The Mini-DVI connector is used on certain

Apple An apple is an edible fruit produced by an apple tree (''Malus domestica''). Apple trees are cultivated worldwide and are the most widely grown species in the genus '' Malus''. The tree originated in Central Asia, where its wild ancest ...

computers as a digital alternative to the Mini-VGA connector. Its size is between the full-sized

DVI Digital Visual Interface (DVI) is a video display interface developed by the Digital Display Working Group (DDWG). The digital interface is used to connect a video source, such as a video display controller, to a display device, such as a comp ...

and the tiny Micro-DVI. It is found on the 12-inch

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(except the original 12-inch 867 MHz PowerBook G4, which used Mini-VGA), the Intel-based

iMac iMac is a family of all-in-one Mac desktop computers designed and built by Apple Inc. It has been the primary part of Apple's consumer desktop offerings since its debut in August 1998, and has evolved through seven distinct forms. In it ...

, the MacBook Intel-based laptop, the Intel-based

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, the 2009

Mac mini Mac Mini (stylized as Mac mini) is a small form factor desktop computer developed and marketed by Apple Inc. , it is positioned between the consumer all-in-one iMac and the professional Mac Studio and Mac Pro as one of four current Mac deskto ...

, and some late model eMacs. In October 2008, Apple announced the company was phasing Mini-DVI out in favor of Mini DisplayPort. Mini-DVI connectors on Apple hardware are capable of carrying DVI,

VGA Video Graphics Array (VGA) is a video display controller and accompanying de facto graphics standard, first introduced with the IBM PS/2 line of computers in 1987, which became ubiquitous in the PC industry within three years. The term can now ...

, or TV signals through the use of adapters, detected with EDID (Extended display identification data) via DDC. This connector is often used in place of a DVI connector in order to save physical space on devices. Mini-DVI does not support dual-link connections and hence cannot support resolutions higher than 1920×1200 @60 Hz. There are various types of Mini-DVI adapter: *Apple Mini-DVI to VGA Adapter Apple part numbe
M9320G/A
(discontinued) *Apple Mini-DVI to Video Adapter Apple part number M9319G/A, provided both

S-Video S-Video (also known as separate video, Y/C, and erroneously Super-Video ) is an analog video signal format that carries standard-definition video, typically at 525 lines or 625 lines. It encodes video luma and chrominance on two separate chann ...

and

Composite video Composite video is an analog video signal format that carries standard-definition video (typically at 525 lines or 625 lines) as a single channel. Video information is encoded on one channel, unlike the higher-quality S-Video (two channe ...

connectors (discontinued) *Apple Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter (DVI-D) Apple part number M9321G/B (discontinued) Non-OEM Mini-DVI to HDMI adapters are also available at online stores such as eBay and Amazon, and from some retail stores, but were not sold by Apple. The physical connector is similar to Mini-VGA, but is differentiated by having four rows of pins arranged in two vertically stacked slots rather than the two rows of pins in the Mini-VGA. Connecting to a DVI-I connector requires a Mini-DVI to DVI-D cable plus a DVI-D to DVI-I adapter.

Criticisms

*Apple's Mini-DVI to DVI-D cable does not carry the analog signal coming from the mini-DVI port on the Apple computer. This means that it is not possible to use this cable with an inexpensive DVI-to-VGA adapter for VGA output; Apple's mini-DVI to VGA cable must be used instead. This could be avoided if Apple provided a mini-DVI to DVI-I cable. The purpose of DVI-I is to ensure universal compatibility. *The Apple mini-DVI to DVI-D cable's package shows a DVI-I figure instead of DVI-D and does not specify that it comes with only DVI-D.

Compatibility

As Mini-DVI is pin-compatible with DVI, it supports both DVI and VGA through adapters.

References

External links

12-inch PowerBook G4 Developer Note: External Display Port
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mini-Dvi Digital display connectors Graphics cards Apple Inc. hardware

Criticisms

Compatibility

See also

References

External links