Setting Up Second Display - ADC to DVi - DVI to HDMi to Widescreen TV

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Level 1

50 points

Setting Up Second Display - ADC to DVi - DVI to HDMi to Widescreen TV

Trying to set up the widescreen TV as a second monitor for visitors.
Here's the info:
_________________________________________________________________
ATI Radeon 7500:

Chipset Model: ATY,RV200
Type: Display
Bus: AGP
Slot: SLOT-1
VRAM (Total): 32 MB
Vendor: ATI (0x1002)
Device ID: 0x5157
Revision ID: 0x0000
ROM Revision: 113-91701-222
Displays:
VA1912wSERIES:
Resolution: 1440 x 900 @ 60 Hz
Depth: 32-bit Color
Core Image: Software
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Supported
Display Connector:
Status: No display connected
_________________________________________________________________

My video card has a VGA and an ADc connector. Connected my 19" monitor using VGA connector.

Got a Belkin ADC to DVI adaptor for the ADC output.
Got a DVI to HDMI cable to connect to the TV.
Everything plugged together Ok.

On powering up the Mac, the Widescreen TV shows the grey screen with the apple symbol and the spinning wheel, this disappears and the 19" monitor comes on. This displays the desktop picture, but no icons appear and that's all that happens. Power off theMac, power off the Widescreen TV, power on the Mac and it comes up normally. The grey bootup screen appears on the 19".

So how do I get the system to recognise BOTH displays. I've played with the System Preferences, but because the system won't recognise both screens I can't switch on the mirror option.

Any thoughts on the problem welcome.
Ta.

Quicksilver G4 Dual 1.73Mhz, Mac OS X (10.5.5), 1.5GB SDRAM

Posted on Nov 4, 2009 11:12 PM

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Answer 1

Jay Eneberg2 Author

Level 1

50 points

Nov 5, 2009 10:33 PM in response to Jay Eneberg2

From this information from my system profile:
____________________________________________
ATI Radeon 7500:

Chipset Model: ATY,RV200
Type: Display
Bus: AGP
Slot: SLOT-1
VRAM (Total): 32 MB
Vendor: ATI (0x1002)
Device ID: 0x5157
Revision ID: 0x0000
ROM Revision: 113-91701-222
Displays:
VA1912wSERIES:
Resolution: 1440 x 900 @ 60 Hz
Depth: 32-bit Color
Core Image: Software
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Supported
Display Connector:
Status: No display connected
___________________________________________

I take it that OS10.5.5 is detecting my Viewsonic VA1912w Screen connected to the VGA; but for some reason has decided that there is NO display (my HDTV via HDMI) connected to the ADC.

I've been playing with this for a day or two now. With both screens attached and powered on I power on the G4. The grey "boot up" screen with the Apple logo and spinning wheel appears on the HDTV screen, meaning the Mac has found it and is using it. While this is happening the Viewsonic is grey.

Then both screen go black, the Viewsonic goes blue, then puts up an old desktop picture, while the HDTV remains black. And that's all that happens.

I have to disconnect the HDMI cable from the HDTV, power down the HDTV & the Mac, then power on the Mac again to get it back.

So why would the Mac detect the HDTV, then decide it's not there?

I've tried adjusting the display settings and frequencies to no avail.

Anyone?

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Answer 2

Jay Eneberg2 Author

Level 1

50 points

Nov 5, 2009 10:35 PM in response to Jay Eneberg2

The Radeon 7500 is compatiable with my G4 and does dual monitors.

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Answer 3

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Nov 7, 2009 6:49 AM in response to Jay Eneberg2

Does the TV have a VGA input? If yes, have you tried running it from the Radeon 7500's VGA output?

Does the TV's user guide say anything about making computer/PC connections? Often times HDMI won't work for computer input on a TV. Depends on the TV model.

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Answer 4

Jay Eneberg2 Author

Level 1

50 points

Nov 9, 2009 11:20 PM in response to BSteely

Yes the TV has a VGA input, and I did test that worked.
And the HDTV instruction manual does give a list of resolution settings when connecting the HDTV to a computer via a HDMI cable. And as it does work when booting up, couldn't understand why it wouldn't work once up.

For the moment I've connected the ADC to DVI adaptor to the small monitor via a spare DVI cable and the VGA port on the Mac to the VGA port on the HDTV. Both screens are working, but now I have a hum/crackle on the Mac's audio output when ever the HDTV is connected. Weird.

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Answer 5

Jay Eneberg2 Author

Level 1

50 points

Nov 9, 2009 11:21 PM in response to Jay Eneberg2

More or less resolved. Now I have a new problem.

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