Macbook Pro to DVI or HDMI

I too would like to know the answer to this...or a least a side-by-side of the benefits of each. I will be purchasing a monitor that has both DVI and HDMI inputs on it...but if there is a difference in quality that would sway my decision to one or the other.

Thanks in advance!

Hi John,

This is what we use:

Kanex iAdapt 51 MDP to HDMI w/ 5.1 Channel Digital Audio

It works really well, and connected it into our HDMI port in our audio amplifier, which then is connected by HDMI out to the HDMI in on our TV. You can also hook it directly into the TV, but since we have surround sound, we needed to route through the amp.

Amy

HDMI and DVI are really one and the same connection except for the fact that HDMI can carry audio as well as video. If you have the most recent MBP, I'd go with HDMI as the new mini Displayport can output audio to HDMI. However, if your computer is older or you don't care about audio, just go with whatever's the cheapest option for you.

Message was edited by: brian515

I want to reiterate what Brian wrote above. Only the most recent MBP send audio over MiniDisplay Port, and then you need to purchase a MDP to HDMI adapter that also carries sound data (most do not, so you need to be careful).

Once you get the adapter then you need to fix your Sound and Midi preferences to make sure it sends the right signals to the HDMI adapter.

I'm a new Mac user trying to connect my 13" Mac Book Pro (mid 2010) to my Samsung LCD TV. I have the adaptor (Dynex Mini Display Port to HDMI) but am confused on a very basic level about what connect where and what settings I need to employ on my computer or on my TV.

I have the adaptor connected to my laptop and took my HDMI cable out of my cable box so that it's now connecting my TV to my laptop.

I tried changing the input on my TV but that action on its own did not make the video on my computer show on the TV. What am I missing? Thanks for any help you can share.

jlk100 - have you figured it out? I'm in the same boat.

It should be a simple connection. If you have the minidisplay port to HDMI converter just plug them in and then plug directly into the HDMI port of choice on your TV. Change your TV source to that HDMI port and click the Apple in the upper left corner of your screen. Then select: System Preferences > Displays. This screen should allow you to detect your new display and set up how you want your screen displayed on the television. I hope this helps.

hi all

right this problem with the sound not coming out of my tv when i have a HDMI cable plugged in, how do i set up my mac to send the audio to the MDP

thanks

jlk100 wrote:
I tried changing the input on my TV but that action on its own did not make the video on my computer show on the TV. What am I missing?

Do you mean the TV was black, or you saw an empty desktop picture on the TV?

If it was the first one, a setting or cable is set up wrong.
If it was the second one, you did it right, but you never dragged anything to the TV monitor, or you haven't turned on mirroring, depending on how you want to use the computer/TV combo.

I also have the mid 2009 Macbook Pro and just got a monitor with both DVI and HDMI inputs. I'm using the DVI input for the computer for a few reasons:
1) The monitor actually has DVI-D which is what Apple calls DVI.

2) DVI-D and the vdieo portion of the HDMI are the same.

3) The older MBPs don't send audio over HDMI, if they did like the new ones do, I would use HDMI.

4) Since I am not using the single HDMI port on my monitor for my MBP it is left availble for me to hook up something else there (TV, xBox, etc.)

Hope this helps whoever else has this question in the future.