Macbook dual-screen with T.V. Weird, out of nowhere apparition.

[Sicarius]

Allright, I just got home from an Apple store, where I bought the Mini-DVI to video, and a stereo audio to 1/8". Now, when I first connected it, it mirrored the screen, just like expected. However, after a while, when I was trying to see if there was a more optimal resolution for my T.V. (SDTV 27" GE brand), it went black and white. I tried fixing it, restarting, nothing. Then I came across the display part of the System Preferences, set it to mirror mode, and then it gave me the option to arrange the screens. I did, and now the T.V. (Which is currently above me) acts as a second monitor! Weird, I thought that the Macbook's under-powered GPU meant it couldn't power a dual-monitor over like 17". Can anyone explain this? Also, does this wear down on my laptop more than usual? Thanks in advance.



P.S. If anyone could comment regarding the random change to black & white, I'd be eternally grateful as well.

 

[Eraserhead]

Allright, I just got home from an Apple store, where I bought the Mini-DVI to video, and a stereo audio to 1/8". Now, when I first connected it, it mirrored the screen, just like expected. However, after a while, when I was trying to see if there was a more optimal resolution for my T.V. (SDTV 27" GE brand), it went black and white. I tried fixing it, restarting, nothing. Then I came across the display part of the System Preferences, set it to mirror mode, and then it gave me the option to arrange the screens. I did, and now the T.V. (Which is currently above me) acts as a second monitor! Weird, I thought that the Macbook's under-powered GPU meant it couldn't power a dual-monitor over like 17". Can anyone explain this? Also, does this wear down on my laptop more than usual? Thanks in advance.

No, this is how it should be

P.S. If anyone could comment regarding the random change to black & white, I'd be eternally grateful as well.

If you change the output type it can go B&W.

 

[Sicarius]

Thanks a lot. So it doesn't wear and tear or anything? Sweet.



Erm, what's the max screen size for dual-screen, and mirroring? And how do you get a Safari window up there? The top bar restricts me from throwing it up there, lol.

 

[Chundles]

Allright, I just got home from an Apple store, where I bought the Mini-DVI to video, and a stereo audio to 1/8". Now, when I first connected it, it mirrored the screen, just like expected. However, after a while, when I was trying to see if there was a more optimal resolution for my T.V. (SDTV 27" GE brand), it went black and white. I tried fixing it, restarting, nothing. Then I came across the display part of the System Preferences, set it to mirror mode, and then it gave me the option to arrange the screens. I did, and now the T.V. (Which is currently above me) acts as a second monitor! Weird, I thought that the Macbook's under-powered GPU meant it couldn't power a dual-monitor over like 17". Can anyone explain this? Also, does this wear down on my laptop more than usual? Thanks in advance.



P.S. If anyone could comment regarding the random change to black & white, I'd be eternally grateful as well.

Sometimes changing the output options can make the second display go black and white - just find the best colour settings and you'll be set.

As for using it as a second display it CLEARLY states in the MacBook's technical specifications it can use an external display up to 1920x1200 in either mirrored, extended display or closed-lid modes.

 

[Chundles]

Thanks a lot. So it doesn't wear and tear or anything? Sweet.



Erm, what's the max screen size for dual-screen, and mirroring? And how do you get a Safari window up there? The top bar restricts me from throwing it up there, lol.

In that window where you set the arrangement of the screens you can drag the menu bar to the other screen - that screen now becomes your primary display. When you unplug the second screen it will revert back to your MacBook's screen.

 

[mkrishnan]

Also just to understand... the ability of the GPU to handle a second screen depends PURELY on its resolution and not on its size. If you have a 27" SDTV, it has bubkis resolution... what is it running at? 640x480? That's not a problem for the GPU. If you had an 80" SDTV and you ran it at 640x480, it would not be any harsher on the GPU than the 27" one.

Likewise, if you somewhere found a 3000x2000 pixel 20" display, you can't drive it at that resolution with your video card, even though your TV is physically bigger.

If you're worried about how hard you're running the GPU, you can get one of the temperature widgets that reports on GPU temp. But I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Sicarius]

Thanks a lot mkrishnan. Temps read completely normal, just went through a video spree, watched 4 episodes of Battlestar Galactica off the DVD, looked better on the screen then it does on my laptop, lol.