Macbook Pro 2011 Minidisplay (Thunderbolt) to HDMI

[ada1985]

Hello,

I have two 2011 macbook pro 17" computers.. I bought thunderbolt (mini display) to hdmi adapters, eBay link: https://www.ebay.com/itm/311393608831?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649 I Hooked them to a separate flat screen TV and the tv acts as there's no signal, I even went into the display settings: One of the macbook computers, there's nothing showing up in the display settings as if it's not seeing a device connected at all, this is a macbook with Catalina OS installed.. However the other one with Sierra OS installed, see's something and gives the options for the external TV, but external TV is not seeing any signal.. These macbook pros were installed with a patch for an updated MACOS to run on these 2011 machines.. I'm not sure if there's conflict with that or if I bought the wrong adapter or it happends that both of these have bad ports.. And these are the models with the known graphics issues.. I'm not sure if any of this is in conflict.. I bought these MBP off eBay so I can use them for Serato Video seeing how they are the biggest display.. On the other hand I have a 2015 MBP, that has these ports and also a dedicated HDMI port and the TV works and also the adapters I bought off eBay also work when plugged into the mini display port.. Any advice would be great...

Thanks..

 

[mdgm]

The 2011 MacBook Pro runs up to High Sierra Natively so that probably explains the different behaviour.

Do you have any other HDMI displays and HDMI Cables you can try to try to isolate the problem?

The systems with dedicated graphics will be almost unusable on Mojave or newer due to a lack of graphics acceleration. A pre-alpha fix has been mentioned in the thread for running Big Sur on unsupported Macs. I don't know if that will help with your particular problem.

 

[ada1985]

Hmmmm... Well that macbook pro is just the Sierra OS not the High Sierra version so I guess it's still within spec as you stated... And probably why it's giving some kind of life verse the other with Catalina, so what you're saying completely makes sense... I've tried a different monitor and gives the same results as for "no signal".. And the acual cable is just a male/male cable connecting from the adapter to the back of a TV.. No specific brand or special cable... It's the same cable that I tested to run off my 2015 MBP, which works in all aspects both from it's dedicated HDMI port and using the adapters through thunderbolt ports.... So changing the cable i don't think is going to make any difference unless there's specific types that I'm unaware of for these 2011 MBP models.. I only have the adapter as whats in the eBay link in the original post.. Seems like Bestbuy has one for $25 under their insignia brand... Link: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/insignia-mini-displayport-to-hdmi-adapter-white/5813015.p?skuId=5813015.. I'm tempted to buy theirs and see if there's a change, but then again, it's me wasting money if it's the same results, returning/time/money/gas/... Honestly not sure if these adapters are made equally, certain ones work for certain applications/models.. More expensive ones will work better etc.. I'm completely lost...

The Graphics card in both is the Intel HD Graphics 3000 512 Mb if that helps with anything..

 

[ada1985]

Update: I bought the Best Buy brand dongle https://www.bestbuy.com/site/insignia-mini-displayport-to-hdmi-adapter-white/5813015.p?skuId=5813015 and the MBP with the Sierra OS is displaying on the TV.. Other one with Catalina still doesn't see anything.. So I'm assuming that I would need to downgrade that MBP to Sierra unless there's another way..