External display causing kernal panics on iMac - can anyone help?

[SarahC92]

Hi everyone, newbie here

My iMac is seriously struggling with an external display of mine. It is a 2008 model, so has mini DVI output. I bought an adapter off ebay, connected it to a DVI-D cable which was plugged in to a 2560x1440p Q270 monitor. As soon as I plugged the adapter in to the mac, its kernal panics, and says 'your computer encountered a problem and needs to restart'.

I have tried plugging it in during a reboot, and get the exact same problem.

The monitor works with my 2006 macbook pro and DVI-D cable, so i'm sure the iMac's graphics card is powerful enough to process the display.

Can anyone advise me on where i'm going wrong? Thanks!

 

[jakesaunders27]

Hi everyone, newbie here

My iMac is seriously struggling with an external display of mine. It is a 2008 model, so has mini DVI output. I bought an adapter off ebay, connected it to a DVI-D cable which was plugged in to a 2560x1440p Q270 monitor. As soon as I plugged the adapter in to the mac, its kernal panics, and says 'your computer encountered a problem and needs to restart'.

I have tried plugging it in during a reboot, and get the exact same problem.

The monitor works with my 2006 macbook pro and DVI-D cable, so i'm sure the iMac's graphics card is powerful enough to process the display.

Can anyone advise me on where i'm going wrong? Thanks!

It could be the adaptor, some macs don't like third party stuff, don't know though have you got another monitor or a different adaptor to try and test it on?

 

[SarahC92]

It could be the adaptor, some macs don't like third party stuff, don't know though have you got another monitor or a different adaptor to try and test it on?

OK .. i've just tested another cable. This one's a rather obscure Mini-DVI to HDMI adapter. (MiniDVI male, HDMI female). I plugged it in to the iMac, and then attached a long HDMI cable to a 720p 32" LCD TV, but .. the resolution looks horrible, and it's constantly flickering. Basically it is unusable as a secondary display. No kernal panic though..

I have contacted the adapter seller and they have confirmed it is a DVI-D adapter, which is what the monitor requires. If it helps, here is the monitor in question, which works perfectly well on my MBP:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Yamakasi-Catleap-Q270-SE-27-LED-2560x1440-WQHD-S-IPS-Widescreen-Monitor-/140980685305?pt=Computer_Monitors&hash=item20d31a89f9

Here is the adapter in question:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290554586710?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

 

[SarahC92]

So, I have a feeling it may be the GPU.

How do I run diagnostics on Mavericks? I don't have any boot disc..

 

[jakesaunders27]

So, I have a feeling it may be the GPU.

How do I run diagnostics on Mavericks? I don't have any boot disc..

When starting up the machine press D that runs the diagnostic