Macbook Pro to Samsung LCD TV

I don't get that option with the VGA adaptor. On the other hand using the DVI to HDMI works great I can even increase the output resolution to 1080p which I find great for when I am closer to the monitor.

I have the same problem with the Samsung LN52A650 and a Late 2008 model MBP. I tried using the Mini DisplayPort to VGA adaptor, which allowed the mac to see the display as "SAMSUNG" and I could change options on the Mac, but the TV could not find the signal. I returned the adaptor to the apple store and got a Mini DisplayPort to DVI and a DVI to HDMI adaptor, which they claimed would work. I then connected it all up to one of the HDMI ports and that "worked" -- I got a 1080i signal! Not exactly what I wanted to say the least. *** apple, ***. My PC worked just fine with a DVI to HDMI and also with a regular VGA cable. The MBP only works with this crazy setup and only half working at that... This is totally unacceptable.

Same problems here with a 32 inch Samsung LCD TV......I am very very disappointed. Macbook DVI adapter => VGA cable => Samsung. Macbook recognizes the Samsung, but Samsung doesnt recognize the Macbook. If this is not resolved I will be returning back to my ancient Compaq laptop......which works flawlessly with my LCD samsung......

The latest info I have from apple is that the issue is know and they are working on a firmware update to resolve it. Seems kind of weird though hey, if Mini-DisplayPort is the new up and coming standard for all laptops and this only seems to be a problem with Samsung TV's (almost entirely)?

Maybe the problem isn't the macbook is having the problems it's the TV since with the VGA cable the computer knows of the TV yet the TV knows nothing of the computer.

Then if this issue is a problem with Samsung that apple is trying to resolve switching to the DVI HDMI solution isn't really that bad after all.


I still want my VGA to work though
🙂

I just registered to maybe get you something good to know about the topic. I don't have a MAC notebook or so, but i do have a nootebook PC.

My Sony VAIO does the same things as your mac's does. It recognizes the TV but the TV doesn't recon the notebook. So i just wanted to say to you guys that the problem most likely is the TV as i also have a Samsung LCD-TV (32" LE32S8).

The only way for me to get it working is to connect it up between while having my notebook shut off i can change the TV to PC-input and then start up the notebook and it'll work. But that's the only way for TV to see that it's connected otherwise it won't show me there is a PC-input available.

When i'm connected and using the PC-input, while switcihing over to TV or something else, it will lose the connection to the PC, as the "PC"-input will get greyed out. Very annoying.

So, whatever the problem is, it's must have something to do with the Samsung TV. I know for a fact that samsung had some firmware problems with some of their PC LCD-screens not being recognized correctly either, so this is not the first time it happens to their LCD's.

Anyway, if someone will find an answer for this issue, please post it! I know i will if i do find one.

Certainly looks like I'm going to have to strike SAMSUNG off the list of potential new TV purchases for the present time! 😉

Cheers

Rod

Just wanted to note that I'm having the same issue. Connected Late-2008 MBP to VGA via the Apple adaptor, and I could not get the TV to see the signal. Unplugging the adaptor from the laptop (while leaving the adaptor connected to the VGA cable) allowed the TV to "see" the input, but after changing inputs and reconnecting the adaptor there was still no image on-screen. Strangely, the TV "saw" that I was trying to use 1920x1080@60Hz, and the MBP knew all about the "SAMSUNG" on the other end of the cable, but there was no video transferred.

My (mostly wild) guess is that the Samsung sets are using a "strict mode" analog-digital conversion that for some reason the MBP isn't sending exactly the right signal for over VGA and the mini DisplayPort adaptor.

Let's hope they get this fixed! I'm reticent to use DVI-HDMI because my set (LN46A650) enables "image processing" on the digital inputs, which in-turn introduces latency into the video. This makes playing games a bit difficult!

(40 inch only)

I've had absolutely no problems with my 40 inch LCD.. I am using an HDMI-DVI connector cable. I did have initial problems with setting the Color LCD display to the Samsung display.. What I did---->
Made the connection with power turned off--> turned on tv and pushed the "source" button on the TV remote button to HDMI 1 (or you can use the HDMI 2 source aslo). I then went to system preferences and matched the Mac Color LCD resolutons with the Samsung LCD resolutions...This took me awhile to figure out but just mess with it........My settings
Samsung-1920@ 1080 interlaced
Color LCD-1440 @ 9000
I also found out that when the connection is made on the top right to the left of the energy and signal bars is a samsung to macbook pro easy setup pulldown. This might be a new installation but I don't think I saw it initially. I did however just install all my apple updates so who knows maybe that had something to do with it?
I am convinced that many of the problems now are due to the type of connector people are using and also maybe that the 32' has some faults.
note: this is for a 40 inch connected to a 10.4.11 macbook pro via HDMI-DVI

where did you get that info btw? I have similar problems.

I'm not sure if we are having the same problems or not but I am using the DVI to HDMI threw the mini displayport adaptor and things were great starting off. I was able to get the TV's default resolution 1366x768 I think and even (not like when I was attempting to use VGA) 1080i which was great when I was closer to the screen.

So I do not believe anything was changed and not all my resolutions have gone to 0Hz and all appear as interlaced which results in the menu bars and dock being slightly off the screen and there is a slight brightness around all windows.

The only things I can think that would have taken this harmonious setup and messed it was would be I was playing call of duty 4 off the macbook onto the monitor or I think in the past I used that program switchresX. But that was before I had everything working great (back before I gave up on VGA).


Anyone having these problems? I would love to go back to the way it was a week ago

After been really annoyed by this issue and been disappointed with my new macbook, I was just about to try the DVI>HDMI option but I found a solution for this:

1. First the TV needs to have the VGA cable connected and have attached the VGA adaptor.
2. The PC option from the source menu becomes available, I selected it.
3. Then I plugged the adaptor to my macbook and immediately my TV detected my macbook and started to work as my secondary display.

I'm really glad that it was really no need for the HDMI to be involve on this.
The only downturn is when the TV is turn off I have to start the process all over again.

I hooked up my MBP to a Samsung 32" (LN32A330) without a hitch.
For video: (MBP) DVI to HDMI cable --> (TV) HDMI port 2.
For audio: (MBP - headphone/audio out) 3.5mm stereo to RCA cable --> HDMI 2/DVI audio input.
TV input source: HDMI 2.

I couldn't get the OS X desktop to fit "perfectly" on the Samsung but it was close enough (the Finder tool bar got cut off)

On the other hand, while using the same setup on my LG 42" (42lg70), I didn't have much luck with the audio (coming out of the TV). Here's the setup:
For video: (MBP) DVI to HDMI cable --> (TV) HDMI port 2.
For audio: (MBP - headphone/audio out) 3.5mm stereo to RCA cable --> AV audio input (Red/White plugs).
TV input source: HDMI 2

I got video and resolution to fit perfectly on the LG but audio continued to play from MBP. Perhaps, the issue(s) lies within the TV's input capabilities? *Two inputs cannot be active at the same time (HDMI AND AV).*

I suppose I may have a few options but it may be too much of a hassle:
1) I could get a DVI to VGA cable but that would compromise video quality.
2) Use the same dvi/hdmi setup for audio and purchase a receiver and hook the 3.5mm to RCA into it or...
3) Suck it up and continue to have audio come out of the laptop.

Sorry for the rambling but I'd like to have the same MBP to Samsung setup on the LG. Any constructive help/suggestions are welcomed!

-D

I've tried switching to the PC input with the mini-displayport adapter unplugged from the Macbook but the TV still refuses to recognise any combination of resolution. As with everyone else, the Macbook recognises the "Samsung" display but the TV just tells me to "Check signal cable".

I'm using a VGA lead connected to a 26" Samsung LE26R87BD. I've used the PC input fine with a Dell laptop so Apple + mini-displayport VGA adapter still seems the likely culprit.

I have a Samsung 32 LCD and could not get it to work with the mini display to VGA, so I returned that one and bought the mini display to dvi and a cable that goes from dvi to hdmi, it worked no problem at all with the hdmi.

How did you get 1080i?
How did you connect to your TV?