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Do Macs have lower powered HDMI ports?

Bit of backstory, I help run some meetings, and one of the cables we use is a 100ft HDMI cable. We've used it for years with windows machines, and its worked fine, but then we got a mac studio that we sometimes use for larger meetings that need streaming. When we went to plug it in, it didn't work, and we needed to use an adapter to make it work. Later, we got a Mac mini, and it had the same issue, and when I got my 2023 Macbook pro I tried that and it still needed an adapter! Now we use a windows for our smaller meetings again, and it works just fine with the cable. So, there are only a couple things I can think of that might cause this.


  1. Mac's don't play nice with our cable
  2. Mac's have a HDMI port that can't supply enough power for 100ft HDMI, because it's a rare case and they don't want to support it (somewhat fair but annoying)


I should also note that there was a signal getting through the cable, but it was flickering, which is why I think it's an underpowered port.

Posted on Jun 11, 2023 10:47 AM

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Jun 11, 2023 12:26 PM in response to RileyHarder

along with hcsitas' reply...


RileyHarder wrote:

We've used it for years with windows machines, and its worked fine, t it was flickering, which is why I think it's an underpowered port.

since you've been "using it for years", your issue is likely the HDMI cable itself. anything over about 6ft, you need to use an active HDMI cable. they have circuitry built in that amplifies the signal.

Do Macs have lower powered HDMI ports?

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