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Apple Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter

Connecting Macbook to HDTV

Written by DY from Brooklyn

25-Jun-2006

After reading the helpful reviews, i did alot of research before buying any cables to hook up my macbook to an HP HDTV. Hopefully the following will help others with connection issues:

Investigate the PC input jack of your HDTV for 3 specifications:

1) TYPE OF DVI INPUT JACK. Most newer models have DVI-I or DVI-D input jacks. there is a difference between the two. you can tell which one you have by referring to your manual. if you don't have the manual, look at the jack itself and compare to pictures (link isn't allowed here, but datapro had clear pictures)

2) DUAL or SINGLE LINK. newer model HDTVs likely have the dual link inputs. refer to your manual or look at the jack and compare to pictures.

3) MALE OR FEMALE. ihad assumed that because the apple mini-DVI to DVI cable had a FEMALE DVI connector end, then my TV must have a MALE input jack. not true. my TV has a FEMALE DVI jack. So by default, I needed an adaptor cable for the mini-DVI to DVI cable.

after this, i determined that i had a DUALLINK DVI-I FEMALE input jack. NOTE that the mini-DVI to DVI cable, not pictured online at apple.com, has a FEMALE DUAL LINK DVI-D connector end.

so I bought the apple mini-DVI to DVI cable & a DVI-D to DVI-D male/male connector cable, connected the cables to their respective hardware input jacks, and it all worked.

FYI, i got the DVI-D to DVI-D male/male connector cable instead of a DVI-D to DVI-I male/male connector cable, because i couldn't find the latter. Luckily, because my TV had a FEMALE input jack, it could take a DVI-D male (just the way the input jacks are designed).

Hope this helps.

1518 of 2008 people found this useful

Apple Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter

Why, O Why Not Mini-DVI to DVI-I???

Written by SB from Lafayette

15-Sep-2006

It all boils down to the title. I post this as a warning and a complaint. The warning is that DVI doesn't simply come in one flavor, and that "DVI" in this adapter is a female DVI-D Dual-Link plug. The complaint that it is incompatible with all the DVI-I cables out there in the world, particularly those in the research lab I work in.

I know that these DVI-I cables *could* be replaced with DVI-D cables and everything would be just fine, but that's really not a general solution. Must I purchase some sort of male DVI-D Dual-Link to female DVI-I Dual-Link adapter, too? Surely it'd "just work" for the most people if Apple offered just one adapter--a Mini-DVI to DVI-I adapter...

1402 of 2249 people found this useful

Apple Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter

iMac using a 40-In Samsung HDTV as a Monitor

Written by PS from Woodside

25-Feb-2008

For all you guys who think it would be nice to have a 40-inch monitor so you could surf the Web from the comfort of your living room couch using your wireless keyboard & mouse, here’s how I did it.

I connected my new iMac to my Samsung LN-S4095D 40-inch LCD HDTV as follows:
I connected a Mini-DVI to DVI adapter (part number M9321G/B at Apple’s retail store - $19.00) to my iMac’s Mini-DVI port at one end, and the other end to a 2 meter (6.6 feet) XTREME HD HDMI to DVI cable (part number TL952LL/A at Apple’s retail store - $19.95). Naturally, the other end of the HDMI cable got plugged into one of the HDMI/DVI In jacks on the back of my Samsung HDTV. Unlike some of the previous comments I’ve read, small text was crystal clear – probably because my HDTV has 1080P resolution. .

I rented the standard (not Hi Def) Michael Clayton movie from iTunes and found the resolution to be very good - DVD quality. I know the cables are transmitting a good signal from my iMac to my HDTV, as for months I’ve been recording HD programs on my iMac by pulling them out of the air with a $19 indoor antenna attached to an EyeTV-Hybrid, then watching them on my iMac. I can now watch those recorded programs on my 40” HDTV. And be assured, the resolution is just as good as if I were watching the HD broadcast live on a my HDTV. The only minor problem I had while watching my first downloaded iTunes movie was that the sound came from my iMac, not my HDTV. I knew this would be happening, as the Mini-DVI to DVI adapter is actually a DVI-D adapter, which doesn’t capture the sound. (The “D” stands for Data.) The next morning I went to Radio Shack and bought a 6-ft Y-Adapter Audio Cable (Part Number 42-2552, price $7.99), connected it to my iMac’s “Headphone Out/optical digital audio out port” at one end, and to my “DVI IN R-Audio-L” jack on the back of my HDTV. I watched Michael Clayton again, and thought I died and was in heaven. Both picture and sound were perfect.

I spend a lot of time researching what was needed to make this all happen. I hope my positing saves you a little time.

261 of 321 people found this useful

Apple Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter

New cables need to be invented

Written by DT from Chesapeake

16-Nov-2008

This adapter is great and offers excellent picture quality to a High Definition TV when used with a DVI to HDMI cable. However, Apple should eliminate the need for that extra cable, and just create an adapter from Mini DVI to HDMI. There is a large percentage of Apple customers who own High Definition TV's with HDMI inputs, and there should be a direct adapter from the computer to the TV.

124 of 126 people found this useful

Apple Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter

this is all very confusing...

Written by YY from New Haven

26-May-2008

Apple should put head-on pictures of the ENDS of these connectors with EACH ITEM. This would solve so much of the confusion associated with buying connectors. I bought this item thinking it would serve as a simple way to get around the fact that my old G4 MacBook Pro had a male DVI-D port, and came with a DVI-D to VGA converter so I could give presentations and such, and my new MacBook has this mini-DVI thing and didn't come with a converter so I figured a "mini-DVI to DVI" would be perfect. Unfortunately, it wasn't - now that I've done a little internet research, i see that what I bought was a mini-DVI to female DVI-I, and my existing converter is a male DVI-D to VGA connector. Unfortunately, the projector in my lab is old and does not have a DVI-I cable.

If Apple would provide images with the ends of these products displayed, allowing us to see the arrangements of the pins both regular and flat, it would be incredibly helpful to figuring out if it's the right piece for us. Thanks.

205 of 298 people found this useful

Apple Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter

Mini-DVI to DVI to HDMI = Beautiful

Written by SJ from chandler

18-Aug-2008

I bought this and a generic DVI to HDMI cable to hook my HDTV up to my laptop. I was amazed by how simple it was. Here are the steps I followed:

1. Plug everything together.
2. Instant 1080i output to the TV, it even knew it was a Sony TV.

I am giving this 5 stars to augment all the morons that gave it one.

90 of 92 people found this useful

Apple Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter

DVI-D adapter, will not work with DVI to VGA adapters

Written by MC from Buffalo

13-Dec-2006

If you buy this adapter be sure your cable and monitor will plug into the DVI-D plug on it's end. The DVI-D is lacking the holes for the 4 pins near the wide flat connector and the wide flat connector is narrow compared to a standard DVI connector. This connector difference WILL NOT allow a standard 29 pin DVI plug to connect. The adapter should be great if it fits your monitor, I thought I could keep some options open and save $20 by using this connector with a DVI to VGA adapter, NOPE! I even contacted Apple tech support to be sure it would work before I bought and they couldn't give me an answer other than "it should" (and in reality "it didn't"). I give it 1 star because there was no reason Apple should have used the less common DVI-D connector on this, for $20 we should receive a full blown standard DVI connector.

86 of 108 people found this useful

Apple Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter

Works Great

Written by MA from Roseville

14-Aug-2009

To those with a misunderstanding... DVI-D stands for "DVI-Digital" and DVI-I stands for "DVI-Integrated".
DVI-I is the older standard that could push both digital and analog signals. DVI-D is digital only. As long as you use the right DVI (DVI-D) cable to your monitor you will be in buisness.
Taken from Wikipedia:
"The long flat pin on a DVI-I connector is wider than the same pin on a DVI-D connector, so it is not possible to connect a male DVI-I to a female DVI-D by removing the 4 analog pins. It is possible, however, to connect a male DVI-D cable to a female DVI-I connector. Many flat panel LCD monitors have only the DVI-D connection so that a DVI-D male to DVI-D male cable will suffice when connecting the monitor to a computer's DVI-I female connector."

65 of 70 people found this useful

Apple Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter

why?

Written by AF from ravensdale

28-Dec-2006

Just like almost everyone else on here, I was not informed this is a DVI-D connection. Even worse, on the back of the little package, there are 2 logos, one is a mini DVI connection, and the other is a DVI-I connection.... VERY misleading. It has the 4 pins pictured next to the large flat one. Why was this printed with the incorrect logo? It makes the purchase pointless, and just frustrating in the end. At least get the image on the packaging correct.

91 of 122 people found this useful

Apple Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter

Works!

Written by SC from Tempe

2-Aug-2007

This is an adapter, not a cord. I used this to hook my little macbook with its mini-dvi port up to my big Panasonic plasma tv. My tv actually has hdmi input, not dvi, but I have a hdmi to dvi cord so I used that with this and it works perfectly.

70 of 84 people found this useful

Apple Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter

Very Overpriced, but Works Great. Should be included Free with new Macs

Written by JS from Buford

30-Oct-2007

This adapter is much more expensive than it should be, but there's no real competition, so what can you do? If you need it, you need it. It should be included free with the purchase of a new Mac, if you ask me.

Once connected to an external device, it is automatically detected and works flawlessly to produce a very high quality picture. It works very very well.

142 of 237 people found this useful

Apple Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter

DVI-D not DVI-I

Written by MR from Champaign

17-Dec-2008

I rate this one star because of lack of transparency. For the record this is DVI-D which means it can do only digital. That is all fine and good, but should be advertised as such. It is not simple DVI nor is it DVI-I (which would be capable of doing anything and would make sense to use if you are advertising DVI) instead it is DVI-D. What does that mean? Well it means that it will work perfectly if you are connecting it to a monitor or projector that is Digital using DVI-D connections. If you have monitors or projectors that have analog VGA connections and you want to use a converter to DVI you are out of luck.

Apple could have saved you from having to purchase two connectors. Obviously you could purchase both the DVI and the VGA, but you shouldn't have to. If they had made this DVI-I than all would be well with a simple VGA-DVI converter. I don't have a problem with Apple doing this, but I do have a problem with Apple not being transparent about this. Apple put it in your tech specs that it is DVI-D. I shouldn't have to read about this in the comments

55 of 64 people found this useful

Apple Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter

Warning!!!!

Written by JK from eindhoven

13-Nov-2006

The packaging for this product says NOTHING about what type of DVI connector (I, D, or whatever) this thing has. Now I have to kill another hour going to CompUSA. To the folks talking about "People's lack of good sense and poor computer component shopping skills," how the heck are you supposed to know this is DVI-D when all it says is DVI???? Apple, give us a little warning next time, please!!!!!

61 of 76 people found this useful

Apple Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter

It's DVI-D!

Written by JH from Berrien Springs

21-Apr-2007

Don't be fooled, this is a DVI-D product. It won't work with any DVI-I equipment.

75 of 105 people found this useful

Apple Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter

HD on my TV (from my Powerbook).

Written by CK from London

17-Jul-2006

i bought a new Samsung HDTV but had no HD content to feed into it until i bought this adapter and a DVI to HDMI cable. now i can watch 720p cinema trailers coming out of my 12" powerbook to my HDTV (1080i is too much for my slow powerbook).

further, i can also utilise the TV as a 1920 x 1080 secondary display when i edit my home videos and actually see the small lettering (unlike going through composite).

54 of 64 people found this useful

Apple Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter

For all of those people...

Written by AT from ETOBICOKE

4-Jun-2009

For all of those people who say "i plug it in and all i get is the desktop.... all you have to do is drag a window to the other desktop.... like iTunes or a web page. What it allows is for you desktop to extend the normal amount and it gives you more space..

46 of 51 people found this useful

Apple Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter

Stop Complaining!! Its an ADAPTER!

Written by DH from Portland

24-Aug-2007

I can't believe everyone on here is getting all up in arms about the cord length...ITS AN ADAPTER!!!! not a cord. You dont see a USB to PS2 adapter being 6 feet long...I think this thing is a GREAT ADAPTER...Works great with my monitor and the CORD I bought to use with this ADAPTER! Kudos Apple, once again.

66 of 91 people found this useful

Apple Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter

Ridiculous product, must be changed to DVI-I

Written by HH

30-Oct-2006

I bought this adapter fully knowing that it was DVI-D formatted...however i have to join the wailing masses and say, WHY didn't they make it DVI-I??? It would cost them nothing, WOULD NOT the signal quality, WOULD make it completely universal...4 holes apple, you can fix this can't you? One thing is if you are set up with the right equipment at home..another thing entirely is when you have your mac on the road...that makes for 20 pointless extra dollars..and losing quality in addition (DVI to VGA)...terrible planning Apple

62 of 84 people found this useful