This is my first post in the forum. I'm a fairly new mac user, and I have this exact same TV and it also didn't work for me into the VGA. I'm considering going the HDMI route already discussed, but to the OP or someone familiar with this TV, I was wondering: how did you hook up the audio? I don't have a stereo or anything like that. Can you plug a 1/8 cord into the audio in by the VGA input or what?

Thanks a lot everybody.

[HappyDude20]

Hello everyone!

Sorry if I'm ressurecting an old thread, but it pertains to my situation exactly. This is my first post in the forum. I'm a fairly new mac user, and I have this exact same TV and it also didn't work for me into the VGA. I'm considering going the HDMI route already discussed, but to the OP or someone familiar with this TV, I was wondering: how did you hook up the audio? I don't have a stereo or anything like that. Can you plug a 1/8 cord into the audio in by the VGA input or what?

Thanks a lot everybody.

i bit the bullet and bought an hdmi cable. it obviously only transfers video and not sound so you'll need an audio cable too like i did...AND I LOVE IT!

I picture looks amazing. So much it makes you wish the Macbook was actually a part of the TV. So much, in fact that we connect it almost nightly to watch a movie from hulu.com or some other site.

When I tried it w/ the VGA it didn't work for me and i'm sure if i was more persistant and purchased w/e other connection it would have worked...but def. the quality on the screen would not have been as good.

go for the hdmi and audio cable.

hdmi, $10-$20
audio cable, $2

[mattd5]

will you get 5.1 audio that way? I have my vizio connected to a samsung home theater surround sound system through the optical audio connection.

if i connect my macbook to the hdmi video input and the audio through the corresponding audio jacks, will the audio output through my surround sound and will it be 5.1? if not is there a way to do that? i don't see a reason to hook up the mac to the tv, but not got get the surround sound

[mattd5]

^^^^^^^^^^

[HappyDude20]

no clue man, i only dealt with w/e i posted up there ages ago.

[madoxx85]

Hi
I have a Macbook pro and I connected to my Toshiba HDTV 1080p with the DVI to HDMI cable and when I concect it I just can see the computer background on the TV and nothing else.. the resolution is set to 1920X1080 and I tried to change but anything happened. I just see the background image without icons and without the dock.

Can anyone help ?

[Bengt77]

Looks like you set your computer to use the second screen (your TV) as... well... a second screen. Go into your System Preferences, click on Displays. Set the second display to be a mirror of the main screen, instead of an extension of it. Problem should be solved that way. If not, ask again.

[p.luik]

Hi
I have a Macbook pro and I connected to my Toshiba HDTV 1080p with the DVI to HDMI cable and when I concect it I just can see the computer background on the TV and nothing else.. the resolution is set to 1920X1080 and I tried to change but anything happened. I just see the background image without icons and without the dock.

Can anyone help ?

You could also go to displays and drag the white bar at the top of the display representing your computer to the other display. This marks your TV as the main display.

[heyp]

this is a dumb question, but can you have the macbook closed and still have the tv working as a monitor?

[dubels]

If you want to check out cheap dvi to hdmi cables check out monoprice. But also try changing the resolutions. Some hdtvs can only accept certain resolutions via VGA. Other wise get the mini-dvi --> dvi apple adaptor and get the right DVI --> HDMI cable.

[fish75]

heyy whats up guys... ok **** its been a while since i had tried this ****!! ok i bought a dvi to dvi cable! ok wrong type of cable ... ok lets make this simple ahaha i don't wanna spend more money buying cables i think there is a way to make this work... my computer does recognize my tv .. i make it the main monitor but does not seems to work (unusable signal) .. ok i have another tv a 50 plasma lg and it seems to work ok... but not with my 42 rca tv :( i have everything set up correctly i even bought a wireless keyboard/mouse :( help help!!! let me know! if there is anny kind of thing i could do ....

dvi to vga cable... (i bought it from mac, cuz i heard some tvs wont recognize the cables)
male cable .. both ends... (5 feet belkin cable)
female input on tv... (42 inch RCA)

help help help!!:) thank you!!!
this is my first post

[Lebowski77]

If your 42" RCA has an hdmi input, you'll need to convert dvi to hdmi... just get yourself a mini dvi to dvi cable then get an hdmi adapter that converts the dvi end to hdmi... then plug into the hdmi on your tv...

[Philberttheduck]

heyy whats up guys... ok **** its been a while since i had tried this ****!! ok i bought a dvi to dvi cable! ok wrong type of cable ... ok lets make this simple ahaha i don't wanna spend more money buying cables i think there is a way to make this work... my computer does recognize my tv .. i make it the main monitor but does not seems to work (unusable signal) .. ok i have another tv a 50 plasma lg and it seems to work ok... but not with my 42 rca tv :( i have everything set up correctly i even bought a wireless keyboard/mouse :( help help!!! let me know! if there is anny kind of thing i could do ....

dvi to vga cable... (i bought it from mac, cuz i heard some tvs wont recognize the cables)
male cable .. both ends... (5 feet belkin cable)
female input on tv... (42 inch RCA)

help help help!!:) thank you!!!
this is my first post

what female input is on your rca tv, hdmi or dvi? and do you have a macbook or macbook pro (do you need mini-dvi adapter to connect or not?)? you don't really specify the main components and to tell you the truth it sounds like you're going to need to buy another cable or an adapter.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10419&cs_id=1041902&p_id=2080&seq=1&format=2

vga's nearly dead technology, but if you need a mini-dvi to dvi adapter, check out monoprice's.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10419&cs_id=1041912&p_id=4851&seq=1&format=2

it's cheap (a little over $3 for the adapter, under $10 for minidvi-dvi). assuming the rca has hdmi, you connect the male to male to the hdmi adapter and plug the adapter (with the dvi male connected to it) into the tv. voila

[gan6660]

I have a sony vaio fw and the hdmi connection is the best. it shows right up and i plugged my pc into the tv when they were both on. i have a hitachi but... also dont buy cables from ebay unless it is a small seller because i bought an hdmi from there and it broke off in my ps3. thankfully only the cable connector broke and not my ps3's.

[dmayo1]

this is a dumb question, but can you have the macbook closed and still have the tv working as a monitor?

Although not with an HDTV, I run my Macbook on an external monitor at work. If you've got the MB sleeping on battery, you have to first connect the monitor, then the power, then any USB connections and it will work like a champ.

Otherwise, just turn the computer on and close the lid quickly and it'll run off the external monitor no problem.

Hope this helps.

[milk242]

Before buying any cables have you tried playing with the refresh rate for the external tv properties on your mac? I have a samsung 40" 1080 (using dvi to vga) and it will only display a picture if it's set to 59.9 hz and not 60 hz. Just saying you guys should probably play with the tv properties displayed on your mac before buying cables.

[spencers]

For those of you wanting to save a buck (or twenty), monoprice has the cables.

Mini DVI to DVI adapter (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10419&cs_id=1041912&p_id=4851&seq=1&format=2) (So you don't have to spend $19 from Apple)

DVI to HDMI cable (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10231&cs_id=1023104&p_id=2661&seq=1&format=2)

Mini Toslink to toslink cable (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10229&cs_id=1022902&p_id=1556&seq=1&format=2) (for audio, if your set has optical audio input)

I've bought and verified both of these cables, which work great with my Alu iMac and my 32" Samsung LCD.

[tammsula]

Hey im having trouble connecting my macbook to my sony bravia tv. I was hoping for a little help. I got the mini dvi to dvi adapter and the hdmi to dvi cable however when i hook it up to the tv only abunch of lines appear on the tv. I was wondering what my problem was. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
thanks

[logan45]

Your story is nearly identical to mine, but I have the solution for you and it worked for me.

I have a Panasonic HDTV and a Macbook. I originally had the mini-dvi to video adapter and while it worked, it only could connect via s-video at best and that just didn't cut it on the big screen. So I went to my friendly neighborhood Mac store (5th Ave, NY, a zoo!) and found a relatively cheap solution. You'll need to spend about $40 but you'll get up to 1080p!

You're getting two things. First, the mini-dvi to dvi dongle from apple. $19. This gets you from the Macbook to a female dvi connector.

Next, you need the Belkin dvi to HDMI 6 foot cable. also only $19! It has a male dvi connection and the HDMI connection.

Connect the two dvi ends together. The rest is self explanatory. It works beautifully!

You think that was a good deal? Try getting a 15ft hdmi cable for $2.50 and a DVI Port to HDMI adapter for $9.95! Try amazon folks!

[Jason Beck]

Your story is nearly identical to mine, but I have the solution for you and it worked for me.

I have a Panasonic HDTV and a Macbook. I originally had the mini-dvi to video adapter and while it worked, it only could connect via s-video at best and that just didn't cut it on the big screen. So I went to my friendly neighborhood Mac store (5th Ave, NY, a zoo!) and found a relatively cheap solution. You'll need to spend about $40 but you'll get up to 1080p!

You're getting two things. First, the mini-dvi to dvi dongle from apple. $19. This gets you from the Macbook to a female dvi connector.

Next, you need the Belkin dvi to HDMI 6 foot cable. also only $19! It has a male dvi connection and the HDMI connection.

Connect the two dvi ends together. The rest is self explanatory. It works beautifully!
They have cables cheap on amazon. Just bought a mini display port to dvi for 6 bucks. There are all sorts of them, I recall seeing a mini dvi to dvi one I think..

[macbook7710]

Hey, thank you all very much for the information. I have used the minidvi to dvi and dvi to hdmi cables to connect my macbook to my Samsung hdtv. That worked beautifully. I also used a mini toslink to toslink for audio. I plugged the toslink into the digital audio output (optical) on my tv, however I have no audio. Any ideas how to get the audio working? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Toobin]

Sorry to resurrect and old forum but I have just bought a VGA adapter and a VGA - HDMI cable. I have set this up with my Philips 1080p HD TV but the MBP will not recognise the display. Is this because of the convoluted way I have a VGA - HDMI wire? Should I just buy a HDMI adapter and HDMI wire?

Thanks for any help in advance (first time poster so be nice :-))

[Darth.Titan]

Sorry to resurrect and old forum but I have just bought a VGA adapter and a VGA - HDMI cable. I have set this up with my Philips 1080p HD TV but the MBP will not recognise the display. Is this because of the convoluted way I have a VGA - HDMI wire? Should I just buy a HDMI adapter and HDMI wire?

Thanks for any help in advance (first time poster so be nice :-))
VGA = Analog
HDMI = Digital

What you're trying to do will not work. The digital signal that HDMI needs is not available when you use the VGA adapter. You need to get the DVI adapter and use DVI->HDMI instead.

[FranklinBluth22]

I'm trying to hook up my Macbook to a Vizio at my office via mini-DVI-to-VGA adapter and am having limited success. The TV is displaying my Mac wallpaper but does not display any applications or real-time activity (not even icons on my desktop). What the eff? I already hook it up to my 46" Bravia at home with no problem whatsoever. It is obviously detecting the computer so how/why is it pulling my standalone background without anything else?

I tried with one of my office's Dell laptops and the TV simply did not recognize it either which I assume is a resolution issue judging by the previous posts.

[m1ss1ontomars]

I'm trying to hook up my Macbook to a Vizio at my office via mini-DVI-to-VGA adapter and am having limited success. The TV is displaying my Mac wallpaper but does not display any applications or real-time activity (not even icons on my desktop). What the eff? I already hook it up to my 46" Bravia at home with no problem whatsoever. It is obviously detecting the computer so how/why is it pulling my standalone background without anything else?

I tried with one of my office's Dell laptops and the TV simply did not recognize it either which I assume is a resolution issue judging by the previous posts.

Go to the Displays prefpane. Under "Arrangement", check "Mirror". When you don't check that, one of the displays will act as an extra piece, and you can move windows and icons back and forth, but it won't show anything by default.

[FranklinBluth22]

Go to the Displays prefpane. Under "Arrangement", check "Mirror". When you don't check that, one of the displays will act as an extra piece, and you can move windows and icons back and forth, but it won't show anything by default.

I will try that, thanks!

[Colleen3185]

when you connect your labtop to the television it acts as another monitor so just drag the video your trying to play all the way to the left off of the screen and it will continue and pop up on your television screen. Just his apple f from there and it will play on the tv:D

[jj1188]

Hello- sorry to bump this thread again, but i did a google search and this describes my problem i think.

what i have

macbook (older model from 2007/2008)
vga-vga (http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1234&bih=611&tbm=isch&tbnid=5dTvdsRorFljkM:&imgrefurl=http://www.bargainbytes.net/servlet/the-30/DVI-Cable/Detail&docid=CtWpiDCbCWubrM&imgurl=http://www.bargainbytes.net/catalog/VGAcable.jpg&w=292&h=220&ei=G8WjTvm2FqSZiQKo54SGAQ&zoom=1)
mini dvi-vga adapter (http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1234&bih=611&tbm=isch&tbnid=vXxQViW1V5aeCM:&imgrefurl=http://store.apple.com/ie-business/product/M9320G/A&docid=v9AKVcH0NJdB5M&imgurl=http://store.apple.com/Catalog/irl/Images/M9320_screen.jpg&w=360&h=154&ei=h8OjTtaHHejkiAKstcmGAQ&zoom=1)
audio cable
vizio L37 hdmi hdtv

so i plug one end of my vga cable to the tv, and the other end to the vga-dvi adapter, which is in turn plugged in to my mac.

so tv <-> vga - vga <-> dvi <-> macbook

my mac recognizes my tv (and i click "display mirror" in system preferences), and it is at 1024 X 768, 75 Hz, but no display is showing up on my tv (not sure if i have to change some setting on the tv? but either way, i've set it to "tv", "analog" and "digital" and none work.)

any help would be appreciated! thanks.

eta: so i think i may need to but these instead?

display port to dvi adapter. can anybody confirm that the one linked to at the top of this page (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10419&cs_id=1041912&p_id=4851&seq=1&format=2) works for the old macbooks? 2007 i mean.
hdmi-dvi