Question about Mini Display Port and HD

[macbook123]

I ordered an Epson 8350 Full HD (1920x1080) projector and plan to use it mostly for viewing photos and high resolution movies, either taken with my own camera or streaming from Netflix, etc.

I don't know if this is the best forum to post in but couldn't find a better one.

So my question is, can I simply use the MDP->VGA adapter I use for presentations to get the Full HD signal to this projector, or will I get better results if I buy a MDP->HDMI adapter?

 

[alust2013]

It would probably give you better picture to use HDMI, but VGA should work if you already have it.

 

[macbook123]

Sorry for digging deeper: do you know in what ways HDMI would be better? Will it yield higher resolution or better bandwidth/higher refresh rate?

 

[macbook123]

And: can you confirm that VGA will give me 1920x1080?

 

[alust2013]

Sorry for digging deeper: do you know in what ways HDMI would be better? Will it yield higher resolution or better bandwidth/higher refresh rate?

They will both work up to the 1080p that your projector uses, and I believe will be 60Hz. However, VGA is an analog signal and HDMI is digital, which often just looks better, even at same res and refresh rate. It's a similar deal to using VGA vs DVI or HDMI on a monitor. VGA has a typical max resolution of 2048x1536, so that will cover 1080p

 

[macbook123]

Fantastic, thank you for the swift replies.

 

[macbook123]

Actually one more question: Will I be able to use the Audio out to connect my stereo while I use the MDP to project the image via VGA?

Seems like a no brainer, but I just want to make sure.

 

[macbook123]

I got the projector and am having three problems with it that may be due to the MDP->VGA connection. I'd appreciate anyone's thoughts:

1) The desktop is shifted with respect to the projection, such that there is a black band on the left side of the projected image and a narrow band on the right side of the desktop is cut off. The image extends to just before the "PM" in the clock display in the menu bar.

2) Every once in a while the image becomes blurry such that straight lines (e.g. the sides of a window) become jagged lines. It does that for about a second before it returns back to normal.

3) When I say "normal", I should specify that I think the image quality is not very good.

I imagine that 3) will be remedied by moving to a MDP->HDMI adapter, however could 1) and 2) have anything to do with it?

 

[macbook123]

Bump.

 

[johnhalsted]

You can get your resolution with VGA and it will work fine
But if you can use DVI or HDMI then do so, they will yield a much cleaner image with a better refresh rate.

My 2nd monitor is vga and i scowl at it everytime I see it, damn you refresh rate lines!!!

 

[TheMacBookPro]

Get a MDP->HDMI adapter off DealExtreme and test that out. For $10 incl free shipping you can't go wrong.

 

[CarbonDudeoxide]

Have a look through the Displays icon in System Preferences.

Have a go at adjusting Resolutions, Arrangement and Color.
It may also be worth looking at refresh rate.