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Level 2

311 points

Connecting a VGA monitor to new Mac Mini?

I have a perfectly good LCD monitor that has a VGA connector on its input cable. I'm currently using it with an old iMac G4 (Gumdrop) via a mini-display to VGA adapter cable.

I'm replacing the old iMac with a new Mac Mini, which has only Thunderbolt and HDMI connectors available. The Mac Mini comes with an "HDMI to DVI adapter" (Apple's description), but I can't find any other information about that adapter on the Mac Mini description pages, nor can I find any photos of the adapter. I assume that the DVI side of the adapter is a standard DVI (F) female connector, which will accept a standard DVI (M) male connector.

Unless I'm missing something (definitely possible), it would seem that the most direct method of connecting the monitor would be to use a DVI (M) to VGA (F) adapter; plug the DVI side into the Apple-supplied HDMI to DVI adapter, and then use the VGA side of the adapter to connect the monitor.

I've read that some folks have had difficulty connecting VGA monitors to the Mac Mini — something about the HDMI signal not accurately translating to VGA with passive adapters. I don't know enough about it to say whether it's workable, but something doesn't add up. If Apple's HDMI to DVI adapter works then it should just provide DVI at the DVI end of the adapter. And if DVI converts to VGA (which it does...I've done it many times), how can the [HDMI to DVI] + [DVI to VGA] path not work?

Are there "different kinds" of DVI signals — namely, the kind that can be converted to VGA, and another kind that can't be converted to VGA?

Thanks in advance.

MPQuad-Core2.8GHz,32GB,23"CinemaHD-OTHER, Mac OS X (10.6.8), MacBook Pro 17"; 10.6.8; 2GB RAM

Posted on Jan 24, 2012 7:05 PM

Best reply

Spirits

Level 1

4 points

Posted on Jan 2, 2013 11:27 AM

Thank you so much for this post - I'll have to try this.

I bought a new Mac Mini because I was excited about the HDMI hookup - only to be very frustrated that the HDMI image on my tv was HORRIBLE. I had my old mini hooked up to the same tv through VGA, and was hoping to be able to easily switch from one machine to the other through simply changing the tv's input from VGA to HDMI. Now, I think I'll have to get this adapter and try the VGA route for the new mini, which will mean cumbersome cable switching if I want to use the old machine again.

I really hope Apple can develop a fix for the poor HDMI picture quality of the Mini soon!

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19 replies

ron7624

Level 1

40 points

Jan 8, 2015 2:05 PM in response to freevito

Thanks for this post. in looking at the ports, I wondered how to hook things up, and the only real question was the monitor. Now it is clear. I plan to pick up a referb for my wife. She has a dying windows unit. She only uses the web and a word processor. Period. She has an iPad Air, and an iPhone 6 so replacing her dying windows unit is a no brainer with a Mac Mini. She will catch on right away and have a shiny new toy to enjoy.

May 20, 2015 3:31 AM in response to lllaass

Thanks for the tip. An Amazon salesperson advised me to buy a VGA to HDMI cable when I purchased the mini. ($14 on Amazon and as you know, it didn't work). Too bad she didn't know to sell me the Apple product, which I would have gladly added onto my order. $29 but at least it does the job. My old 15 inch 'flatscreen' (10 years old now but still works just fine) saved me at least $300 bucks.

Jun 27, 2015 12:18 PM in response to freevito

Hi. does having a dvi-d interface on the monitor suffice to accept macmini? I saw a used monitor (Samsung s19b300b) online and from the photo there appear to have a dvi-d interface next to VGA socket . My first monitor (breaks down) has a sticker that says "hdmi ready" so I had no issues in plug and play. This time shall I take chance by just the dvi-d interface? TIA.

lllaass

Level 10

210,411 points

Jun 27, 2015 12:52 PM in response to tyranosarusrex

Yes. You will need a mini displayport to DVI adopter. The mini displayport pend plugs into the Mini's Thunderbolt port.

If the monitor resolution is greater than 1920x1200 you need the $99 dual-link adopter

Connecting a VGA monitor to new Mac Mini?