Q: Cannot use mac mini dvi to composite adaptor with TV

Jonnyfive, welcome!

What model TV do you have?

Does it have Component or Composite inputs?

What adaptor are your using?

BTW this is what Component video looks like:

http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/graphics/infolib/homelib/hComponentVideoJack.jp g

And this is what Composite video inputs look like:

http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/graphics/infolib/homelib/hCompositeVideoJack.jp g

What resolutions are your trying on the Mini? Have you done 640x480, which is standard TV rez?

Is your TV an NTSC or PAL (this depends on what country you live in)? Maybe it is a 50Hz/60Hz issue.

Hi, I am a newcomer to this discussion but I have the exact same problem so I'd like to see it resolved if possible. Like the original questioner, I am trying to use an old TV (Panasonic circa 1990) with only composite jacks (plus coax of course) as the monitor for a new mac mini. When I bought the mac mini a couple weeks ago, the guy at the store said they didn't stock a DVI to RCA adaptor, but he located one online sold by a company called Sewell, so I ordered it. But it doesn't work, the screen just shows black snow. Even so, it seems something is coming over the line. My only guess is that even though this is the one the Apple guy recommended, it might be the wrong one: the TV end has 3 connectors (red, blue and green) while my TV only has two jacks (yellow and white).

One other thing: how do you adjust the resolution on the mac mini if you can't see the screen?

Any thoughts?

If you can, you should return that adapter you got and get the Apple DVI to Video adapter. The one you have is for component video, not composite video. And get the Apple one, not generic, because the Apple one has a ROM inside it so the Mac can read a proper EDID and know it is connected to a TV.

Thanks, that's what I did, and it works. Hopefully will be able to return the other $30 cable.

Using the mac DVI to video and a s-video to scart (my pal TV is so old that's all it has!) I can get black and white but not colour out of my Mini. Interestingly, ntsc video and dvd also plays in black and white from multiregion players. Not had time to play with video settings on the mac yet.

640x480 Colours: Thousands Refresh rate 50 Hertz (Pal) works OK within the limitations of the screen.
It is worth calibrating for TV as well.
Will do until I need a new TV which could be some years knowing Sony.

Message was edited by: Mark Lansdown