Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Turning off the primary display on a macbook

vgoklani

vgoklani

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jul 2, 2004
186
0
Hi,

I plan to use an external display most of the time with my Core2 Macbook - and I would like to conserve my 64MB of video ram. So how do I turn off the primary display?
 
vgoklani said:
But then I can't use the keyboard!
Click to expand...
AFAIK, there's no way to turn off the primary display with the lid open, but I could be wrong (and likely am).

But still... an external KB isn't all that expensive and it's much easier to use if you're going with an external display.

Edit: wait, I think there is a way...

Edit: nope, not what i was thinking. Sorry!
 
vgoklani said:
But then I can't use the keyboard!
Click to expand...

To use a MacBook (or MacBook Pro for that matter) with the video outputting to only the primary display and all the VRAM dedicated to that external display you need to:

1. With your MacBook on, ensure that the display is plugged in and working, you are connected to power and have a USB keyboard and mouse attached (or have enabled bluetooth devices to wake the computer).
then,

2. Close the lid, wait for the MacBook to sleep.

3. Tap a key or click a mouse button to wake the system up - the external display will now have all available VRAM dedicated to it.
 
You can just use a USB mouse (or Bluetooth device as Chundles stated) to wake the computer while its closed. This will output to the external display only. If you then open the laptop, you should be able to use the keyboard without the display showing up on the MB's screen.

This works with the Powerbook, so I assume its still the same for the newer MBs and MBPs.
 
thworple said:
This works with the Powerbook, so I assume its still the same for the newer MBs and MBPs.
Click to expand...
It works with the MBPs.

Still, if you're using an external display and have the MB open just to use the keyboard, isn't that rather awkward, esp. in terms of the blank MB screen blocking the external display?
 
jsw said:
It works with the MBPs.

Still, if you're using an external display and have the MB open just to use the keyboard, isn't that rather awkward, esp. in terms of the blank MB screen blocking the external display?
Click to expand...

Oh I wholly agree with you, but the Op did say they wanted to use the keyboard on the MB. :rolleyes:
 
I agree, it is awkward - but I don't like the Apple keyboards (I miss the old IBM PS/2 clicky keyboards)
 
Can't you just turn the backlighting off? Is that not good enough?

I mean, that's what I do...
 
I need to be able to display full-screen quicktime videos on the external display...the external keyboard/mouse thing isn't working for me :(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back