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User profile for user: specialsyco
specialsyco Author
User level: Level 1
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powerbook g4 external monitor

i am trying to use an external moniter with my poerbook g4. i connect it and the screen on my laptop get distored like it is trying to use both screens but nothing shows up on the external monitor. i have tried his on a couple of monitors but i really want to get it to work with my acer x163w. i want the external monitor to mirror the built in screen and i couldn't find the setting for that either. could anyone help?

EDIT: found mirror mode but nothing shows up on the external monitor

Message was edited by: specialsyco

powerbook g4, Mac OS X (10.5.4), acer x163w

Posted on Aug 27, 2008 12:01 PM

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User profile for user: eww
eww
User level: Level 9
53,040 points

Posted on Aug 27, 2008 12:54 PM

Hi, specialsyco. Have you connected the Acer monitor to a different computer to verify that it works? Can you try connecting it to your Powerbook using a different video cable, or is its cable permanently attached to it? Have you reset your Powerbook's PRAM?

The X163W is a real bottom-of-the-line monitor with an oddball native resolution (1366 x 768) that may be problematical for the Powerbook to handle at all. And because of the strange native resolution of the monitor, it won't be able to display a sharp mirror image of your Powerbook's display even if you can get it working: the image will have to be interpolated (blurred). In extended-desktop mode instead of mirrored mode, it might look considerably better.

If display mirroring is essential for your purposes, you should use a different monitor whose native (maximum) resolution is at least as great in both directions as that of your Powerbook's built-in display.

Message was edited by: eww
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User profile for user: eww
eww
User level: Level 9
53,040 points

Aug 27, 2008 12:54 PM in response to specialsyco

Hi, specialsyco. Have you connected the Acer monitor to a different computer to verify that it works? Can you try connecting it to your Powerbook using a different video cable, or is its cable permanently attached to it? Have you reset your Powerbook's PRAM?

The X163W is a real bottom-of-the-line monitor with an oddball native resolution (1366 x 768) that may be problematical for the Powerbook to handle at all. And because of the strange native resolution of the monitor, it won't be able to display a sharp mirror image of your Powerbook's display even if you can get it working: the image will have to be interpolated (blurred). In extended-desktop mode instead of mirrored mode, it might look considerably better.

If display mirroring is essential for your purposes, you should use a different monitor whose native (maximum) resolution is at least as great in both directions as that of your Powerbook's built-in display.

Message was edited by: eww
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powerbook g4 external monitor

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