Brand New MBP Late 2008 + Dell 3007WFP 30" Display (Dual Link Details? What is it?)

[bella92108]

Hi everyone. Long time reader, noob to posting.

I'm considering upgrading my 24" Dell 2007WFP to the 30" 3007WFP monitor as they've been coming down in price. I see that in order to run a 30" Apple Cinema Display a "Mini Video Dual Link Adaptor" for $99 is required. Right now my 24" is running off my Mini Video to DVI adaptor just fine. If I get the Dell I understand it comes with a Dual Link Cable, so would that negate the need to buy the $99 Mini DVI Dual Link ACD adaptor, or would I still use that? Does anyone have this setup? I just want to make sure I understand what I'm getting into prior to making a purchase.

Thanks as always for the great support!

 

[sangosimo]

you need to buy the dual link adapter. The mini adapter only supports max of 1920x1200

 

[bella92108]

you need to buy the dual link adapter. The mini adapter only supports max of 1920x1200

So to expand on this, if I buy the 30" dell monitor TODAY I'll be able to get 1920x1200 out of that monitor with the DVI adaptor, then when I buy the Apple Dual Link DVI when it comes out in two weeks I'll get the 2600x1600?

 

[sangosimo]

not 1600x1600 but 2560x1600; the rest is right

 

[bella92108]

So the dual-link cable Apple is coming out with splits into 2 DVIs? I guess I don't understand the technology of dual-link since I've never had a monitor that big.

not 1600x1600 but 2560x1600; the rest is right

 

[sangosimo]

dual link dvi is just the full bandwidth it is not a different connector.

 

[bella92108]

dual link dvi is just the full bandwidth it is not a different connector.

So what exactly does the cable do for the $99 ?!?!?! It looks in the pic like it uses a USB adaptor too... seems like a lot of money and USB port usage for a higher RES...???

 

[sangosimo]

the cable adds the pins so you have the full bandwidth lol. 5 dollar connector with 95 dollar apple tax

 

[macbook123]

you need to buy the dual link adapter. The mini adapter only supports max of 1920x1200

I can't get the 1920x1200 with mine on the 30 inch monitor. I do get 1920x1200 on a monitor with that resolution (24 inch), but I get much lower on the 30 inch. Not sure why. Waiting for the Dual Link DVI adapter (which indeed seems very overpriced).

 

[bella92108]

Does anyone else have the Late 2088 MBP with the Dell 30" 3007WFP?

Anyone know what the deal is with the dual link why it's so delayed if it's just a cable?

 

[vga4life]

The dual-link adapter isn't just a cable.

Apple's mini-Displayport port can act as either a DisplayPort or single-link DVI port. Dual-link DVI has additional signal lines that mini-DisplayPort doesn't have contacts for.

The dual-link adapter is actively converting a 2560x1600 DisplayPort signal to a dual-link DVI signal. That's more complicated than "just a cable," and is why it costs $99 and uses a USB port for power.

Now, I wonder when Apple is going to come out with a mini-DisplayPort to DisplayPort adapter. The high-end Dell monitors (e.g. 3008WFP) have had DisplayPort connectors for a while.

 

[fathom]

I have the Late 2008 MBP and the Dell 3008WFP (not the 3007WFP that the original poster asked about). The MBP only has a mini-displayport jack --- no means to plug into anything that is on the monitor. For the 3008WFP, what you need is one of the following options:

1. A dual-link DVI adapter that does an active conversion from mini-displayport to dual-link DVI. The fact that it is an active conversion requires the USB connection to power the circuitry required for the conversion, and the $99 price tag. To make this even less appealing, 8 weeks after the original announcement of this adapter, the Apple Store still lists this item as "Shipping in 4-5 weeks." Thus, this is not a solution today.
2. A single-link DVI adapter. This is only capable of outputting up to 1920x1200 resolution. If your monitor has built-in, hardware scaling, it can scale it up to the 2560x1600, but like any scaling on an LCD, it looks all fuzzy. I think that the 3007WFP does not have hardware scaling (but you should verify this), and probably can only take 1280x800 as input (which means 2x2 pixels on the display will be used for every one output from the laptop) -- not a good solution either.
3. A mini-displayport-to-standard-displayport adapter. This would be possible for the 3008WFP, but not the 3007WFP. However, to date, this adapter from one standard to another "standard" does not exist. Hence, this also is not a solution.

So, that's the sorry state of 30" monitors with the MacBook Pro (and MB and MBA). No good solutions.

 

[rangda]

I think that the 3007WFP does not have hardware scaling (but you should verify this), and probably can only take 1280x800 as input (which means 2x2 pixels on the display will be used for every one output from the laptop) -- not a good solution either.

I have a 3007WPF and this is correct; it has no hardware scaling so the maximum resolution over single DVI is 1280x800. Until the dual link adapter is available it's not useful with the MBP.

As an aside, given that the adapter requires power anyway I'd rather it plug into the wall and power the laptop as well as the adapter. Then you could get functionality close to the new 24" display with a 30".

 

[katorga]

why oh why

Why on earth did Apple gimp the new MBP with a mini display port? Now I have to pay $100 and lose a USB port to use my 30" LCD?

As far as I can tell there is nothing "insanely great" about mini-display port that makes it worth choosing over the existing dual-dvi option it replaced or HDMI. What a hassle. It literally stopped me in my tracks from upgrading.

 

[Kaupa]

Yeah, this really sucks and in addition the mini display port isnt even capable of transfering audio signals...

 

[macbook123]

Why on earth did Apple gimp the new MBP with a mini display port? Now I have to pay $100 and lose a USB port to use my 30" LCD?

As far as I can tell there is nothing "insanely great" about mini-display port that makes it worth choosing over the existing dual-dvi option it replaced or HDMI. What a hassle. It literally stopped me in my tracks from upgrading.

The only reason I can think of is that it will allow them to make thinner laptops once the average computer user has grown out of optical drives (they seem to be hard to get rid off as long as the laptops are mostly used as entertainment machines), and that they can make more money by charging people for three different adapters. Everything else about the Display Port is ******** as far as I can tell.

 

[macbook123]

PS: I already spent $60 on VGA and DVI adapters, and ordered the $100 dual DVI one. With my last MBP everything was included in the original price.