MacMini, Apple S-Video adapter & 16:9 or 15:9

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Level 1

8 points

MacMini, Apple S-Video adapter & 16:9 or 15:9

I just got a new Mac mini (2GHz Core 2 Duo). I use a Apple S-Video adapter to connect a standard-resolution widescreen Sony TV (KLV-30HR3), not having HDMI or DVI capability.

The resolution only offered in the Monitors Control Panel in Leopard 10.5.3 are only 4:3 ratio resolutions (such as 800x600, 1024x768). I tried using DisplayConfigX and SwitchResX to create new display resolutions, but any of the 1280x768 as the TV should accept just result in a black TV screen

Is the Mac Mini able to produce 16:9 or 15:9 ratios over S-video?

Thanks in advance for any clue

MacMini 2GHz Core 2 Duo - 2GB RAM, Mac OS X (10.5.3), AEBS - TC

Posted on Jun 21, 2008 5:48 AM

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Answer 1

jmdlcz

Level 1

0 points

Jun 21, 2008 7:47 AM in response to Mickey14

You can probably call support since your computer is new. I have a question though, how did you connect your Mac mini to a s-video cable. I have an old sony xbr that's 4:3, and it doesn't have HDMI, only s-video or components. Since we bought the Imac we were thinking of using the mac mini on the TV.

Thanks for the feedback.

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Answer 2

Boece

Level 5

6,264 points

Jun 21, 2008 8:22 AM in response to Mickey14

Your TV is XGA LCD Panel (1280 x 768)

Some googling with some interesting discussions of S-video limits:

http://www.highdefforum.com/showthread.php?t=36931

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies-archive.cfm/558082.html

A counter-intuitive way to find additional resolutions (in this case 1080p vs 1080i), that may or may not be helpful:

http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=7405555#7405555

"The secret is to enable the checkbox that says “Show displays in menu bar”. If you do then, a displays icon appears in the menu bar. Click it to get a drop down menu of all display resolutions. Interestingly, there are now two 1920×1080 options, which are labeled identically. Choose the other one! You’ll now be driving full 1080P..."

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Answer 3

Boece

Level 5

6,264 points

Jun 21, 2008 11:56 AM in response to jmdlcz

Jmdlcz,

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303236

Apple DVI to Video Adapter, available at the Apple online store.

"The Apple DVI to Video Adapter was designed to allow Macs with a DVI port, such as the Power Mac G5, Mac mini, Mac Pro or MacBook Pro to connect the computer through the DVI port to S-Video or Composite video devices such as TVs, VCRs, or overhead projectors with S-Video or RCA (Composite) connectors."

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Answer 4

Mickey14 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 22, 2008 5:33 AM in response to Boece

Yes, these are interesting... The thing I do not get is:

- when I use the Apple S-Video adapter (thanks Boece for answering to Jmdlcz) with my MacBookPro, I succeed setting a 1280x720 resolution (without even needing SwitchResX), and I get a normal screen on the TV - so maybe the adapter first downscale the resolution to achieve s-video output
- When I plus the same adapter to the MacMini, even if I use SwitchResX to create 1024x576 or 720x400 or any 16:9 resolutions, there is no way to use them (screen goes black or the system "filters out" the settings)

I am quite puzzled 😟

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Answer 5

Boece

Level 5

6,264 points

Jun 22, 2008 6:12 AM in response to Mickey14

Hopefully our video guru, BSteely, will join this conversation and clear up the mystery.

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Answer 6

Jun 23, 2008 2:14 PM in response to Mickey14

Hi.

I have the same problem. got a new mac mini to dag and problem to get 16:9 out of the s-video adapter 😟

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Answer 7

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Jun 23, 2008 10:04 PM in response to Terje Norway

This has been reported previously and seems to be the case still. The G4 mini will happily output 16:9 formatted video over the S-video interface (through the DVI to Video Adapter) but the Intel mini will not. It must be a limitation of the driver for the GMA950 but I have no idea why Apple would do that.

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Answer 8

Mickey14 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 23, 2008 10:27 PM in response to BSteely

Thanks, so I am just left with buying a new tv accepting HDMI 😟
(I hope with a DVI-HDMI cable, I will be able to output 16:9, right ????)

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Answer 9

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Jun 23, 2008 11:47 PM in response to Mickey14

Yes, 16:9 over DVI or VGA shouldn't be a problem at all. But do a little research before you buy a TV. Some are more computer friendly than others. Most that are full HD, meaning 1920 x 1080 native, will work well with a computer.

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Answer 10

Mickey14 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 24, 2008 12:04 AM in response to BSteely

I was thinking buying a Sony KDL-32W4000

It is brand new (May 2008), can I expect it to work ? 🙂

Screen Size 32" (81.3cm)
Panel Full HD (1920 x 1080)
Resolution 1920 x 1080p
Panel technology (gradation) 8 bit (256)
Aspect Ratio 16:9
HDMI 3 (2 Rear, 1 Side)
Component in / Composite in 1 (Y,Pb,Pr) / 1
Scart / Audio out / S-Video input 1 / 1 / 1
Optical Digital Output •
PC Input 1 (D-sub)
Headphone output 1
USB 2.0 (Photoviewer) •

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Answer 11

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Jun 24, 2008 7:56 PM in response to Mickey14

Not owning that TV myself, I can't say for sure. Hopefully someone with that exact model will respond.

One thing you might try is to see if you can locate an on-line copy of the user manual for the TV. You can read what it has to say about making connections to a "PC". That can tell you with pretty good certainty whether it will give trouble or not.

Alternately, buy the TV from a place that will either let you bring in a Mac to hook up to it first, or else get a guarantee that you can return the set if it doesn't work to your satisfaction when you get it home.

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Answer 12

C David

Level 1

25 points

Jun 24, 2008 11:22 PM in response to Mickey14

Im not sure if it will work, heres hoping for you, now for me i have a 42" Plasma which has everything the tv your looking at and more and i run it at 1920 X 1080 resolution, but in the manual it states that all computers will display at 1024 X 768, i found it extremely disappointing, so i just stick with my 20" wide screen lcd monitor.

Message was edited by: C David

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Answer 13

Mickey14 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 25, 2008 12:12 AM in response to Mickey14

Thanks to all of you!

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