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MiniDisplayPort to HDMI Cable - Generic or OEM?

A

aleXXXps

macrumors member
Original poster
May 4, 2011
79
1
Has anyone had any experience with the generic mini display port to hdmi cables like they sell on ebay and amazon? I want to connect my macbook to my tv to watch movies, but don't want to drop a ton of money as I'm only going to do it maybe once or twice a month, if that.
 
Last edited:
Look at MonoPrice.com for cheap cables that work.

Mini DisplayPort (MDP)
Mini DisplayPort is the current digital standard on all current Macs to transfer video to an external display or TV. It has been introduced in 10/2008 with the release of the Unibody MacBook and MacBook Pros and has gradually been adopted on all other Macs.
MDP is capable of transmitting video, and since 2010, audio too. MDP is a miniaturised version of DisplayPort. It is also license free and can support resolutions of up to 2560 x 1600, which Mini DVI and Micro DVI are not able to do.
MR_video_out_Mac_Mini_DP.png
MDP adapters can be bought online from:
MDP to VGA adapter from Apple
MDP to DVI adapter from Apple
MDP to Dual-Link-DVI adapter from Apple

Moshi Mini DP to HDMI Adapter with Audio Support adapter from the Apple Online Store

Mini DisplayPort + USB to Dual-Link DVI adapter from Monoprice
Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter from Monoprice
Mini DisplayPort to VGA adapter from Monoprice
Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter from Monoprice - *NOTE* This product does NOT support audio for Macs that outputs audio through the Mini DisplayPort.
Mini Displayport Male and USB Male/Toslink Audio to HDMI Female Converting adapter from Monoprice
Mini Displayport Male and USB Male Audio to HDMI Female Converting adapter from Monoprice - *NOTE* Will only support 2 channel stereo. Will not support 5.1 Dolby Surround like the above adapter.

Mini DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort Cables from Monoprice
Mini DisplayPort to VGA Cables from Monoprice
Mini DisplayPort to DVI Cables from Monoprice
Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Cables from Monoprice​

Also of interest: "What is "Mini DisplayPort"? Is it an industry-standard? How is it different from or better than Mini-DVI and Micro-DVI?"
​
Click to expand...
 
I'm not doing anything serious with it, just occasionally watching a movie or a tv show from the laptop the the tv. I need audio and video, but nothing superior in quality as long as it works the few times I need it to. I found a bunch on eBay for between 5 and 10 dollars, which doesn't seem bad.
 
Maybe you should edit your thread title accordingly, for example:
Your experience with MDP to HDMI adapters from eBay?

To edit your thread title, just click on the
edit.gif
button on the bottom right of your original post and then click the "Go Advanced" button below your message.
 
It doesn't have to be eBay, I just want a cheap cable that works. I've seen plenty of mixed reviews on even the official Apple ones not working properly and failing after minimal use. Not quite sure where to get it; trying to stay under $20
 
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Easy there OP, he was just trying to help and I agree with the thread title. Maybe you'd get more responses that way.

Anyways, I bought one of those generic cables from eBay and it broke after 3 months of use. Not worth paying $5-$10 over and over again every time they break.
 
xMClass said:
Easy there OP, he was just trying to help and I agree with the thread title. Maybe you'd get more responses that way.

Anyways, I bought one of those generic cables from eBay and it broke after 3 months of use. Not worth paying $5-$10 over and over again every time they break.
Click to expand...

How do you break the cable?
 
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Thanks for the info guys! And yeah how do the cables break, do the connections just get loose over time?
 
tjb1 said:
How do you break the cable?
Click to expand...

Where in my post did I say I broke the cable? I said "it broke" not "I broke it." It just stopped working out of nowhere, nothing of my own doing. I was using it with a MacBook Pro and one of the newer model Samsung HDTVs. And yes, I did test it with another TV and another Mac and it wouldn't work anymore.
 
xMClass said:
Where in my post did I say I broke the cable? I said "it broke" not "I broke it." It just stopped working out of nowhere, nothing of my own doing. I was using it with a MacBook Pro and one of the newer model Samsung HDTVs. And yes, I did test it with another TV and another Mac and it wouldn't work anymore.
Click to expand...

So an inanimate object that is just converting from one plug to another killed itself without any interaction or damage from the user :rolleyes:
 
tjb1 said:
So an inanimate object that is just converting from one plug to another killed itself without any interaction or damage from the user :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

it does happen, if the connections inside the connector are shoddy. i've had it happen a bunch of times with usb cables and adapters.
 
tjb1 said:
So an inanimate object that is just converting from one plug to another killed itself without any interaction or damage from the user :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I buy Apple branded display adapters and the first one I bought broke just through using it; colours on the screen started going pink and blue and green depending on the position the adapter was at. The second one I bought has started to mess up too; it's starting to not click into the port like it used to. I think the plastic part of the end of the adapter is moving slightly up the cable... They do often break quite quickly.
 
tjb1 said:
So an inanimate object that is just converting from one plug to another killed itself without any interaction or damage from the user :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Yes, it did. Things break, fact of life. You're telling me nothing you've owned broke over time? Obviously your intelligence is lacking and your comprehension skills are non existent so I will cease to further explain what happened to my broken cable. :rolleyes:
 
xMClass said:
Yes, it did. Things break, fact of life. You're telling me nothing you've owned broke over time? Obviously your intelligence is lacking and your comprehension skills are non existent so I will cease to further explain what happened to my broken cable. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

So if left alone on a shelf, it would just break itself? Seems your intelligence is lacking.
 
:rolleyes: Your logic makes no sense whatsoever. Obviously if you leave something unused on a shelf the chances of it breaking are slim, but have you ever heard about wear and tear? THINGS BREAK WITH USE AND OVER TIME! Nothing lasts forever, especially with electronic items. I really don't get the point you are trying to make here, clearly you are wrong. I'm putting you on my ignore list. Go troll somewhere else where someone will listen to your illogical statements. Maybe you should co-host with Glen Beck? Yup, you two would make a fantastic team. Try the Syfi channel.
 
Just go with Monoprice or some other website that sells cheap cables. It won't make a difference if you buy it from Apple or somewhere else. The only difference is that it is cheaper, much cheaper.
 
xMClass said:
:rolleyes: Your logic makes no sense whatsoever. Obviously if you leave something unused on a shelf the chances of it breaking are slim, but have you ever heard about wear and tear? THINGS BREAK WITH USE AND OVER TIME! Nothing lasts forever, especially with electronic items. I really don't get the point you are trying to make here, clearly you are wrong. I'm putting you on my ignore list. Go troll somewhere else where someone will listen to your illogical statements. Maybe you should co-host with Glen Beck? Yup, you two would make a fantastic team. Try the Syfi channel.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion! Will do :)
 
I grabbed a generic one from meritline a few months back. They had an awesome sale - $5 shipped for a MDP-to-HDMI with sound, and 2 HDMI cables. Mine still works great, one of the best deals I've gotten.
 
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