Computer To TV Help Please

[jparker402]

I have a 2015 (late) MacBook Air with a Thunderbolt 3/mini video port, and an older Samsung TV. Am looking to get whatever I need to connect the MacBook to the TV with the goal of having a bigger screen to look at photos and YouTube videos. Looking to get a Ivanky mini display port to HDMI adapter, and a 15' HDMI cable that is discribed by Amazon thusly: 4K HDMI Cable 15 ft, iVANKY High Speed 18Gbps HDMI 2.0 Cable, 4K HDR, HDCP 2.2, 3D, 2160P, 1080P... Does this seem correct for video and audio? Is there anything else I should be aware of/check? Thank you much!!

 

[avz]

I am not an expert but I think your MBA has a Thunderbolt 2 port, the mini display port/hdmi adapter should be compatible. Not sure if your MBA can actually support 4K on an external monitor, 1080p would be no problem.

 

[chown33]

You should probably post the exact model of TV you want to connect to.

Simply identifying it as "an older Samsung TV" could be dozens or even hundreds of different models, any of which might have some unusual or unexpected issues.

 

[jparker402]

I am not an expert but I think your MBA has a Thunderbolt 2 port, the mini display port/hdmi adapter should be compatible. Not sure if your MBA can actually support 4K on an external monitor, 1080p would be no problem.

My error! Yes, it is a Thunderbolt 2 port.

 

[jparker402]

Excellent point, chown33! My tv is a Samsung LN32B360-32" lcd hdtv which we bought in July of 2009. According to the manual it has a HMDI/DVI cable connection (whatever that is) and HDMI cable connection 1 and 2. The manual has instructions for setting it up for a PC on Windows XP. The only info I see about a MAC seems to have to do with resolution, and horizontal, vertical and pixel clock frequencies (whatever that has to do with), The more I read, the more I think I am going to need help setting it up if I manage to connect it to the computer!

 

[rumorator]

The HDMI cable is more than capable of handling the signal. The Ivanky adapter should also do the job. The reviews I've seen of Ivanky adapters say that audio should work just fine.

Your TV isn't going to be able to handle 4K. Nevertheless, HDMI supports a standard called EDID. This allows the TV/monitor to tell the computer what it is. Your MBA will then choose the correct resolution and refresh rate based on that information.

 

[jparker402]

The HDMI cable is more than capable of handling the signal. The Ivanky adapter should also do the job. The reviews I've seen of Ivanky adapters say that audio should work just fine.

Your TV isn't going to be able to handle 4K. Nevertheless, HDMI supports a standard called EDID. This allows the TV/monitor to tell the computer what it is. Your MBA will then choose the correct resolution and refresh rate based on that information.

Then I can rely on the computer to figure out all the resolution/frequency specs on its own?

 

[rumorator]

Then I can rely on the computer to figure out all the resolution/frequency specs on its own?

In the highly unlikely event that the EDID handshake doesn't go as it should, you can always come back here for help with the settings. It's almost certain, however, that it'll just work. This stuff is a heck of a lot easier than it used to be.

 

[rumorator]

One other note for the future. When you come to upgrade your TV, you may want to look for one that supports AirPlay. This would allow you to connect to the TV over your home network, without the need for adapters and HDMI cables. In fact, if some of the devices you have connected to the TV (DVD player, etc) are newer, it may be worth checking whether they already support AirPlay.

 

[theluggage]

My tv is a Samsung LN32B360-32" lcd hdtv which we bought in July of 2009. According to the manual it has a HMDI/DVI cable connection (whatever that is) and HDMI cable connection 1 and 2.

It should just work.

From experience with my Samsung TV (which is about the same age), the practical difference with the "HDMI/DVI" port (what DVI actually means is irrelevant now) was that the other HDMI ports cropped the edges of the picture slightly ("overscan"*) while the HDMI/DVI didn't - so the HDMI/DVI port would be the best one to plug a computer into. The Samsung manual made this as clear as mud

* Yes, I was incredulous that overscan didn't die with the CRT - but these are 2009 models with analogue tuners from a time where VHS players weren't quite dead, and with analogue sources you needed overscan to trim off the crud around the edges... Don't know if it is true of newer ones.

 

[jparker402]

Yay! Bought the adapter and cable, and it all works great! Biggest problem I have is figuring out how to operate the tv remote to get the tv control menu off the screen.