I use an older MacBook with a broken screen as a media player for my TV. I recently bought a larger used 1080p TV, but every HDMI input shows a thin line of flickering pixels. I tested multiple HDMI cables and different devices, and the artifact appears with all of them. Changing the TV's aspect-ratio or screen-size settings moves the line, while sources connected through non-HDMI inputs do not show it.
The TV has several older-style inputs, including a PC/VGA input and colored component-video ports, plus a LAN port. Is there a practical way to connect the MacBook through VGA or another non-HDMI input? What adapter or cables would I need, and would VGA be able to display 1080p?
4 Answers
Since the line appears with multiple devices, cables, and HDMI ports, the TV itself is probably faulty somewhere in its HDMI signal path. VGA is worth testing because it uses a different input circuit, but there’s no guarantee the problem won’t also affect the TV’s video processing. Component video could also work if the MacBook and TV can be connected through a suitable analog video converter.
The LAN port is only for networking the TV; it cannot carry a video signal. If the TV has a VGA/PC input, you can use the appropriate MacBook-to-VGA adapter and a VGA cable. VGA can handle 1920×1080 in many cases, but the picture may need manual adjustment and audio will need a separate connection.
A 1080p TV is within VGA’s usual range, so it should be capable of displaying the desktop at that resolution. Keep in mind VGA only carries video. Connect the Mac’s audio separately to the TV’s audio input or to external speakers, and expect a softer image than HDMI.
Check the exact ports on the MacBook first. Older models may use Mini DisplayPort, while newer ones use USB-C or Thunderbolt. For VGA, you’ll need an adapter from that Mac output to VGA, plus a VGA cable to the TV. For HDMI, a USB display adapter could bypass the Mac’s normal video output, but it may have resolution, performance, or compatibility limits.
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