[hannick]

I have managed to connect my Toshiba to my iMac so I can now use the TV as an external monitor.

I have done this by using the mini DVi video output from the iMac and taking the signal to the PC terminal (Mini D-sub 15 pin connector) on the back of the TV. Sound gets there from the speaker socket on the iMac to the TV's phono inputs.

However this is an analog signal isn't it?

Does anyone know if I can take the signal from the miniDVi socket on the iMac directly to one of the HDMI socket on the TV.

The cable to do this is £55.00 so I don't want to order and make a mistake.
Will this cable also take the sound to the TV?
Is it worth the bother?
Will it work if I select HDMI to see the picture rather than the reccomended choice on the TV of "PC"?

Here's hoping someone can help me.

Regards

[rhubarbe]

You can't have connected a DVI connector to a D-sub and be getting a picture unless it's a very odd DVI, and looking at the back of the iMac it is, indeed, very odd.

What does your Toshiba manual say about it? I have a 32WLT58 and my manual says that the max supported resolution over VGA (D-sub) from a computer is 1024 x 768, and it doesn't like the idea of it being connected to a computer at all over HDMI.

Let me know, if you can, because I am keen to buy a Mac Mini and need to answer most of your questions myself.

[rhubarbe]

I see it's a DVI to VGA converter on the back. Personally, if you are getting a full screen picture fro yur iMac (are you?), I'd be happy with that and save the 55 quid. I know I would.

[hannick]

Yes I'm able to get a full screen picture on the Tosh using the "PC" socket on the TV.

To be honest the picture quality is pretty good.

I guess I was thinking that if it were possible to use a single miniDVi to HDMI cable, and for it to also carry the sound signal it would save me from having the pile of cable I'm currently using.

Interestingly the manual for the TV says "connect the PC cable from the computer to the PC terminal on the back of the tv. Connect the audio cable from the PC/HDMI 1 audio socket on the back of the TV. Select PC/HDMI1 audio options in the AV connection menu"

The TV manual says there are lots of signals that can be displayed - I am using (I think) 1280x1024. The manual says SXGA will display and if using PC HDMI to TV HDMI XGA and SXGA cannot be displayed.

I had to buy a miniDVi to VGA converter cable from the Apple store. I then used a standard monitor cable to connect this to the TV. It works fine.

[rhubarbe]

Thanks very much. I'll see if I can download the anual for your TV and give it a read.

DVI doesn't carry sound, so you'd still need a separate audio connection from the Mini to the TV even if using mini DVI to HDMI cable.

[alanwarwic]

thought most DVI sockets carried analogue too with many computers being supplied with a VGA Dsub adapter for the DVI socket.
Often this would be 2 sockets for dual monitors, one DVI and one Dsub. The DVI adapter would then give 2 Dsubs.

Am sure you can get a high quality DVI HDMI cable for less than £5 on ebay and many many other places. Remember that the Aldi DVD player with HDMI upscaling costs £40 and comes with a HDMI cable.
However you might just impress a few intellectually challenged friends with that amazing £59 cable.

[hannick]

Ah - forgot to mention the cable is 10m long, hence the high price tag.

link to tv page - link to manual on rh side.

Info on connecting to a computer on page 7.

[rhubarbe]

That TV has many more resolutions than mine does. But tell me, if you go to the settings bit on your iMac, what resolution does it think that it is displaying at?