Dell U2711 and Mac Mini mid-2010: unable to display 2560x1440

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Level 1

4 points

Dell U2711 and Mac Mini mid-2010: unable to display 2560x1440

I have a mini displayport to dual-link dvi adapter which connects a 27" Dell U2711 with a native resolution of 2560 x 1440 to a new Mac Mini server (mid-2010). The best it can show is 1920 x 1080. When I switch the resolution in the Display preferences to 2560 x 1440 it presents a horizontally "squashed" image and the monitor's HUD/console shows the resolution 1280 x 1440.

Is this normal or shall I invest in a mini displayport to displayport adapter?

Mac Mini Server (mid-2010), Mac OS X (10.6.4), 4GB, Snow Leopard Server

Posted on Jun 25, 2010 5:06 AM

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Answer 1

Jun 25, 2010 5:19 AM in response to DrSal

It theoretically should work. When I was using the dual link adapter, I would have to disconnect and reconnect it, or put the computer to sleep and wake to get it to work correctly. There is definitely a bug in the adapter. I have since gone to the Apple 24" LCD display that connects natively with the displayport adapter. No problems there at all.

glor

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Answer 2

Dah•veed

Level 9

65,461 points

Jun 25, 2010 6:26 AM in response to DrSal

Sometimes Macs are so preoccupied with themselves that they fail to read the EDID from the display.
Try this;
Leave your Mac mini turned on while you power off the Dell. Unplug the dual-link's cables from the Mac mini and plug it in again. Power on the Dell.

Dah•veed

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Answer 3

Jun 25, 2010 7:26 AM in response to Dah•veed

I don't think that's it. I think the dual link adapter is crap. Apple has never fixed it, even after tons of complaints by users.

glor

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Answer 4

DrSal Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 25, 2010 7:48 AM in response to DrSal

I appreciate the responses however I am still at a loss.

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Answer 5

DrSal Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 25, 2010 8:33 AM in response to DrSal

I was using the wrong cable. I have swapped over to the DVI-D (Dual Link) cable.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/DVIConnectorTypes.svg

I was using the DVI-D (Single Link) cable. Thanks for your patience.

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Answer 6

Dah•veed

Level 9

65,461 points

Jun 25, 2010 9:10 AM in response to DrSal

That will do it.

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Answer 7

Jun 25, 2010 9:39 PM in response to DrSal

Your Dell U2711 display also has a full size DisplayPort on the back too, which means you should be able to get a miniDisplayPort to DisplayPort cable from MonoPrice (http://bit.ly/9lDSFw) and skip the expensive Apple Dual-Link DVI to mDP Adapter, which has been a constant thorn in my side with my Dell 3008 monitor. Save yourself the headache and the $100 adapter and let us know how it works out for you...

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Answer 8

DrSal Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 26, 2010 2:22 AM in response to zdigital2010

Very true yet unfortunately I've already got the dual-link dvi adapter. In fact I placed an order for the adapter you mentioned but had cancelled it because I rely on a dvi-d+usb kvm.

I may reconsider getting the displayport adapter because the computer continues to lose DCC between switches with the kvm reverting to 640x480.

Message was edited by: DrSal

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Answer 9

Aug 17, 2010 12:39 AM in response to DrSal

Hi All,
I have a macbook Pro connected to a dell u2711 27" monitor trough a simple mini Display port to Display port cable.
When it works, it work well and all is fine, but be aware of a problem with the Monitor and the display port connection, once in a while if the monitor is allowed to go to sleep, it will not display any image when waken up.
To get the monitor to display the image again I have to try several times restarting the monitor, disconnecting the power, detecting the display, etc, until randomly the monitor comes back to life
The problem does not seem to be on the mac side because there are several discussions on the Dell site on this issue with various flavors of PCs.
This seem to be a problem only with the display port, I have utilized a mini display port to VGA as well as a Mini display port to HDMI and both just function without a problem.
The reason I am sticking with the Display port connection is that it is the only way of using the full panel resolution short of using the terrible apple dual port cables.
Hope this can help your choices of connectors, and looking forward to hear about a permanent solution.

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Answer 10

Aug 6, 2011 8:36 AM in response to Raymond Othenin-Girard

Sigh. So many people are suffering from this issue. ;(

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Answer 11

PodGui

Level 1

54 points

Aug 8, 2011 12:29 PM in response to DrSal

There is a known problem connecting a u2711 to a Mac mini by way of the miniDisplayport to Displayport. The Dell Community has a very long thread on the matter, with no solid fix to date.

The problem arises when the display or the mini goes to sleep- the display will not wake up. There have been several fixes suggested, and the only temporarily successful fix I've found is to use a very specific miniDisplayport to Displayport cable from Kanex that does not have power (from the mini to the display?) on pin 20.

This worked for me for two months, but when I disconnected all cables to relocate the mini, the problem started in again.

Long story short, if you have a fix already, stick with that. The miniDisplayport to Displayport connection is not at all reliable, almost always needing Dah•Veed's fix. Sometimes restarting the mini i needed. This is complicated by the monitor's sleeping causing the mini to fail to respond to keyboard commands to restart.

For there reasons, I recommend agains the mini/u2711 combination, and if you're already in that boat, avoid the miniDisplayport to Displayport connection if possible.

Good luck.

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