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USB 3 Cable to HDMI

S

Scottie_72

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 8, 2019
4
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Hello!

I wonder if anyone could give me some advice please I’m looking to purchase an additional monitor to extend my iMac to work on two screens.. sadly I can’t afford another Mac screen .

My iMac is 2014 and I’ve been told that I need a none charging USB 3(A) to HDMI cable or adapter.. I’m based in the UK can anybody recommend a product please?

Many Thanks in Advance
 
benshive said:
Yeah, definitely use the thunderbolt ports. If the monitor you get has a DP input on the back you can just get a miniDP to DP cord and not worry about adapters at all.
Click to expand...


I’ll be honest I have no idea what a DP is or if the monitor would have one? Sorry to be so naive... I’ve just googled the monitor and it’s only got two ports HDMI & VGA!
 
Last edited:
Scottie_72 said:
I’ll be honest I have no idea what a DP is or if the monitor would have one? Sorry to be so naive... I’ve just googled the monitor and it’s only got two ports HDMI & VGA!
Click to expand...

DP = DisplayPort. At least on the Monitor side, it looks like an HDMI male end, but one side is flat, and the other side has the angle... rudimentary drawing |___/ ... the mini versions (TB2) look squarish with small angle on the bottoms.

Anyhow, I use the Amazon Basics Mini-DP (Thunderbolt 2) to HDMI cable myself, I had tried some of the cheaper ones on Amazon but they didn't work, so for a few extra coins I went with it and it's flawless... https://www.amazon.co.uk/AmazonBasi...port+to+hdmi&qid=1565351929&s=gateway&sr=8-13
 
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Find out what kind of inputs are ON THE DISPLAY.
Tell us.
Then we can advise you as to what to get.

For a 2014 iMac I believe you have thunderbolt2 (that also handles video out).
In that case, you will need a "minidisplayport" (iMac end) to XXXX (display end).

I put in XXXX because (again) we need to know what kind of inputs the display has.
Time to do your research, and post here with the results.
 
Fishrrman said:
Find out what kind of inputs are ON THE DISPLAY.
Tell us.
Then we can advise you as to what to get.

For a 2014 iMac I believe you have thunderbolt2 (that also handles video out).
In that case, you will need a "minidisplayport" (iMac end) to XXXX (display end).

I put in XXXX because (again) we need to know what kind of inputs the display has.
Time to do your research, and post here with the results.
Click to expand...
He already said it only had HDMI and VGA in a previous comment. A simple thunderbolt 2 to HDMI adapter and an HDMI cord will work fine.
 
"A simple thunderbolt 2 to HDMI adapter and an HDMI cord will work fine."

Don't you really mean "minidisplayport" to HDMI cable/adapter ???
 
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Fishrrman said:
"A simple thunderbolt 2 to HDMI adapter and an HDMI cord will work fine."

Don't you really mean "minidisplayport" to HDMI cable/adapter ???
Click to expand...
It's the same port. If OP was looking at the specs for his Mac the port would probably be listed by Apple as Thunderbolt 2, not miniDP.
 
"It's the same port. If OP was looking at the specs for his Mac the port would probably be listed by Apple as Thunderbolt 2, not miniDP."

It's the same "port", but words mean things.

The DISPLAY cable/adapter that is sold to get a video signal to the monitor is sold as a "minidisplayport to HDMI" or "minidisplayport to displayport" cable.

If the OP buys a "thunderbolt" cable ... it almost certainly won't work.

Could you post some links for "thunderbolt to hdmi" cables?
 
Fishrrman said:
"It's the same port. If OP was looking at the specs for his Mac the port would probably be listed by Apple as Thunderbolt 2, not miniDP."

It's the same "port", but words mean things.

The DISPLAY cable/adapter that is sold to get a video signal to the monitor is sold as a "minidisplayport to HDMI" or "minidisplayport to displayport" cable.

If the OP buys a "thunderbolt" cable ... it almost certainly won't work.

Could you post some links for "thunderbolt to hdmi" cables?
Click to expand...
Googling thunderbolt 2 to HDMI brings up plenty of miniDP to HDMI adapters because, like I said, they're the same physical port and thunderbolt 2 is completely compatible with all miniDP devices. Debating about the exact terminology used is pointless because both "thunderbolt 2 to HDMI" and "miniDP to HDMI" are valid.
 
benshive said:
Googling thunderbolt 2 to HDMI brings up plenty of miniDP to HDMI adapters because, like I said, they're the same physical port and thunderbolt 2 is completely compatible with all miniDP devices. Debating about the exact terminology used is pointless because both "thunderbolt 2 to HDMI" and "miniDP to HDMI" are valid.
Click to expand...
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benshive said:
Googling thunderbolt 2 to HDMI brings up plenty of miniDP to HDMI adapters because, like I said, they're the same physical port and thunderbolt 2 is completely compatible with all miniDP devices. Debating about the exact terminology used is pointless because both "thunderbolt 2 to HDMI" and "miniDP to HDMI" are valid.
Click to expand...
Hi, just to say thank you for your help, I got the Belkin adapter and a HDMI cable and it’s working A OK!... Thanks Again
 
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