10-12-2007, 03:20 AM

Ok, I just recieved a DVI to HDMI cable in the mail today, and it was easy enough to set up, but the trouble I'm having is getting my TV to display the entire desktop when mirroring without cropping or adding black bars. The TV is a 32" Philips LCD, and it givs me lots of options, such as the ability to turn overscanning off and on, but no configuration I've tried has produced favorable results. Through searching around, I found that VGA adapters seem to automatically fit the resolution to the screen perfectly, but I bought the HDMI adapter because my TV lacks a VGA port. Is there any method available to me to get the same results as a VGA connection?

Any help would be great, I've already spent several hours trying to remedy this situation.

10-12-2007, 03:41 AM

In System Preferences > Displays, once you have clicked "detect displays", click what I can recall is the "Arrangement" tab, although this might be known as "Options". Click "mirror displays" here and bobs your uncle.
Once you have done this, change the resolution of the macbook, in the standard System Prefs > Displays > Resolution to suit the monitor you are mirroring to as it is for sure a different aspect
Hope this helps

Alex

10-12-2007, 10:26 AM

Which MBP do you have? If it is the 15.4", the max resolution of it is 1440x900. Make sure to not set the resolution higher than this. It would risk damage to the monitor.

In terms of the LCD TV, find out what the max resolution is. Then you can set the resolution to that. Unless its a 1080p TV, it should be less than 1440x900. It may be 1366x768.

10-12-2007, 02:27 PM

@illusionist

Yes, it is the 15.4 inch. Are you saying that my resolution setting on the tv should be no higher than 1366x768? It is giving me the options to go up to 1900x1080, and it works at that resolution, the problem is that when mirroring with overscanning, the picture is cropped at the top and bottom, and with overscanning off, the picture is bordered by black. I tried messing with picture mode on the tv when it is like that, but the only option I got was automatic formatting, and it just stretches the screen way too much.

Someone suggested running it with the lid closed to see if it helps, so I'm going to try that next.

10-12-2007, 08:56 PM

Originally Posted by mrfong07

@illusionist

Yes, it is the 15.4 inch. Are you saying that my resolution setting on the tv should be no higher than 1366x768? It is giving me the options to go up to 1900x1080, and it works at that resolution, the problem is that when mirroring with overscanning, the picture is cropped at the top and bottom, and with overscanning off, the picture is bordered by black. I tried messing with picture mode on the tv when it is like that, but the only option I got was automatic formatting, and it just stretches the screen way too much.

Someone suggested running it with the lid closed to see if it helps, so I'm going to try that next.

Find out what the max resolution for your TV is. Then you need to set the resolution to that or less.

11-05-2007, 05:28 PM

I'm having the exact same issue - MBP 15.4" with a DVI-HDMI adapter. 32" Mirai LCD TV 1080i. Picture quality is excellent with it - Just a shame it's cropping the image. Max resolution is only 1280x1024 (or something like that) but thats only with the VGA connection, when I use HDMI I can use 1920x1080 (1080i). Turning off over scanning in prefs helps but then doesn't use the full screen then. Nearest I can get to perfect is 1360x768, still buts off a tiny bit off the top and bottom but I could live with it like!
Just wondering if anyone came up with any other ideas?

02-08-2008, 12:52 PM

somebody just helped me with this.

as an alternative, instead of mirroring where you can only match the resolution of your computer (not enjoy the depth of the 1080p) use the extension mode.

Set the lcd as the primary monitor in extended mode. In system pref, displays, go the the arrangements window. there should be two little boxes that represent monitors that you can move around and that will dictatethe positioning of the monitors themselves. drag the little white bar that represents the menu bar from the smaller box to the bigger box. that should make the lcd the primary monitor at full 1080p.

you may have to the try a few different aspect sizes on your tv to perfect it, but that should be too tough. good luck!