mini-dvi to Eizo FlexScan L768

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Level 1

4 points

mini-dvi to Eizo FlexScan L768

I connect my macbook to the LCD screen, and it works fine.
It is set to mirroring.

The problem is, that while on the settings is says that it is
displaying 1280x1024, L768 is actually showing 1280x960 (or something),
meaning there are black borders top-bottom.

Weird thing is, that if I close the led on the macbook, and I re-open it,
L768 switches to the right resolution - mind you: this is random, doesn't
always happen.

Any way to fix this? It ***** having to re-arrange windows, if my macbook
decides to show the right resolution 🙂

MacBook 2GHz Intel Core Duo, Mac OS X (10.5.5)

Posted on Oct 16, 2008 5:43 AM

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Answer 1

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Oct 18, 2008 8:01 AM in response to panosl

Mirroring means the exact same thing will be showing on two screens. It further means the exact same format must be used on the two screens. When a display on a Mac notebook and an attached external display are set to mirror each other under OS X, the OS compares the two screens and determines each screen's maximum capability, in terms of pixel format, and then has to use the lowest or least common format the two are capable of.

Specifically in this case, since the maximum the MacBook is capable of is 1280 x 800, and since the maximum the Eizo is capable of is 1280 x 1024, OS X must use the lower of the two on both screens, so it is choosing 1280 x 800 and sending that timing and format to both displays at once. On the Eizo, this will appear as you describe, namely a wide band of video with black borders above and below since the Eizo is not a wide screen monitor like the one in the MacBook.

Perhaps you will be happier to not mirror the screens and instead run in extended desktop mode. In extended mode, the OS is free to send the maximum format to each screen independently so that the image size can be maximized on each.

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