VGA Splitter doesn't work

Question

VGA Splitter doesn't work

I used a VGA splitter at my PowerMac /wo any problems to display the content at several devices (projector, speaker's screen and a control lcd screen). When I connect the same cable to my Mac Mini, it stop working (I use a DVI/VGA adapter that comes with the Mac Mini). It looks like the computer is trying different resolutions ea about 4 seconds but cannot find one. Is there any settings file I have to change or to delete in order to get it work like with the 'big brother' PowerMac? I use an active 4-port VGA splitter with 800x600 or 1024x768 resolution.

Any help is very appreciate,
Pete

mac mini Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Feb 14, 2007 4:22 PM

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Answer 1

AndyO

Level 6

17,064 points

Feb 15, 2007 4:07 AM in response to Peter Alshuth

Bearing in mind the line in the monitor cable that supplies data regarding the display attached to the system, using a splitter with two or more monitors with varying default resolutions, each trying to signal the mini, when the mini can only set one display resolution, it isn't entirely surprising that you would have problems.

As an alternative, you might try powering the mini up with only one display attached - the one with the lowest resolution - and then once running with a visible image on that display, then plug in the other device. There is no certainty that this would work, and even if it does, it's clearly not ideal, but it is worth a try.

Alternatively, you might consider a Matrox Dual Head2Go ( http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/gxm/products/dh2go/home.php) which is not inexpensive, but has been reported to work with the mini to good effect.

There isn't a settings file that, if deleted, would help you. However, if you end up[ during experimentation without any display output at all, you can boor into safe mode (shift key held down) and then search the Mac using the Finder's 'find' command, for all instances of 'windowserver' (there should be 3) and remove them. Those are the files that contain display settings, and if removed, the system will create new ones - thus restoring usable display.

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Answer 2

Feb 15, 2007 10:56 AM in response to AndyO

Thanks for your input but the really wired issue is, that it works fine with a PowerMac configuration but not with the Mac Mini. If I connect the VGA straight to the adapter it works, if I put it with the splitter and even one monitor attached only, it doesn't work. Is there any software-differences how the monitor gets detected by the Mac mini vs. the PowerMac?

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Answer 3

AndyO

Level 6

17,064 points

Feb 15, 2007 11:18 AM in response to Peter Alshuth

A recent thread indicated a similar issue with a splitter cable in that even a single display connected would result in no output, so you are clearly not on your own.

There are no software differences that I am aware of between your mini and G4 PM, but of course they have very different video sub-systems and drivers, so I suspect the issue is at that sort of level - which is sadly not something you can directly influence.

Sadly, it may be that for the mini you have no option but to go for the dualhead2go solution.

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