vga versus dvi

[lowep]

My PC died so have had to patch my P221W monitor to my old Macbook 2.1 via a mini display port to VGA adapter.

As far as I can figure out I have got the resolution, refresh rate and all the settings right and the Macbook recognizes the monitor is a P221W but the image on the monitor still looks a little bit fuzzier than I am used to seeing when it is hooked up via DVI cable to my PC.

My guess is this could be because I am hooked up to the Macbook with the mini display port to VGA adapter + VGA cable rather than the direct to the PC via DVI adapter - ie that the VGA signal is not as good as the DVI?

Or am I just imaging this and need to cut back on the pink gin?

[Farmer]

VGA is an analogue signal whereas DVI is digital so, yes, you could very likely be seeing a difference.

Perhaps I'm missing something about Macs, but why not use a mini-display port to DVI adapter or cable?

[lowep]

Thanks Farmer,

No you are not missing something... it is me who is missing something: a mini display port to dvi adapter or cable that is not readily available where I am located - but high on my shopping list :-)

[Farmer]

Ah :-)  I think you'll find once you get that it will return to the standard to which you have become accustomed.

[smilem]

You need to modify the VGA Cable (you can get adapter and modify it instead). This will allow any refesh rate, more sharp images if you VGA card can supply them. Most of the cards, cant because they lack the dedicated VGA output.

Connecting you monitor using DVI-VGA adapter will never give you same shapness and image quality as VGA-VGA connection, that is because manufacturers do not put all necessary components on the video cards nowdays for true analog VGA.
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Image Showing PIN 12 location on VGA Cable – Disable PIN 12 to remove Auto Detect/PNP
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N66od8KlQks/TD-St9qyYEI/AAAAAAAAAVU/K5fH6O4jx-o/s1600/vga_pinout.jpg

More on this:
http://nookkin.com/content/allowing-any-screen-resolution-on-vista.php
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/55329-29-converter-working-monitor-power-saving-mode

[schrodingerscat]

So, from what I gather, the Macbook uses mini display and your monitor is VGA.  There are adaptor/cable solutions, but the results will be far from optimal, as you've discovered. As said, VGA is analog and mini display is digital.

For now, try playing with various resolutions to see which looks the best. As you mentioned contemplating a mini display to DVI cable, does this mean your monitor has DVI as well as VGA? Mini display to DVI or HDMI is digital all the way and would be preferable to VGA. Is your location so remote that usual delivery services are unavailable? Many online sources for adaptor/cables.