MP All Models Connecting Mac Pro to Samsung monitor

[DustyShaw]

I’ve connected the Samsung monitor to Mac pro early 2008 running el capitan, using a dvi to vga adapter, but it’s not working. The screen is black. A pop says to check the vga cable & pc signal settings.

I have tried selecting different input sources on the monitor but there is no change.

Thanks for any help.

 

[DustyShaw]

I went to the product page on Amazon where I bought the adapter, and asked why the adapter wasn't working on my setup, and got this answer:

"Your Mac is probably digital output only. Back in the day we had video output converter that looked like DVI to VGA adapter, but Macs put out a different video signal, no VGA signal on the pins."

Can anyone tell me what this means in terms of whether or not I can use this monitor with my Mac Pro, maybe with a different adapter?

 

[mikas]

Please post a link to adapter. Or a photo of the connectors. Why not some more detailed information about the monitor too, it might help.

If you bought a DVI-I to VGA adapter, I don't think it should fit your GPU DVI-D connector at all. If it is DVI-D that is. Of course the pins and/or reseptors could be "dummy" too for some reason, so they are not connected.

If it is indeed DVI-D in your GPU, you would want an active DVI-D to VGA adapter, to convert digital DVI signal to analog VGA signal.

btw. Some of the analog VGA cables are not that good quality products. I just troubleshooted my older gear with VGA monitor one day, and eventually it appeared to be a faulty VGA cable.

 

[KeesMacPro]

IIRC the MP 3,1 (2008) original GPU has a dual-link DVI connector.
The VGA connector was introduced somewhere in the 80's I believe, so it's very old.

There are still (active) adapter cables available, but personally I'm not sure if it's worth buying it for a monitor of that age...

 

[DustyShaw]

Please post a link to adapter. Or a photo of the connectors. Why not some more detailed information about the monitor too, it might help.

If you bought a DVI-I to VGA adapter, I don't think it should fit your GPU DVI-D connector at all. If it is DVI-D that is. Of course the pins and/or reseptors could be "dummy" too for some reason, so they are not connected.

View attachment 1816855
If it is indeed DVI-D in your GPU, you would want an active DVI-D to VGA adapter, to convert digital DVI signal to analog VGA signal.

btw. Some of the analog VGA cables are not that good quality products. I just troubleshooted my older gear with VGA monitor one day, and eventually it appeared to be a faulty VGA cable.

Thanks very much - the diagram helped me to identify what kinds of DVI I'm working with.

The Mac Pro has dual-link DVI-I ports.

The DVI to VGA adapter is also DVI-I.

Oddly though, the connector cable I've used for years to connect my monitors to the MP is DVI-D. Maybe that's the problem. I've used these cables for years connecting the MP to 2 monitors with no problems. But I'm guessing this may be why the adapter isn't working. Maybe it would work if I replaced the cables with DVI-I cables, although I'm not sure yet if it's worth the cost instead of just buying a new monitor. What do you think?

Adaptor: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000IE9U3Q/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

Monitor: https://www.newegg.com/samsung-t24b350nd-24/p/N82E16824001567

Monitor Manual: https://www.manualslib.com/manual/547363/Samsung-T24c550nd.html

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Thanks very much - the diagram helped me to identify what kinds of DVI I'm working with.

The Mac Pro has dual-link DVI-I ports.

The DVI to VGA adapter is also DVI-I.

Oddly though, the connector cable I've used for years to connect my monitors to the MP is DVI-D. Maybe that's the problem. I've used these cables for years connecting the MP to 2 monitors with no problems. But I'm guessing this may be why the adapter isn't working. Maybe it would work if I replaced the cables with DVI-I cables, although I'm not sure yet if it's worth the cost instead of just buying a new monitor. What do you think?

Adaptor: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000IE9U3Q/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

Monitor: https://www.newegg.com/samsung-t24b350nd-24/p/N82E16824001567

Monitor Manual: https://www.manualslib.com/manual/547363/Samsung-T24c550nd.html

View attachment 1817104 View attachment 1817103 View attachment 1817106 View attachment 1817105

Um, I don't think that my cable is 'active', but it's not that small either, and works perfectly. I've never had a problem with it not working. I can take a shot of it later. I guess I'd be surprised if it was a 'active' adapter cable.

Could it depend on the card you are using? I upgraded my card a number of years ago. It supports DisplayPort connections. (One new monitor required that connection)

 

[goMac]

Use a DVI to HDMI adapter. The monitor has HDMI and your signal will be cleaner.

 

[mikas]

Startech says about that adapter:
Please Note: This product is intended for connections between DVI-I devices, passing an analog signal, to VGA devices. If your device uses a DVI-D connector, please refer StarTech.com's DVI to VGA Converter DVI2VGACON

So that would be the wrong adapter for your use.
I think the right adapter for your use from Startech would be:
The DVI2VGAE active DVI-D to VGA adapter lets you connect a digital DVI output from your desktop or laptop computer onto a VGA monitor or projector, saving the cost of upgrading to a DVI-D compatible display.

I don't know if that dual link GPU of yours would make any difference here, but I guess not. I think it works as both, single link and dual link. I don't own any dual link monitors, like Apple 30" cinema HD.

 

[KeesMacPro]

After searching a bit, I found the adapter I used for the Mac Pro 2008 (GPU HD 2600 XT) in a drawer.
This one also works with a GT 120.
It's a DVI-D dual link to HDMI adapter and looks like this:

 

[Macschrauber]

Vga output is no longer supported quite a while.

if it got picture in early boot phase and then turns off when the driver loads it is the OS.

 

[DustyShaw]

Thanks very much for the help. I'lm going to return that adapter & get the correct one. Hopefully that will do the trick!