MB 1,1-7,1 external display on A1181 MacBook

[johnrak]

I have an old MacBook with a damaged LCD and I want to use an external display with it in my lab for 3d printing.
I have a genuine Apple miniDVI to DVI adapter that works with DVI displays.
Could i use a DVI to VGA adapter on my existing adapter to connect a VGA display?
I have read that it might not be possible and I should use a miniDVI to VGA. Is that true?

(I don't have the display yet to test. A friend of mine could send me one but if it's not possible I will tell him to cancel it.)

 

[DeltaMac]

This should work for you - https://www.amazon.com/VIMVIP-Adapter-Cable-Macbook-White/dp/B00NMN8VD0

 

[johnrak]

What about this combo?

 

[rampancy]

Yep, that should work. I've used such setups before on my A1181s.

 

[DeltaMac]

Should be OK, but I suggest that fewer inline connections is better.

If you will be using this connection setup long-term, fewer connections can mean that there are fewer possible trouble points.

 

[Needleroozer]

What about this combo?


View attachment 2333987View attachment 2333986

I don’t think that will physically work - the first adapter has a DVI-D connector, which only has a digital output. If you look closely at the DVI end of the VGA adapter, you’ll see that it’s a DVI-I connector that has both digital and analog signals.

From the picture below, DVI-A is the subset of DVI necessary to run a VGA signal, and your first adapter doesn’t have those four pins that aren’t part of the main grid.



So the question you need to answer is whether your Apple mini-DVI to DVI adapter breaks out the pins needed for DVI-A. If not, then buying a mini-DVI to VGA adapter is your best bet.

EDIT - Gah, transparent background ate the labels in that picture. From top to bottom, it’s:
DVI-I (Single Link)
DVI-I (Dual Link)
DVI-D (Single Link)
DVI-D (Dual Link)
DVI-A

 

[Certificate of Excellence]

Great answer (helped me too ) I was squinting like crazy trying to figure out the text on a dark gray/black background haha

 

[swamprock]

Are you running Windows on your a1181? I could never get the VGA dongles to drive an external monitor from an a1181 with Windows. Maybe it was XP I was trying; I don't remember, but perhaps Win7 will work.

(I need to dig out a parts a1181 and swap the screen assembly into my 2008 ML machine. Mine is now shutting down after a couple of minutes once booted.)