Hook PowerBook G4 up to HD TV

[A-J]

Hi all

I've just bought a Samsung 26" LE26R74BDX HD TV. I own a PowerBook G4 and just wondered if anybody knew which cable(s) I will need to use to enable the HD TV as a display for the PB.

Here are the HD TV Specs...
http://www.play.com/Electronics/Ele...BDX_XEU_Freeview_HD_Ready_LCD_TV/Product.html

Thanks in advance, AJ.

 

[Yoursh]

Depends on what type of powerbook you have. Is it a model with DVI out, mini-DVI out, VGA out, or s-video out? If it's s-video all you need is a s-video cable going to the tv. If DVI then a DVI cable. If it's mini-DVI you will need to get an apple adapter that will give you DVI out or composite video . If you want to use the HDMI connector on your tv you will need to get a DVI to HDMI cable.

There's alot of different ways of doing it. Just need to get the right cables for your specific model powerbook.

 

[A-J]

Thanks for the quick reply. The powerbook is a 17" G4, the final build before the MacBook Pros came out.

I've attached a photo of the back of the TV, showing all the inputs/outputs. Also attached is a photo of a couple of cables that came with my Powerbook, non seem to fit the TV though! Think the smaller one is s-video and the other maybe mini-DVI ??

Not sure which cable is best to buy to get all this working.

 

[ricksbrain]

Since there is the blue "PC" connector, I'd try to connect there-- it will be higher resolution than using anything else, I believe.

 

[gmckenzi]

I have the same vintage PB and a Hitachi plasma.

I'd recommend using a DVI->HDMI cable or HDMI cable with a DVI->HDMI adapter. You should be able to find this stuff at any store that sells high-def equipment.

It wouldn't surprise me that if you hook up to the blue VGA connector that it will actually be an analog VGA connection vs. the digital DVI/HDMI connection.

Gavin.

 

[A-J]

I'd recommend using a DVI->HDMI cable or HDMI cable with a DVI->HDMI adapter

At first I thought the only way to do it would be plugging into the PC port. But as you say I'm guessing HDMI is better quality.

So if I buy something like this it should all work fine...? And I can use the TV as a monitor / display.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DVI-To-HDMI-C...9QQihZ010QQcategoryZ32837QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Thanks for your help with this guys.

 

[gmckenzi]

Yes, that cable should work. Though at first from reading the auction description I was a bit confused because the auction first describes the cable as DVI->HDMI and then later in the description says that you can use the cable to connect an HDMI DVD player to a display that only supports DVI. That description and title combination is contradictory -- but no matter, that cable should work and looks basically the same as the cable I use.

Note that you may or may not have trouble getting your PowerBook to utilize the full resolution of your panel without using something like DisplayConfigX or similar to match the specifics of your display. If I recall, I think I needed to use such a utility to dial in the specific settings to use the full resolution of my Hitachi. But, you won't know for sure until you try.

Gavin.

 

[jam jar]

hey,
i have the powerbook g4 17" 1.5 Ghz and i got a hdmi to dvi like you said but the dvi doesnt fit into the dvi input on the mac
is there an adapter i need?
cheers