Can I connect my Mac to my DVI HDTV?

DaveF · 10-11-2007, 03:09 PM

Can I connect my MacBook Pro with a DVI interface to my Sony Wega HDTV with a DVI HDCP interface? Is there a special cable and/or special software that will make this work? (and no, an AppleTV is not an option

)

Keith Plucker · 10-11-2007, 09:22 PM

I don't know why not. I connected my old PowerBook G4 via DVI to my Benq 7800 projector. I used a cable that came with the 7800.

What I didn't do, and what you might want to try, is downloading a utility that will let you set the resolution of the external display to the best res that your Wega will accept. 720P maybe?

In my PowerBook's case, it defaulted to 1024x768 and wouldn't let me change the resolution to anything else.

-Keith

ErichH · 10-13-2007, 02:27 PM

Some TVs don't like Mac's 1680 so you might have to rez down the 1400 or 1200 if you have the 15. Other than that, DVI should work.
Give us a report!

My bud Josh at Rockstar runs a Mini onto a 130 inch screen with a Sony Pearl. That's a Big Mac!

Andrew Pratt · 10-13-2007, 02:57 PM

I don't see why not. I've connected by MBP to my plasma and OSX automatically detected the display, ran a calibration and voila instant perfection

Its laughable how much better OSX is at working with external monitors compared to Windows.

DaveF · 10-13-2007, 03:00 PM

Thanks for the tips. I need to check in some more TV-centric areas to make sure there aren't issues with the TV's HDCP-DVI connection from five years ago. And I need to find a DVI cable.

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Christian Behrens · 10-14-2007, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveF

Thanks for the tips. I need to check in some more TV-centric areas to make sure there aren't issues with the TV's HDCP-DVI connection from five years ago. And I need to find a DVI cable.

Since the Mac doesn't output a HDCP signal, all you need is a DVI-DVI cable. There should be no problems whatsoever, the TV should tell the Mac what resolution to use; that's part of DVI.

-Christian

Aaron Reynolds · 10-17-2007, 09:13 AM

Dave -- have you used an external monitor with the MBP before? A TV works exactly the same way, with the same options for extended desktop.

I hooked up a MacBook Pro to two older plasma HDTVs Sunday night for a presentation, and regularly hook my wife's MacBook up to our projector. No special software is needed, it's all in the OS. Just don't do monitor mirroring, or you'll be forcing one of the two screens to a sub-optimal resolution.

Let me know if you need more details.

DaveF · 10-17-2007, 03:00 PM

Thanks for the feedback. I've used an external monitor; that's easy. But for some reason, I thought that computer output to the "older" HDTVs with HDCP DVI input had some gotchas.

So, I need to get a cable and try it out. Do you know if it matters what sort of DVI cable is used? There are like 4 kinds of DVI. I suppose I want DVI-I single link on both ends.

Ken Chan · 10-17-2007, 04:05 PM

It depends on the monitor/TV, so look at that connector. The connector on the Mac (and most video cards) will do both digital and analog -- the analog is why those VGA converter dongles work. The connection requires dual-link only for the really high resolutions.

You will probably use a DVI-D cable. You actually don't want DVI-I, because if the monitor only accepts digital connections, which is likely, then an I cable will not work because of the extra prongs.

DaveF · 10-17-2007, 07:30 PM

Ok, re-checking my Sony manual, and it says (emphasis mine):

Quote:

Can accomodate a copy-protected digital connection (HDCP) to other devices...that have compatible interfaces. The DVI-HDTV input terminal is compliant with the EIA-861 standard and is not intended for use with personal computers.

Can the Mac talk to this?