Questions & Answers for Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter

Yes. The 23-inch apple cinema display (and anything with a resolution under 1920x1200) won't be able to utilize the full the capabilities of this adapter, but you could buy this as a way to "futureproof" yourself in case you get a monitor with a resolution equal to or greater than 1920x1200 in the future.

• Answered by Tianyi L from Pueblo
• Nov 20, 2009
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yes, if the resolution is higher than 1200x1920. if it isn't higher than 1200x1920, then the answer is still yes, but you can use a cheaper mini displayport - vga or dvi adapter.

• Answered by Michael N from Norman
• Nov 20, 2009
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NO.

You don't seem to understand the basic principles here. Your HDTV is 1920x1080 pixels resolution MAXIMUM. You cannot make that any higher, no matter how big the HDTV is (even a 70" screen), it's a physical number of pixels the manufacturer has made that screen to itself.

If you want a higher-than-HD resolution on a big screen you have to use a super-HD "extra high resolution" (hence generally more expensive than HDTV prices) monitor such as Apple's 30" or another brand such as Dell. These have 2560x1600 pixel resolutions, hence why they need this "Dual-Link" (ie. *special*) DVI adaptor to power those extra pixels that standard DVI cannot handle.
If you want to continue with the HDTV for a monitor (ie. 1920x1080 maximum resolution) you just need the standard connection cable (with an adaptor as needed: to DVI/VGA/HDMI on the back of the HDTV), not the Dual-Link one.

One other thing you can do is run TWO lower resolution screens (eg. 2x 1080 full HDTV's) that each run from the mini, to gain more resolution real estate (2x 1920x1080 = 3840x2160 over the two screens). One plugged into the Mini DVI port (with relevant adaptor to DVI or VGA or HDMI on first TV), another one into the Mini DisplayPort (with relevant adaptor to DVI or VGA or HDMI on second TV). Setting extended mode in your mini's System Pref's.
NB: some of those adaptors are made by Apple, some by third party.

• Answered by James S
• May 6, 2010
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to connect two displays to your macbook pro you'll need something like a matrox dualhead2go (google it). be careful which one you get, if you have the macbook pro with a dvi out then you'll need the Digital Edition, if you have a the model with the mini displayport you'll need the DP edition. cablewise for the DP edition you'll need a mini displayport to displayport, and two displayport to [your monitor's connection]. the digital edition has a dvi input and 2x dvi outputs.

• Answered by Michael N from Norman
• Nov 20, 2009
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Totally possible. I am running my new 13" macbook pro into my Samsung 42" HDTV using the mini display port adapter, and a DVI to HDMI cable I bought an apple keyboard w/number pad, hooked up my Logitech MX Revolution wireless mouse.....whallah....42" of Mac. Works absolutely fantastic.

For those of you who want to do this with a macbook......start with the TV off, I open the Macbook press the power button, then immediately close it all the way. Next turn on the TV. and you should be set. I use my laptop as a "desktop" literally everyday. When I do need to go somewhere however, I pull a few wires and walk out the door. The nice thing is, that i am not wearing out the keyboard and the laptop screen when i am hooked up to the flatscreen tv. the life of my macbook LCD screen will be extended ten fold.

Hope this helped.

• Answered by Eric M from Uniontown
• Oct 20, 2009
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After testing it, it worked perfectly.

• Answered by Jonathan L from Montreal
• Jul 1, 2010
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