Current Macbook Pro 13" with 3840x1200 resolution possible?

[kekster]

Hi guys,

for work-related reasons I need a second external monitor for my Macbook. I do know that you can't plug in a second monitor but i found the "Matrox DualHead2Go". With this device you can use one input from the Macbook and split the output to 2 monitors with 1920x1200 pixel each. The Macbook thinks that it is one big monitor with 3840x1200 pixel. I guess many of you may know the DualHead2Go.

My questions:

1.) Does my graphics card work with such a high resolution? On apple.com it says "up to 2560 by 1600 pixels on an external display". But that would only result in 2 monitors with 1280 pixel width each. Is that correct? Is the graphics card not able to go higher?

2.) If it should work: is the Macbook fast enough to output 3840x1200 pixel? Would the CPU always run at 100%?

Info: I have the current Macbook Pro 13" with 2,4 Ghz Core2Duo, 4GB Ram and GeForce 320M.

I would really hate to switch to a larger Macbook or to a stationary Mac like the Mac Pro or iMac. I still want to be mobile without always synchronizing my work on both Macs.

Thank you (& sorry for my englisch)

 

[mulo]

2.) If it should work: is the Macbook fast enough to output 3840x1200 pixel? Would the CPU always run at 100%?

it will use a lot of RAM since you have the 13" but other then that your fine - you shouldn't see any slowdown unless you are going to be running some graphics intensive applications.

 

[Sneakz]

You'll need this. No other way to do it.

http://shopmatrox.com/usa/products/datasheet.asp?ID=917

 

[kekster]

You'll need this. No other way to do it.

http://shopmatrox.com/usa/products/datasheet.asp?ID=917

Yes - but will it actually work with my Macbook?

Thanks

 

[tasslehawf]

Back in the early 90's when video cards didn't included 3D acceleration, You were required to have 4mb of video ram to run a single 1600x1200 display. So you should be good.

 

[tasslehawf]

Yes - but will it actually work with my Macbook?

Thanks

You should call CinemaView as well and ask them.

http://www.cinemaview.com/product/cinemaview-duo

Their product is $100 less than the matrox, but requires that you use two identical monitors.

 

[Timur]

It will use 3840 x 1920 x 24-bit = 13.18 mb

Apple's 30" Cinema Display nearly has as many pixels and needs to be run over a dual-link DVI cable to support the full bandwidth. Other than that it's more a question of whether OS X allows so many horizontal pixels.