Mac Video Ports

From the first Mac to support an external monitor (the Mac II in 1987) through 2005, Apple has often created its own standards in video connections. The first Mac monitors, introduced about the same time that IBM unveiled VGA, used a DA-15 connector, and Apple continued to use this port on desktop Macs until the beige Power Mac G3 in 1998.

Because of their size, PowerBooks didn't have room for a DA-15 video port, so Apple used a proprietary video output connector (VID-14) and an External Video Adapter Cable.

Apple's first attempt at an integrated video cable came to market with the Power Mac 6100, 7100, and 8100. The HDI-45 (for High Density Interconnect) connector included the 14 signals from Apple's DA-15 connector and added support for stereo sound, S-video input, and ADB (Apple Desktop Bus, the port for the Mac's mouse and keyboard). This made it easy to connect to a monitor with built-in speakers and ADB ports - you only needed one cable. It was not well received and was never used on another Mac.

With the Blue & White Power Mac G3, Apple adopted the industry standard VGA port for its desktops (some PowerBooks had already used it), and with the "Sawtooth" Power Mac G4, Apple embraced the new DVI (Digital Visual Interface) port. Alas, Apple abandoned DVI the next summer, displacing it with Apple's proprietary ADC (Apple Display Connection) port.

Apple stayed with ADC for some time, but the company reintroduced DVI with the "Mirror Drive Door" Power Mac G4. ADC went the way of the dodo with the introduction of the 2005 Power Mac G5.

DA-15, 1987-1998 - coming
VID-14 (PowerBooks) - coming
HDI-45 (Power Mac x100 models) - coming
VGA/Video Graphics Array, 1999-2002 - coming
DVI/Digital Visual Interface, 1999, 2002-present - coming
ADC/Apple Display Connector, 2000-2004

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