Can't detect external monitor, shows only 640x480

It is brand new, one week old. I called Apple, they could find anything over the phone. But this problem is not unique. I'm not the only one complaining about it.

Hum. I read about SwitchResX. I installed it on my new Macbook Pro but it was unable to detect my Dell monitor. I'll try importing the EDID profil of the old Mac to the new one. It's a little bit of trouble and it's costly. I already bought a mini-Diplayport to DVI adapter from Apple that isn't working. Now I would have to pay for a third party app to fix this. I'm hopping and waiting for a better solution.

Will post feedback if SwitchResX solution works.

Thanks a lot for the tip!

P.

Thanks, I'll post there as well.

P.

Hi Steely,

You have to remember that the old Mac was connected through the DVI connexion, with a DVI cable. I'm connecting the new one with a miniDisplayport to Display port cable, using the existing Displayport connexion on the Dell monitor.

Now, consider this : when I hook up another Macbook Pro Unibody, 15" this time, I've got the exact same problem.

Do you know if there are multiple EDID profil on the Dell, like one for each connexion?

Thanks a lot for the feedback and suggestions.

P.

Ok,

It was neither the cable nor the computer (thanks Apple). It was the monitor's EDID profile. Dell's problem.

There's two ways to fix this. 1) It is possible (I did it) to create a custom profile using SwitchResX. You'll need to hook up your computer to the monitor using a working connexion (I used DVI) and then use the "export" function in SwitchResX. It will give you a text file. In it you'll have enough data to fill SwitchResX' form to setup a custom profile. You'll then need to restart the computer, hook it with the Displayport cable and try to use this custom EDID profile. It worked for me.

For example (and hoping it will help others) here are the data you need to setup a custom profile for the Dell 2408WFP :

Descriptor #0 - Timing definition:
Mode = 1920 x 1200 @ 59,950Hz
Pixel Clock............. 154,00 MHz Non-Interlaced

Horizontal Vertical
Active.................. 1920 pixels 1200 lines
Front Porch............. 48 pixels 3 lines
Sync Width.............. 32 pixels 6 lines
Back Porch.............. 80 pixels 26 lines
Blanking................ 160 pixels 35 lines
Total................... 2080 pixels 1235 lines
Scan Rate............... 74,038 kHz 59,950 Hz

Image Size.............. 519 mm 324 mm
Border.................. 0 pixels 0 lines

Sync: Digital separate with
* Negative vertical polarity
* Positive horizontal polarity

2) Of course, you can call Dell and tell them about it. They are sending me a THIRD replacement monitor for this. Be prepared when you call them : I spoke with two representative (and among them a "senior technician") who DIDN'T know what was a Displayport. They even tried to sell me the idea that 640x480 is the native resolution for Displayport. It was hilarious. Really. I got them to look it up on Wikipedia.

Case solved. Apple 1 - Dell 0.

P.

I don't know neither. Here is what I know :

The adapter from Apple I got is the 30$ (or so) DVI-D Single Link (nine pins active on the side with six pins non-active in the center).

My Dell 2408WFP monitor got two DVI-D Single Link connectors.

I did my test with two different cable : one DVI-D Single Link and one DVI-D Dual Link. Both cable are working since I can hook either my olderMacbook Pro Core Duo or my PC to the monitor using them.

Always : red dots, like statics. But I guess I should bring that to another thread.

Thanks for everything,

P.

Hi,

I got my second replacement monitor from Dell and thought I could do a follow up.

It works. I mean : I took the replacement monitor out of the box, hook it using a mini-Displayport to Displayport cable to my Macbook Pro Unibody 13"... and it works. Of course, prior to the test, I uninstall SwitchResX, the third party application that I was using to force a EDID profile on the faulty Dell monitor.

Without SwitchResX (it's not just turned off, I've uninstalled it and re-boot my computer) the new (second replacement monitor) is detected by my Macbook. Correct model, correct resolution. Even color calibration is quite good.

So Macbook + Dell via Displayport : it can work, without third party app.... if the monitor is not faulty.

Hope it can help someone else,

P.