connecting Mac mini (g4 model) DVI out to Aquos LC-32D62U HDMI

I want to use my somewhat-old Mac Mini to play iTunes-sourced mp3s and
internet radio on my stereo. And my TV would serve as the monitor, so
all I have to deal with is the small mini. And a big keyboard :-(

Problem is that I can't seem to get the DVI-to-HDMI thing to work.

I am connecting the DVI-D from the mini to HDMI input #4 on the TV.
That doesn't work, though I did once see a picture (more on that
later).

TV keeps complaining about getting an unsupported video signal and
that I should check the output device's settings. I checked the TV
manual and adjusted the mini to the correct resolution and refresh
rates, no dice.

Tried 1280x1024, 1280x800, 1024x768 and below, all at 60 Hz refresh.
In fact, tried pretty much setting on the Aquos' resolution
compatibility list. No luck.

I did see a picture, once, but it seemed to miss some of the actual
screen contents (i.e. the TV was zoomed too close). Trying to tweak
the Mac's resolution to avoid that clipping lost that picture forever.

To check the DVI-HDMI I also connected my Acer laptop through its DVI
output and that works. Provided that I start out by booting the
laptop the TV picks up the HDMI. I suspect the laptop booting
requirement has less to do with the TV itself than the laptop's
graphics card (Radeon 9200) not bothering to output to the external
DVI port if it doesn't have a monitor connected to it at boot time.
Once I have booted and connected, I can change the laptop's resolution
well enough. But I don't want to dedicate my laptop to playing mp3s.

So, the laptop works. Not the mini though, which is rated at
1920x1080 btw, better than the laptop.

Anybody have experience connecting these things? ATI's position is
that they don't support HDMI inputs.

Also, any chance of physically damaging that type of LCD TV by
overdriving it from a PC? Like, too high refresh rates?

Reality check: DVI to HDMI cables only occasionally work properly, as you
have discovered.
Worse, although improving, some HDMI components are unable to connect
properly.
Sorry, but such is the state of technology that we are all our own beta
testers.
There are converters for DVI output that will create a component signal if
that is crucial for you.
As an aside, if you are considering a newer Mac mini (actually any Mac)
analyze what the same components in a Wintel box would cost and then see if
you can still rationalize the Mac purchase without imagining money going
down a toilet. Perhaps it will be the same emotion early Ipod adapters have
finding that Apple is lowering the price by $200 and offering them a $100
"credit."
That's even worse than Vista.

On Sep 11, 8:13 am, "flambe" wrote:
Reality check: DVI to HDMI cables only occasionally work properly, as you
have discovered.

OK, do you think the fault lies in the _cable_ itself (cheapo $20 for
6 footer) or in either the Mac DVI output or the TV HDMI input?

Worse, although improving, some HDMI components are unable to connect
properly.

Yes, I'd heard that before.

There are converters for DVI output that will create a component signal if
that is crucial for you.

Might look into that, any idea of the price?

As an aside, if you are considering a newer Mac mini (actually any Mac)
analyze what the same components in a Wintel box would cost and then see if
you can still rationalize the Mac purchase without imagining money going
down a toilet.

Correct. But Macs are not, quite, as ridiculously overpriced as they
were in the past. I think the boxes' design is great, OS X is pretty
good, but perhaps too dumbed-down without digging into the command
line terminals. One additional good point is a very low power
consumption in the minis, which is something I care about on a media
server. Overall: I keep my eyes open and I am not an Apple fanboy,
but the minis are worth considering. Lots of my open-source developer
buddies run around with Mac laptops as well, on the basis that they
want Unix but don't to deal with endless Linux tinkering.

When buying Apple stuff: wait for a generation or two (nano shell
fragility, mini's initial 2 USB ports, iPhone's launch pricing).

An additional consideration for me is not to run Windows on anything
that I will be entering my credit card number into. Call me overly
paranoid, but I'll take the good ol' Unix prompt of "something is
being done at the system level, please enter your root password to OK"
over XP's "geez, installing 'keylogger.exe', sure".

(and yes, I know most credit card frauds starts off in bricks and
mortar retail).

For sensitive stuff, I am using either the mini (which is kinda dying
on me, hardware-wise) or a Linux boot on a PC. I might be interested
in Vista, if it wasn't getting so much criticism in its current
incarnation.