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Full 1080 resolution with MBP + VGA?

MBHockey

MBHockey

macrumors 601
Original poster
Oct 4, 2003
4,063
314
Connecticut
I have a 2.2 SR MBP and a DVI to VGA adaptor. Can i get full 1080 HD resolution on my 50" Plasma television with this setup? I'm asking because i have this adaptor back at my apartment in Virginia but am home in New York at the moment...if that won't work I'd like to stop on the way back today and get (presumably) a VGA to HDMI cable.

Also, i'm assuming there is no SINGLE cord that includes both audio and video from the MBP to the TV, because my MBP doesn't have HDMI out...is that correct? I will always need two cords?
 
Your MBP has built in DVI, so you can get a straight DVI - HDMI cable.

Don't know the answer to your Q though - my TV maxes out at 1366x768 through VGA as many do, don't know how VGA handles on a 1080p unit
 
First, DVI and HDMI are exactly the same, as far as picture quality goes. HDMI is just DVI with audio bundled in. So yes, you will always need two cables, one for video and one (technically, two) for audio.

If you can take DVI straight out of your MBP into your plasma, that is the best solution. I would use a DVI-HDMI cable to connect the two.

If that is not an option, the DVI-VGA adapter will work to connect your TV using it's VGA input.

In either case, your 1080p TV should have no problem displaying the output of the MacBook Pro.

I do it all the time with my C2D MBP and my 46" Samsung LCD.
 
chriswheat said:
First, DVI and HDMI are exactly the same, as far as picture quality goes. HDMI is just DVI with audio bundled in. So yes, you will always need two cables, one for video and one (technically, two) for audio.

If you can take DVI straight out of your MBP into your plasma, that is the best solution. I would use a DVI-HDMI cable to connect the two.

If that is not an option, the DVI-VGA adapter will work to connect your TV using it's VGA input.

In either case, your 1080p TV should have no problem displaying the output of the MacBook Pro.

I do it all the time with my C2D MBP and my 46" Samsung LCD.
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Also realize that there are very few TV's that allow output at 1080i/p through the VGA even though it is possible.

I'm pretty sure that the MBP can output at a full 1080p if that is what you are looking for, but again you would need a dvi to hdmi adapter (since most tvs can only do 1080p through hdmi) and a mini audio to optical for surround sound.
 
MBHockey said:
I just looked it up, and my TV also only accepts up to 1366x768 through VGA. I looked up the DVI --> HDMI cord...$120 (http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APP...wo/StoreReentry.wo?productLearnMore=TH573LL/A)

Is that right? Are they all that expensive? If so, i'll probably just stick with the, basically, 720p resolution of VGA.

Oh and thanks for all the info. You've all helped me a lot to understand all this.
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That price is outrageous. You can get something much much cheaper at monoprice.com
 
MBHockey said:
I just looked it up, and my TV also only accepts up to 1366x768 through VGA. I looked up the DVI --> HDMI cord...$120 (http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APP...wo/StoreReentry.wo?productLearnMore=TH573LL/A)

Is that right? Are they all that expensive? If so, i'll probably just stick with the, basically, 720p resolution of VGA.

Oh and thanks for all the info. You've all helped me a lot to understand all this.
Click to expand...

Look around on ebay and amazon for some better deals. I got a 15ft DVI-D - HDMI for about $15. It isn't the 'best' there is, but the difference between a $150 cable and my $15 are most likely negligible.
 
Do not buy accessories from Apple unless you have no choice! IN my case I go to them for Apple accessories as I get a student discount. But everything else can be had elsewhere for significantly cheaper.
 
The DVI-D port on your MBP will output to 1080P when the laptop is closed and you wake it with an external mouse. That being clarified DIGITAL Video Interface means that any DVI-to-HDMI cable will suffice ($3.99-$79.99) because it is sending 01011100111 there is no deterioration of signal under say 25'. And then you only purchase the nicer cables for resistance to magnetic fields.
 
VGA cannot do 1080p, but it can do 1080i. However, 720p is better than 1080i.

VGA is effectively a component connection in disguise, it's analogue. DVI-D (which is what your MacBook Pro has) is digital, and will provide a much better image than VGA.
 
ntrigue said:
The DVI-D port on your MBP will output to 1080P when the laptop is closed and you wake it with an external mouse. That being clarified DIGITAL Video Interface means that any DVI-to-HDMI cable will suffice ($3.99-$79.99) because it is sending 01011100111 there is no deterioration of signal under say 25'. And then you only purchase the nicer cables for resistance to magnetic fields.
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I second this as it reinforces my first post.

Killyp said:
VGA cannot do 1080p, but it can do 1080i. However, 720p is better than 1080i.
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I beg to differ about this. It all depends on what is being displayed in my opinion. I will take 1080i over anything except 1080p. That is until we get something more impressive than 1080p. No more about this...don't want to hijack this thread.
 
Killyp said:
VGA cannot do 1080p, but it can do 1080i. However, 720p is better than 1080i.

VGA is effectively a component connection in disguise, it's analogue. DVI-D (which is what your MacBook Pro has) is digital, and will provide a much better image than VGA.
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Sorry but you are wrong. VGA can output at 1080p. It's just that not many things can support 1080p through VGA.
 
Crash-n-Burn said:
Sorry but you are wrong. VGA can output at 1080p. It's just that not many things can support 1080p through VGA.
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Kinda, because unless you get the horizontal frequency of VGA just right, you won't end up with 1080p, but a strange form of 1080i instead. In reality, you will never match the horizontal frequency of the source and output properly, it's next to impossible to do.
 
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