Apple Displays - Connectors

Connectors

Apple has employed a large number of display connector designs over the years:

  • Original DA-15 (commonly but incorrectly known as a DB-15) used on all desktop Macs without a built in monitor up until the 1999 Blue and White Power Macintosh G3.
  • A 13W3 connector (as on Sun Microsystems machines) used on the Macintosh Portrait Display
  • A non-standard "mini-15" connector used on early PowerBooks which allowed an Apple monitor to be attached via a short adaptor cable.
  • Apple MultiMedia Display connector (HDI-45) used on some "AV" model Centris, Quadra and the first-generation (NuBus) Power Macintosh machines.
  • Standard 15-pin high-density DE-15 VGA connector, first included on some Power Macintosh 9600 models and available on all current Macintoshes via a short adaptor cable.
  • Apple Display Connector (ADC), which carries DVI, VGA, USB and power in one connector was used on the PowerMac G4 and early models of the PowerMac G5.
  • A DVI connector was used on the non-unibody Intel-based MacBook Pros, PowerBooks, Mac Mini, Power Mac G4, G5 and Mac Pro.
  • A mini-VGA connector, which can provide VGA via a short adaptor cable. It appears on the white iBook, eMac, iMac G4 and G5, and first generation 12-inch PowerBook G4. Later models also support a composite and S-video adapter attached to this port.
  • A micro-DVI connector is used in the first generation Macbook Air to accommodate its small form factor.
  • A mini-DVI connector used on the 12" PowerBook G4 (except first generation,) Intel-based iMacs, MacBooks, and Mac Minis.
  • A mini DisplayPort connector was used on some Macbook Air, Macbook Pro, iMac, Mac Mini and Mac Pro models.
  • Currently all Macs feature Thunderbolt connectors (except the Mac Pro which has Mini Displayport connectors).

Additionally, various Apple computers have been able to output:

  • S-video via standard 4-pin mini-DIN connector
  • Composite video, via:
    • S-video port and use of short adaptor cable (PowerBooks)
    • Standard phono connector (AV Macs)
    • Phono connector video out on the Apple II, II+, IIe, IIc, IIc+, IIGS, III, and III+. While not technically NTSC or PAL compatible, a suitable image would display on NTSC/PAL television monitors
    • A non-standard 3.5 mm jack that functions as either a headphone jack, or stereo audio and composite video out via an adaptor cable (FireWire Special Edition Clamshell iBooks and early "Dual USB" iBooks with external reset button)
  • S-video, Composite video, or VGA, via:
    • Mini-VGA when using an Apple Video Output Adapter (S-video & Composite or VGA)
  • The Apple Video Adapter was specially designed to allow users to connect to S-video or composite video devices. The video adapter cable plugs into the video output port (Mini-VGA) built into the back of certain Macintosh computers. The video output port supports VGA, S-Video and Composite video out. The Apple Video Adapter is for S-Video or Composite video output only, use a separate Apple VGA Adapter for VGA video output options. With the Apple Video Adapter you can connect to your TV, VCR, or overhead projector via S-Video or Composite cables.
Compatible with: iBook without an external reset button, 12-inch PowerBook G4, Mac Mini, eMac, iMac G5, or 17-inch iMac (1 GHz) with Mini-VGA port.
  • The Apple VGA Display Adapter was specially designed to allow users to connect certain Macintosh computers to an extra VGA monitor or external projector (equipped with VGA) for 24-bit video-mirroring. The VGA cable from your external monitor or projector cable plugs into the Mini-VGA video port built into your Macintosh via the Apple VGA Display Adapter.
Compatible with: eMac, iMac G5, iMac G4 flat-panel, 12-inch PowerBook G4, or iBooks having a Mini-VGA port. Most Macintosh computers with the Mini-VGA port can also use the Apple Video Adapter for S-video & Composite output options.
  • 12-inch PowerBook G4 (first generation) models supported video-mirroring and extended video desktop modes through a mini-VGA port. All 15 and 17 inch PowerBook G4 models have a DVI port as well as an S-Video out port. The mini-VGA port on the 12-inch PowerBook was replaced by a mini-DVI port starting with the second revision of the machine.
  • The Retina MacBook Pro supports HDMI output from a built-in connector in addition to its two Thunderbolt connectors.

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