Macbook display on 4:3 TV incorrect please help!

Question

Level 1

0 points

Macbook display on 4:3 TV incorrect please help!

If anyone could help me, I'd be very thankful. I've been hooking up my 2012 MBP to different TVs for about 6 months now. The display is fine on a typical modern 16:9 TV, a little cut off around the edges but not a big deal. What is far more frustrating is when I attach it to an older CRT 4:3 TV. I have never been able to get the display right, the issue is that everything is pressed together such that a O appears more like () if that makes sense. Circles look like ovals and faces look far too skinny. I have just upgraded to Yosemite and I still can't get it to display properly on a 4:3. I know that there should be letter boxing but I can't get such an effect to happen. Thank you to anyone who can help.

MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2012), OS X Yosemite (10.10.1), 4:3 TV

Posted on Dec 22, 2014 3:11 PM

Reply

Answer 1

brenden dv

Community Specialist

Dec 24, 2014 6:28 AM in response to rebeccaa66

Hi rebeccaa66,

I'm sorry to hear you are having issues connecting your MacBook Pro to certain external displays. I'm a bit unclear on your exact configuration, in particular what type of connection or adapter you are using to connect to these CRT televisions. Depending on the connection type, it may not automatically scale the image into a letterbox format. You may want to see if you can adjust the display resolution to one closer to the 4:3 proportions:

OS X Yosemite: Adjust your display’s resolution

If that does not work, you may find the information in the following articles helpful, even if they do not directly address your specific issue:

OS X Yosemite: Use your TV as a display

Learn about overscan and underscan - Apple Support

Apple computers: Troubleshooting issues with video on internal or external displays - Apple Support

Regards,

- Brenden

Reply