Find solution
How can I find sponsors for TV serial?

Mini DisplayPort to TV's VGA or DVI FEMALE - cannot find a cable!

  • I have a 2009 MacBook Pro with a Mini DisplayPort, and a flatscreen tv that has DVI and VGA input ports. I cannot find a cable for sale that will let me hook the computer up to display the desktop on the TV. (pics of ports inside) I'm tutoring some high-school students at my home in geometry, and I don't have a blackboard or whiteboard in my home (nor do I have the space to display it). I do have a 2009 MacBook Pro with a Mini DisplayPort and a flat-screen tv, though, and I have a Wacom Bamboo tablet, which would allow me to draw problems on the tv screen for them to see, copy and paste, delete, etc. -- which would be extremely useful. The TV is old, and so I have no option for HDMI or anything like that. Every cable I find that's "mini displayport --> DVI" or "mini displayport --> VGA" has a female DVI/VGA end, which does me no good, since the ports on my TV are female. http://www.thechicagoloop.net/tzikeh/macports.jpg (for what that's worth). http://www.thechicagoloop.net/tzikeh/tvports.jpg (I don't know why it's displaying upside-down; the photo is rightside-up when I look at it on my computer.) I've looked at the Apple Store, and Best Buy, and searched online, but everything is turning up Mini-DisplayPort adapters with female plugs. I don't need audio output -- just the picture. Any ideas?

  • Answer:

    Minidisplayport->DVI or VGA adaptor plus plain old DVI or VGA cable? Either that or hit up http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10246</a

tzikeh at Ask.Metafilter.Com Visit the source

Was this solution helpful to you?

Other answers

Every cable I find that's "mini displayport --> DVI" or "mini displayport --> VGA" has a female DVI/VGA end, which does me no good, since the ports on my TV are female. Yes, this is how it's supposed to be: it's actually not a cable, it's a port converter. If your Mac had a DVI port on it, it would be female too. You need to buy the port converter and a standard DVI cable (which is male-male).

bonaldi

OK, so why not just grab a http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0041BT21M/metafilter-20/ref=nosim/ cable to go between your TV and the Apple adapter? Most DVI connections I've seen on devices are female on both ends, with the expectation being that the cable is double-headed male.

Tomorrowful

Also if you think you will ever travel with this computer and want to plug it into external screens, I'd recommend a MDP->VGA or DVI adapter anyway, maybe even both, as its a lot less to pack into your bag if you're gonna hook up to a projector or big screen at the other end of an airplane flight. I just let the AV crew at my destination know what I need.

egypturnash

Okay so perhaps drinking coffee first would have helped me remember that "DVI cable" and "DVI adapter" are obviously two different things, and I need both for this to work. Thank you all!

tzikeh

Don't feel bad. I also assumed that I could get a combination male mini-Displayport to male DVI cable.

wnissen

Single-solution "male Mini DisplayPort to male DVI" cables exist, see for example, the http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10246&cs_id=1024604&p_id=6000&seq=1&format=2. However, I endorse the comments made earlier that recommend combining a "male Mini DisplayPort to female DVI" adapter with a standard "male DVI to male DVI" cable. You'll find such a setup more flexible if you need to take your setup on the road, not to mention that you can use the Apple adapter, which will have the greatest compatibility with your MacBook Pro.

RichardP

Related Q & A:

Just Added Q & A:

Find solution

For every problem there is a solution! Proved by Solucija.

  • Got an issue and looking for advice?

  • Ask Solucija to search every corner of the Web for help.

  • Get workable solutions and helpful tips in a moment.

Just ask Solucija about an issue you face and immediately get a list of ready solutions, answers and tips from other Internet users. We always provide the most suitable and complete answer to your question at the top, along with a few good alternatives below.