USB3 to HDMI - does it work?

Question

USB3 to HDMI - does it work?

I'm interested in connecting my Mac to my projector, which has a USB3 input.

this is a 2008 Mac Pro (admittedly not the latest model) - I have installed a USB3 card (which works great) and am currently running EL CAPITAN 10.11.6 (the latest I can install on this machine).

I see that there are USB3 to HDMI adapter cables for sale - for instance the one below

<https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-SuperSpeed-Adapter-Support/dp/B00ANTCU9M>

Does anyone know if it will actually work? Is my 2008 Mac powerful enough to output via an HDMI adapter? (for that matter, is there such a thing as a powered USB3 to HDMI adapter.)

(by the way - I posed this question a number of years ago, in the USB2 era - and then the conclusion was that it was NOT worth trying - however since USB3 works so well for me, I decided to ask again.)

as always, grateful for any feedback or suggestions.

Happy Holidays!

w

Mac Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.3), MANY internal & ext. hard drives

Posted on Dec 26, 2016 2:38 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Dec 26, 2016 9:20 PM in response to WillFriedwald2

Apple has the internal disciple to follow a convention -- their adapters are consistently named running from the computer going outward toward the peripherals, and sometimes that is the ONLY way they will work -- not the reverse.

The adapter you cited runs a Driver on your computer to create a screen buffer inside your Mac so that it can simulate a graphics card (in slow motion). It outputs its screen data to a USB-3 port, and generates HDMI signals from the USB-3 data. It does NOT work in reverse.

what Make&Model of projector? does it require a Driver on the computer to create the USB-3 data stream?

Reply

Answer 2

Dec 26, 2016 9:27 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Ah! Okay, thank you.

My projector is an InFocus IN-124.

it does have VGA inputs, but I'm hesitant to go from the monitor ports on the Mac Pro - every time I change something, it's a big deal to have to change it back.

There's also a mini USB port (that's got to be USB2) - have no idea what that could be for?

I go from my DVD player etc via the HDMI port - I also have a (Linux) laptop with an HDMI port, and that can connect directly to the projector without any software or drivers.

Am going to try attaching a diagram of the back of the projector so you can see what the inputs are.

Thanks very much!

w

Reply

Answer 3

Dec 27, 2016 7:59 AM in response to WillFriedwald2

That has an HDMI Input, which can be supported by a DVI adapter (just a re-wire) or a Mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI adapter, depending on what graphics card is installed in tour Mac Pro. You should also use its VGA input with a VGA converter. Its usb-2 is not intended for Video.

What graphics card in your Mac Pro, and what is your main display connected to?

Reply

Answer 4

Dec 27, 2016 8:01 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

thanks again.

Here is all the info:

ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT:

Chipset Model: ATI Radeon HD 2600

Type: GPU

Bus: PCIe

Slot: Slot-1

PCIe Lane Width: x16

VRAM (Total): 256 MB

Vendor: ATI (0x1002)

Device ID: 0x9588

Revision ID: 0x0000

ROM Revision: 113-B1480A-252

EFI Driver Version: 01.00.252

Displays:

VGA Display:

Resolution: 1400 x 1050 @ 60 Hz

Pixel Depth: 32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)

Main Display: Yes

Mirror: Off

Online: Yes

Rotation: Supported

SyncMaster:

Resolution: 1280 x 1024 @ 60 Hz

Pixel Depth: 32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)

Display Serial Number: HCJX844788

Mirror: Off

Online: Yes

Rotation: Supported

-------

PS: as I mentioned, I'm hesitant to use my monitor ports because my overall system is old and crotchety, and every time I change something with the monitors it turns out to be a big hassle to set it correctly, it takes a long time to figure out and re-set it, etc.

thanks again,

W

Reply

Answer 5

Dec 27, 2016 8:17 AM in response to WillFriedwald2

I hear your words, but I do not understand why that should be the case. There are no settings except if you decide to move away from the default resolutions. You should get an initial picture regardless.

Your 2600 has two ports, each capable of Dual-Link DVI. You can generate a simple (up to 1920 by 1080p) HDMI signal with a avery simple adapter to HDMI.

Your projector is well inside those limits, so you should be able to use either port instead on one of your existing displays. The Mac asks the display about its capabilities, and sets the default resolution based on the display's reply.

I admit these connections can be cranky. be sure to have a rehearsal before you have to do it with an audience.

Reply

Answer 6

Dec 27, 2016 11:19 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

oh, great thanks.

So to take it back one step - there's no way to use the USB3 port to output to a monitor (or projector) even with an adapter of some kind?

I'll experiment with the monitor port.

I also wonder if there might be a way to split the signal from one of the two monitor ports so that one single port can output to two monitors? I assume that the two monitors coming from the same port would have to mirror each other, but that's totally acceptable.

thanks again,

w

Reply

Answer 7

Dec 27, 2016 11:47 AM in response to WillFriedwald2

There ARE ways to use a software package, (in combination with USB adapter) to drive a display. You must be certain that the software provided will run acceptably well on your Mac. The adapter is completely useless without the software that creates a software screen buffer in your computer and convinces the OS to treat that screen buffer as a display. [The link you provided in your original post is such an adapter, but its software ONLY runs under Windows.]

The classic problem with these software-plus-USB-adapter solutions is that screen redraw is slow, mouse-tracking is laggy, and full-motion Video is impossible. But for presentations -- all these drawbacks may be acceptable for mostly-static powerpoint or keynote slides.

This software, with its adapter, under US$50, will run with your Mac:

https://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/VIDU3DVIA/

You may be able to find this or comparable software-with-adapter if you are outside the US.

Reply

Answer 8

Dec 28, 2016 5:38 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

(I thought I replied to this - maybe not?)

Aha! That is exactly what I remember being told in the USB2 era - 5 or 6 years ago - that I could output via USB (2) but that the image would be much too laggy for video. I was hoping that possibly things had changed in the USB3 era, but apparently not. So be it!

Okay: do you have any experience with splitting the signal from a monitor port? Possibly I could split from the MAC PRO monitor port (DVI, I believe) and go to both a VGA monitor (as I currently am doing) and also to the projector. (That's a VGA input on the back there, right?)

Do you think that would work: a cable / adapter that goes from a single DVI output to two VGA inputs?

Thanks again!

Reply