[Macpartners] Connecting a Apple Cinema Display (DVI-D) to VGA computer(s)

[Kerem B Limon]

Stefan--

I've done some research into this, too, though for the opposite reason 
recently.

Without doing a detailed search, if the display has a DVI-D (as opposed to 
a DVI-_I_) connector only, it is a _digital_ only LCD panel, which requires 
a digital input. VGA is, of course, analog, so you will not be able to hook 
it up to an analog VGA output, on a computer or KVM box, without an 
analog-to-digital converter. So, an adapter doesn't apply (I am using 
'adapter' as a physical interface changer).

Such animals do exist. I took a quick look at Dr. Bott's Web page 
(http://www.drbott.com/) and they don't seem to make one. Others should--do 
a search for a "VGA-to-DVI-D converter" or "HDI-15" or "D-Sub-15" instead 
of VGA.

Digital displays are more stringent in their signal requirements, and 
analog-to-digital conversion, as opposed to the opposite, is more difficult 
for that reason. A good quality converter _may_ be expensive. Otherwise, 
the quality may suffer, and Apple hardware being more sync-freq-picky than 
PCs, things may still not work and you might end up with a blank display.

Kerem


At 04/03/10 15:13  Wednesday, Stefan Stasik wrote:
>Hi MacPartners:
>
>I've been working on a frustrating problem with a user I support.
>
>The user was given a Apple Cinema Display (nice monitor!) to hook up to
>her VGA Mac PowerBook, and her VGA Belkin KVM switch, which she uses to
>view from a PC-Windows and her Mac PowerBook.
>
>The Display uses a DVI-D connector, which seems to be a fairly rare Apple
>connector that was used on some Apple Displays.
>
>I've been getting help from Kevin and the crew at PC Service/MCC, on
>trying to find a adapter/converter to make this work.  They have been
>helpful, but basically they think it can't be done.
>
>Here are some highlights of whats been discussed so far:
>
>-=-=-=-
>-=-=-=-
>
>Check out the following
>articles, which I meant to include previously.
>
>http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=33001
>http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58692
>
>( ..... )
>
>
>Ok Folks: I am getting closer on this, closer to a dead-end.
>
>Looking at the Apple Display Grid link from earlier, I find this:
>
>-=-=-
>
>Display Model Display Connector Type Power Mac G4 (PCI Graphics)
>Power Mac G4 (AGP Graphics) Power Mac G4 - (Gigabit Ethernet),
>(Digital Audio), (QuickSilver), (QuickSilver 2002) and Cube Power Mac
>G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors), (FW 800)
>
>Apple Cinema Display DVI N/A Digital Visual Interface port See Note 1 DVI
>port.
>
>1. The Apple Studio Display LCD (DVI) and the Apple Cinema Display can be
>connected to Power Mac G4 models with an ADC video card using an ADC to
>DVI adapter available from The Apple Store (http://www.apple.com/store/).
>Refer to technical document 33001: "Display Adapter Table" for more
>information on identifying video adapters.
>
>7. The Power Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors) video cards support
>simultaneously connected ADC and DVI displays (nVidia GeForce4 MX,
>GeForce4 Ti, and ATI Radeon 9000). Also supported are two ADC displays
>with the Apple DVI to ADC Adapter (sold separately) or one ADC and one VGA
>display (with included DVI to VGA adapter).
>                ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ <-- !!
>Refer to technical document
>33001: "Display Adapter Table" for more information on identifying video
>adapters.
>
>-=-=-=-=
>
>So, looking at this, I find the following:
>
>Apple is basically saying you cannot plug the Cinema display into a VGA
>video port.
>
>Going the other way is fine. You can take a DVI-D Mac output to a VGA
>input monitor, with an adapter, but not the other way around.
>
>If you are seeing anything else into this, or know of another solution,
>let me know.
>
>I'll continue to look at it.
>
>-=-=-=-=-=
>-=-=-=-=-=
>
>I thought I would check with MacPartners, for some possible creative
>wisdom.
>
>Thanks in advance!
>
>- Stefan Stasik
>
>Stefan Stasik - stasik at mit.edu - (617) 253-7208 - Building 9-250
>System Administrator - MIT Academic Media Production Services
>
>
>
>
>
>
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