What is the result of connecting a single link (DVI-D) video source to a dual link monitor?
Jarod Wilson
jarod at wilsonet.com
Thu Oct 15 09:24:41 EDT 2009
On Oct 15, 2009, at 9:08 AM, Alex Hewitt wrote:
> Jarod Wilson wrote:
>>
>> On 10/14/2009 09:07 PM, Alex Hewitt wrote:
>>
>>> Shawn O'Shea wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 5:37 PM, Alex Hewitt <hewitt_tech at comcast.net
>>>> <mailto:hewitt_tech at comcast.net>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I'm trying to connect a new Mac Mini to a Barco monitor. The
>>>> Barco
>>>> monitor expects a dual link video source (2048 x 1536 /1536 x
>>>> 2048) but
>>>> the Mini is outputing single link DVI-D. The Mac sees the
>>>> monitor as
>>>> having a resolution of 1280x1024. Apple makes a dual link DVI
>>>> adapter
>>>> but I don't know if this will allow the Barco to work
>>>> properly. Anyone
>>>> have any experience with this kind of setup?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Single-link DVI has less pins/wires and maxes out at 1920x1200
>>>> resolution. For higher resolutions, you need the extra wires and
>>>> can
>>>> go to 2560x1600. You need to also make sure that the DVI cable
>>>> you are
>>>> using is dual link as well.
>>>> Pictures of connector types:
>>>> http://www.interfacebus.com/Design_Connector_Digital_Visual_Interface_DVI_Bus.html
>>>> Discussion of single vs dual with resolution information:
>>>> "WHAT ARE SINGLE AND DUAL LINKS ?" section of
>>>> http://www.datapro.net/techinfo/dvi_info.html
>>>>
>>>> -Shawn
>>>>
>>>> The Mac Pro does have a dual link video but I'm not sure if
>>>> that
>>>> system
>>>> would also have the same problem. The Barco site only
>>>> describes MS
>>>> Windows systems and provides drivers for the same.
>>>>
>>>> -Alex
>>>>
>>>> P.S. BTW, we did connect a Totoku 3MP display (2048x1536)
>>>> which uses a
>>>> DVI-D connection and that display worked at full resolution.
>>>>
>>>>
>>> Thanks Shawn. Good pointers. There is something a bit odd about this
>>> though. The Totoku monitor is running at it's native resolution
>>> (2048x1536). The Mac gives me the full resolution as a choice in the
>>> display preferences. I'll look closely at the connector (miniPort to
>>> DVI-D) and see if it's actually dual link. The DVI-I dual link is
>>> definitely not working.
>>>
>>
>> From http://www.apple.com/macmini/specs.html
>>
>> # Extended desktop and video mirroring: Simultaneously supports up to
>> 1920 by 1200 pixels on a DVI or VGA display; up to 2560 by 1600
>> pixels
>> on a dual-link DVI display using Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI
>> Adapter (sold separately)
>>
>>
>>
> Jarod, I think you missed what I was saying.
Probably. :)
> We have a monitor running at 2048x1536 resolution. That's higher
> than the 1900x1200 that the specs state.
I suspect Apple is playing it safe with the advertised specs. From
what I'm looking at, single-link DVI supports up to 2.75 megapixels at
60Hz. 1920x1200 is only 2 ((1920*1200)/(1024*1024)). Of course,
2048x1536 is 3 megapixels though... Is that 2048x1536 by chance at
only 50Hz? Lower refresh rate might be able to squeeze it out.
> P.S. I'm thinking of carrying the Barco monitor to the Salem Apple
> store and hopefully the Apple folks will let me try out the dual
> link adapter before I actually plunk down the $99 that it costs.
Yeah, don't see why they wouldn't.
> I also need to find out if the Mac Pro can drive this monitor (we
> have several of them that we want to use).
My brother's Mac Pro has no issues driving Apple's 30" monitor at
whatever its beefy resolution is...
--
Jarod Wilson
jarod at wilsonet.com
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