Connecting a 2560x1440 monitor to an iMac 10.9.4

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Level 1

8 points

Connecting a 2560x1440 monitor to an iMac 10.9.4

OK, i have my new iMac running 10.9, a big fat graphic card, Apple promise that my iMac will be able to power a second monitor in dual mode... so ready to rock'n'roll.

Except there is no way to get my Iiyama 27" monitor (reference ProLite XB2779QS ) at full resolution. Tried with a minidisplay to DVI, tried minidisplay to HDMI: it displays, but not at full resolution – so I cannot drag a window freely between the two screens. Tried tinkering with the monitor setting, the display preferences... No way.

The guys at Applecare tried their best but could not figure what's wrong. Retailer of the monitor is totally hopeless and seems almost outraged someone may ask about the specs of an item they sell. Contacted Iiyama in the UK too but no response so far.

Bar from buying the (rather pricey) Thunderbolt Apple display, can anyone tell me with certainty what connector and cable I need to make this ¢#¶$% monitor work?

Thanks!

Posted on Sep 23, 2014 9:08 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Malcolm J. Rayfield

Level 7

22,945 points

Sep 23, 2014 5:12 PM in response to supercure

If the display has DisplayPort, use a Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort cable.

<http://www.startech.com/Cables/Audio-Video/DisplayPort/6-ft-Mini-DisplayPort-to- DisplayPort-Adapter-Cable-Male-to-Male~MDP2DPMM6>

If you use DVI you need a DUAL-LINK adapter to get full resolution.

<http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB571Z/A/mini-displayport-to-dual-link-dvi-ada pter>

Make sure the DVI cable is also dual-link. (You can't tell just by looking at the connectors. Single-link cables sometimes have dual-link connectors.)

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Answer 2

supercure Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 24, 2014 3:06 AM in response to Malcolm J. Rayfield

Thank you very much, Malcolm. Solution seems indeed to be Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort cable.

The Iiyama monitor (ProLite XB2779QS) only displays at full resolution with a DisplayPort cable - not with a DVI or HDMI...

Why they don't tell you about it clearly when you buy it is a mystery.

It took another call to Apple and quite a bit of research on the the Iiyama site to find out.

On another note, this means that the Dual link adapter would probably not work with this specific monitor.

Will try this new cable and confirm in this post if this worked.

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Answer 3

supercure Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 24, 2014 7:21 AM in response to supercure

Final confirmation from Iiyama UK (courtesy of Joe Bevivino at Iiyama USA) regarding using the 27" Iiyama ProLite XB2779QS with an iMac:

"The customer needs to hook it up via the displayport connector on the panel to mini displayport on the mac.

Displayport is the only way to hook up hi res screens properly (2560*1440 res or above) whether its mac or pc.

Kind Regards, Tim."

Fingers crossed

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Answer 4

supercure Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 29, 2014 3:30 AM in response to supercure

CONFIRMED!

Just received the minidisplay port to display port cable, and the Iiyama Prolite 27" (XB2779QS) is now working fine at full resolution - 2560x1440 pixels.

Don't waste any time trying to hook this monitor with DVI or HDMI as you will not get the full 2560x1440 pixels resolution with these.

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Answer 5

radiv78

Level 1

0 points

Jul 5, 2015 11:02 AM in response to supercure

I'm considering buying the same monitor.

How does it look next to the iMac, Does it match the design pretty well?

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