Macbook VGA external display resolution

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Level 1

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Macbook VGA external display resolution

I have one of the new 13" macbooks and am using the mini vga adapter as the DVI adapters do not seem to be available at the local apple stores and for every monitor that i have connected to the macbook it never presents the maximum resolution the monitor supports. regardless of whether it is an lcd or crt. The max resolution i'm offered is 1920X1080 at 60hz. If I plug in a recent Macbook pro with a standard dvi to vga adapter the display settings behave normally and offer up the maximum supported resolutions on all monitors tried.

Is anyone else seeing this behavior with the new mini display port vga adapters?

Macbook 13", Mac OS X (10.5.5)

Posted on Oct 22, 2008 2:38 PM

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Answer 1

Oct 23, 2008 5:17 AM in response to MarkatOSI

I'm using the new Macbook 13" 2.4 GHz with the VGA output connected to a Viewsonic VG700b until the new LED display comes out.

In the displays in the menu bar I'm offered (actually says VG700b-2):
- 1280 x 960, 60 Hz, Millions
- 1280 x 1024, 60 Hz, Millions
- 1280 x 1024, 75 Hz, Millions

In preferences I'm offered much more from 640x480 up to its max of 1280x1024. The 75 MHz setting didn't work for me.

So, this could simply be because the maximum is lower than the 1920 x 1080 you have listed...

Brett

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Answer 2

Jan 17, 2009 10:07 PM in response to MarkatOSI

Yeah the analog vga bandwidth (resolution x refresh) is very limited -- not sure if it's the chipset or the mini displayport.

60Hz is unwatchable on a CRT due to the flickering, but you can get some additional options using DisplayConfigX.

See my blog post for my experience: http://mark.aufflick.com/blog/2009/01/12/unibody-macbook-vga-sucky

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Answer 3

Jan 22, 2009 10:36 PM in response to Mark Aufflick

It's not the chipset - nVidia says this set supports "Maximum VGA Resolution 2048x1536"
http://www.nvidia.com/object/productgeforce_9400m_gus.html
So it's either the "brand-new, industry-standard" mini DisplayPort, or just Apple's implementation. Maybe they'll sell us one that works properly for another $50 later ...
(I've got 24" monitors at work & home - Dell & Samsung - that are both already DVI to desktops, and I NEED to VGA my macbook to them. Looks like I'm SCREWED. Native resolution is The only way I want to look at an LCD.)

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Answer 4

lsal

Level 1

19 points

Jan 23, 2009 7:03 AM in response to MarkatOSI

I have a Sept. 2008 Macbook (with the mini displayport), and have it connected by DisplayPort->VGA to an LCD monitor running at 1920x1200 (60 Hz).

So the computer at least supports 1920x1200 at 60 Hz over DisplayPort->VGA.

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Answer 5

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Jan 24, 2009 8:02 AM in response to lsal

I have a Dell SP2309W and had it plugged in by Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter to the Dell's VGA input using the Dell supplied VGA cable and got the native 2048 x 1152 resolution. I later purchased a Mini DisplayPort DVI adapter and moved the Dell to DVI and also got the native resolution. So I concur with Isal that the MB can do it and I would in that case look at other things in your configuration for an answer.

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Answer 6

Cassper

Level 1

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Jan 31, 2009 9:50 AM in response to MarkatOSI

Hey, i have some kind of same problem i have a tv that runs at 1080i so 1360x768 if im not mistaken. But when i plug in the display extender (Mini Displayport to VGA) i cannot change the resolution to something higher then 1280x1024 in both modes Mirroring and Extended screen. Is there a possiblity to force the extended to a resolution?

I have also tried to but it at to look at the possiblities at 75Hz and colours in Thousands.

Also any change i make also affects my MB, which i find kind of strange since i set a resolution for the extended screen.

Casper

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Answer 7

Cassper

Level 1

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Jan 31, 2009 11:19 AM in response to MarkatOSI

hey, i've been searching around and found this site on another forum post somewhere, http://www.madrau.com/html/SRX/DL.shtml its a program that gives you a wider choice of resolutions.

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Answer 8

Feb 7, 2009 11:20 PM in response to BSteely

Hi BSteely,

Just wondering how you had found the dell monitor? In particular the glossy display and 'odd' resolution - is it okay for work/office use or more geared towards entertainment?

Many thanks in advance

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Answer 9

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Feb 16, 2009 8:25 AM in response to Parmenion

I like this monitor a lot. There is also a Samsung 2343bwx that is the same panel but with a matte screen. I have that one at work and the Dell at home. I prefer the matte screen, but the Dell has a better feature set.

I love the resolution. There's more on-screen pixels on this monitor than on a 24" monitor. To my eyes, the pixel pitch of around 100 pixels per inch strikes a good balance between nice, smooth blending of the pixels and yet text and other screen elements are not too small. I think this "odd" resolution is a winner.

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