Can a Dell U2414H work with a mac Pro 3.1 (10.9.5) and an ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT?

Question

Level 1

4 points

Can a Dell U2414H work with a mac Pro 3.1 (10.9.5) and an ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT?

Hi,

Here's my dilemma. I recently bought a Dell U2414 as a 2nd monitor to replace my ancient Dell 2407FWP (that just died) with the understanding that the new monitor would work (via a DVI-to-mini displayport cable). I bought a high quality 3rd party DVI-to-mini display port cable. The monitor obviously does not work. I cannot get a straight answer from Dell if it will ever work. My hunch is the graphics card simply can't handle this monitor and it will never work with my system.

FYI: I also have an older DELL G2210 (Resolution: 1680 x 1050 @ 60 Hz) on the other DVI port. So I will still need a DVI port.

Here is the Current Video card info:

ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT: VRAM (Total): 256 MB

Here is my Mac info (on 10.9.5):

Model Name: Mac Pro (early 2008)

Model Identifier: MacPro3,1

Processor Name: Quad-Core Intel Xeon

Processor Speed: 2.8 GHz

16 GB RAM

First of all: can anyone give a definitive answer as to whether the monitor will work with this graphics card, just to settle that question and move on?

Second, assuming no, my choice seems to be:

return the monitor and try to find another 24" that will work with the original card (Does anyone have suggestions for what is currently still being made that would work with such an old graphics card?)
upgrade the card so it can handle the new monitor but still run the old one.

I chatted with OWC about this and they suggested 2 possible upgrade cards but they are not returnable and since they could not guarantee they will work with this monitor it's a risk.

Dell was pretty useless (I person told me yes, the other no).

Here are OWC's suggestions (see below). Can anyone comment and tell me if either will definitively work or suggest another solution? I'd really appreciate it!

ATI Radeon HD 4870

https://eshop.macsales.com/item/Apple/MB999ZMA/

Or more likely: ATI Radeon HD 5870

https://eshop.macsales.com/item/Apple/MC743ZMA/

I know there are more expensive options (Saphire?), but I don't want to spend $500 for a graphics card on an 8 year old computer.

Thank you!

Best,

Joel

Mac Pro (early 2008) 3,1-OTHER, OS X Mavericks (10.9.5), Quad-Core 2.8 ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT

Posted on Jun 16, 2016 7:41 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Jun 16, 2016 8:48 PM in response to joelfriedman

That is a display with a displayPort In, a DisplayPort out, and a Mini DisplayPort in, max resolution 1920 by 1080.

You are WAY overthinking this. A mini DisplayPort to mini DisplayPort or a Mini DisplayPort to [full size] DisplayPort should do the job for about US$10, no conversion at all.

You don't need a different card unless your has died.

Reply

Answer 2

lllaass

Level 10

210,513 points

Jun 17, 2016 12:41 AM in response to joelfriedman

Sounds like you really have a mini displayport>DVI adopter and are trying to use it in the opposite direction.

That does not work. You need a converter like this. Not cheap

https://www.amazon.com/Gefen-Mini-DisplayPort-Converter-EXT-DVI-2-MDP/dp/B002QPW BEK?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Reply

Answer 3

joelfriedman Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 17, 2016 9:36 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Grant, thanks for the response. I only have DVI ports on the Mac. I bought a mini display port to DVI cable (http://www.gofanco.com/products/dvi/6ft-mini-displayport-to-dvi-adapter-cable-bl ack.html) but it does not work. It could be the cable is bad (maybe...), it could be that I need another type of cable. I think what I got goes in the wrong direction - it's for a mini port TO DVI device, not the other way around. One of the guys at Dell is sending me a cable - Display port to DVI but, thanks Dell!, it's now delayed until the 21st.

The Radeon is working fine running the other monitor (and the 2407 as well before), the monitor just won't work. Hm... I will be at an Apple store on Sunday and I'll ask about picking up either a cable or an additional adaptor.

Thanks!

Joel

Reply

Answer 4

joelfriedman Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 17, 2016 9:40 AM in response to lllaass

Thanks! I believe you're right - I think I'm backwards (see above http://www.gofanco.com/products/dvi/6ft-mini-displayport-to-dvi-adapter-cable-bl ack.html). I figure something is missing in the chain, but I'd really hope not to invest another $149. Yow! So the signal has to be converted, more than just a cable and/or adaptor?

Thanks,

Joel

Reply

Answer 5

joelfriedman Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 17, 2016 9:49 AM in response to joelfriedman

Of course - it's still cheaper than upgrading the video card...

Reply

Answer 6

lllaass

Level 10

210,513 points

Jun 17, 2016 10:02 AM in response to joelfriedman

Not really cheaper, If you are using Mountain Lion and later you can use many PC cards but you will not have a boot screen show you will have to use your old card if you need special startups like Safe, Recovery and other special startup screen where you need to see the screen before the drivers load.

See:

User Tip: Mac Pro silver tower (2006-2012) Replacement Graphics cards

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1440150

I have a 4.1 and use the stock GT 120 with a PC 5770 card.

Reply

Answer 7

Jun 17, 2016 10:22 AM in response to joelfriedman

My mistake, I was picturing a card with ONE DVI-I and one Mini DisplayPort.

From DVI-I on the computer, you can easily extract VGA, because all its signals are provided as well. But that Dell U2414H will not support VGA.

Reply

Answer 8

joelfriedman Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 17, 2016 12:48 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

So I'm guessing that somehow I have to get a box that will convert DVI-1 to mini/display port/HDMI OR get a new video card. It's more than a port adaptor.

Reply

Answer 9

Johnb-one

Level 6

9,180 points

Jun 17, 2016 1:31 PM in response to joelfriedman

yup, sure looks like it.. the monitor itself has DisplayPort, MiniDisplayPort and HDMI plus usb connections, and all you have in your Mac Pro is a 2600xt video card? Hmm...I thought it might go both ways, but maybe not. The only other thought I have is maybe you need a dual link DVI to whatever cable. and you have to turn on displayport in the monitor's menu. Dell won't help you with Mac stuff at all, they don't test it on Mac so they won't support it. just f.y.i

John B

Reply

Answer 10

lllaass

Level 10

210,513 points

Jun 17, 2016 3:22 PM in response to Johnb-one

One only needs a dual-link adopter for resolutions greater than 1920x1200

Here is a DVI>HDMI converter ($70)

http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-DVI2HDMIA-Video-Converter-Audio/dp/B005G3VQ5E

Reply

Answer 11

joelfriedman Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 17, 2016 3:22 PM in response to lllaass

Hi John,

Well we're gonna try it. Just ordered one from NewEgg as Amazon didn't have them in stock until 6/24. I'm hoping after rustling up an HDMI cable that this is it. We shall see next week!

Thank you!

Best,

Joel

Reply