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Mini DVI, what it is and how to capture it

October 24, 2008 by Victor 

Mini DVI is a common connector found on Apple’s Macbook, Macbook Pro and Intel-based Powerbook G4 laptops that have been produced prior October 2008.  A Mini DVI port can also be found on Apple’s Intel-based 1U XServe servers.

According to Apple, the creator and sole manufacturer of computers with Mini DVI ports, Mini DVI, like Mini VGA, was implemented to save space and allow for the production of smaller laptops. This, however has been disproven by other manufacturers like Dell or Toshiba which have all made notebook computers with similar sizes, form factors, and specifications to Apple’s, yet have been able to implement a full-size DVI port. The relatively steep price of the adapters manufactured by Apple to work with the Mini DVI port (over $50 for some models) hint at the real (financial) motives behind Apple’s decision to equip its computers with Mini DVI ports.

While the way that the port is named suggests that Mini DVI is just a miniature version of the full-size DVI port, the Mini DVI port actually carries three different signals: 

  1. Single-link DVI (Digital)
  2. VGA (Analog)
  3. TV (Analog)

In order to convert the Mini DVI signal to any of the three signals mentioned above, a special adapter is required for each application.

1. Mini DVI to DVI (Single Link)

2. Mini DVI to VGA

3. Mini DVI to Video (TV RCA + S-Video)

A Mini DVI to HDMI adapter is also available on the market, but, unlike the three adapters shown above, is not manufactured by Apple.

 

Capturing Video from the Mini DVI Port

Since the Mini DVI port can be easily converted to DVI, VGA, or TV-out using adapters manufactured by Apple, a Mini DVI signal can be captured using a DVI or VGA frame grabber or a video capture card for TV/S-Video signals. Note that, since the DVI signal is single link, Mini DVI does not support resolutions higher than 1920×1200 @ 60Hz.

Please refer to our Frame Grabber Comparison Table to evaluate possible alternatives for VGA and DVI frame grabbers.

 

Technical Information and Specifications

For advanced users doing custom product development based on Mini DVI, below is a pinout of the Mini DVI port. Source.

Pin 1 Dat2_P Data 2 +
Pin 2 Dat2_N Data 2 -
Pin 3 Dat1_P Data 1 +
Pin 4 Dat1_N Data 1 -
Pin 5 Dat0_P Data 0 +
Pin 6 Dat0_N Data 0 -
Pin 7 CLK_P Clock +
Pin 8 CLK_N Clock -
Pin 9 DGND  
Pin 10 DGND  
Pin 11 DGND  
Pin 12 DGND  
Pin 13 DGND  
Pin 14 DGND  
Pin 15 DGND  
Pin 16 DGND  
Pin 17 +5 V  
Pin 18 DCC_DAT  
Pin 19 spare  
Pin 20 BLUE Analogue blue
Pin 21 not installed  
Pin 22 GREEN Analogue green
Pin 23 not installed  
Pin 24 RED Analogue red
Pin 25 Detect  
Pin 26 DCC_CLK  
Pin 27 spare  
Pin 28 DGND  
Pin 29 HSYNC Horizontal sync
Pin 30 DGND  
Pin 31 VSYNC Vertical sync
Pin 32 DGND

 

 

 

 
 

Comments

One Response to “Mini DVI, what it is and how to capture it”

  1. David on December 22nd, 2011 5:33 am

    So I’m looking for a way to attach my Macbook Pro to an analog TV. Essentially, I need option 3 – Mini DVI to Video (TV RCA + S-Video). However, I have been unsuccessful at finding such a cable on Apple’s website. Do they even make it? I found a Micro-DVI to Video Adapter, but those are only for Macbook Air’s.
    Any ideas?

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