Mac OS X 10.6 Help


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Identifying video ports

Your Mac computer includes one or more video ports. Depending on your Mac, you can use these ports to connect to a display or to a TV, VCR, or projector.

An icon next to the port identifies the type of port. The name of the port can be useful if you need to purchase adapters and cables for the port.

Video port Icon Description

Image of the ADC port

Image of the ADC port icon

DVI: Connect to a DVI display, or connect to another type of display using a display adapter described below.

Image of the mini-DVI port

Image of the ADC port icon

Mini-DVI: Connect to a DVI, VGA, or ADC display, or connect to a video device using a display adapter described below.

Image of the micro-DVI port

Image of the ADC port icon

Micro-DVI: Connect to a DVI, VGA, or ADC display, or connect to a video device using a display adapter described below.

Image of the VGA port

Image of the VGA port icon.

VGA: Connect to a VGA display or a projector equipped with VGA.

Image of the mini-VGA port

Image of the ADC port icon

Mini-VGA: Connect to an external VGA monitor or a VGA projector using the Apple VGA Display Adapter.

Image of the S-Video port

Image of the S-Video port icon

S-Video: Connect to a TV using an S-video cable. If your TV doesn't have direct S-video support, use an S-video-to-composite cable.

Audio port

Image of the A/V or composite video port icon

A/V or composite video: Connect to an external display or TV using an Apple AV Cable.

Image of the ADC port

Image of the ADC port icon

ADC: Connect to an ADC display using a display adapter described below.

Image of the Mini DisplayPort

Image of the ADC port icon

Mini DisplayPort: Connect to a Mini DisplayPort using a display adapter described below.

To connect a display to your Mac when they have different ports, use an adapter:

If your Mac has DVI ports, use the Apple DVI to VGA Adapter to connect a VGA display; use the Apple DVI to ADC Adapter to connect an ADC display; and if the graphics card in your Mac supports it, use the Apple DVI to Video Adapter to connect to a TV, VCR, or projector with an S-video or RCA (composite) connector.

If your Mac has a mini-DVI port, use the Apple Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter to connect a DVI display; the Apple Mini-DVI to VGA Adapter to connect a VGA display; the Apple Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter in combination with the Apple DVI to ADC Adapter to connect an ADC display; and the Apple Mini-DVI to Video Adapter to connect to a TV, VCR, or projector with an S-video or RCA (composite) connector.

If your Mac has a micro-DVI port, use the Apple Micro-DVI to DVI Adapter to connect a DVI display; the Apple Micro-DVI to VGA Adapter to connect a VGA display; and the Apple Micro-DVI to Video Adapter to connect to a TV, VCR, or projector with an S-video or RCA (composite) connector.

If your Mac has a Mini DisplayPort, use the Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter to connect a DVI device, and the Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter to connect a VGA device.

To learn about the video ports available on your Mac, refer to your computer’s user’s guide. User’s guides are available online at the Apple Product Manuals website. You can also open System Profiler. Choose Apple menu > About This Mac, and then click More Info. Click the Hardware disclosure triangle, and then click Graphics/Displays.

Apple display adapters are available through the Apple Online Store.

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