Mac Mini 2007 -> TV (non-HDMI)

[appuru]

I have a Mac mini 2007 and Apple DVI to S-Video/Composite adapter which I am trying to connect to an old TV.

However upon connection, OS X chooses 480i by default and other resolutions just show garbages. It shows NTSC/PAL (see screenshot) so I imagine it's doing something for traditional TV.

The TV works with 1080i when Apple TV is connected via a component cable.

What am I missing?

 

[cynics]

Is the TV 1920x1080i or 1440x1080i (widescreen vs letterbox). Also have you tried messing with the refresh rate on the right?

 

[26139]

Connection

S-Video/Composite adapter can't handle more than 480i.

That's why we have component and now HDMI cables.

What are you thinking should happen here?

 

[Anonymous Freak]

S-Video/Composite adapter can't handle more than 480i.

That's why we have component and now HDMI cables.

Correct. S-Video/Composite is "standard definition" only.

Edit: Whoops, missed that the TV doesn't have HDMI. You may be out of luck. Some video cards have the ability to use a component adapter, but it is very much specific to each video card, and I know of no such adapter for the Mac Mini.

 

[Boyd01]

As the others have said, 480i is all that s-video or composite video supports. Use s-video if your TV has it, that will be better quality than composite.

Have you considered just buying a new monitor/TV? The smaller ones are really cheap, they have boxes of 32" LCD's stacked at the end of the aisle in the grocery store here. 😀

 

[spatlese44]

I was in a similar situation with an early Samsung rear projection HD set. It actually had a really nice picture and was a 47", but just didn't have HDMI, only component. I had a DVI to component converter, which worked, but I suspect you're trying to hook up both without having to swap the wires every time you want to switch. You can't. Eventually, the Samsung died and I bought a new one. The replacement was $1,000. Kind of like a bee sting; created a memory longer lasting than you might even expect. Fortunately, you have cheaper options these days.

 

[appuru]

Many thanks guys. So I tried DVI/component converter ($10) but it didn't work at all as Anonymous Freak suspected.
Boyd01's comment to buy a new TV makes sense after all 🙂

 

[paulrbeers]

Many thanks guys. So I tried DVI/component converter ($10) but it didn't work at all as Anonymous Freak suspected.
Boyd01's comment to buy a new TV makes sense after all 🙂

The only other thing you could do is:

DVI to HDMI cable -> HDMI to Component box -> TV

Granted that's going to cost you about $50 and with the costs of televisions these days one has to question spending that kind of money on an old tube tv....

http://www.amazon.com/Portta-PETHRS...d=1425906417&sr=8-5&keywords=dvi+to+component

 

[Boyd01]

with the costs of televisions these days one has to question spending that kind of money on an old tube tv....

You certainly do. Guess it depends on how big a TV you want though. Last Christmas I gave my daughter's family and Apple TV, but their 12 year old 37" Plasma screen only had one HDMI input and that was needed for a cable box.

I just couldn't bring myself to buy some kind of converter to use with an ancient TV, so I got them a new 42" TV on sale at Best Buy as an "accessory" for the AppleTV. 🙂

Now that was for a Plasma screen. For a CRT TV, I wouldn't spend another penny on that. A new LCD will also be a lot more energy efficient.