I have been looking at the monitor to go along with my 2010 MBP - has anyone hooked it up to theirs? What would be the best route to go? DVI?
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(10.7.1 update: no good) Getting the Dell u2211h to work properly on a 2010 Mac Mini
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I have been looking at the monitor to go along with my 2010 MBP - has anyone hooked it up to theirs? What would be the best route to go? DVI?
I'm not sure whether the problems discussed in this thread extend to MacBooks or not. Normally speaking, the best bet would probably be a mini-Displayport to Displayport cable, as you'll be able to just hook it straight into the MBP without the need for any adapters.
Thanks for the clarification, I will update this thread in the future if there are any issues.
Annoyingly, after much trying, I couldn't get my revision A01 U2311H (which I assume is the same as the U2211H other than size) to display properly with my Macbook (first generation Aluminium one) with either mini Displayport to DVI, or mini Displayport to Displayport. Both still exhibited vertical stripes on certain shades of colours - I tried various combinations of turning on and off and fiddling with colour profiles, but the stripes were always there.
I'm now using mini Displayport to VGA, and it works perfectly - I honestly can't see any difference in quality (although I'm not looking too hard!) and no striping. From what I've read online, using VGA isn't the end of the world (even though it seems a shame).
I would have sent the monitor back, but everything else about it is perfect and it was at the upper end of my price range, so I'm just glad to have a solution. Also, I tested my Macbook with monitors at work - a 17" Dell (unsure of the model, but I assume it is also an 8-bit colour monitor) exhibited the same striping problem over DVI (a bit less pronounced but definitely there), while a U2410 (which is 12-bit) was perfect. I've not been able to test with a non-Dell monitor, but this makes me wonder if the problem isn't with the output on the Mac when connected to an 8-bit monitorm rather than this model of Dell - I didn't want to go through the hassle of sending it back, paying more for another brand, and then having the exact same issue!
If anyone has any further advice on how to get it working with Displayport, I'd be interested, but if not, I'll cope with VGA
I'm now using mini Displayport to VGA, and it works perfectly - I honestly can't see any difference in quality (although I'm not looking too hard!) and no striping. From what I've read online, using VGA isn't the end of the world (even though it seems a shame).
I would have sent the monitor back, but everything else about it is perfect and it was at the upper end of my price range, so I'm just glad to have a solution. Also, I tested my Macbook with monitors at work - a 17" Dell (unsure of the model, but I assume it is also an 8-bit colour monitor) exhibited the same striping problem over DVI (a bit less pronounced but definitely there), while a U2410 (which is 12-bit) was perfect. I've not been able to test with a non-Dell monitor, but this makes me wonder if the problem isn't with the output on the Mac when connected to an 8-bit monitorm rather than this model of Dell - I didn't want to go through the hassle of sending it back, paying more for another brand, and then having the exact same issue!
If anyone has any further advice on how to get it working with Displayport, I'd be interested, but if not, I'll cope with VGA
Have you tried physically removing and then re-inserting the MDP cable from the Macbook? Just turning the monitor on and off once the problem manifests usually isn't enough to get it to go away.
If you can't tell any difference, then there's nothing to be worried about
. I can see a difference, but that's only because I've deliberately compared DVI/VGA connections in the past when messing around with monitors.Also, thanks for your U2410 report! We'll probably try to keep things confined to the 22/23" models in this particular thread, but it's good to know that the higher-end models are working correctly.
Makes no difference for me, strangely. Maybe our Macbooks have different video cards? Mine has a 9400M. Or perhaps the U2311H is slightly different to the U2211H in this regard. Not to worry!
If you can't tell any difference, then there's nothing to be worried about
Also, thanks for your U2410 report! We'll probably try to keep things confined to the 22/23" models in this particular thread, but it's good to know that the higher-end models are working correctly.
Yeah, well part of it might be not wanting to see a difference
But I was worried VGA was going to result in a loss of sharpness or ghosting or whatever and there is none of that even when looking closely, and I think the colours are equivalent, so it'll do for me Out of interest, does anyone know if other 8-bit monitors have the same issue or if it's just Dell?Indeed... my Mini has a 320m, so that would probably explain the difference in symptoms.
Strange that they'd both have the same issue in the first place! Some kind of clash between the OS X colour dithering algorithm and the one used by Dell would make sense... I'd be interested to know if other monitors have similar issues, I read somewhere about someone having the issue with an Apple Cinema Display.
The 320m is essentially an updated 9400m, so the internal structure of the GPU is not that different if I recall. As mentioned before, the only GPU I've found to work perfectly so far is the Intel GMA 950.
We've gotten one report here of an ACD exhibiting a vertical pinstripe problem, but not much else otherwise.
Curious, do you "guys" get the pinstripe problem when the display is in the portrait position as well as landscape?
I have the exact same problem with my two Dell 2311H monitors, connected to my Mac Pro (1.1, 2006 model) with an ATI X1900XT. Doesn't happen on Windows7.
The only solution I came up so far with is using DVI to VGA cables, which is not an option due to image quality loss. Keeping the monitors off during boot, doesn't help either.
Seems that the issue is on the Mac OS X side. :|
The only solution I came up so far with is using DVI to VGA cables, which is not an option due to image quality loss. Keeping the monitors off during boot, doesn't help either.
Seems that the issue is on the Mac OS X side. :|
Thanks Rogoo for your report.
As for a quick update on my end of things, there have been a few instances where booting with the monitor on will not produce the pinstriping. However, even when booting with the monitor off, I have been getting an insane amount of kernel panics (5 in the past two weeks alone). The cause is different almost every time: loading a webpage, closing a quicktime movie, playing a movie in quicklook, NetNewsWire sitting idle, etc. I have also gotten two kernel panics upon trying to wake up the monitor from sleep, but I don't have a clue as to whether all these monitor and system issues are related or what the chain of causation is, if any.
It's been rather frustrating... I paid for a Mini instead of a Hackintosh for the stability, but now the Mini is crashing more often than my 12-year-old Windows 98 PC (which still runs for some reason).
More news as it happens...
As for a quick update on my end of things, there have been a few instances where booting with the monitor on will not produce the pinstriping. However, even when booting with the monitor off, I have been getting an insane amount of kernel panics (5 in the past two weeks alone). The cause is different almost every time: loading a webpage, closing a quicktime movie, playing a movie in quicklook, NetNewsWire sitting idle, etc. I have also gotten two kernel panics upon trying to wake up the monitor from sleep, but I don't have a clue as to whether all these monitor and system issues are related or what the chain of causation is, if any.
It's been rather frustrating... I paid for a Mini instead of a Hackintosh for the stability, but now the Mini is crashing more often than my 12-year-old Windows 98 PC (which still runs for some reason
).More news as it happens...
Here's what I found out:
The problem might be that Dell 2311H is not a 'true 8-bit' panel.
It uses so called A-FRC (Advanced Frame Rate Control) to simulate 16,7M colors.
Here is the specifications document for the panel used in this model:
http://www.hy-line.de/fileadmin/hy-l...30WF2-SLC1.pdf
If you compare it to some higher end monitors like NEC WUXI2 2690:
http://lcdtech.no-ip.info/download/s...20(SL)(A2).pdf
You can clearly see the difference, specs for NEC's panel say: "16.7M (true)".
This leads me to believe that the issue is somewhere between Mac OS X's dithering algorithms / graphic card drivers / "6bit +2bit" panels itself.
The problem might be that Dell 2311H is not a 'true 8-bit' panel.
It uses so called A-FRC (Advanced Frame Rate Control) to simulate 16,7M colors.
Here is the specifications document for the panel used in this model:
http://www.hy-line.de/fileadmin/hy-l...30WF2-SLC1.pdf
If you compare it to some higher end monitors like NEC WUXI2 2690:
http://lcdtech.no-ip.info/download/s...20(SL)(A2).pdf
You can clearly see the difference, specs for NEC's panel say: "16.7M (true)".
This leads me to believe that the issue is somewhere between Mac OS X's dithering algorithms / graphic card drivers / "6bit +2bit" panels itself.
I wouldn't take the few experiences shared here as proof that this is a universal problem with the monitor. That said, we have no way of knowing how widespread these problems are at this point. It's easy to be cautious, but then again, there's really no other IPS matte monitor to choose from at this price range.
I bought the monitor at $199 + tax and still think it's a great deal. Despite the initial travails in getting it set up, I enjoy using it everyday and, assuming it's not the monitor that's contributing to my kernel panics, feel it was well worth the money.
I'm getting a 404 on that pdf, but these people on HardForum also found that information. Their conclusion was that, while FRC is used to simulate colors on TN panles, the data sheet for the Dell actually does indicate a full 8-bit panel, and that the A-FRC might be used for some other purpose on an eIPS display.
Of course, pointing to conflicting dithering approaches would certainly seem within the realm of possibility given the problems we're seeing, so I wouldn't rule it out completely.
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I'm finding this monitor compatibility issue to be quite discouraging. I thought the compatibility issue for monitors was left behind years ago when Apple switched from proprietary interfaces to industry standard interfaces like VGA, DVI, etc.
I'm writing this from an over 7-year old G4 iMac that I'd really like to replace with a Mac mini. For one reason or another I haven't done that yet, but with the mini's update to the unibody construction it was just a matter of waiting for the right price points for the mini and a monitor to come along.
Due to the frequency of updates, finding qood info on a lot of the currently available monitors is quite difficult, in some cases it's non-existent. I don't want a monitor with a glossy bezel/housing so that rules out quite a few right there.
For years I've heard people recommend Dell monitors in general and the UltraSharps in specific (which happen to have matte housings) and I was really pretty close to getting either a U2211H or U2311H along with a mini, now I don't think that I'll go that route.
With everybody and their brother charging restocking fees I just can't afford to play Mac compatibility roulette with monitors. Maybe I should just get a MacBook Pro instead.
Another quick update...
It appears that under 10.6.5, the pinstriping seems to be gone even when the monitor is powered on during boot. When I get a moment, I will test older Snow Leopard revisions again to make sure it's not something random that changed with the monitor itself.
I'm still getting kernel panics regularly though. TechTool repaired some minor filesystem inconsistencies, but it didn't seem to help. Next step is to do a fresh install I suppose.
It appears that under 10.6.5, the pinstriping seems to be gone even when the monitor is powered on during boot. When I get a moment, I will test older Snow Leopard revisions again to make sure it's not something random that changed with the monitor itself.
I'm still getting kernel panics regularly though. TechTool repaired some minor filesystem inconsistencies, but it didn't seem to help. Next step is to do a fresh install I suppose.
Sorry, macrumors messed up the links. Here they are:
Compare A-FRC panel (Dell):
Dell 2311H
To a "true 8-bit" higher end panel:
NEC WUXI2 2690
Page four (General Description). One says: "16.7M" (Dell) and the other "16.7M (true)" (for NEC).
Both seem to be 8-bit, but only one a "true 8-bit". Some sort of trickery is involved, to lessen the manufacturing cost. I was unable to google anything constructive for Advanced-Frame Rate Control, which I believe does not work well with Mac OS X.
I had a quick test with 10.6.5 and the pinstriping seemed less pronounced but was still there - maybe it was actually no different.
I'm hoping Apple fix this issue as it seems like it is on their side really if Windows on the same laptop doesn't have the issue... I'm planning on submitting a bug report.
However, the monitor is fantastic otherwise and was a great buy at the price, and I'm happy with the quality over VGA, so I wouldn't avoid the monitor purely on this issue unless the thought of using VGA really bothers you. I'm not really able to tell the difference, perhaps DVI is a little crisper, but not enough for me to bother shipping the monitor back + paying a restocking fee + buying another more expensive monitor!
I just performed a fresh install. At least on my end, there's no more pinstriping even with 10.6.3. The confusion never ends.... but at least it's a positive development.
. The confusion never ends.... but at least it's a positive development.Wow, I got my 2211h today already, *ahead* of my DisplayPort cable shipping via Amazon Prime 2-day shipping. Way impressive, Dell.
Since I don't have the cable yet, I'm using VGA, and it's definitely blurry compared to my iMac and MBP screens. I hope the DP connection isn't sporting pinstripes.
I'm also seeing a weird tearing at the right side of the screen, all the way down, as if the right one or two inches is refreshing at a different rate. Weird. This only happens in portrait mode, but I plan on using the monitor quite a bit in this mode. Anybody else experiencing this? Hopefully it's a VGA thing.
BTW, anyone know of a good utility that adds the menu bar to a secondary display? I'm new to the world of multiple monitors! Seems really bizarre Apple doesn't have an option in Displays for one.
Since I don't have the cable yet, I'm using VGA, and it's definitely blurry compared to my iMac and MBP screens. I hope the DP connection isn't sporting pinstripes.
I'm also seeing a weird tearing at the right side of the screen, all the way down, as if the right one or two inches is refreshing at a different rate. Weird. This only happens in portrait mode, but I plan on using the monitor quite a bit in this mode. Anybody else experiencing this? Hopefully it's a VGA thing.
BTW, anyone know of a good utility that adds the menu bar to a secondary display? I'm new to the world of multiple monitors! Seems really bizarre Apple doesn't have an option in Displays for one.
Indeed, Dell shipping is uncanny; when I called in to RMA my first one for some dead pixels, the new one was at my door less than 24 hours after getting off the phone .
Apple only allows the menu bar to be displayed on the primary monitor. Under the Arrangement tab of the Display preference, you can click and drag the menu bar to whatever monitor you like, which then becomes the primary monitor. If you want one on both, you'd have to search out a 3rd party utility.
As a sort of halfway solution, if you go to Keyboard -> Keyboard Shortcuts -> Application shortcuts, you can assign a key command to "Show Help menu." When you activate it, you'll be able to immediately do a text search for any menu command in the active app. Often times it's quicker for me to do something this way than clicking through menus, even if I know where the command is.
.Apple only allows the menu bar to be displayed on the primary monitor. Under the Arrangement tab of the Display preference, you can click and drag the menu bar to whatever monitor you like, which then becomes the primary monitor. If you want one on both, you'd have to search out a 3rd party utility.
As a sort of halfway solution, if you go to Keyboard -> Keyboard Shortcuts -> Application shortcuts, you can assign a key command to "Show Help menu." When you activate it, you'll be able to immediately do a text search for any menu command in the active app. Often times it's quicker for me to do something this way than clicking through menus, even if I know where the command is.