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Mac Mini with Samsung HDTV tv/monitor. Connection Help!!

I just purchased a Samsung HDTV TV/Monitor for my Mac Mini. I connected it with an HDMI, I cant get the picture/text etc. crisp. Anyone suggest connecting it via DVI instead? I am confused with the whole DVI / HDMI / Thunderbolt scenario. Which would give me the best resolution and audio using only the built in Samsung speakers...


Thanks 🙂

iPhone 4, iOS 4.3.2

Posted on Feb 4, 2012 7:39 AM

Reply
27 replies

Feb 4, 2012 3:26 PM in response to joeturbo26

does it say that the mode is not supported? if so do this.


you will need a second monitor (most likely the tv in the living room)

HDMI Cable

iPad or an iPhone (optional)

iTunes Account

iTunes credit to spend (£20 or more)


Step 1:

plug your Mac into the second monitor with the hd cable, plug in the stuff you need (etc..)


Step 2:

open the Mac App Store and search " Air Display "

The iPad way is cheaper. on the iPad you just search " Display Pad "

then, you google display pad or on the iPad, follow on -screen instrctions.


Step 3:

bring in the monitor, then put the hd cable into the monitor after you have connected your ipad/ iPod/iPhone etc..

to your mac.


Step 4:

on the device, go into the preferences, then screen settings, then set it to 720p, if that doesnt work, try cycling through all of the resolutions. if that doesent work, then try using the idevice as an extended display. then repeat.

Feb 4, 2012 4:21 PM in response to joeturbo26

Hi Joe. You may be able to solve the issue without buying anything new.


Regarding the three cable types, HDMI and DVI are both capable of supplying a clear, crisp picture up to 1080p. HDMI is more convenient because it also carries an audio signal to your television. When using DVI you'll need a separate cable to carry audio. Most televisions are not compatible with Thunderbolt/Mini Displayport.


Try this: Look at your TV box or manual. Check which kind of HD is supported by your TV: It's probably either 1080P or 720P. Connect the HDTV to your Mac Mini with an HDMI cable. Turn on the TV. On your Mac go to System Preferences > Displays. Click "Detect Displays" in the bottom right corner. Under "Resolutions" select either 1080P or 720P, depending on what your TV box/manual says.


You should now have a crystal clear picture. If the picture looks stretched or distorted use your TV remote to change the display aspect ratio until things look right.

May 21, 2012 10:18 PM in response to joeturbo26

After having similar symptoms with my Samsung UN55C8000 TV and trying every possible cable type, I have a solution. VGA was giving me great quality, but I wanted an HDMI connection to work.


Finally comprehending other forum posts about renaming the input to PC, HDMI now gives very good quality picture.


So, final configuration is Mac Mini 2011 plugged into HDMI input 1 on TV. Then with the TV remote, select Source, then push Tools, then Edit Name, then scroll down and select "PC". Boom. suddenly crisp picture. thank goodness.

Aug 31, 2012 10:22 PM in response to luxus13

Thanks for the suggestion luxas13...

I had the same resolution problem with a new Mac Mini 2011 and a new Samsung T27B350 Monitor/TV.

I was getting very frustrated that I couldn't get the resolution set properly at 1080p, but as strange as it is, changing the source name to 'PC' on the TV seems to have fixed the problem!

Nov 4, 2012 2:34 PM in response to eddb31

I should say this, But Samsung + Apple = Mostly incompatible with Macintosh, tv, etc... Because Samsung is always is copying Apple and stuff. Apple actually uses LG displays in their iMacs, Cinema Displays, and their Thunderbolt Displays. So, Therefore LG is the best monitor to get for any Mac, tv, etc...


So, Now you know what's best, then you should get a new display if that one goes on the blink, because the chances are actually quite low for it to work again.


P.S, I Do not work for Apple (Yet?), Samsung (I'm Not Korean & stuff), And I do not work for LG. =)


I am just very into Apple & stuff. 🙂


Thanks for reading!

Jan 13, 2013 11:04 AM in response to eddb31

Hi
I faced the same problem with a Mac mini mid 2011 and Samsung S23A35OH .
My solution was to buy a Mini Display Port to HDMI & DVI from Griffin (and use the small screen hole) with an HDMI cable. It worked.


Funny thing.
My next Mac mini I had a Samsung T23A350 , basically the same screen and a Mac mini fall 2012, basically the same machine and this solution with the HDMI & DVI from Griffin did not seem to work. Same cables! Then I get to this forum and tried to figured it out...


So this is very frustrating and confusing.


Anyone knows...

Jun 28, 2013 12:20 PM in response to luxus13

Luxus13,


When I try switching the source from HDMI to PC on my Samsung T27B350 connected via HDMI, it says "no PC detected. Ensure VGA cable is connected." But the display is really crappy in HDMI mode with any setting (although 1080P seems the best, as long as I crank in some underscan to make the Mac menu visible). On a Windows 2008 PC, also connected with HDMI, the screen looks great. This is unbelievably frustrating after spending $300 on a monitor for a $600 Mac Mini!


This is a brand new, latest model Mac MIni. It has no VGA output, and you can't get VGA out of the HDMI port even with an adapter.


Edited to add my Mac Mini model

Jun 28, 2013 2:41 PM in response to Mel Beckman

Mel,


It sounds like you have the same confusion I had. See my above post that tries to clarify and be explicit about the steps needed.

I connect my Mac Mini with HDMI to the Samsung TV HDMI input. Then, in the TV's settings, you give that HDMI input channel a text name that is "PC". That seems to trigger some special trick with Samsung that usually edge-trimming and stretching is not performed on the input. This is exactly what you want to use the TV as computer display. This way you get 1:1 pixel representation.


A VGA cable is not necessary. Samsung calls the VGA input to the TV 'PC' -- at least on my TV. This input is not necessary and also confuses the issue.

Jun 28, 2013 3:11 PM in response to noahr

Ah! I glossed over the phrase "with the TV remote". Because I bought this as a monitor and have never used the TV function, I didn't have the remote out. After hunting it down, I was able to choose Source and press the dedicated Tools button on the remote (which is inaccessible from the front panel buttons). I now see that there are a buch of preconfigured profiles, such as "Game" and "BluRay". I tried both PC and DVI PC, both of which seem to have the same result in the Mac.


Now I am finally able to use the Apple Display Color Calibration tool in the Displays system preference dialog. The monitor looks much, much better with that tuned in as well. Phenomenal! Thank you, Noahr!

Jun 29, 2013 1:42 AM in response to joeturbo26

I am having the same problem as many have expressed here. I bought a mac mini three months ago and recently a Samsung LED monitor(not a TV) S25C350L. When I connect the two with a HDMI cable, nothing comes on the screen. I have set the input source to PC on the monitor. The cable, monitor and the mac mini work perfectly on their own-tested by using with other components. The display I get on my TV is pretty bad and that is why I bought the external monitor. There is absolutely, no display on the monitor. Can someone help Thank you, Jack

Jun 29, 2013 8:17 AM in response to Jacktej

Some high-end HDMI cables are unidirectional. Have you tried swapping it end-for-end? Sometimes these cables are marked with red bands on the ends. It's also worth just trying a completely different HDMI cable. I actually find that the lower-cost HDMI cables tend to have fewer problems than high-end cables. That's because high-end cables often include features such as embedded Ethernet, that if you don't have compatible equipment for, won't work at all.

Mac Mini with Samsung HDTV tv/monitor. Connection Help!!

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