Samsung Series 3 (330/331) LCD HDTV- Recognizes Display, Shows Black Screen

Question

Samsung Series 3 (330/331) LCD HDTV- Recognizes Display, Shows Black Screen

I just got a new HDTV- a Samsung 330/331 Series 3 LCD, and expected not only to use it as a bedroom TV but actually connect my MacBook Air (Rev. A) via the provided DVI adapter. I bought a cable to be able to connect it, and could. My MacBook Air recognizes the display and lets me choose the settings, only nothing displays on the Samsung LCD, I tried turning it off and on (both the display and the computer), all to no avail. The LCD works fine otherwise, and I also tried every resolution setting and refresh rate, along with mirroring and extended desktop functions. If anyone can explain why this does not work, they would be a great help.

MacBook Air (Rev. A), Mac OS X (10.5.6), 1.6 Ghz Core 2 Duo / 2GB DDR2 RAM

Posted on Jan 17, 2009 7:56 PM

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Answer 1

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Jan 17, 2009 10:27 PM in response to Dogcowsaysmoof

So the connection is from DVI on the MBA to HDMI on the Samsung? Which HDMI input on the Samsung is the MBA plugged into? Sometimes the user manual for a TV will say a specific port must be used, like HDMI3 or something like that. I think it has to do with copy protection (HDCP) being on the other HDMI inputs and the MBA can't do the copy protection.

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Answer 2

Jan 18, 2009 9:11 AM in response to BSteely

I never said I used HDMI! The Samsung has a DVI port in the back (labeled PC), so I got a DVI-DVI cable. Would it be better if I got an HDMI cable?

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Answer 3

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Jan 18, 2009 11:10 PM in response to Dogcowsaysmoof

Oh, sorry. DVI inputs on TVs are pretty rare and I didn't expect that. If your Samsung TV has a DVI input, that is definitely the best way to connect.

It could very well be that the adapter you got is defective. Do you have a computer monitor with a DVI input that you could try to confirm whether the cable and adapter you have can work with a computer monitor? I would say if you get the same result from a computer monitor, meaning no image, then it's time to suspect a bad adapter or cable.

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Answer 4

Jan 19, 2009 2:20 PM in response to BSteely

No, sorry, the only other computer I have access to is my iMac (the last white one with the iSight and Intel processor), and since it is an all-in-one computer, I can't connect my DVI cable. But I don't think it's either the adapter or the cable, as the computer recognizes the display, opens an extra preference window for it, lets me choose resolution and display rate, and even asks me if I want to mirror displays or have an extended desktop.

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Answer 5

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Jan 20, 2009 7:31 AM in response to Dogcowsaysmoof

I pulled up an English version of the user manual for a Samsung 330/331 and it doesn't seem to have a DVI port. It has a VGA port. In that case, it sounds like the TV is hooked up using an Apple Mini DVI to VGA Adapter and then a VGA to VGA cable. Did the VGA cable come with the monitor? If you look at the ends of the connector on the VGA cable, are all 15 pins present, or is one of the pins missing? I ask because some VGA cables have pin 9 missing and that can affect operation with a Mac.

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Answer 6

Jan 20, 2009 2:29 PM in response to BSteely

OK, you were right! Just double checked and it is a VGA port, but, no the cable was not bundled with my TV, it is just a generic cable I bought (forgot the brand, the only label on it reads: Pan-Internation 20276 E87647-DG 5U AWM 80C 30V VW-1 DVI). On the VGA end there are 15 pins in perfect state, and on the DVI end there are 2 sets of 9 pins plus one long pin.

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Answer 7

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Jan 20, 2009 4:30 PM in response to Dogcowsaysmoof

OK, I think we are getting closer to an answer. So you have the Apple Mini DVI to DVI Adapter and you are plugging in a cable that has VGA at one end (TV end) and DVI at the other end. If that is the case, it won't work. The Apple DVI adapter only outputs a digital signal, not VGA analog.

You are going to need to purchase an Apple Mini DVI to VGA Adapter and then get a common VGA to VGA cable, if your TV didn't already come with one.

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Answer 8

Jan 20, 2009 5:01 PM in response to BSteely

Micro DVI actually (I have the original Air), and I already have an adapter for VGA, but it looks as if I am going to have to purchase a cable. Will buying a DVI to HDMI cable work too? Or will it present the same problem?

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Answer 9

BSteely

Level 5

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Jan 20, 2009 6:28 PM in response to Dogcowsaysmoof

Right, Micro DVI. I forgot.

From reading the manual, it looks like either would work. If you have no plans to hook anything else up to the HDMI input on the Samsung, I'd go with the DVI/HDMI solution.

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Answer 10

Jan 20, 2009 6:32 PM in response to BSteely

Thank you, you've been very helpful. If you can bother with one more question, does a DVI-HMDI cable offer any significant differences? Does it offer a better picture, higher resolution, faster response time, etc.?

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Answer 11

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Jan 21, 2009 7:57 AM in response to Dogcowsaysmoof

Going all digital offers a few advantages. It offers a clearer picture, more accurate color and is less prone to misadjustment. I can't think of any advantage to analog. But be aware that sometimes, with some TVs, analog works right (native resolution with no overscan/underscan) and digital doesn't. So in that case, obviously analog would be the better choice.

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