Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter with DVI to VGA adapter..?
- Thread starter nitewolfgtr
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Um...no...lol
VGA is analogue. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VGA_connector
On the left, in the table "Type: Analogue computer video connector"
In the main body ""VGA connectors" and their associated cabling are always used solely to carry analog component RGBHV (red - green - blue - horizontal sync - vertical sync) video signals along with DDC2 digital clock and data."
On top of this, MDP-->DVI-->VGA will not work, as the MDP only carries DVI-D signal.
How frustrating!
Thanks for the information though. I suppose I'll have to buy two cables then: one to output to my VGA monitor, and the other to output to DVI for a TV.
This seems like a better buy than the Apple cable: http://www.monoprice.com/products/p..._id=1042802&p_id=5106&seq=1&format=4#feedback
I haven't found one for Mini DisplayPort --> VGA though. x.x
Thanks for the information though. I suppose I'll have to buy two cables then: one to output to my VGA monitor, and the other to output to DVI for a TV.
This seems like a better buy than the Apple cable: http://www.monoprice.com/products/p..._id=1042802&p_id=5106&seq=1&format=4#feedback
I haven't found one for Mini DisplayPort --> VGA though. x.x
Mini displayport to VGA from monoprice: http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10428&cs_id=1042802&p_id=5107&seq=1&format=2
Can't believe how expensive Mini Display Port to VGA Adapter is from Apple Store...
Buy from Monoprice. Their stuff is very high quality and cheap! I've always bought my cables from them. Matter of fact, my DVI to HDMI cable is from Monoprice.
Buy from Monoprice. Their stuff is very high quality and cheap! I've always bought my cables from them. Matter of fact, my DVI to HDMI cable is from Monoprice.
Well yeah.... me too. Like, it's incredible that Best Buy thinks they can market a 6' HDMI cable for 100 bucks when I bought a 15' cable from monoprice for like 8 bucks. x.x
Still though, the MDP-VGA adapter from Monoprice is still unusually expensive. 18 bucks? Bleh. I guess it's better than 29.
I'm in the same boat at the moment.
A colleague at work has a presentation in 20 minutes and I told him I'd take my Mini Display Port -> DVI and a DVI -> VGA converter with me to connect his MBP to the projector.
Only a few minutes ago I figured out that the DVI -> VGA converters all have the 4 pins that don't fit in the MDP->DVI connector. I guess I still have about 20 minutes to live
A colleague at work has a presentation in 20 minutes and I told him I'd take my Mini Display Port -> DVI and a DVI -> VGA converter with me to connect his MBP to the projector.
Only a few minutes ago I figured out that the DVI -> VGA converters all have the 4 pins that don't fit in the MDP->DVI connector. I guess I still have about 20 minutes to live
Dvi-d Not So Good Dvi-i Better
The Mac Version Of The Mini Display Port To Dvi Will Not Work With A Vga To Dvi Adaptor, Buy One On Ebay That Will Be Mini Display Port To Dvi-i, It Will Save You Lots Of Money And Wasted Time.
The Mac Version Of The Mini Display Port To Dvi Will Not Work With A Vga To Dvi Adaptor, Buy One On Ebay That Will Be Mini Display Port To Dvi-i, It Will Save You Lots Of Money And Wasted Time.
Hi guys! I got my new macbook white soon. I'm with the same doubts. I have been looking for information about this issue and have found some interesting things.
Like someone say here, to use an adapter DVI->VGA the DVI standard should be DVI-I, not DVI-D like the apple's one. Reading a post made in the DealExtreme site (about an MDP->DVI adapter) I realized that some adapters have the DVI-I jack but they don't implement the DVI-I circuits. Take a look at the post:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.27602
--- From post ---
Ques. Hi the pin-out seems different from what apple offers and it looks like there's a possibility it can support DVI-I at the same time. Can anybody confirm this? thanks
Ans. Don't get your hopes up, it won't. Full DVI-I would require expensive analog conversion circuitry, like having the DVI and VGA adapter in one. It would need to be at least twice the cost, see how expensive the normal DisplayPort->VGA one is... This one will let you plug in the odd stuff that has the full set of DVI-I pins but doesn't actually use the analog part.
---
Another answer say this:
---
As I've said before DisplayPort does not carry analog signals at all. Under no circumstances. You always need a DAC to supply a VGA signal at the end of the port and there are already single chip, bus powered, solutions for that on the market to do precisely that.
DisplayPort does have a dual-mode option, but that can only tell the graphics chip to export DVI (digital) via the displayport, never analog.
The Apple mDP->VGA adapter had a recent firmware upgrade, so those tiny little adapters even have their own firmware. You can see how much MORE the VGA adapter costs right here on DealExtreme. It's definetitely not just a signal level change..
So no amount of wishful thinking will make it work, sorry.
---
So, my questions:
Is DVI-I the standard that has a Digital to Analog converter (DAC)?
If so, we need a MDP->DVI that really implements the circuits, not only the jack!! In ebay we can find some of them, but I guess sellers won't be able to answer if the adapter has a DAC circuit.
Thanks!!!
Like someone say here, to use an adapter DVI->VGA the DVI standard should be DVI-I, not DVI-D like the apple's one. Reading a post made in the DealExtreme site (about an MDP->DVI adapter) I realized that some adapters have the DVI-I jack but they don't implement the DVI-I circuits. Take a look at the post:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.27602
--- From post ---
Ques. Hi the pin-out seems different from what apple offers and it looks like there's a possibility it can support DVI-I at the same time. Can anybody confirm this? thanks
Ans. Don't get your hopes up, it won't. Full DVI-I would require expensive analog conversion circuitry, like having the DVI and VGA adapter in one. It would need to be at least twice the cost, see how expensive the normal DisplayPort->VGA one is... This one will let you plug in the odd stuff that has the full set of DVI-I pins but doesn't actually use the analog part.
---
Another answer say this:
---
As I've said before DisplayPort does not carry analog signals at all. Under no circumstances. You always need a DAC to supply a VGA signal at the end of the port and there are already single chip, bus powered, solutions for that on the market to do precisely that.
DisplayPort does have a dual-mode option, but that can only tell the graphics chip to export DVI (digital) via the displayport, never analog.
The Apple mDP->VGA adapter had a recent firmware upgrade, so those tiny little adapters even have their own firmware. You can see how much MORE the VGA adapter costs right here on DealExtreme. It's definetitely not just a signal level change..
So no amount of wishful thinking will make it work, sorry.
---
So, my questions:
Is DVI-I the standard that has a Digital to Analog converter (DAC)?
If so, we need a MDP->DVI that really implements the circuits, not only the jack!! In ebay we can find some of them, but I guess sellers won't be able to answer if the adapter has a DAC circuit.
Thanks!!!
OK. This is a bit of no no since earlier I posted my question on the mac help forum, I should have used mroogle, sorry.
I have a minidisplayport to DVI-I dual link and a DVI-I single link to VGA. The DVI-I sides do connect, but will it work to conver to VGA? Need to know urgently!
Thanks
(P.s. a mod can delete this thread: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/887117/)
I have a minidisplayport to DVI-I dual link and a DVI-I single link to VGA. The DVI-I sides do connect, but will it work to conver to VGA? Need to know urgently!
Thanks
(P.s. a mod can delete this thread: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/887117/)
Hi man! I think if you connect MDP->DVI->VGA will not cause any damage. I already tried to connect a MDP->VGA->SVIDEO cable using a cable from VGA to SVIDEO without any problem.
So, you will be the man that will tell us if this connection is possible or not!
Regards!
So, you will be the man that will tell us if this connection is possible or not!
Regards!
Kind of a major presentation tomorrow. I'm not sure I want to be experimental right now. I should have tested this out when I had the opportunity, but time wasn't on my side. I'm going to hit the town now and see if I can find a VGA connection. Nerdy = cool... OK?!It simply won't work. The reason is that DVI and VGA are two different things. The DVI connector has several different models, as seen in this pic from Wikipedia:
If you look at the Apple mini-DP to DVI adapter, you can see right away that it's a single link DVI-D type. Thus it doesn't have the pins (those four holes on the left) for analog connections so you can't connect a VGA adapter to it. Monoprice's adapters don't have this capability either, as stated on their website. It doesn't matter if it's dual link or single link - those refer only to the digital connection and have nothing to do with the analog for VGA.
I suppose it's a limitation of the (mini-)Displayport connector too, it just can't convert to both analog and digital at the same time.
If you look at the Apple mini-DP to DVI adapter, you can see right away that it's a single link DVI-D type. Thus it doesn't have the pins (those four holes on the left) for analog connections so you can't connect a VGA adapter to it. Monoprice's adapters don't have this capability either, as stated on their website. It doesn't matter if it's dual link or single link - those refer only to the digital connection and have nothing to do with the analog for VGA.
I suppose it's a limitation of the (mini-)Displayport connector too, it just can't convert to both analog and digital at the same time.
Does not work, tested
I just bought a mac book pro only a week ago along with a mini-displayport to dvi adapter. I have plenty of dvi-vga adapters lying around so I thought Id give this a try.
Sadly, this does not work even after pulling the 4 pins from the vga-dvi adapter. Neither my TV nor monitor recognized the signal. I guess Ill have to buy a dvi-hdmi cable instead.
Its unbelievable how much accessories cost for Apple devices, especially for adapters like these. It just doesnt feel right to have to pay $30 or more for a simple adapter. Then again its expected that it would be completely overpriced just like everything Apple related.
I just bought a mac book pro only a week ago along with a mini-displayport to dvi adapter. I have plenty of dvi-vga adapters lying around so I thought Id give this a try.
Sadly, this does not work even after pulling the 4 pins from the vga-dvi adapter. Neither my TV nor monitor recognized the signal. I guess Ill have to buy a dvi-hdmi cable instead.
Its unbelievable how much accessories cost for Apple devices, especially for adapters like these. It just doesnt feel right to have to pay $30 or more for a simple adapter. Then again its expected that it would be completely overpriced just like everything Apple related.
According to the Apple Website:
16. Why doesn't the DVI connector for my external display fit my Apple Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter?
Important: The DVI connector on the Apple Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter is for digital connections only. Some DVI connectors use additional pins on the connector to send analog information from the display to the computer. Connectors with additional pins are not compatible with the Apple Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter.
Apple DVI to VGA adapter Apple Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter
The Apple DVI to VGA adapter has four additional pins around the thin connector on the left. Those pins provide an analog signal and are not used with the Apple Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter.
HOWEVER...
That's with the official Apple adapter. When using the highly rated 3rd party adapter found here: http://www.amazon.com/BlueRigger-Di...le-Adapter/dp/B007KB0EGC/ref=cm_cd_ql_qh_dp_t (which HAS the 4 holes around the "+" connector) shouldn't this allow me to connect an adapter, and utilize the VGA on the end of the adapter?
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.