Apple Mini-DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI problem

This is a unibody MacBook Pro connected to a Dell 3007WFPHC. When the computer was released, the Dual-Link DVI adapter wasn't available for a couple of months -- presumably because Apple was still perfecting it. God only knows what it would have been like without such attention to detail, because it's never worked properly as it is.

After waiting a couple of months, and paying something like $130 for the thing, and installing a software update that was supposed to correct this problem, the display still goes cuckoo every so often -- like a couple times a day.

The same thing happens with the Apple 30" Cinema Display and with another MacBook Pro, so it's not that. And as lots of other people report the same problems, I doubt that the problem is my adapter.

The music is one of YouTube's canned soundtracks. The original sound was just mouse clicks and me huffing and puffing with righteous indignation.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Dual-Link
• DVI
• problem

[88888shibu]

It's been 1 1/2 yrs since this video was posted. It looks like there are still issues with it judging from recent comments.

[tinotopia]

@88888shibu The exact nature of the display problems have changed over time with various software updates, but the thing still doesn't work any more reliably than it did when it first came out.

[tinotopia]

No, the 23" display only requires the single-link DVI (i.e. just plain regular DVI) adapter, which works just fine. I think this is just a matter of moving the signal from one pin configuration to another, unlike the dual-link DVI business, which actually involves some kind of reworking of the signal itself.

[tinotopia]

If you buy a Mac Pro, you don't need this flaky adapter; the Mac Pro has native dual-link DVI output (two of 'em).

[tinotopia]

Even more annoying: it has not been fixed in 10.6; it exhibits the same problem. Apple has had the better part of a year now to get this working properly.

[88888shibu]

@srhatfield I've avoided added a mac-mini to my KVM switch (with Windows PSc for this reason for over a year now). I finally broke down & got a mac-mini with this adapter. If it is as bad as these reviews state, I guess I will have to get the ~$999 27" Apple LCD & use two monitors... unless I can get a DisplayPort video cards for all of my PCs... But then I will have to hope that the DisplayPort to MiniDisplay Port adapter works better than this product.

[srhatfield]

Mine is not like this. It display horizontal lines that skip up and down the screen. I think this is a terrible product, but what else is there?!

[mhusson]

I heard that "sleeping" your displays by pressing ctrl+shift+eject for a couple seconds will make the snow go away. Might be easier than the applescript.

[ppavelka12]

I have the exact same problem. It does this at random intervals plus every time I change video input (Mac/PC) on my monitor. Thanks for the Applescript tip though.

[mosxos]

This is the only thing that keeps me away from buying a mac pro and a DUAL LINK DVI to connect it to an Apple 30'' display. I've read EVERYWHERE that is has serious problems even when connected to an Apple 30'' Display. Why does not APPLE fix this, they CAN'T ??????