Member Avatar for Danniboy

hi all,
got 2 massive 20" screens from a friend and they need me to buy em an adapter to work with standard graphics cards rather than with an apple computer with annoyingly different graphics hardware, wot type of adapter is it i need? how do i find out? the monitor is an "apple multiple scan 20 display"
i am currently using a dinky lil packard bell 14.5inch screen with the worst resolution and i would love to b able to use the screens i have! :sad:

any help would b wonderful :D

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Dani AI

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Practical checklist and clarifications for the Apple Multiple Scan 20 monitors described in this thread.

The model plate on the back gives the definitive answer — the Apple Multiple Scan 20 accepts a set of analog timings (Apple documents specific resolutions and horizontal/vertical rates up to about 1280×1024@75Hz). Use those numbers when matching a PC video card output or selecting an adapter/cable. (support.apple.com)

Physically there are two different 15‑pin D‑sub styles to watch for: the older Apple two‑row 15‑pin (DA‑15 / sometimes called DB‑15) versus the common VGA three‑row HD‑15 (DE‑15). A quick visual check — two rows (8 + 7) versus three rows of five — identifies which family the monitor connector belongs to. (norcomp.net)

Passive Mac→VGA DB15→HD15 adapters and molded converters are widely available (example product families such as C2G). Read the adapter spec before buying: some low‑cost adapters are only guaranteed at very low resolutions and may not pass the full sync/timing the Multiple Scan 20 wants. If the monitor is one of Apple’s later ADC (clear/plastic) displays, that is a different interface (ADC carries DVI/USB/power) and needs an ADC converter rather than a simple DB15→VGA lead. (cablestogo.com)

Practical troubleshooting: note the exact model number, start the PC at a conservative resolution and 60Hz before switching cables, inspect pins for damage, confirm adapter gender, and test the PC with a known VGA monitor to verify the card’s analog output. If the passive adapter gives no picture at the monitor’s native timing, either try a different adapter that lists higher resolution support or use a card/active converter that can present a compatible analog timing. (As observed, some older cards simply can’t drive the higher CRT modes.) (support.apple.com)

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Member Avatar for Dani

Are they the fancy Apple monitors with the clear plastic border? If so, they use an ADC connector. It's a special type of DVI connector that puts DVI, USB, and power into one cable. First, you'll need to ensure that your video card has DVI support. You'll then need to purchase an ADC to DVI converter cable from Apple. If I remember correctly, it's a bit over $100.

Member Avatar for kc0arf

Hi,

You may also want to see if those screens will be supported by your Packard Bell computer. If it is an older one, your video card might not have the horsepower to drive the screens.

Christian

Member Avatar for Danniboy

its not the fancy ones, u tlkin about the coloured ones right?, its a couple of huge grey ones 20" or 22" sumthin like tht,
the monitor plug has 15pins
. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . .

unlike the normal plug with smaller pins of the same number:
. . . . .
. . . . .
. . . . .

i need an adapter that the first picture plugs into so that it can fit in to the picture of the second picture if you follow..
thanks so much for anyhelp!!
(soz the dots dnt seem to keep the spacing i typed em with :s)

Member Avatar for Danniboy

my computer isnt a packard bell btw, its just the monitor im currently using my comp is custom built by urs truly

Member Avatar for DMR

If you're describing the old Mac-standard 15-pin "D" connectors, you need a DB15 female -> HDB15 Male adapter like the one shown here:

http://www.pccables.com/70023.htm

Member Avatar for Danniboy

yup that looks like the one i need thanks :D only im in the uk so im gonna search for a uk company to order it from rather than get it all the way from the u.s at extra cost probably

thank u so much everyone!!

Member Avatar for DMR

You're welcome. :)

I only posted that particular link because it had a good visual description of the adapter. You can find the beasties all over the place, so I'm sure it will be no problem for you to source one from somewhere more local to you.

Important though (and no punny/funny intended): Make sure you get the sex right!

Those adapters come in both the MAC monitor->PC video card and PC monitor->Mac video card flavors; you need the one which is female (socketed) on the 2-row side and male (pinned) on the 3-row side.

Member Avatar for Danniboy

so im looking for a female to male connector?

ive been lookin and it doesnt seem as easy as u said to find :S am i lookin in the wrong places?

Member Avatar for DMR

If the picture of the connector in the link I posted looks like the right one for the monitors that you have; that's the type you need. It converts older Mac monitors' 2-row, 15-pin video connectors to the PC/VGA standard 3-row, 15-pin connectors. The only thing to keep in mind "sex-wise" is that you are going from a Mac monitor to a PC/VGA video card. Adapters which let you connect a PC/VGA monitor to a Mac computer are of the opposite sex.

I'm not sure why you're having trouble finding the adapter, but some of the links here might help:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=Mac+monitor+pc+vga+adapter&btnG=Search

Member Avatar for Danniboy

ok thanks DMR, incredible amount of support and help from this site, im loving it, thank you soooo much !!

Member Avatar for DMR

incredible amount of support...

We try.. :)


Repost if you have any further questions, or problems sourcing the right adapter.

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