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Connect Macbook to New Samsung TV

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brittanycamp

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 15, 2008
3
0
I want to connect my macbook to my year old Samsung HDTV television. It has all sorts of inputs on the back including hdmi. I don't know anything about the technology or supplies needed but I want to watch movies and possibly browse the internet on on my television from my computer. Can anyone explain to me what I need to buy for this?
Thank you! :)
 
You will need a display port to HDMI adaptor, not sure if they are even out yet. I was thinking I need to get one of those too.

Edit: Just checked the store the adaptors they have are for VGA or DVI. Does your Samsung have on of those?
 
robanga said:
You will need a display port to HDMI adaptor, not sure if they are even out yet. I was thinking I need to get one of those too.

Edit: Just checked the store the adaptors they have are for VGA or DVI. Does your Samsung have on of those?
Click to expand...

Don't do the VGA adapter, it will NOT work (assuming you have the aluminum Macbook).

Get the mini-display port --->DVI. If you're TV has a DVI in then you're set. If not, then get a DVI-->HDMI cable. They're $24 or so for a 6' one at the Apple store, and available cheaper elsewhere no doubt.

Even if VGA worked, a lot of Samsungs are limited to 1366x768 input over VGA, whereas you can output 1080i over the DVI/HDMI setup.
 
Ok so I have two of these inputs in the back. One says "HDMI1/DVI1" the other right next to it says "HDMI2" and looks exactly the same. Is this also going to be a DVI input? there are also these two other round inputs that say "DVI AUDIO" one is left one is right. If I get a mini display port DVI will that go directly from my computer to the television? And will that also take care of the audio?

Thanks guys!! :)

EDIT: also, just to add, I have the super basic white macbook
 
If you have one of the white macbooks, then you will need the mini-dvi to DVI adapter attached to your macbook, and then plug a DVI-DVI cable from the adapter to your TV.

It migth be worth tweaking, to open the Display Preferences, and choose a color calibration for the TV, and find one that you think looks better, this way you can have better looking colors in your TV.

Good Luck
 
manuel.mx said:
If you have one of the white macbooks, then you will need the mini-dvi to DVI adapter attached to your macbook, and then plug a DVI-DVI cable from the adapter to your TV.
Click to expand...

No, the TV only has two HDMI ports. The cables required are:

Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter (only available from Apple)
DVI -> HDMI cable (if you are paying more than $10 for this then you are paying too much)

And you will need a separate cable for audio a 3.5mm "straight through" cable or whatever they are referred to these days.
 
neiltc13 said:
No, the TV only has two HDMI ports. The cables required are:

Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter (only available from Apple)
DVI -> HDMI cable (if you are paying more than $10 for this then you are paying too much)

And you will need a separate cable for audio a 3.5mm "straight through" cable or whatever they are referred to these days.
Click to expand...

I always thought the two-ended audio cable was referred to as 'crossover', but I may be wrong. Also, it is likely that instead of a 3.5mm to 3.5mm 'straight through'/'crossover' audio cable you will need a 3.5mm to RCA (the red and white audio component jacks) cable, which will plug into the audio input of the television.
 
neiltc13 said:
No, the TV only has two HDMI ports. The cables required are:

Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter (only available from Apple)
DVI -> HDMI cable (if you are paying more than $10 for this then you are paying too much)

And you will need a separate cable for audio a 3.5mm "straight through" cable or whatever they are referred to these days.
Click to expand...

In some post by the thread starter it says a port says HDMI1/DVI1 so assumed it had a DVI.

Anyways, HDMI will work too.

And also to note, getting those cables for less than 10 doesnt happen in retail stores at all, such prices are available in ebay, not in walmart, bestbuy, or apple store, there those cables are $30+
 
Skeletal-dæmon said:
I always thought the two-ended audio cable was referred to as 'crossover', but I may be wrong. Also, it is likely that instead of a 3.5mm to 3.5mm 'straight through'/'crossover' audio cable you will need a 3.5mm to RCA (the red and white audio component jacks) cable, which will plug into the audio input of the television.
Click to expand...

No, if the TV has an HDMI port that is labelled as DVI then it likely already has a 3.5mm socket beside it. Every TV I've owned with DVI or HDMI has had one.
 
neiltc13 said:
No, if the TV has an HDMI port that is labelled as DVI then it likely already has a 3.5mm socket beside it. Every TV I've owned with DVI or HDMI has had one.
Click to expand...

I stand corrected. I forgot that the 3.5mil jack on ours was busted so we use the component feed instead.
 
Ok so far from my understanding i need these:

[x] Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter
[x] DVI -> HDMI cable
[x] 3.5mm-> RCA

Right?
And for audio I want to set the TV as the main screen in order not to experience audio lag?
 
brittanycamp said:
Ok so far from my understanding i need these:

[x] Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter
[x] DVI -> HDMI cable
[x] 3.5mm-> RCA

Right?
And for audio I want to set the TV as the main screen in order not to experience audio lag?
Click to expand...
If you have a good receiver, you might not go for an analog RCA audio cable, but for a digital optical cable with an adapter from 'normal optical' to 'minijack optical'. That way, you have digital sound. If you use your MacBook as a DVD-player or mobile Apple TV, then you can get the original, digital 5.1 audio to your receiver.
 
all this sounds fine and dandy but how are you supposed to plug the mini-dvi to dvi adapter into the dvi-hdmi cable? according to the pictures, they're both shaped to plug into something, neither is shaped to be plugged into.
 
Bengt77 said:
If you have a good receiver, you might not go for an analog RCA audio cable, but for a digital optical cable with an adapter from 'normal optical' to 'minijack optical'. That way, you have digital sound. If you use your MacBook as a DVD-player or mobile Apple TV, then you can get the original, digital 5.1 audio to your receiver.
Click to expand...

did a search on google and I was unable to find this adapter that went from normal optical to "minijack" optical.

closest thing I found was toslink. is that the same thing?

also tried searching for a 3.5mm plug(male) to optical adapter(female) to plug into my laptop and then plug an optical cable to connect to receiver but was not successful. I did find a 3.5mm(female) to optical(male) but that doesn't help.
 
I'm a having an odd problem with a similar setup

I just purchased a DVI to HDMI cable to connect my Original Macbook Pro to my year old Samsung TV. When everything is connected the only thing that happens is the photo from my desktop is displayed on the TV monitor without anything else from my desktop and I am unable to control anything on the TV screen. My Mac doesn't stop working. The same thing happens to both mine and my wife's macbook. Any suggestions? Thanks for your time.

--Paul
 
pkcampbell said:
I just purchased a DVI to HDMI cable to connect my Original Macbook Pro to my year old Samsung TV. When everything is connected the only thing that happens is the photo from my desktop is displayed on the TV monitor without anything else from my desktop and I am unable to control anything on the TV screen. My Mac doesn't stop working. The same thing happens to both mine and my wife's macbook. Any suggestions? Thanks for your time.

--Paul
Click to expand...

That just means you're in extended desktop mode (The TV acts as a second screen instead of duplicating your monitor). In your display preferences change it to display mirroring.
 
sal said:
did a search on google and I was unable to find this adapter that went from normal optical to "minijack" optical.

closest thing I found was toslink. is that the same thing?

also tried searching for a 3.5mm plug(male) to optical adapter(female) to plug into my laptop and then plug an optical cable to connect to receiver but was not successful. I did find a 3.5mm(female) to optical(male) but that doesn't help.
Click to expand...
This little adapter can be clicked on one end of an optical cable (optical and toslink are indeed one and the same, by the way). You can also get a single cable that goes from a regular optical connector to an optical mini plug, though.
 
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Macbook to Samsung

I had the same problems for about an hour as everybody else /mini dvi-dvi-hdmi/ so I just said forget it!! Call Samsung costumer service for help! 1-888-987-4357 and the lady was very nice. She asked me Did I push the 'Source' button on the remote control to get to HDMI2 Channel:rolleyes: uhhh nope! and there it was! popped right up! ;) lol Hey listen we are all not techy geniuses!
 
Mini DP to HDMI
http://www.google.co.uk/products?q=HDMINIDP-HDMI&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wf

and......
Mini DP to HDMI with audio!
http://www.google.co.uk/products?q=HDMI-MINIDPUSB&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wf

I've got one of each on order and will be testing them with my 2010 13" MBP later this week :)

The place I have it on ordered adaptor with audio from have only just added it to there product list.
I've paid a less than they are currently advertised on Google for. I'll post a link when it appearers on there site.
 
Mini DisplayPort Plus USB Audio to HDMI Converter

What is the advantage of the Mini DisplayPort Plus USB Audio to HDMI Converter over a DVI-HDMI + audio connection option?

Rumor is that Apple is unveling a new $100 version of Apple TV next month anyway. Everyone says that's the best option, but I've always balked at the £200 price tag. If they do indeed come out with a cheaper version then I'm going for it.
 
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