Connecting RCA, Component or S-Video External Monitors to a 2011 15" MacBook Pro i7

[treesareawesome]

Please forgive me if this question has been asked and answered. I have been poking around trying to find this information, but everything I have found is for older models.

I have a 2011 15" MacBook Pro i7. I want to know if it is even possible to connect this notebook to a simple external monitor (like an older - not HD - TV) using RCA, component, or S-video.

The laptop doesn't even appear to have an external monitor port...unless I am supposed to be using the Thunderbolt port for that??

I guess I need to know:
-What port should I be using to connect to an (old, not fancy - or, really, ANY) external monitor?
-What cable do I need to do this?

HELP ME!! I just wanna watch movies in the living room!!

 

[snaky69]

Please forgive me if this question has been asked and answered. I have been poking around trying to find this information, but everything I have found is for older models.

I have a 2011 15" MacBook Pro i7. I want to know if it is even possible to connect this notebook to a simple external monitor (like an older - not HD - TV) using RCA, component, or S-video.

The laptop doesn't even appear to have an external monitor port...unless I am supposed to be using the Thunderbolt port for that??

I guess I need to know:
-What port should I be using to connect to an (old, not fancy - or, really, ANY) external monitor?
-What cable do I need to do this?

HELP ME!! I just wanna watch movies in the living room!!

Yes, you're supposed to use the thunderbolt port, that's what it's for? I thought the promotional pictures with a Apple Display connected to it you see everywhere would render this self-explanatory.

Connecting to an older CRT TV will most likely make the image look like crap. Since the resolution on those is extremely low(640x480) you'd barely be able to display much of anything on it, rendering the TV pretty useless as an external monitor. If you intend to play DVD's, or perhaps a bit of youtube on the TV, you'll be able to get by on such a small screen, otherwise, there isn't much you can do on so little space.

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Using one of these: http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10428&cs_id=1042802&p_id=5107&seq=1&format=2

With a regular vga cable longe enough to reach your TV, with this attach to the end to transfer image to your TV http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10430&cs_id=1043012&p_id=2509&seq=1&format=2

Then you'll need one of these for sound, with an extension long enough if you need one.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...d=10218&cs_id=1021804&p_id=665&seq=1&format=2

 

[treesareawesome]

Forgive me, my understanding was that the Thunderbolt port was intended for data transfer, hence my confusion. It's new, so give me a break, eh?? Also I'm not connecting it to an Apple display, just a regular TV with, like I said, RCA, component and S-Video ports. Just trying to watch .avi files with more people than just myself.

Thanks for your kind response.

 

[takeshi74]

Forgive me, my understanding was that the Thunderbolt port was intended for data transfer

Don't overlook Google:
http://www.apple.com/thunderbolt

And because Thunderbolt is based on DisplayPort technology, the video standard for high-resolution displays, any Mini DisplayPort display plugs right into the Thunderbolt port. To connect a DisplayPort, DVI, HDMI, or VGA display, just use an existing adapter.

Granted, that's still not applicable to you since you're trying to get to component, svideo or RCA.

 

[snaky69]

Forgive me, my understanding was that the Thunderbolt port was intended for data transfer, hence my confusion. It's new, so give me a break, eh?? Also I'm not connecting it to an Apple display, just a regular TV with, like I said, RCA, component and S-Video ports. Just trying to watch .avi files with more people than just myself.

Thanks for your kind response.

Not a problem, new technology invariably leads to confusion, that's how things are.

Hope my links helped.

 

[teameurox]

Yes, you're supposed to use the thunderbolt port, that's what it's for? I thought the promotional pictures with a Apple Display connected to it you see everywhere would render this self-explanatory.

Connecting to an older CRT TV will most likely make the image look like crap. Since the resolution on those is extremely low(640x480) you'd barely be able to display much of anything on it, rendering the TV pretty useless as an external monitor. If you intend to play DVD's, or perhaps a bit of youtube on the TV, you'll be able to get by on such a small screen, otherwise, there isn't much you can do on so little space.

----------

Using one of these: http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10428&cs_id=1042802&p_id=5107&seq=1&format=2

With a regular vga cable longe enough to reach your TV, with this attach to the end to transfer image to your TV http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10430&cs_id=1043012&p_id=2509&seq=1&format=2

Then you'll need one of these for sound, with an extension long enough if you need one.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...d=10218&cs_id=1021804&p_id=665&seq=1&format=2

Will that work I have read over and over again and have heard mix reviews of needing a converter box, not just the the adapter cable?

 

[VABuckeye]

As the initial responder stated it's not going to look good...at all. An older analog TV is 640 X 480 interlaced.