connecting macbook to old tv (no hdmi)

[peacockdreams]

I have all the compatible cables to connect and play movies from my macbook on a new tv with a HDMI plug (mini dvi to hdmi and then hdmi to hdmi into the tv) which works fine, but I have recently moved out and have been given the 'hand me down' tv which is a few years old and it is an analog tv, thus is doesnt have a HDMI plug at the back. Can I use a HDMI to RCA (the yellow, red, white plugs) cord to connect into corresponding yellow, red and white plugs in the back of the old tv to watch movies from my macbook on the tv?

Thanks

 

[AdrianK]

VGA to RCA converters exist, but I'm not sure if something exists for HDMI. Regardless, you're not starting with an HDMI connection so that doesn't matter. What's the video out connector on your macbook (DVI/mini DVI/mini display port etc)?

 

[peacockdreams]

VGA to RCA converters exist, but I'm not sure if something exists for HDMI. Regardless, you're not starting with an HDMI connection so that doesn't matter. What's the video out connector on your macbook (DVI/mini DVI/mini display port etc)?

Sorry I forgot to say that I do already have a HDMI connection out of my macbook (mini DVI). Therefore I presume I need a cord with HDMI on one end and something else (that can be plugged into an old tv) on the other end. Just not sure what!

 

[AdrianK]

Sorry I forgot to say that I do already have a HDMI connection out of my macbook (mini DVI). Therefore I presume I need a cord with HDMI on one end and something else (that can be plugged into an old tv) on the other end. Just not sure what!

Forget about the HDMI cord, it's irrelevant.

It looks like this should work fine, you'll also need a male-male yellow lead, I don't think you can get them but with most RCA leads all the colours have separate wires you can pull apart.

Since that only does video, you'll need to get audio from the headphone jack, a lead like this will suffice.

 

[peacockdreams]

Forget about the HDMI cord, it's irrelevant.

It looks like this should work fine. Since that only does video, you'll need to get audio from the headphone jack, a lead like this will suffice.

great! i already have a audio cord so that is sorted but with the mini dvi to video adapter, what kind of cord would i use from that to the tv?

 

[peacockdreams]

Forget about the HDMI cord, it's irrelevant.

It looks like this should work fine, you'll also need a male-male yellow lead, I don't think you can get them but with most RCA leads all the colours have separate wires you can pull apart.

Since that only does video, you'll need to get audio from the headphone jack, a lead like this will suffice.

is this the kind of cord you mean? but just use the yellow male to male plugs?

 

[AdrianK]

is this the kind of cord you mean? but just use the yellow male to male plugs?

Yeah just the yellow, any cord like that will work fine

 

[peacockdreams]

Yeah just the yellow, any cord like that will work fine

the adapter has been purchased and the hand me down tv will soon be back in action! thanks for you help!

 

[aanders50]

Forget about the HDMI cord, it's irrelevant.

It looks like this should work fine, you'll also need a male-male yellow lead, I don't think you can get them but with most RCA leads all the colours have separate wires you can pull apart.

Since that only does video, you'll need to get audio from the headphone jack, a lead like this will suffice.

Forgive me for bringing up an old thread, but the link to the male-male yellow lead is broken. Also, how is the end of the male lead for yellow going into the mac book? Is there a spot for it?
My MacBook has the follow ports/components:

 

[ftaok]

Forgive me for bringing up an old thread, but the link to the male-male yellow lead is broken. Also, how is the end of the male lead for yellow going into the mac book? Is there a spot for it?
My MacBook has the follow ports/components:

You have a miniDP port for video. It's the 4th port from the left.

Depending on how much you want to spend, you could do it two different ways.

1. Get a miniDP>VGA adapter and a VGA>RCA adapter. Also, you'll need a mini-jack>RCA audio adapater for sound. You'll have a bunch of cables and adapters in this set-up and depending on what you get, it may or may not work. You'll have to test or research the set-up.

2. You could get a $50 miniDP>RCA adapter/converter. I found one on Amazon and some of the reviews says it works with newer Macbooks. Here's the LINK.

Keep in mind that the resolution will be 640x480 and will look like crap on the TV. I used to mess around with my iBook and a CRT TV. It's OK for watching a movie, but it's crappy for just about anything else.

IMO, it's $50 down the drain. I'd rather take that $50 and use it towards a new HDTV with proper digital inputs.

 

[susangn]

Forget about the HDMI cord, it's irrelevant.

It looks like this should work fine, you'll also need a male-male yellow lead, I don't think you can get them but with most RCA leads all the colours have separate wires you can pull apart.

Since that only does video, you'll need to get audio from the headphone jack, a lead like this will suffice.

I've got a similar issue. Have my old mac mini connected to my new flat screen tv. The video is fine, but no audio. Temporarily hooked the mac mini to some external speakers via usb port on mac but would prefer to be able to use the tv speakers. I got the same audio cable recommended here and attempted to connect mac to tv via head phone jack and I'm getting no audio. Any suggestions for trouble shooting?

 

[priitv8]

Does your TV have an input connector labeled "Computer Audio In" or "DVI Audio In"?
Also, see some guidance here:
https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=18003915#post18003915