Connecting MacBook to external screen (tv)

1080i TVs are not as ideal as 1080p TVs.
1080i TVs often have TV safe areas, causing the four sides to be cropped out of the picture. DisplayConfigX and SwitchResX are mentioned in the forum frequently for dealing with this issue. Search around.

Depending on your display port:

1. A mini-DisplayPort to HDMI will work with:



2. A mini-DVI to HDMI will work with:



This still will not alone solve the TV safe area concerns if the TV in question has them.

hey andrew the plugs that were shown are located to the right of the power adapter on the left side of the macbook. the top picture is of the newer macbook, and the lower is the older plug (i personally have a mid 2009 macbook and it uses the bottom one) you can purchase them at an apple store, the online apple store, or a local apple reseller (best buy, micro center but since your in ontario i cant remember any stores that sell them, funny cuz i am within driving distance of ontario. hope this helps 🙂 Dean

Message was edited by: Hyprhwk2448

also you dont have to get the adapter to hdmi you can get many different ones, you can check them out under the store tab in mac accesories. hope i am helping 🙂 Dean

In the end it really depends on the TV.

I recently got a new 52 inch Samsung, with a VGA port in the back. I connected my mini-DVI to VGA connector along with a VGA cable from the MacBook to the TV, and surprisingly, it output in full 1080p.

I have an adapter to connect my MacBook with my Sony TV. As I don't have a mini-HDMI cable to watch my videos, I bought the Apple adapter (U$ 99.00) and the image is pretty nice and clear on the TV's screen: 1080p.

BUT... no audio at all, even though this was never a problem to me, because I always use my external JBL speakers or headphones. Now it came out of the blue: how do I set the sound up?

HDMI can carry audio, but it is connected to your display port, which does not.

You'll have to run a separate audio cable from your headphone jack to the TV.