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Mini-DVI to HDMI

A

Alias

macrumors member
Original poster
Feb 3, 2008
33
0
Hi there,

I recently purchased the HP w2207h monitor to hook up to my macbook. The monitor only has VGA and HDMI connectors and no DVI.

I was wondering if apple or anyone else makes a mini-dvi to hdmi adapter so I can get better quality out of the monitor as opposed to just using VGA (I have the mini-dvi to VGA adapter).

Also, if in fact such a cable does exist, will I notice any difference between VGA and HDMI (coming from a mini-dvi port)?

Thanks!
 
Go to your nearest Apple Store (or Reseller) and get a Mini-DVI to DVI cable. Then get a DVI to HDMI cable.

The connection will end up looking like this (if it makes sense):

Macbook Mini-DVI --> DVI (female) <-- DVI (male) --> HDMI (male)

I had to do that for a friend's Macbook recently. It also works great for connecting it up to a Plasma/LCD TV. :)
 
Balty said:
Go to your nearest Apple Store (or Reseller) and get a Mini-DVI to DVI cable. Then get a DVI to HDMI cable.

I had to do that for a friend's Macbook recently. It also works great for connecting it up to a Plasma/LCD TV. :)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the quick reply! I'll do just that. Would there be any quality loss?

Is there such thing as a mini-DVI splitter? If I want to have the macbook connected to my monitor and the macbook connected to an LCD TV at the same time I would need some sort of DVI splitter. Or is there another way?

Thanks!
 
There shouldn't be any quality loss. It's just a purely digital signal being transferred by different cables. I also had to do the same thing except I only needed a DVI to HDMI cable, since I have a MBP (which has a DVI connector).

Also, (I don't think) you can connect two monitors to the Macbook at a time.
1. The Macbook wouldn't support the resolution of both the displays
2. (I think) the splitter would only send the same signal to both displays, and not two separate signals

With the Google search you just did, the cables look as if they go Mini-DVI (male) to HDMI (female). This means you would still need a HDMI (male to male) cable. That solution would also work. (Although then you wouldn't have a Mini-DVI to DVI cable in your inventory...)

Hope this helps. :D
 
So basically I have two options:

Option 1: Mini-DVI to DVI adapter and then get a DVI to HDMI cable.

Option 2: Mini-DVI to HDMI adapter and than get an HDMI to HDMI extension cable because the adapter would be to short to connect to the external monitor.

Would option 1 or option 2 produce the same quality, or would one be better then the other?

Thanks a lot for the replies - I'm really excited to get my setup going. Planning on picking up the wireless keyboard tomorrow (although I admit I'd prefer the longer wired keyboard but if I do get an LCD TV the wireless would come in handy when in bed) :)
 
Ok, ok.

Option 1: Mini-DVI to DVI (female) cable and then get a DVI to HDMI cable.
mdvl


Option 2: Mini-DVI to HDMI (female) cable, then get an HDMI to HDMI cable.
3zdiw


There will be no difference in quality between Option 1 and Option 2.

Glad I could help! :)
 
Thanks for the help! Right now I have connected to VGA just to make sure I like the monitor. I bought the apple wireless bluetooth keyboard and am liking it!

Just had one more question. Right now some of the text that I am seeing doesnt seem to be 100% clear...would this problem be fixed when I move from VGA to HDMI?

Thanks!
 
I'd choose mini-dvi to dvi and dvi-hdmi cable over the other option. You'll have more flexibility if you want to use your adapter with another screen. Well, that's what a I would do... :D
 
macbook to hdmi monitor

Im facing the same situation (trying to go mini-dvi to a monitor with only vga and hdmi inputs).

I just tried:
mini-dvi to dvi adaptor (made by apple)
dvi to hdmi cable (made by belkin, sold at apple store)

The quality is horrible. Last night i tried my new monitor with my old windows desktop pc (because I didnt have the adapters for the macbook yet). That was just vga to vga, and the quality was amazing. Any ideas why the quality looks so bad? I called applecare and they told me that using two adapters like that is probably the problem, but the posts I see online seem to suggest its not a problem for anyone else. I do think its odd that Best Buy wants 69.99 for a dvi to hdmi cable, while the apple store has one for 19.99. Since when is the apple store the less expensive option?


UPDATE: I solved the problem. You cant have the two monitors in "mirror" mode.
 
Did anyone ever locate a Mini-DVI to HDMI (male) cable?

I'm interested in this to connect my Mac Mini to my A/V receiver via a single cable. I currently have Mini-DVI to DVI adapter connected to a DVI to HDMI cable going into my receiver. It works fine, I'm just looking for a bit cleaner option.


Actually, if I'm going to update the cables, doing a Mini-DisplayPort to HDMI (male) would probably be a better way to go, since that seems to be the interface Apple is moving to. I have seen a couple M-DP to HDMI (female) options, but never a male.
 
I hope someone can help me out here!!

Hello Everyone!

I just bought a Mac mini and I have a LCD hd Display with only 3 hdmi inputs. Here is what I tried to do. I have a DVI male to male (single link) cable. So I figured If I bought a dvi to HDMI connector It should do it. But something is not working. Can someone can tell me if this setup is ok? Here is what I have:

Mac Mini ---> Mini DVI to DVI adapter ---> Male/Male DVI (Single link) Cable ----> DVI Female/HDMI Male Connector (which is connected to the HDMI input on the LCD..

Does this setup suppose to work? Help me Pleeaaase!
 
Whats the difference between mini-DVI and mini Display port?

Hi all

I am a similar problem. Using a MBP (late 2009) with one of the 3rd party mini display port to HDMI cables, to hook up the MBP to a 46" LCD.

My question is whether I am getting true "digital" or HD picture? The MBP only has mini display port (and not Mini-DVI port like the mac mini has).

When it is hooked up the picture quality is not great,and it also does not fit the screen entirely (there is a small border all the way around the screen. Seems insignificant, when when watching a movie that fills the screen (say from DVD) to watching one from the MBP, it is noticeable.

Would really appreciate any help or advice anyone has. I am seriously thinking of getting a mac mini as a HTPC/Media hub so hope to resolve issues like this.

Thanks!
 
An alternative easier method??

Balty said:
Go to your nearest Apple Store (or Reseller) and get a Mini-DVI to DVI cable. Then get a DVI to HDMI cable.

The connection will end up looking like this (if it makes sense):

Macbook Mini-DVI --> DVI (female) <-- DVI (male) --> HDMI (male)

I had to do that for a friend's Macbook recently. It also works great for connecting it up to a Plasma/LCD TV. :)
Click to expand...

I have just found a Mini-DVI to HDMI (male) lead... would this cut out all the stages in between, and enable me to use one lead instead of two? Would it also have the same (or better) quality?
 
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