Apple's Mini Displayport to Dual link DVI Adapter... What to do?

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Level 1

26 points

Apple's Mini Displayport to Dual link DVI Adapter... What to do?

So i'm doing a new setup with 6 monitors (Eyefinity 6), and i've got everything set up so far... Except for adapters. So i went and got 4 Of those Accel MDP to DVI SL adapters, in addition to the two passive that come with a card. Didn't work...

So i got two Apple Mini Displayport to Dual Link DVI Adapters... And boy, I should have read the reviews before buying them. They are giving me very strange issues. Not going above 800X600, serious graphics corruption on the monitors connected to the apple adapters, or odd resolutions that the monitors do not support.

So i'm wondering what to do. If possible, i'd like to get these to work somehow, as i got them for cheaper than other MDP to Dual Link adapters. They are both plugged in to the USB ports of my mac pro.
I've also heard something about a firmware version, 1.2 or something. Is there a way to update the firmware of these?

Thanks
-C

Mac Pro 2009, Mac OS X (10.4.7), Bottlenecked by the super lame 2.26 Processors.

Posted on Jan 24, 2011 11:25 PM

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Answer 1

Jan 25, 2011 1:36 AM in response to Chris J Witt

Wow six monitors whats sizes are you choosing ?

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Answer 2

Chris J Witt Author

Level 1

26 points

Jan 25, 2011 10:27 AM in response to SoizaStudios

They're all Viewsonic 23" monitors. And not the X1080 stuff, the authentic, true 1920X1200. Got them for a sweet deal on ebay a while ago.

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Answer 3

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Jan 25, 2011 7:03 PM in response to Chris J Witt

You shouldn't have bought the dual-link adapter. The much cheaper standard version will work just fine with those monitors. But do try the Apple official one.

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Answer 4

DPArt

Level 3

604 points

Jan 25, 2011 8:23 PM in response to Chris J Witt

I take it that you are doing this in WIndopws, yes?

I can tell you for a fact that Eyefinity 6 versions of 5870 are a definite No-Go for OSX right now.

As far as the Dual Link from MDP adapters, I have one and it is OCCASIONALLY wonky, but nothing like you are mentioning.

Please let us know what OS and GPU you are using.

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Answer 5

Chris J Witt Author

Level 1

26 points

Jan 25, 2011 10:03 PM in response to DPArt

I'm using the Sapphire 5870 Eyefinity 6 Edition. Two of them in crossfire, supplied their power from an external 1200W PSU Devoted just to them.

It's under Windows 7, running on my mac Pro 2.26.
Hooking them both up to a iphone cube-wall charger keeps them up and running, but they fail to supply the necessary resolution (One only registers 640X The other dimension, the other thinks the monitor is 1920X1080, when it really is 1920X1200).
Not to mention, attempting to use any of them in an extended desktop led to a MACHINE CHECKEXCEPTION bsod.

I can't find any sign of what the whole issue is, i'm having issues with the eyefinity setup itself too, so i dunno if its the adapters, the card, drivers, or what. The apple adapters are acting up on me though.

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