I am trying to connect a second monitor to my intel imac so i purchased the apple mini dvi to dvi adapter to connect to my monitor through a vga to dvi adapter that came with my mac mini. The only problem is that the adapter that apple ships with the mac mini is a dvi-i type and that the mini-dvi to dvi cable is dvi-d which is mentioned nowhere on the packet so it doesn't fit. I phoned apple support and they said that it was nothing to do with them as i don't live in the states so it has no warranty on it. This is really poor service from Apple.
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Apple Mini Dvi - Dvi cable - Useless!
- Thread starter joe8232
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Wait...there's something that's not right about all of this.
The mini-DVI to DVI adaptor MUST be DVI-I (integrated). Otherwise, not all devices would work through it.
The DVI to VGA adaptor must be DVI-A (analog). It cannot be DVI-D, because VGA is an analog signal, and not a digital signal.
However, a DVI-I port is supposed to be able to accommodate a DVI-A adaptor.
Are you sure the problem isn't that you have a gender mis-match?
Are these the two pieces you have:
The mini-DVI to DVI adaptor MUST be DVI-I (integrated). Otherwise, not all devices would work through it.
The DVI to VGA adaptor must be DVI-A (analog). It cannot be DVI-D, because VGA is an analog signal, and not a digital signal.
However, a DVI-I port is supposed to be able to accommodate a DVI-A adaptor.
Are you sure the problem isn't that you have a gender mis-match?
Are these the two pieces you have:
mkrishnan said:
Have a look at this picture from wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:DVI_Connector_Types.svg) the apple mini dvi-dvi cable seems to be the fourth one and the adapter supplied with the mac mini is the first one. Am i right in thinking that gender is whether it has pins of holes? If so no, there is not a gender mismatch - the mini dvi cable is female and the adapter is male.
My question is, why didn't you order the mini DVI to VGA adapter?
DVI-D means that it only carries the digital part of the signal.
The DVI to VGA adapter requires DVI-I because it takes the analogue part and just rearranges the pins to make it VGA.
Apple just expects you to order the right adapter for what you are using it for. The DVI-D plug of the mini-DVI adapter will work with any DVI display. If you need VGA you should get the mini-DVI to VGA adapter.
DVI-D means that it only carries the digital part of the signal.
The DVI to VGA adapter requires DVI-I because it takes the analogue part and just rearranges the pins to make it VGA.
Apple just expects you to order the right adapter for what you are using it for. The DVI-D plug of the mini-DVI adapter will work with any DVI display. If you need VGA you should get the mini-DVI to VGA adapter.
yippy said:
the shop that i went into didn't have the vga one in stock so since i had the dvi adapter i didn't think it would be a problem. The bottom image you posted is the cable i have but the adapter doesn't look like the top image it is just one solid piece with a vga female and dvi male (http://www.powerpage.org/images/apple/mini/mini-DVI-VGA.jpg).
I guess i will just have to get the vga version - i don't know much about this stuff so i just assumed that since i had a vga to dvi adapter it wouldn't be a problem.
joe8232 said:
Okay, so I think the problem is that the Mac Mini DVI adaptor is DVI-D (and the other one is DVI-A), which is why it doesn't work...my apologies. Yes, I think you'll need to buy something else.
joe8232 said:
I have never seen that kind of DVI - VGA adapter. Are you sure that it is genuine Apple, and not a rip off. Apple may have made this at one point, but I have never seen that model before.
EDIT: Just saw that it comes/came with the Mac Mini.
You'll have to get a new adapter as mkrishnan said above.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/204596/
Maybe you can cut your losses and make someone else happy?
Maybe you can cut your losses and make someone else happy?
i too am kind of bummed out by it, i have loads of DVI-VGA adapters i wish i could just buy a mini DVI to DVI-D adapter so i could carry that and one of my DVI-vga adapters so i dont have to buy both of them, and the annoying thing is i'm going to use both rarely so i'm not going to get around to buying them and when i need them i wont have them
I ran into the same problem. I have 3 DVI->VGA adapters and zero computers that need them. So I thought I would use the VGA input on my LCD to extend my MacBook so I didn't have to unplug the DVI from my mini every time. I got the miniDVI -> DVI and of course there are 4 pins blocking the insertion of the DVI->VGA. I am considering cutting out those pins to see if it works, since I have a surplus of the connectors. I will report back if it works.
I can tell you now that it won't work. Those 4 pins are the ones that carry the analogue signal that is used to make the VGA signal. If you cut out those pins you might as well throw the adapter away because it won't work for anything anymore.
Sorry to drag up this thread, but I just got burned on this too.
already have a DVI-I to HDMI lead and a DVI-I to VGA adapter from a Mac Mini. But no, apple use DVD-D this time. Grrrr!
So I can't connect Macbook up to LCD tv even though it has HDMI and VGA!!
already have a DVI-I to HDMI lead and a DVI-I to VGA adapter from a Mac Mini. But no, apple use DVD-D this time. Grrrr!
So I can't connect Macbook up to LCD tv even though it has HDMI and VGA!!
The MacBook has DVI-I just like all other Macs. The difference is that all Apple computers with a built in display don't use the normal DVI connector, they have a custom mini-DVI connector to save space. That is why you are required to have the adapters.
joe8232 said:
That is exactly how the adapter is described. If you want to connect a DVI monitor, use the mini dvi to dvi adapter. If you want to connect a VGA monitor, use the mini dvi to vga adapter. Connecting a dvi to vga adapter to the mini dvi to dvi adapter will not work.
Jowl said:
Wouldn't the DVI-I -> HDMI cable work with the mini DVI -> DVI adapter you can buy for the MacBook?
The adapter would put out the DVI signal, the cable would carry the DVI signal and convert the pins to HDMI. DVI and HDMI are basically the same thing, just a different shape plug and HDMI can carry audio too.
The only thing you need is the mini DVI -> DVI adapter. It won't work with the VGA adapter because the mini DVI -> DVI adapter only puts out a digital signal, it should work just fine with the DVI -> HDMI cable as HDMI is a digital signal anyway.
You will need to purchase the proper adapter though.
I find this all rather confusing, although I understand the basic concepts.
So let me ask a simple question if you don't mind.
I have a Macbook. I have an Apple mini-DVI to DVI adapter.
If I am looking to buy a cable to go from the adapter to my monitor, which has a DVI input, what am I looking for exactly?
DVI-D dual link or single link? Something else?
Will this cheap cable I came across through dealmac do it?
http://store.4linkcomm.com/hdmatohdmago4.html
That sounds right to me, but the picture looks to me like this cable is single-link, not dual-link, if I understand the diagrams correctly here (scroll down a bit for the diagrams):
http://www.pacificcable.com/DVI_Tutorial.htm
thanks
Paul D.
So let me ask a simple question if you don't mind.
I have a Macbook. I have an Apple mini-DVI to DVI adapter.
If I am looking to buy a cable to go from the adapter to my monitor, which has a DVI input, what am I looking for exactly?
DVI-D dual link or single link? Something else?
Will this cheap cable I came across through dealmac do it?
http://store.4linkcomm.com/hdmatohdmago4.html
That sounds right to me, but the picture looks to me like this cable is single-link, not dual-link, if I understand the diagrams correctly here (scroll down a bit for the diagrams):
http://www.pacificcable.com/DVI_Tutorial.htm
thanks
Paul D.
Correct, all you would need would be one of those DVI cables, I am surprised that the monitor didn't come with one.
The only reason you would need dual link is if you have a 30" LCD monitor. Right now only high end graphics cards and computers are capable of powering the dual link connection for a 30" screen. Essentially, dual link is only available on pro machines.
The only reason you would need dual link is if you have a 30" LCD monitor. Right now only high end graphics cards and computers are capable of powering the dual link connection for a 30" screen. Essentially, dual link is only available on pro machines.
Thanks a lot for the response. One more dumb question.
So, are dual-link and single-link cables/connectors compatible? In other words, if I have a 19 inch monitor and I'm trying to connect it to my Macbook, will either a single-link or dual-link cable work? Or do I need to specifically find a single-link cable if I am connecting a monitor under 30 inches?
My monitor did come with a DVI cable, but I managed to leave the cable behind in a move. If I can pick up a new one for $5 that's wonderful.
thanks
Paul D.
So, are dual-link and single-link cables/connectors compatible? In other words, if I have a 19 inch monitor and I'm trying to connect it to my Macbook, will either a single-link or dual-link cable work? Or do I need to specifically find a single-link cable if I am connecting a monitor under 30 inches?
My monitor did come with a DVI cable, but I managed to leave the cable behind in a move. If I can pick up a new one for $5 that's wonderful.
thanks
Paul D.
Jowl said:It wouldn't work because the mini DVI --> DVI adapter ends with a DVI-D connector. My current DVI-HDMI cable is DVI-I --> HDMI (which works on the Mac Mini)
DVI-I has 4 'extra' pins which physically won't fit into a DVD-D connector.
Ahhhh.....
I see, those four pins must carry the analogue signal. Makes sense now, cheers.
Can the mini-DVI port be used as the primary monitor? If i wanted to make my macbook into a desktop like system at home for a bigger viewing screen but still retain the portability for school? or can it only turn the macbook into a two screen system?
I had the same questions when I wanted to start using my 32" Bravia LCD TV for viewing movies I had on my hard drive. I have one of my MacBooks hooked up to a Sony 23" monitor using the mini DVI to DVI adapter. In order to connect to the Bravia it needed a mini DVI to VGA. So I ordered one from the apple store. Now all I need to do when I want to swap to the TV is just unplug the DVI from the macbook and put in the VGA one. It takes all of 2 seconds for me to do this as the cords are side by side to the macbook and are totally independent of each other. The computer automatically adjusts to the different monitor or TV. In the future I may switch to using the bravia as the only monitor but I prefer the 23" monitor for actual computer work. The TV is great for laying back on my bed to watch downloaded movies.
Hi
I've had the same problem as described here - I bought a mini-dvi to dvi adaptor with my new macbook, because I can plug the dvi into my widescreen monitor, and thought i could use a standard dvi to vga adaptor to connect to our projector for watching movies without having to buy another apple brand adaptor for £15!
Obviously, I've found that the mac adaptor is a dvi-d and my dvi-i adaptors don't fit.
However, upon research, I came across this product:
http://www.ucomshop.com/product_info.php?language=en¤cy=GBP&products_id=1298
Will this work? Or will I loose some of the signal along the way due to the whole digital/analogue signal problem?
Cheers
Liz
I've had the same problem as described here - I bought a mini-dvi to dvi adaptor with my new macbook, because I can plug the dvi into my widescreen monitor, and thought i could use a standard dvi to vga adaptor to connect to our projector for watching movies without having to buy another apple brand adaptor for £15!
Obviously, I've found that the mac adaptor is a dvi-d and my dvi-i adaptors don't fit.
However, upon research, I came across this product:
http://www.ucomshop.com/product_info.php?language=en¤cy=GBP&products_id=1298
Will this work? Or will I loose some of the signal along the way due to the whole digital/analogue signal problem?
Cheers
Liz
