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Acmee Author

Level 1

5 points

Mini Displayport to Dual-Link DVI not working?

I have just received my Mini Displayport to Dual Link DVI Adapter. The good: After I cancelled my initial order, because it delayed my notebook, I reordered last week and got it within 5 days or so (despite the store displaying 2-3 weeks). I was positively surprised to see it featuring a USB repeater. I plugged it in and it seemed to work instantly I also encountered no jumpy mouse whatsoever. I tried with a Dell 30" screen (3007WFP).

The Bad: The dvi connector is pretty bad and unstable, you can also not use the screws on the dvi cable to the monitor to fix the plug to the adapter. They also didn't recreate the analog video signals on the dvi connector, so no luck in trying to use the adapter with an old dvi to vga adapter (I was sort of expecting that, but given they have all kinds of circuitry in the box anyway, there was a tiny quantum of hope).

The Ugly: A few minutes later the problem surfaced: The picture became somehow distorted, it looks as if the Dual Link connection is losing a link, meaning that every second pixel or so is missing on screen. But the symptoms can also include shadows etc. I tried a few things:

* Cycling the monitor power has no effect
* It makes no difference if the adapter gets power via the Macbook Pro USB ports, a powered hub, a usb ac adapter etc.
* It makes no difference if there is something plugged into the adapter USB repeater or not.
* The problem seems to be occuring later if the main display is folded down and only the 30" screen is connected
* Re-plugging the connection DVI side fixes the problems sometimes.
* Re-plugging the Mini Displayport side connection either fixes the problem, or kills the connection forever, requiring complete adapter removal and redetection of the main display (sleep, function key etc.).

Over time, the problem surfaces 100%, typically after a few minutes. Funny enough, sometimes it vanishes by itself.

Does anyone have a similar problem? Or is my adapter defective? Any suggestions towards a fix? Any help is appreciated. I am cursing the day someone decided to replace the old dvi connector.

Regards,
TB

Macbook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Dec 24, 2008 3:58 PM

145 replies

Jan 17, 2009 8:14 AM in response to Charlie Babbage

I should have noted in my setup in my previous posts that I am using the discrete graphics rather than the integrated graphics. I figure, when I'm docked and have plenty of power, why not put the discrete graphics to use? If the adapter doesn't work with discrete graphics, then something is definitely wrong.

joet3ch

Level 1

0 points

Jan 17, 2009 8:19 AM in response to Linda Custer

My results are the same using both video chips. However, I do not experience the fuzzy picture in clamshell mode but I do have the occasional flickering. When I am using dual display with the laptop and my 30" display, the fuzzy picture appears almost immediately. I have now confirmed this with both the Dell 3007 display as well as a friend's Apple Cinema 30" display. And I have also tried both usb ports and a variety of different usb hubs. Unfortunately this problem is here and not going away 😟 But I do not think this problem is with the mini-dvi to dual-link adapter anymore since macbook air's seem to have no problems. Maybe the video adapter on the macbook's and macbook pro's is the real cause. If so, I hope it is a driver update and not an unresolvable hardware issue.

Jan 18, 2009 1:29 AM in response to prostreamfx

FYI - Using clamshell mode appears to have cured this problem for me. I'm using the 9600 chipset with no flickers and after about 6 hours of use now, have not had the screen draw issue. This is a decent enough workaround for me until there's a legitimate solution to this issue.

Jan 18, 2009 3:05 PM in response to Acmee

Nevermind - The problem just kicked in while using clamshell mode too. So, while the issue occurs less frequently, it's not a fix. 😟

There was obviously NO (ZERO) QA done on this adapter. Nothing like trying to save a buck Apple!

dusingaz

Level 1

0 points

Jan 19, 2009 1:41 PM in response to Acmee

Same problem here. MacBook Pro and Dell 30" Apple come on!

nenadv

Level 1

0 points

Jan 19, 2009 7:21 PM in response to dusingaz

I have the same problem with Dell 30" and Macbook Pro, few times a day. I figured out the best way to get the sync back is to switch the monitor resolution to 1280x800 and then switch it back to 2560x1600. If you have display pref in your toolbar then it is then only two mouse clicks.

Switching to anything other then 1280x800 does not work.

tsumuji

Level 1

0 points

Jan 19, 2009 7:49 PM in response to nenadv

God I hope it works. I find the problems getting worse. Just today three times in five minutes the letters fuzz out..it takes several tries on the apple wireless keyboard to shift- option- eject the monitor..then it is back.
But yesterday I had simple a black screen and had to do a hard shut down as it had been in clamshell mode and since the screen was black there was no other option.
we'll see and hope that your efforts make it easier to get out of the apple adaptor display malfunctions. It is such a pity to have a new computer with a new adaptor and have nothing but problems.
Apple respond!!!!!

tsumuji

Level 1

0 points

Jan 20, 2009 1:18 AM in response to tsumuji

Things are getting worse. Really
The frequency of the blurry letters is increasing. These days it seems to happen three times in a row early in the start of a new day.
Then I had once the black screen I have read about.
Just now..for the first time.. I had the 'snow' effect that I have read about. It is the first time and I have been using this adaptor for a month. I have read gamers complaining of the snow..but this is a first. Nothing has changed in my use. It just seems to get worse!
Are you listening apple?

z3cko

Level 1

0 points

Jan 20, 2009 8:30 AM in response to tsumuji

hi there,
i tried two different adapters on five ⚠ different 30" apple cinema displays.
it did not work AT ALL!

the results were mostly no external monitor found, but also system freezes occurred and the main notebook display went crazy (only a part of the upper left screen was displayed)

the technicians at the local apple reseller told me, they didn't see it working yet and even with completely new dual-link dvi cables the same problems occurred. my notebook is fine though, mini displayport to vga works.

this is a really crappy product and i hope there is a fix or a recall soon. i am really disappointed by seeing how the quality on apple products decreased in the last years.

tested with a new MBP 5,1 2.8ghz, OSX 10.5.6

tsumuji

Level 1

0 points

Jan 20, 2009 7:51 PM in response to nenadv

I would just like to say the changing resolution works to temporarily rid the problems. I don't know for how long today? But it works as well as shift- command-eject does.(SCE). Its about the same trouble bit so far the fix last longer.

neilio

Level 2

250 points

Jan 24, 2009 7:32 PM in response to tsumuji

Okay, maybe this just shows me to be a complete idiot, but I got both of my adapters (the original and the replacement one from Apple) working with my cinema display.

Here's the thing: there's no documentation included whatsoever, so I had no idea that you had to have the USB connector from the adapter plugged into the laptop in order for the adapter to work. I guess it's powered by the attached USB cable -- who knew?

So if by some chance you haven't been able to get the adapter to work at all, make sure you've got the USB cable also plugged in. This kind of ***** as I really don't want to use up a USB port just for the display adapter, but at least that fixed my issue.

Hope this helps others!

Jan 25, 2009 9:30 AM in response to neilio

Thanks. Yes, the AMDPDLDVIA needs external power, either from the laptop's USB port or by plugging it into another powered USB jack.

But the problems on this board haven't been with it NOT working. They have been with it working , occasionally, but then losing sync and looking fuzzy in different ways (total fuzz all over the monitor like snow on a TV, or subtle sparkles in dark areas, or the fuzz that has been shown in photos that look like half of the dual link is gone, or flickering, or requiring various bits of voodoo to get working).

tsumuji

Level 1

0 points

Jan 25, 2009 10:58 PM in response to neilio

Apple wake up! I am starting to panic. The adaptor has never worked. The new laptop does not work with a large screen unless we are willing to change the resolution several times a day or unplug the adaptor or eject the screen. This is just unacceptable!
Is there no help out there from Apple?
I wish I had not purchased the laptop or the adaptor as there is no help here!

gozu

Level 1

5 points

Feb 3, 2009 1:15 PM in response to Acmee

I have the same problem with my Dell 30" 3007WFP

Note to Apple: You should really test Dell peripherals, mmkay? They sell a lot of parts to a lot of people, including me. We're not all drinking enough Koolaid to spend 2k on a 30" monitor when Dell sells an excellent one for $1300).

dusingaz

Level 1

0 points

Feb 3, 2009 1:21 PM in response to gozu

Seriously how has this not been addressed yet? I'm up to the glitch happening 3xs a day and I'm very annoyed, I'm about to downgrade my monitor.

Mini Displayport to Dual-Link DVI not working?