Connecting my MacBook Pro to Dell Monitor

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Level 1

7 points

Connecting my MacBook Pro to Dell Monitor

Hi, I have a Dell E228WFP 24 inch monitor and I have connected it to my MacBook Pro (October 2013, Non-retina, 13 inch) with a Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter, and another adapter off eBay, which plugs into the VGA cable that is in the back of the Dell monitor. When I turn the monitor on, the screen remians black, then the monitor goes into power save mode. The Mac can find the monitor, and the Mac says the monitor is working perfectly.

The monitor goes into power save no matter if I put it on Auto Detect or Digital imput, or Analog input.

Please help!

Posted on Feb 8, 2014 3:56 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

BobRz

Level 5

6,138 points

Feb 8, 2014 7:17 PM in response to HaydenFromWA

Based on your description, I'd suspect the cabling. You're going minidiplayport to DVI to VGA with the ebay adapter as an additional unknown. Your best bet is to just get the minidisplayport to VGA adapter and use the monitor's cable.

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Answer 2

a brody

Level 10

82,803 points

Feb 8, 2014 7:38 PM in response to HaydenFromWA

Searching on Amazon, I find the monitor has HDMI. a Mini-Displayport to HDMI adapter from the Apple Store is a much better choice than any VGA adapter. Also your machine will support audio over HDMI if there is audio on the monitor. If not, that's immaterial for that monitor:

http://www.amazon.com/Dell-E228WFP-Widescreen-1680x1050-resolution/dp/B001BKR5D8

Anyway, HDMI carries the full digital signal. So does DVI. I for one prefer HDMI since it is less likely to fail connecting.

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Answer 3

BobRz

Level 5

6,138 points

Feb 8, 2014 7:41 PM in response to a brody

a brody is right, that is a better solution. I didn't look up the monitor. I assumed it was an old monitor with just a VGA port. Given that it has HDMI, this might be the easiest and cheapest solution:

http://www.amazon.com/Mini_Dis-HDMI-CB6-Mini-DisplayPort-Adapter-Cable/dp/B003OC 6LWM/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1391917239&sr=8-3&keywords=mini+displayport+to+hdmi

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Answer 4

HaydenFromWA Author

Level 1

7 points

Feb 9, 2014 2:08 AM in response to BobRz

Sorry. i have just found the solution. I bought a DVI to DVI adapter, pugged it into the Mini displayport and the other end into the monitor. The VGA cable plugged into the montior, and the other end in the monitor's tower.

And It works!

THANKS FOR THE HELP!

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Answer 5

Jun 3, 2014 5:15 PM in response to HaydenFromWA

I have the same issue.

I am trying to connect a Dell 1907FPV to a mid-2007 24" iMac using a MIniDVI to DVI-D adapter and a DVI dual link cable.

The monitor is recognized by the iMac and it shows in the display panel, however the DELL monitor screen is black. When a button is pressed on the monitor the following message appears:

2 : Digital Input

In Power Save Mode

Press any key on keyboard or move mouse

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

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Answer 6

a brody

Level 10

82,803 points

Jun 4, 2014 4:11 AM in response to HaydenFromWA

Just be aware that DVI does not carry audio on Macs. Only HDMI, later mini-Displayport, and Thunderbolt do, unless you get a cable that combines the audio out with video out into a single audio compatible cable.

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Answer 7

demolynn

Level 1

15 points

May 31, 2016 2:06 PM in response to J. Alfredo Iniguez-Jimenez

I have same problem. Dell monitor, vga only. purchased apple vga adapter plugged into macbook air mini display port. macbook recognizes the Dell monitor. Dell Monitor says power saver mode, and has black screen. Cant get anything to show on dell monitor.

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