Does Mac Mini's HDMI-to-DVI cable support analog DVI monitors?

Question

Level 1

16 points

Does Mac Mini's HDMI-to-DVI cable support analog DVI monitors?

The Apple website shows that the new (late 2012) Mac Mini comes with an HDMI-to-DVI adapter cable in the box :-)

The DVI video connector standard supports both analog and digital video signal modes, but not all models support both modes.

I have an old PC monitor with a DVI connector, which is probably analog only. Will this work with the new (late 2012) Mac Mini?

In other words: does Apple's HDMI-to-DVI adapter cable support all DVI monitors, or only those with a digital input?

Many thanks!

- Martin

Posted on Nov 1, 2012 1:20 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Best reply

John Lockwood

Level 6

13,685 points

Nov 1, 2012 6:52 AM in response to Martin42

Your right about the DVI standard support both analogue and digital. The three types are

DVI-A (analogue only)

DVI-D (digital only)

DVI-I (supports both)

In this case the HDMI to DVI adaptor will only support digital DVI. This is because the HDMI port only supports digital.

Generally monitors with a DVI port support digital DVI, if you compare the socket and pins layout on the monitor to the one on the Mac adaptor if they are the same layout then that should indicate the monitor indeed supports digital DVI.

Note: The maximum resolution supported by the Macs HDMI port is 1920x1200, if your monitor supports a higher resolution then you should get a Mini Displayport to DVI adaptor or if needed a Mini Displayport to Dual Link DVI adaptor (for the highest resolutions).

The following may help http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Visual_Interface

Reply