Intel Mac Mini + HP LC2600N 26" LCD TV problems

[Teron]

Hi,

Anyone out there also have this TV and have it working with 1366x768 resolution?

Can you please share your switchresx settings? I've tried with and without using the tutorial here, no luck cannot get it to work.

Also for some annoying reason, anytime I try I have to end up erasing and re-installing from install discs because the display ends up being "unsupported" by the HP 2600

I can hook up to a computer monitor, set it to a resolution that DOES work on the HP, but it then does not work when hooked up to the HP.

Anyone who has their Intel Mac Mini hooked up to their HP 26" please please tell me the secret!

Thanks!

[druber]

I have this same TV model with a G4 Mac Mini and have also not had success with getting 1366/8x768. I have been able to get 1280x768, and I've been satisfied with it as a Mac display, even though I know that's not it's native resolution. Never had to reinstall the OS to get there, though.

I'm hooked up via DVI, and the TV is set to digital input (not analog), and the resolution on the TV is set to 1368x768. In the Displays control panel, hit "detect displays" and I think you should be off and running. I think "unsupported" just means it's receiving a resolution that it can't display. That should *not* require a full reinstall. You can reset the PRAM (pressing Command-Option-P-R at startup until you hear the startup chime twice), but I recall that powering down the Mac Mini (holding down the power button until it switches off) and restarting also did the trick in getting a working signal (probably 800x600). Detect displays and pick the highest one that works.

Like I say, I'd love to get native resolution going on here, and I'd gladly pay for software that consistently kept it there, but for now I'm happy where I'm at.

[Doug_Eldred]

Using SwitchResX per the tutorial I'm able to get 1366x768 on my HP PL4260N (native 1024x768). I'm using VGA, not DVI.

When fooling around with display settings, it's a really good idea to use VNC or some other remote control software so you can "drive" from another PC or Mac if your display comes up blank.

[jaydillyo]

Same boat here. I have been able to get 1280x768 with my MacBook Pro, but not 1366x768. I think 1280x768 looks fine. I don't think it scales it at all.

Great TV otherwise though.

-- jaydilllyo

[druber]

Well, it must scale it to the native resolution. But then, it must also scale 720p/1080i to that resolution, and there's no obvious line-doubling that I can see. Ditto as a Mac display, though a patterned Desktop can expose it. Can't say much for the BCS Championship as a game, but the picture is sure lovely.

[Teron]

For some odd reason, and I've had more macs than I can recall.

This Intel Mini laughs at PRAM resets, it does nothing like it's supposed to.

It will NOT reset the video. I really do have to hook it up to another display and wipe it then I end up with a barely usable zoomed in no menu bar no dock, sides cut off mess.

NOW when I do it, I get a 1024x768 on the HP that is stretched to fit. I now no longer get the 720p cut off top/bottom/sides mess.

I'd love any smaller non native resolution that is aspect correct that properly displays the menu bar and dock and does not cut off the sides.

Very disappointing that it wont behave nicely.

Rumor has it, A, that Apple may be getting into TVs, as in an Apple TV, and B, that 10.5 will actually support all these odd 136xx resolutions and play nice with TVs.

I hope both are true.

10 hours to the keynote...

Oh, and that game sucked.

[Teron]

Narf.

Well after another restore...

I'm running at 1280x768, which looks GREAT, crisp and clear, took some steps though...

I'd much prefer 1366x768, but 1280x768 looks great now. It's no longer dithered/compressed looking.

This time I restored, hooked up via DVI, selected Digital PC on the HP then turned on the mini. Booted into 1024x768 stretchy distorted mode. Changed resolution, CAREFULLY, to 1280x768(anything else like 75mhz or any other setting will leave me forced to restore again(PRAM reset does nothing), better but still squishy looking. At this point in the menu setup I could not modify the input signal like many have mentioned being able to do...

I shut down both mini and TV. Changed TV to Digital AV on input 5(DVI), turned on mini, it boots up in 1280x720 and says 720P and the screen is off center and missing it's menu/dock etc. Turn OFF overscan in Apple display preferences and I get the centered dithered/splotchy out of focus screen with the black border around it. Shut both down. Change HP to Digital PC on Input 5(DVI) again, turn on mini after TV, boots up into 1280x768 dithered/splotchy but centered. Installed all updates 10.4.8 etc and firmware. Restart. Once restarted after first round of updates & firmware, I can now change my input signal setting through the HP menu to 1280x768 from 1024x768 and away goes the splotchy/dithered/slightly out of focus picture and I'm left with a nice crisp clear screen as it should be, but it's off center about 60 pixels to the right.

Find HP menu option to adjust, center screen. BLISS.

Emailed Intel, as several posts online claim that the intel GMA950 graphics just need a driver update to offer up 136x resolutions.

Hope anyone else having difficulty with these two toys find this useful.

Until Intel updates those drivers, or Apple does(Apple TV seems to support a LOT of TVs...hope those drivers find their way to the main Mac OS updates) I'm perfectly content with 1280x768 that is crisp, clear and centered as it is now.

Thanks! :D