You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

User profile for user: bobbo222
bobbo222 Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Older tower (MAC PRO dual core Intel Xeon_

I want to run my old (wonderful) Mac Pro tower (pretty sure it's this one:)

Apple Mac Pro 5,1 A1289 (2x) QC Xeon-E5620 2.4GHz 8GB DDR3 1TB HDD - Grade C (pcliquidations.com)


to an HP monitor (brand new) - which has HDMI and VGA [15 pin} connecting capability.


(Then my goal is to also connect a PC tower -to the SAME monitor using an ioGear KVM which works across both operating systems).


My problem: I can't tell what a lot of the ports are on my MAC. (I know it doesn't have HDMI .... so I'm left using the VGA port (which is the 24 pin kind) with some kind of adapter...? will that even work?


Thank you for any help. If I could just identify the ports, I can call ioGear, and they can guide me.


Posted on Aug 20, 2021 3:21 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: MrHoffman
MrHoffman
Community+ 2024
User level: Level 10
127,669 points

Posted on Aug 20, 2021 4:04 AM

You’ll want to identify which graphics I/O connectors are present on the back of the Mac Pro, or identify which graphics controller is present in the configuration display and use that to look up the connectors from the control specs documentation. DVI and mini DisplayPort was fairly commonly found, and there are DVI to VGA display adapters available. There are also mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapters, though I’ve not tried one of those.


Identify the ports on your Mac - Apple Support

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Visual_Interface

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DisplayPort


You might not be able to view HDCP protected content (e.g. movies) with this configuration; VGA likely won’t work with that, and an HDMI adapter might or might not work.


Whether the KVM will work here, you’ll get to find out. I’ve had decent luck with the IOGEAR and Avocent KVM switches I’ve used, and rotten luck with some other KVM vendors. Your luck may vary.


Some monitors include an integrated KVM and a selection of ports, which can make this a little easier.

View in context

Similar questions

3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: MrHoffman
MrHoffman
Community+ 2024
User level: Level 10
127,669 points

Aug 20, 2021 4:04 AM in response to bobbo222

You’ll want to identify which graphics I/O connectors are present on the back of the Mac Pro, or identify which graphics controller is present in the configuration display and use that to look up the connectors from the control specs documentation. DVI and mini DisplayPort was fairly commonly found, and there are DVI to VGA display adapters available. There are also mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapters, though I’ve not tried one of those.


Identify the ports on your Mac - Apple Support

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Visual_Interface

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DisplayPort


You might not be able to view HDCP protected content (e.g. movies) with this configuration; VGA likely won’t work with that, and an HDMI adapter might or might not work.


Whether the KVM will work here, you’ll get to find out. I’ve had decent luck with the IOGEAR and Avocent KVM switches I’ve used, and rotten luck with some other KVM vendors. Your luck may vary.


Some monitors include an integrated KVM and a selection of ports, which can make this a little easier.

Reply

Older tower (MAC PRO dual core Intel Xeon_

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.
Learn more Sign up