I am trying to display my Mac Pro on a PANASONIC TX-L32E3B TV

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I am trying to display my Mac Pro on a PANASONIC TX-L32E3B TV

Hi

Having trouble with this. HDMI input gives me a desktop image larger than the screen. Dock and top menus off screen and no matter what res settings I use they don't get pulled in. None of the resolution settings give me crisp detail, the fonts are especially fuzzy. Currently I am running a 22 inch HP monitor and HDMI through that is so crisp and sharp. I would have thought that despite the increased screen size and HD TV would be the same

There is a VGA input for PC however. I see the white boot up screen with the grey apple but when the desktop should appear the screen goes black.

Anyone out there help?

Thanks,

Phil.

Mac Pro (Early 2008), Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Jan 20, 2012 12:35 AM

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Answer 1

X423424X

Level 6

14,271 points

Jan 21, 2012 2:40 PM in response to Wingston

Apple monitor costs more than your TV!

FWIW, my Sony TV is connected via DVI through a converter box but I have an enabled Underscan setting for that display although I have no need to use it.

I lookd at your manual and it does have an advance Picture setting they refer to as "16:9 Overscan". I guess that's the on/off toggle you are referring to in your last post. Sounds like it should be off.

Well, I don't know. I would expect this to work. Maybe the EDID info is getting fouled up in some way.

Update: Another thought -- what about the zoom control on your TV? Did you fiddle with it? Looking at your manual it looks like they refer to it as "Aspect".

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Answer 2

Wingston Author

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Jan 21, 2012 4:41 PM in response to X423424X

I was referring to the overscan checkbox that I have in place of the underscan slider you have. I imagine that the 'off' end of the slider is the equivalent of ticking my checkbox marked 'overscan' the 'more' end is the same as unchecking my box. The slider gives inbetween settings.

I did find the aspect and overscan settings on the TV but they didn't help.

Thanks for your help. I may have to go for a cheap monitor instead. Having sold theTV

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Answer 3

X423424X

Level 6

14,271 points

Jan 20, 2012 1:16 AM in response to Wingston

You need to adjust the Displays preferences for the HDMI screen. If Displays Arrangement shows the HDMI screen is detected but the TV is currently black click Gather Windows to get the Displays preferences for the HDMI sceen on to your main screen. Then choose 720p, 1080i, or 1080p resolution, i.e., whatever is appropriate for your TV. Set the refresh rate (60Hz).

At this point your TV should be acting as another monitor (I assume you set the TV to take input from the HDMI connection). If the picture is too small or too large on the TV you need to fiddle with the Underscan slider on the Displays panel for the HDMI screen. The TV itself may have overscan/underscan settings as well.

There is a VGA input for PC however. I see the white boot up screen with the grey apple but when the desktop should appear the screen goes black.

I assume you are talking about your TV. Forget about that if you are using an HDMI connection. While you could choose to use the VGA connection to your mac pro why would you?

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Answer 4

Wingston Author

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Jan 20, 2012 3:26 AM in response to X423424X

Hi, thanks. I have tried the preferences for th HDMI screen but neither 1080p or 1080i work. I always lose the edges of my desktop. I will try the under and overscan settings.

I only went to VGA as I could not get all of my desktop to display through HDMI.

I will give this another go.

Thanks.

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Answer 5

Wingston Author

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Jan 21, 2012 2:09 PM in response to X423424X

Hi

I have tried all the above but no luck. Whatever resolution I apply I have the overscan issue. There is an 'overscan' box I can tick so I guess that unchecked it is not overscanning. Makes no difference either way. I found some info that says the slider only appears if you have the tv conected via a minidvi - hdmi. Unfortunately I have no mini dvi port. I have tried both 'HD' settings 1080p & i but neither looks particularly good. Maybe it is the TV. I have tried every menu on it and adjusted everything I thought may have a bearing.

May have to shell out on an apple monitor :-(

Phil.

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Answer 6

X423424X

Level 6

14,271 points

Jan 21, 2012 8:19 PM in response to Wingston

Strange you only have a checkbox while I have a slider. Not sure I understand why (EDID?).

At any rate I also asked if you checked your zoom (Aspect) settings on your TV and investigatated that advance Picture "16:9 Overscan" setting on your TV.

I'm out of ideas after that.

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Answer 7

Wingston Author

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Jan 22, 2012 8:50 AM in response to X423424X

I did try the overscan on my TV and it didn't do it, however, it's working now. I took the TV back to the shop. They tried it and it worked. Made me look a total *******. I bring it back, plug everything back in and it doesn't. Huh???? I noticed that the VGA out I was using was also a converted from mini dv. It's been stuck in there for four years and I had forgotten what was underneath. I tried it with just the one mini dv in use and hey presto. I plug the other monitor back in and it all goes to **** again. Who'd have thought? If only I'd disconnected the other monitor instead of just turning it off.

Many thanks for all your efforts.

Phil.

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