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Has anybody gotten a Mini Display Port to Dual DVI cable yet?

mattcube64 said:
After reading through this thread for the first time, I was *just* about to post that! ... I think you're on to something. I wouldn't see why that wouldn't work. Sure, it's not a perfect solution. It's definitely an oversight on Apple's part for MBA users.
Click to expand...

Yeah - maybe someone who owns an iPod Charger already and has the Dual-Link DVI adapter RAS Admin *cough* could try it out and let us know. But I don't see any reason why it wouldn't since all it needs is power.


iSpoody 1243 said:
how would you plug a male usb cable to a male usb cable.........thats GAY!!!!
you would need a male to female usb extension cable
Click to expand...

You blind? That is a male to female extension.
 
It works!

Hey, thanks for the idea!

I plugged the USB cable from the adapter into one of these iLove Power Kit for iPhone & iPod - Black and it works!

as you can see I have two monitors in the system prefs but no USB ports being used up....
 

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Kilamite said:
Couldn't you buy a cheap iPod Charger and plug the USB cable from the Dual-Link DVI adapter into that?

Save you using a USB port on your Mac, and you can easily buy a 1.5M USB extension cable for $10 if the USB cable isn't long enough to reach a power socket.

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Click to expand...

Yay for spending $40 more than necessary in addition to the $100 adapter!
 
Kilamite said:
Awesome stuff!

Maybe that'll stop the rants about it using a USB port ;)
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One still needs to attach a USB cable from the Air to the external screen presumably to be able to access the USB ports. But this should work, right?
 
Does anyone have any idea what the dual link DVI adapter actually does? Why it requires the USB connection in the first place?
 
Allow me to explain (Puss in Boots : of Shrek 3), min-DP is DisplayPort, just the physical connections are different for more compact plug, yet without any secure catch/clips to secure it tight.

DVI is different electronically from DP (packet mode tranmission), so electronics are needed to perform the conversion both ways. This electronics needs power, hence the 5volt pin of USB2 connector. There is not much current in the DP cables as it is just very fast packets flowing, hence it can have greater length compared to DVI.

There the USB power pins are used to power the Conversion electronics from DP tp dual-link DVI so the 30 inch cinema can do 2560X 1600 resolution. Note: DVI spec maxes out at 1920X 1200. So $99 for this cable set ain't that bad considering what it really does. Clear, guys ?.
 
What surprises me is how little information there is about the problems with this cable. I see it all over the forums at apple's discussion page, but not here or any other apple related forum. If my monitor goes into standby, or if I power it on/off, it will start to display a fuzzy screen, or act like it's not able to get a solid connection. The only way to resolve this is to unplug/replug the connectors. Rather annoying if you ask me.... Apple support continues to play stupid and act like nothing is wrong. I have a dell 30", and I am curious if it does the same thing with a ACD 30".
 
timeslip said:
What surprises me is how little information there is about the problems with this cable. I see it all over the forums at apple's discussion page, but not here or any other apple related forum. If my monitor goes into standby, or if I power it on/off, it will start to display a fuzzy screen, or act like it's not able to get a solid connection. The only way to resolve this is to unplug/replug the connectors. Rather annoying if you ask me.... Apple support continues to play stupid and act like nothing is wrong. I have a dell 30", and I am curious if it does the same thing with a ACD 30".
Click to expand...

I have this identical issue. It's horrid.
 
fteoath64 said:
Allow me to explain (Puss in Boots : of Shrek 3), min-DP is DisplayPort, just the physical connections are different for more compact plug, yet without any secure catch/clips to secure it tight.

DVI is different electronically from DP (packet mode tranmission), so electronics are needed to perform the conversion both ways. This electronics needs power, hence the 5volt pin of USB2 connector. There is not much current in the DP cables as it is just very fast packets flowing, hence it can have greater length compared to DVI.

There the USB power pins are used to power the Conversion electronics from DP tp dual-link DVI so the 30 inch cinema can do 2560X 1600 resolution. Note: DVI spec maxes out at 1920X 1200. So $99 for this cable set ain't that bad considering what it really does. Clear, guys ?.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this. However, I don't recall ever seeing similar powered adapters for Displayport found in the few desktop graphics cards that have it. Can those put out more juice thru the regular DP connector?
 
Does anyone have one of these on order? Have shipments stalled?

My order (placed November 6th) has been showing "3-5 business days" for almost 2 weeks.
 
I posted earlier as having gotten this adaptor and using it with my Dell 3007WFP. Having all the issues (garbled screen, snow, and just random power offs and flashes). Called apple, they were clueless to the issue. Ordered me a replacement and it came today and the new cable does the same thing as the old one, possibly even worse.

Not really sure what to do at this point .. will call apple to see what they say.
 
timeslip said:
What surprises me is how little information there is about the problems with this cable. I see it all over the forums at apple's discussion page, but not here or any other apple related forum. If my monitor goes into standby, or if I power it on/off, it will start to display a fuzzy screen, or act like it's not able to get a solid connection. The only way to resolve this is to unplug/replug the connectors. Rather annoying if you ask me.... Apple support continues to play stupid and act like nothing is wrong. I have a dell 30", and I am curious if it does the same thing with a ACD 30".
Click to expand...

I have the same problem, with the HP 30" monitor, however mine started only after installing 10.5.6.!! Did you have the problem on 10.5.5? I'm thinking of going back, but can't find my install DVD.

PS: The greatest about having to unplug and re-plug the cables is that afterwards all windows are squished and off the side of the screen. Got to love it.
 
macbook123 said:
I have the same problem, with the HP 30" monitor, however mine started only after installing 10.5.6.!! Did you have the problem on 10.5.5? I'm thinking of going back, but can't find my install DVD.

PS: The greatest about having to unplug and re-plug the cables is that afterwards all windows are squished and off the side of the screen. Got to love it.
Click to expand...

You might be on to something... This thread below describes how the OS version affects the jumpy mouse problem some people are having with the same adaptor. I wonder if this isn't a temporary fix to the distortion issue as well...

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1830794&tstart=0
 
Thiol said:
You might be on to something... This thread below describes how the OS version affects the jumpy mouse problem some people are having with the same adaptor. I wonder if this isn't a temporary fix to the distortion issue as well...

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1830794&tstart=0
Click to expand...

Thanks for pointing this out. Unfortunately it is not a fix in my case because the USB connections on the HP monitor stopped being functional with the 10.5.6 upgrade. So it seems to me that 10.5.6 changed something about the way the USB's are powered, maybe lowered the voltage or something, which leads to problems with the MDP->Dual DVI port (as well as in my case the problem with the external USB ports).
 
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