Display Port to HDMI to TV

[pwm91c]

I've purchased a Display Port to HDMI converter, however, when I connect it to my 42" Panasonic TV I'm not getting any display (screen is blank).  My laptop "r500" acts as if it's not recognizing that it is connected. 

Is there anything that I need to dowload (driver update, etc) or any settings I need to change for the Display port to work?

Thanks for your help

[andyP Retired SuperMod]

pwm91c, welcome to the forum,

it would be helpful if you could post which R500 and Operating System you have, even better post the Type and Model Number this will help members to help you. If it ends in CTO please provide some details about your R500. Please do NOT post your s/n.

Thanks

[pwm91c]

Thanks Andy,

laptop info:

 Product: ThinkPad R500 2716-3KU

Operating system: Windows XP

I called Lenovo customer support, the gentleman told me my graphics card (Mobil Intel(R) 4 Series Express Chipset Family) would not support HDMI, thus the reason for not working.

I'm assuming my only options at this point (unless somebody could tell me something different) would be either this:

http://www.buy.com/prod/startech-com-usb-dvi-vga-external-multi-monitor-video-adapter-16mb/q/loc/111...

I'm curious to how good the video resolution would be with this adapter on a 42" HD monitor.

Or this:

http://www.brilliantstore.com/computer_monitor_accessories_dekcell_cpa_1277.html

[fmyhr]

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pwm91c wrote:

I called Lenovo customer support, the gentleman told me my graphics card (Mobil Intel(R) 4 Series Express Chipset Family) would not support HDMI, thus the reason for not working.

---

That's just wrong: I'm using T500 with identical graphics card right now connected to DVI-D monitor (electrically identical to HDMI) through DisplayPort - DVI cable.

Now, in the past Lenovo has made the unfortunate choice of omitting the necessary internal wiring in certain R series (15.4" R61... grrrr!). But that's not the case here: I just checked tabook (click ThinkPad Notebooks on Lenovo PSREF page) and the specifications for your machine state:

Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD (GMA 4500MHD), in GM45,
graphics digital monitor support via DisplayPort (supports single-link DVI-D via cable 45J7915); Maximum external resolution: 2048x1536@75Hz

It's possible there's something wrong with your DisplayPort - HDMI adapter; ideally you could check it with some other computer. Even more ideally (is that possible? :-)) you could verify that both your cable and your TV work with that other computer. That would irrefutably establish that the fault lies with your R500.

[pwm91c]

I'm guessing I bought the wrong cable then, I will purchase this one

http://www.macmall.com/macmall/shop/detail.asp?Redir=1&description=Lenovo-DisplayPort+to+Single-Link...

Which is what it lists that it is compatible with per the tabook that you linked to.  

If I buy a DVI to HDMI converter then I would hope it would work okay?

Thanks for your help

[fmyhr]

Really you shouldn't need 2 converters. As far as I know, the DVI-D and HDMI video signals are exactly the same, they just use different pins and different connector. So I'd be surprised if using that pair of converters would have a different result than your existing DisplayPort -> HDMI cable. Do you have any way to test the HDMI input of your TV, anything else that would plug into it?

[pwm91c]

That is what I was thinking as well...

both the HDMI inputs work on the TV, I have been using one for my cable box, the other for my dvd player.

However, when I plug in the laptop, nothing is happening.  I figured the laptop would automatically recognize that the TV was plugged in, but nothing.  I didn't try going through Presentation Director or using the "fn f7" toggle, maybe I need to give that a try.

However, when I take the laptop to work and plug into a 22" LCD monitor via the VGA input, the connection automatically appears within Graphic Options > Output... (this does not happen while connecting to the TV via the Display Port (via HDMI converter)).

[fmyhr]

I wonder if the 22" LCD monitor at work has a DVI-D input as well as VGA? If so, then it could make sense to get an HDMI-> DVI-D adapter, so: R500 -> DisplayPort - HDMI cable -> HDMI - DVI-D adapter -> 22" LCD DVI-D input. If that works, then you know your DisplayPort - HDMI cable is good, and that your R500 can do digital video out. Then your problem connecting to your TV at home is probably due to a strange video mode. ...and we'd be into BIOS and/or XP video driver issues.

But you're right, give Fn-F7 a try first :-)

Maybe I'm making this more complicated than it really is.

[pwm91c]

Yes, the 22" LCD does have the DVI input, I will do what you suggested and see what happens.

Thanks for your help.

[pwm91c · Accepted solution]

Ok, so I got this to work last night, not sure how I did it. I did update the Presentation Director, and a few other things. 

I turned the laptop off, plugged in the display port to HDMI converter and then powered the laptop back on and it all worked perfectly.  

I have no idea what was wrong or how I fixed, but it works now.

That said, if anybody from Lenovo reads this, my  Case # when I called in was 12r9b3k.  The man on the phone told me HDMI compatibility was not possible and obviously he was wrong, or did not want to take the time to figure out why it wasn't working.  

Thanks