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Noah77

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 22, 2010
2
0
Basically i'm trying to work out how to connect my MacBook Pro to my TV. It's a fairly old one, not flatscreen (or even widescreen). It has no VGA or DVI ports (obviously), just SCART, Composite Video and S-Video.

I've managed to get an old Mac Mini (one of the 1st generations) hooked up and it works great with the Apple DVI to Video adapter, but I want to use my MacBook Pro since it has better IR capabilites, Front Row, Wi-Fi and a bigger Hard Drive.

Since there's no Mini Display Port to Video adapter, I was going to try:

Laptop Apple Mini Display Port --> VGA adapter.

...then...

Belkin VGA to Composite Video cable (or similar 3rd party cable since Apple don't do one). Like this maybe?

...then connect that directly the Composite video on the TV...

Will it work?

Also I have the Apple DVI to Video adapter, but I don't think that works if I get a Mini Display Port to DVI adapter? I would have to go through VGA?

Dosn't need to do sound, the sound will come direct from the laptop to my amplifier/speaker setup.
 
How to connect a Mac to anything:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/792106/

Unfortunately you need a converter box such as this
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000X3FAJU/
or this
http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10114&cs_id=1011407&p_id=4724&seq=1&format=2

to go from VGA to Composite or S-video. It's to bad that Apple doesn't make a MDP->S-Video/composite adapter.

the guide has been updated to address this common question.
http://guides.macrumors.com/MacBook_Pro_FAQ#Q:_How_can_I_connect_my_MBP_to_X_display.3F
 
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The problem is that Display Port is digital only so you have to convert the digital video to analog that the TV can accept. You would need a scan converter to output analog video. There are a few around, the one from Amazon m85476585 posted should work.
 
Two questions about the use of a digital to RCA converter box like the one mentioned from amazon with a mac mini:

1. If you utilize both the HDMI port and the DVI/VGA (with converter box to RCA), will the resolution of the HDMI output be affected?

2. If you use this converter box, are the video and audio signals still in sync?

******


My entertainment system is as follows:
1. A Denon receiver with several components attached and a 1080p TV. I'd use the HDMI connection for this along with fiber optic audio for sound.

2. An RCA video cable and speaker wires that travel through the walls and outback to quality rock speakers [zone 2 on the Denon] and a location where I carry out my epson projector. I have a switch box for RCA video sources to send out to there. I'd like to be able to send the mac mini video out there too with analog audio via zone 2.
 
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