Benq projector -- which cable to use?

scorsesefan

scorsesefan

Veteran
Hi, all. I am planning on screening my film in a few weeks using Benq model mp721c projector and my unibody macbook pro. My MB Pro has a mini display port out and the projector has a VGA input and a DVi-I input. I would like to connect via dvi, but in the manual for the projector it suggests that you should connect via a vga>dvi-A
cable. Anyone know how to connect digitally to this unit?

Thanks
 
scorsesefan said:
Hi, all. I am planning on screening my film in a few weeks using Benq model mp721c projector and my unibody macbook pro. My MB Pro has a mini display port out and the projector has a VGA input and a DVi-I input. I would like to connect via dvi, but in the manual for the projector it suggests that you should connect via a vga>dvi-A
cable. Anyone know how to connect digitally to this unit?

Thanks
Click to expand...

The Mini Display port is digital, use a mini display to DVI cable.
 
DVI-I refers to the connector only, not to a signal format. A DVI-I connector is one that can accept either a DVI-A (used for analog) or DVI-D (used for digital) cable. It's used a lot in projectors, where the DVI input is often doing double-duty as a second input for analog signals and as a digital input.

Unfortunately, it's also used on projectors that only take analog on the DVI (I don't think I've ever seen a DVI-A connector used as an input on anything), and based on the online manual, I'm wondering if that isn't the case on this BenQ. Even if it does take digital, it looks like it might only take HDTV signal formats, not PC.

I think the only way to be sure is going to be to test it beforehand.
 
Thanks for the tip captain... I ordered a dvi-d cable but i'm Afraid it won't work. my back up plan is a dvd, But do you think going mini display to vga Might be better quality?
 
There's a lot of variables involved in that one. :) My personal opinion is that, if what you're playing is in the SD video range (which I'm guessing it is if you can put it on a DVD), it's not going to make a whole lot of difference whether you go from a DVD player or from the laptop through VGA. Obviously, if it's something more HD where the laptop could play it natively (or as close to natively as the projector's resolution will allow :) ) and the DVD is converted down to SD, then you're likely to see better results going with the VGA connection.
 
Thanks, captain. You've been very helpful... The project is HD, down converted to SD DVD (I haven't gotten my hands on a blu-ray burner yet). I think I'm gonna try the mini displayport to dvi-d cable that I purchased already and buy a MDP to VGA converter but not open it and hope the former works and I don't have to use it... Just another quick question: I bought this audio cable :http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10218&cs_id=1021802&p_id=5576&seq=1&format=2 to use with the projector. Do you think it will work OK?
Thanks again
 
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