HT4279: Mac Pro (Early 2009), Mac Pro (Mid 2010), Mac Pro (Mid 2012): Supported display configurations
Learn about Mac Pro (Early 2009), Mac Pro (Mid 2010), Mac Pro (Mid 2012): Supported display configurations
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Helpful answers
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Apr 9, 2013 12:58 PM in response to mikimouse129by The hatter,You did read the apple support doc? It talks about 30-inch monitor resolution, and for high resolution you need dual link active DVI.
I notice you don't mention the size and resolution of the others, and your HDMI is limited to 1080 so not an issue as long as proper adapter.
Apple Mini DisplayPort adapters: Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3382
Guide to Apple graphic display adapters needed
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT3235
Atlona (Dual Link) DVI to Mini DisplayPort Converter for Apple 27-inch LED and 27-inch iMac
http://www.atlona.com/Atlona-Dual-Link-DVI-to-Mini-DisplayPort-Converter-USB-Pow ered.html
Mac Pro (Early 2009), Mac Pro (Mid 2010), Mac Pro (Mid 2012): Issues with three displays and multiple DVI, HDMI connections
It's not the USB data that is needed to run three displays. It's the extra POWER. If you read the Apple article, they say the only solution they endorse is their US$100 Dual-Link adapters. Check the table at the end of the article.
Mac Pro (Early 2009), Mac Pro (Mid 2010): Supported display configurations
Readers here have found that if you have two Brand-X Powered adapters, aka active adapters, it also works fine. These do not always require another USB. If designed recently, they can pick up a power pin in the Mini DisplayPort interface.
AMD (makers of the 5770 and 5870) lists the qualified POWERED adapters that meet their most stringent requirements. Look down the page and you will find several qualified Active Mini DisplyPort to various others, such as HDMI. These adapters are available from other outlets, such as Amazon, sometimes for far less than the Apple adapters.
http://support.amd.com/us/eyefinity/Pages/eyefinity-dongles.aspx
The other desktop monitor will plug directly into the DVI port on the card and the 40 inch tv will still connect via HDMI over the second Mini Display port.
That will work only if you use an active Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter.
The only (someone) have found to work (2009)
http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/337561577/miniactive_display_port_tohdmi.html
but you should confirm that they are really active before buying 500 of them.
You can connect a DVI to HDMI adapter or cable to an active Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter but that won't give you any audio over HDMI. You could connect the DVI displays to the Mini DisplayPorts with active adapters and use a DVI to HDMI cable or adapter from the DVI port to the TV.
If you want audio via HDMI, you can use audio from the Mac Pro's optical output with this DVI to HDMI converter:
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Apr 9, 2013 1:39 PM in response to mikimouse129by Grant Bennet-Alder,I checked the support and it says DVI Display needs to be 30-inches or smaller.
What if third monitor is bigger than 30-inches?
A TV set is not a Monitor. An HDMI TV 1080p is only 1920 by 1080, so it does not even need Dual-Link.
Do you even have a Monitor over 1920 wide?
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Apr 9, 2013 1:53 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alderby mikimouse129,2 monitors are 1920x1080.
I called Apple Customer Support and he said we need to get Dual-Link.
We checked our cables and they are Dual-Link.
We are connecting Sony TV through DVI-HDMI.
It works when we don't plug mini to the second monitor, but once we plug it in, Sony TV loses signal.
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Apr 9, 2013 2:16 PM in response to mikimouse129by Grant Bennet-Alder,You only REQUIRE Dual-Link DVI adapters when your displays are wider than 1920 pixels wide.
What is in short supply is Power to run signal Boosters from converted Mini DisplayPort to DVI (or its re-wire, HDMI).
What you NEED is two ACTIVE Mini DisplayPort adapters. Apple's only ACTIVE adapter is their excellent Dual-Link DVCI at the amazing US$100 price-point.
But ACTIVE Mini DisplayPort to Single-Link DVI adapters are available for US$35 to $40 from sellers such as Amazon and NewEgg from Accell and Startech:
Adapts: Mini DisplayPort™ To: DVI-D Single Link (Active Adapter) Manufacturer Part Number Firmware Max. Resolution Purchase Accell B087B-006B 0.95 1920x1200 Buy Now Astron 3411020-090-H 0.95 1920x1200 Buy Now Bizlink KS30015-131 0.95 1920x1200 Startech MDP2DVIS 0.95 1920x1200 Buy Now Wieson G9858C219-006-H 0.95 1920x1200 Buy Now source:
http://support.amd.com/us/eyefinity/Pages/eyefinity-dongles.aspx
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Apr 9, 2013 5:41 PM in response to mikimouse129by Malcolm J. Rayfield,There are now active Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapters
Apple is suggesting the dual-link DVI adapters because they don't sell active single-link DVI or HDMI adapters. If your display resolution is not over 18920 x 1200, dual-link is not needed if you get non-Apple active adapters, and you will save money and not tie up extra USB ports.