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Ponponhead Author

Level 1

17 points

Mini display port to HDMI problem

I have my aluminum Macbook perfectly wired up to my 32 inch RCA HDTV. Nothing will come up on the screen, I've tried detect display, I've tried restarting the computer, unplugging and plugging back in then detect display, turned the tv of and on, but nothing is working. I am currently running Snow Leopard, but when I was on Leopard this process of attaching the TV to the computer just took about 10 minutes of doing desultory processes that I've already described. Any suggestions on how to make it work the first time?

Early 2009 Aluminum Macbook, Mac OS X (10.6.1)

Posted on Sep 28, 2009 1:36 PM

1,012 replies

Mar 12, 2011 10:12 PM in response to Ponponhead

I have a Mac Pro, and I have tried both the Moshi and Kanex mini displayport to HDMI adapters. Neither of them work. I have tried several different HDMI TVs (Sony Bravia, Vizio), and several different HDMI 1.3+ cables. Nothing works. I think the mini displayport has some defects.

Mar 14, 2011 11:46 AM in response to Ponponhead

I got the same problem, but with all the adapters.. When reading this thread i figured that it maybe my laptop not working properly.
I bought an 3 in one adapter on ebay, and it worked fine until updates. The fun thing about my adapter is that i got Apple displayport cabel printed on it, so they cant say it's a cheap fake...
My back is killing me because im sitting like a rat at the office, cant stand it anymore...

jmeddy

Level 1

0 points

Mar 16, 2011 6:48 PM in response to Ponponhead

I feel really bad for everybody having problems and am posting this in hopes that what is working for me might work for somebody else. If any of this information was already posted, my bad - 12 pages and 2+ years of posts are a lot to read. I know this does not help many of the posters who are having major issues with their output, but maybe this can clear some other things up.

Using a MacBook Pro 13" Mid 2010, which IIRC was the first of that model line to have Sound+Video output from Mini DisplayPort, I have no problems outputting video + sound to various HDTVs (720p and 1080p). I am still using OS X 10.6.5 because I heard rumors of video issues with 10.6.6. The adapter I am using is a Griffin Technology GC17096 that does straight Mini DP to HDMI (and also includes an HDMI to DVI adapter) which is available at Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/Griffin-Technology-GC17096-DisplayPort-Converter/dp/B003CK 8TZ8/ (note: I have no experience with the other Moshi adapter but have heard only mixed reviews about it). To get the audio to also come out of the HDMI (since my model and newer ones have this capability), a quick trip to Applications -> Utilities -> Audio MIDI Setup with everything already plugged in will do. Just right-click on "HDMI" and choose "Use this device for sound output", as well as "Play alerts and sound effects through this device" if desired. Otherwise, just plug your desired adapter into the 1/8" output as it is already a default output for sound and is useful if you want to use this instead of Mini DP/HDMI audio or your machine cannot output audio from Mini DP/HDMI.

Abdelaal

Level 1

0 points

Mar 17, 2011 4:04 AM in response to Ponponhead

Dear All,
I am connecting my Mac to TV 32'' via mini display port converted to HDMI.
I am using it on MAC OS X 10.6.6, and on Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 also.
when i am connecting my TV, the 2 screens are on, Laptop screen and TV screen.
Can i turn the Laptop screen off while connecting the TV?
how to do this on both operating systems?

Thanks & Regards,
Boudy,

Neology

Level 1

0 points

Mar 22, 2011 6:41 PM in response to Ponponhead

I have a 2011 MacBook Pro. Tried the Moshi Minidisplay to HDMI adapter, got no picture, so I bought another one (1/3 of the price, actually) from Markertek. Didn't work either. Then, I had an idea. I'm running gfxCardStatus so I'm able to switch between the integrated or discrete graphics manually. It turns out that on the integrated graphics, I get no external display. As soon as I switch to discrete graphics, voila, both displays work fine with both adapters. Maybe it's something about the way OS X decides to switch between the graphics drivers that makes this whole thing so flaky. Try installing gfxCardStatus and see if if works for you.

Abdelaal

Level 1

0 points

Mar 27, 2011 11:31 AM in response to ::Kobe::

I have MacBook aluminum late 2008.
I am connecting it to my TV via the mini display after converting it to HDMI.
can HDMI cable transmit video and audio?
I would like to hear the sound of my Mac on the TV via the HDMI cable, is it possible?

Apr 2, 2011 11:25 AM in response to Ponponhead

Hey Folks,

I bought a mini display port to HDMI cable this past week. First time I connected the MBP to the HDTV...all worked perfectly except the sound. The cable does not provide audio support for me.

Anyway last night I wanted to watch a movie with the family. Followed the same set-up and nothing happened. Very frustrating!

Re-read many of the posts and thought I would try again today. Plugged everything in and still no luck. The laptop screen would turn blue and then the desktop would appear on the MBP. On the TV the screen would connect with an Apple like desktop picture (looks like the Aura Borealis).

My 10 yr old then noticed that the cursor would appear on the TV as I was messing around on the laptop. Well... long story short I went into "system preferences" then "display" and made sure the check box for "mirror display" was checked. Everything sync'd and we were off firing up a movie.

As for the sound...I just connected the laptop to my stereo.

I hope this helps someone out there.

Cheers
C

Apr 6, 2011 6:08 PM in response to Ponponhead

adding to the pile of mini dp chaos created by apple. there really should be a DIN standard for all these cable confusion out there.

anyways, my problem is with connecting a MBP from july 2009 running 10.5.8. with a monoprice mini-dp to hdmi cable to the philips econova led tv. like many other people on this thread, the MBP recognised the tv when i plug the cable in - with the blue screen etc. i m able to select settings in displays preference. but the philips tv showed only a black screen stating "no video signal". no matter what resolution i set, only the screen of my MBP flashed n changed. tv still tell me no video signal. restart both gave the same result. i m lost n really frustrated.

havent tried the sound since i know my MBP needs a separate cable for the sound to tv/sound system thru the headphone jack.

so i am wondering if a post i read somewhere about my MBP giving out only anaolog signal but my tv looking for digital signal is true. my cable supposedly did not convert the analog output from the mini dp. but i have no way of changing the signal my tv is looking for.
questions:
1. is there a way to convert n make sure my MBP is giving out digital signal?
2. is the problem here with an incompatible cable? am i supposed to go with the adapter chain from mini dp to hdmi adapter then hdmi cable to tv?

thanks in advance for the many advices on this thread.

Landrix

Level 1

29 points

Apr 10, 2011 4:13 PM in response to whittaker007

whittaker007 wrote:
Just another "Me too" - MDP to HDMI not working on two different display devices (LCD TV at home, and a projector at work). MDP to DVI adapter + DVI to HDMI adapter works fine.

YES--that is an alternate method. The fact is, some televisions are just picky and don't like computer signals. I've had great luck with my miniDP to HDMI adapter though.

The alternate method is to use a mini-DisplayPort-to-DVI adapter first. Seem HDMI is simply DVI-signal video combined with digital audio. Many MBP's and most adapters will not transmit sound anyway. A simple, cheap, DVI-to-HDMI adapter is a great solution to use in addition to the miniDP-to-DVI. I actually prefer it.

Apr 11, 2011 12:03 AM in response to Landrix

How many people have an HDMI switch or splitter in between the mini DisplayPort->HDMI conversion, and the monitor?

I have a Mac PRO (late 2009) and was using both the DVI output and the mini DIsplayPort (with an HDMI converter and an HDMI switch). The DVI output was fine no issues when going through a DVI switch to the DVI input on my older Dell ACD knockoff. The mini DisplayPort through the HDMI adapter and switch were fine at first. During the first day of use there was one "hiccup" where the monitor (Acer 3265 using one of the HDMI inputs) suddenly went from watching Hulu to "No signal". In that state, MAC OSX 10.6.6 could not detect the display anymore. I rebooted and things went back to good.

Next day same thing happened. Day after, the monitor would be recognized properly (using gather windows would pull the DIsplay system profiler window onto my other monitor and I could see it detected the correct monitor and resolution) but the monitor always said "No Signal" and it is stuck that way.

For grins I tried using the DVI port on the back of my MAC Pro with an adapter to convert to HDMI, and the monitor was still "No Signal"

The IOGear 3 port HDMI switch detects a signal from the MAC's mini displayport (it activates a light with the power) but the monitor says No Signal. Basically there is some sort of state that survives reboots that is causing the output from the mini disiplayport to be mostly power and no video.

I don't care about audio over the mini DisplayPort at this point, it would be great to go back to .

Since the problem seems to occur with all different Mac products (Mac Pro, MacbookPro, etc) it seems likely it is something the software is doing in the later versions of Mac OS.

Next, digging into HDMI protocol to see what might be able to allow the display to identify itself but the MAC OS not to send video signal... as if the connection is only one way now... monitor to computer.

Apr 13, 2011 9:14 AM in response to Neology

Neology wrote:
I'm running gfxCardStatus so I'm able to switch between the integrated or discrete graphics manually. It turns out that on the integrated graphics, I get no external display. As soon as I switch to discrete graphics, voila, both displays work fine with both adapters.

Thanks Neology!
This worked for me.
I forgot that I had set gfxCardStatus to use Integrated Graphics Only, to save power.

jussiv

Level 1

0 points

Apr 21, 2011 12:44 PM in response to richisgame

I was also suffering with this problem after OS X update (10.6.5 I think). For me the solution was to shutdown my LG LCD tv completely (by removing it from the power plug) and restart. After that my MBA founds second monitor and everything works like a charm.

My adapter is Dealextreme's 10 USD mini displayport to HDMI adapter - I don't know if this has something to do with the problem. However, I can live currently with this workaround.

Apr 29, 2011 2:45 AM in response to Ponponhead

I have exactly the same problem on my MBP. Had a Minidisplay ----> DVI ----> HDMI working for about 4 months. Tried it last night - stopped working.

Screen goes blue for about 2 seconds and my Sony Bravia doesn't recognise it.

BUT my dell 20" monitor does recognise it via Minidisplay ---> VGA

Also, I can run my MBP through my Sony bravia via the VGA cable...seems as though it's just a problem with DVI/HDMI.

Has ANYONE found a solution to this yet?

Anyone taken their MBP back to apple store yet? Or called them up?

the_seer

Level 1

0 points

Apr 29, 2011 9:00 AM in response to tpmccomas

Interestingly enough I have exactly the same problem and a sony bravia tv. I have a mid 2010 macbook pro and have been using a minidisplay port to HDMI adapter for a while and largely succesfully - with both video and sound - though with intermitent problems, up until about two weeks ago when it stopped working completely.

I went to the apple "genius bar" at thier flagship covent garden store yesterday - unfortunately the geniuses were obviously not functioning at full capacity as they were totally stumped - and the matter has now been refered back to Apple HQ.

The genius I spoke to said that they had never come across this problem before, which seems odd given the fact that it seems to be widely discussed on the net. He confirmed that the laptop would not detect an external display using their own display and HDMI adapter, though it worked fine using a VGA adapter. More interestingly he tried connecting one of the shops own macs using their HDMI adapter and that wouldnt work either.

There is clearly some generic problem with MACs interfacing with HDMI - and it is pot luck whether your machine works or not - which is not really good enough for a premium brand such as Apple.

I will report back on whether the higher beings at Apple central are able to come up with anything - I am not holding my breath.

Apr 30, 2011 11:51 PM in response to busty

Same issue here. purchased cable and adapter from apple store about 3 months ago. worked perfectly until last weekend. spent at least 12 hrs of time checking everything. Cannot resolve.

10.6.7 on MBPro 13" Mid 2010 -> Samsung UE32C4000

Mini display port to HDMI problem