Compatibility with Samsung DLP (HL-S5088W) TV

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Level 1

4 points

Compatibility with Samsung DLP (HL-S5088W) TV

Is it advisable to buy a 50” Samung DLP (HL-S5088W) to be the media center display driven by my Mac Mini Duo 1.83 GHz with 1GB Ram? Among other goals, I want to use the Mac Mini super drive as my DVD player.
SAMSUNG REQUIREMENTS TO USE THE S5088W AS COMPUTER MONITOR:
The S5088W has an HMDI port to receive the DVI-D signal from the Mac Mini (with a HMDI to DVI-D cable connection). However, Samsung advises to hook up a computer through the S5088W’s PC-in ports (RGB for video and standard audio connector for sound).
My review of on-line discussions suggests that if you don’t do it the way Samsung suggests, the result is over scan such that Mac Mini menu bars are lost.
VIDEO ISSUES: Assuming less than 6’ cables, how much video quality will be lost backing down from a DVI-D to RGB connection? I suspect this will be significant.
AUDIO ISSUES: How much will be lost by converting from the Mac Mini’s “optical digital audio output” to the Samsung’s PC-in “standard 3.5 mm audio” port?
GENERAL. After much research, I concluded the S5088W is the current optimal (performance/cost) monitor and home theater choice. Is this correct? Is it likely that year 2007+ 50” HDTV’s will have PC-in ports to accommodate DVI-D and optical audio? I came very close to buying the S5088W but doubt overcame me when I discovered I shouldn't connect DVI-D Mini to HDMI Samsung monitor.

Powerbook G3 Pismo, Mac OS X (10.4.7), NA

Posted on Nov 27, 2006 4:35 PM

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Answer 1

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Nov 28, 2006 6:00 PM in response to tjgtall

Is it advisable to buy a 50” Samung DLP (HL-S5088W)
to be the media center display driven by my Mac Mini
Duo 1.83 GHz with 1GB Ram?

It's best if you can find someone else that has done this ahead of you to confirm it will work. Otherwise there is risk.

Among other goals, I want to use the Mac Mini super drive as my DVD player.

What are your other goals?

SAMSUNG REQUIREMENTS TO USE THE S5088W AS COMPUTER
MONITOR:
The S5088W has an HMDI port to receive the DVI-D
signal from the Mac Mini (with a HMDI to DVI-D cable
connection). However, Samsung advises to hook up a
computer through the S5088W’s PC-in ports (RGB for
video and standard audio connector for sound).
My review of on-line discussions suggests that if you
don’t do it the way Samsung suggests, the result is
over scan such that Mac Mini menu bars are lost.
VIDEO ISSUES: Assuming less than 6’ cables, how much
video quality will be lost backing down from a DVI-D
to RGB connection? I suspect this will be
significant.

No, it will be very insignificant. I expect you will hardly be able to tell the difference between the digital input and the analog one with an Intel mini.

AUDIO ISSUES: How much will be lost by converting
from the Mac Mini’s “optical digital audio output” to
the Samsung’s PC-in “standard 3.5 mm audio” port?

There actually won't be any conversion. You will be using the analog output of the mini's audio jack and plugging into the TV's audio input. The limitation to quality in that case will be the speakers in the TV, not the interface.

GENERAL. After much research, I concluded the S5088W
is the current optimal (performance/cost) monitor and
home theater choice. Is this correct? Is it likely
that year 2007+ 50” HDTV’s will have PC-in ports to
accommodate DVI-D and optical audio? I came very
close to buying the S5088W but doubt overcame me when
I discovered I shouldn't connect DVI-D Mini to HDMI
Samsung monitor.

Yes, things are getting better and cheaper very fast. There is no downside to waiting if you can afford to be patient.

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Answer 2

tjgtall Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 28, 2006 7:17 PM in response to tjgtall

This supports my hope that the Samsung PC input ports will be quite adequate. I will enjoy the opinion of others. At work colleagues advised taking my Mini to a TV retailer and actually hooking it to an equivalent Samsung to see how well it displays a video.

The other goals for my media center include using it to teach senior citizen relatives who are computer illiterate the joy of group surfing the web as well as IPhoto family picture shows.

Thanks for the good feedback.

Powerbook G3 Pismo Mac OS X (10.4.7) NA

Powerbook G3 Pismo Mac OS X (10.4.7) NA

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Answer 3

tjgtall Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 11, 2006 4:13 PM in response to BSteely

BSteely, based in great part on the confidence gleaned from your feedback, I ordered the Samsung HL-S5088W on line from Vanns. Arriving Monday one week ago, today I finally connected the Mac-Mini to it through the PC-In ports. The interface is great and I can access the web wirelessly through the Mac-Mini and 1080p resolution. The Mini appears to be adequate as a DVD player.

So far, the 50" monitor doesn't scale up the pring to be readable from my recliner that is 12' away. I've increased the font size through the Finder/Show View Options. This helped some for Mac generated fonts but text on Web Sites is not readable until I move in to about 5-6 feet. Over the next couple days I'll try to learn how to increase the size of printed web pages so the print is readable further back.

For now, I'm going to assume capability between the Mini and the 50" DLP Samsung is limited only by my knowledge. Therefore, after I go back and try to credit BSteely for his good feedback, I'll mark this post answered. In a week or so, in a new post, I'll document my experience with interfacing the Mini and Samsung.

In the meantime, as a stand alone TV, this unit is outstanding. Even without a high definition hookup, normal cable is breath taking relative to all previous TV's we've owned.

Powerbook G3 Pismo Mac OS X (10.4.7) NA

Powerbook G3 Pismo Mac OS X (10.4.7) NA

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