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What adaptor do I need for this monitor?

O

OceanFrog

macrumors regular
Original poster
Hi all ... apologies in advance for the n00b question. I've looked for an answer but I'm still confused.

I'm about to buy the Dell ST2410 24" as an external monitor for my 2009 MacBook Pro 13".

What adapter do I need to connect the MacBook to the monitor?
 
Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter

MB572_AV1


or

Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter

MB570_AV1
 
As the monitor has all, HDMI, DVI and VGA, it's your choice. If you want to connect it to TV, then HDMI may be best choice but if not, then I'd buy DVI. The monitor comes with only VGA cable so keep that in mind if you get other than VGA adapter

So HDMI, DVI or VGA adapter, all will work.
 
Wow!!! Fast replies ... thanks a lot guys.

So which is better ... Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter or Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter? What is the difference?
 
OceanFrog said:
Wow!!! Fast replies ... thanks a lot guys.

So which is better ... Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter or Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter? What is the difference?
Click to expand...

DVi should have better picture quality as it is a digital signal vs analog for the VGA.
 
OceanFrog said:
Wow!!! Fast replies ... thanks a lot guys.

So which is better ... Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter or Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter? What is the difference?
Click to expand...

DVI is better. Even though both support that resolution, DVI should look better and at least, be more future proof. Just buy a DVI cable as well if you don't have one as that monitor comes with only VGA
 
Thanks again guys ... impressive! I'll go with DVI.

So will any DVI cable do? Are there different DVI cables (male, female, etc) or just one standard?

Also, is there just one type of Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter or a few different types?
 
OceanFrog said:
Thanks again guys ... impressive! I'll go with DVI.

So will any DVI cable do? Are there different DVI cables (male, female, etc) or just one standard?

Also, is there just one type of Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter or a few different types?
Click to expand...

You need a DVI male to DVI female (as always). All MDP to DVI are the same but there are some 3rd party ones for cheaper price but they do the same thing
 
Thanks for all the replies guys.

I've been looking in eBay ... will this work for me? Or is it better to get the two separate adapter/cables as mentioned by posters above?

Thanks again for all the help.
 
oo That looks like a nice monitor. Im in the market for one but dont know much about them, this seems like a good deal though. I was hoping to get a 30" but maybe not...
 
Z06jerry said:
You might want to check your monitor's DVI input. I'm pretty sure you need a DVI cable that is male on both ends (that's how it is on my Dell 2405)

One like this should work;

http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...d=1020902&p_id=2407&seq=1&format=1#largeimage
Click to expand...

Hmm, I think you're right, my bad 😱

OceanFrog said:
Thanks for all the replies guys.

I've been looking in eBay ... will this work for me? Or is it better to get the two separate adapter/cables as mentioned by posters above?

Thanks again for all the help.
Click to expand...

Yup, it'll work!
 
OceanFrog said:
Thanks for all the replies guys.

I've been looking in eBay ... will this work for me? Or is it better to get the two separate adapter/cables as mentioned by posters above?

Thanks again for all the help.
Click to expand...

Yes, that should work. The Monoprice version of that cable will make it difficult to plug a usb cable into the usb port located beside the MDP on your MBP, but this one looks small enough in the picture to work. I prefer the single cable option if available. This cable is kind of long though.
 
@ Z06jerry ... "should"???

@ Hellhammer ... thanks for all the help man. Really appreciated.

So I'm right to assume this single cable will work as good as the two separate adapter/cable suggested by posters above? If so, thats some difference in price. The eBay cable will cost me about $10 ... I priced the Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter + the DVI to DVI cable earlier at over $50 !!!
 
The only thing to be concerned with is if the Mini DisplayPort side covers the USB port that sits right next to it on the MBP. The quality of the cable doesn't matter because the signal is digital; with VGA the signal is analog so the signal and picture quality varies with the quality of the cable.
 
Coldmode said:
The only thing to be concerned with is if the Mini DisplayPort side covers the USB port that sits right next to it on the MBP. The quality of the cable doesn't matter because the signal is digital; with VGA the signal is analog so the signal and picture quality varies with the quality of the cable.
Click to expand...

How would I find this out?

Which one looks best ... this one, or this one? The connector looks small in the first one. Would that cover the usb port?
 
OceanFrog said:
@ Z06jerry ... "should"???
Click to expand...

OceanFrog, the reason I said "should" (and not will) is because I haven't personally tried the eBay cable that you found. I have tried the similar MDP>DVI cable that is sold by Monoprice and their cable's MDP connector is too wide making it difficult to use the usb port on the 13" MBP at the same time.

Here is a picture of the one that doesn't fit very well and as you can see the MDP connector is bigger than the 2 you linked to on eBay.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...d=1024604&p_id=5998&seq=1&format=1#largeimage
 
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