I want to be able to watch iPlayer, slideshows etc on the TV via my MacPro. I have been given the wrong cable three times now and the staff at my local Apple store seem unable to give me the correct cable. I think one end should be HDMI, but what should the other end be?
Well, you'd better tell us what graphics card you have in your Mac Pro.
I doubt any Apple graphic card came with HDMI.
Adapters yes. MDP or DVI to HDMI
The OS you use helps too. And Mac Pro model (3,1 etc)
Apple Mini DisplayPort adapters: Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3382
Guide to Apple graphic display adapters needed
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT3235
Atlona (Dual Link) DVI to Mini DisplayPort Converter for Apple 27-inch LED and 27-inch iMac
http://www.atlona.com/Atlona-Dual-Link-DVI-to-Mini-DisplayPort-Converter-USB-Pow ered.html
Mac Pro (Early 2009), Mac Pro (Mid 2010), Mac Pro (Mid 2012): Issues with three displays and multiple DVI, HDMI connections
It's not the USB data that is needed to run three displays. It's the extra POWER. If you read the Apple article, they say the only solution they endorse is their US$100 Dual-Link adapters. Check the table at the end of the article.
Mac Pro (Early 2009), Mac Pro (Mid 2010): Supported display configurations
Readers here have found that if you have two Brand-X Powered adapters, aka active adapters, it also works fine. These do not always require another USB. If designed recently, they can pick up a power pin in the Mini DisplayPort interface.
AMD (makers of the 5770 and 5870) lists the qualified POWERED adapters that meet their most stringent requirements. Look down the page and you will find several qualified Active Mini DisplyPort to various others, such as HDMI. These adapters are available from other outlets, such as Amazon, sometimes for far less than the Apple adapters.
http://support.amd.com/us/eyefinity/Pages/eyefinity-dongles.aspx
The other desktop monitor will plug directly into the DVI port on the card and the 40 inch tv will still connect via HDMI over the second Mini Display port.
That will work only if you use an active Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter.
The only (someone) have found to work (2009)
http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/337561577/miniactive_display_port_tohdmi.html
but you should confirm that they are really active before buying 500 of them.
You can connect a DVI to HDMI adapter or cable to an active Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter but that won't give you any audio over HDMI. You could connect the DVI displays to the Mini DisplayPorts with active adapters and use a DVI to HDMI cable or adapter from the DVI port to the TV.
If you want audio via HDMI, you can use audio from the Mac Pro's optical output with this DVI to HDMI converter:
What connector/adapter cable should I purchase to link my Mac Pro to the TV
