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Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter

ridiculous

Written by MK from Kingwood

Mar 8, 2009

I am using all Apple products... brand new 17 inch Macbook Pro and Apple 30 inch cinema display. I get random linear, static like flickers across the screen that predominately affect the darker areas. For those of you saying you don't have problems, try putting a large jet black area on your 30 inch monitor before clicking up the star rating on this defective product.

9 of 10 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter

Works most of the time.

Written by JR from Tucson

Mar 7, 2009

Apple 30" Cinema Display, Macbook 13" unibody 2.4Ghz, 4GB mem

I experience flickers (so far only right after the computer starts up), inserted DVD, DVD player automatically opened and full-screen, just got black screen, everything besides the mouse cursor became unresponsive. Had to power-off via holding power button.

Its just doesn't seem stable, but what choice do I have if I only have a MB and want to use my 30" display (used to have a PowerMac G5, but sold it)

Hopefully this is something Apple could address in the future with a software/driver update.

$99 to use my $1600 laptop with my $1800 display. A complete rip off. I might possibly have been able to overlook the $99 if it worked perfectly without problems, but that is certainly not the situation here.

11 of 13 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter

Mac Mini(2009) Problems w/Adapter

Written by JB from Fremont

Mar 6, 2009

Just to chime in with the rest of the crowd, I'm also experiencing flickering issues with this adapter. I have a new Mac Mini w/Nvidia graphics that powers the 30" Cinema perfectly, no graininess or distortion, except for that irritating screen flickering every 15-40 minutes. I thought the Mini had issues, I'd never suspect it was the adapter until coming to this forum. Hope Apple fixes this problem soon considering that the adapter was 1/6th the price of the Mini.

14 of 15 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter

It works - for those who can't get it to work read below

Written by SH from Lake Forest

Mar 4, 2009

I read all the negative reviews on here before buying and still made the purchase anyway to try it for myself. Don't forget everyone - most people who write reviews on the Internet are complaining about something. The majority of purchases that work never get written about because it is as expected. So always take "reviews" with a grain of salt.

So anyway, I hooked this "Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter" up to my MacBook Pro (2.53GHz model) and to my 30" Apple screen. YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE RUNNING YOUR GRAPHICS IN PERFORMANCE MODE to not get any color or tearing issues. You might also need a fresh reboot to make it reset as well.

Steps:
1) Click on your battery or charging icon in the upper right hand part of your screen
2) Click on "Energy Saver Preferences"
3) Ensure that the "Higher performance" button is selected when connected to the adapter (you can switch it back when portability is needed)
4) Then exit

Now...

1) Go Apple>System Preferences> and click on "Displays" in the Hardware section
2) You can play around with the settings in here to get the resolutions, colors and displays set-ups however you want.

**Important note - make sure your laptop is using the battery charger when connected to the adapter for all of the above to work consistently.

Hope this helps - worked for me.

85 of 123 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter

DisplayPort Adapter (or Nvidia driver) Freezes/hangs macbook or causes snow

Written by GV from Chatsworth

Mar 3, 2009

I, like many here, am having problems where one of these behaviors occur when I connect the DisplayPort adapter:
- There's snow on my external display (Samsung SyncMaster242MP)
- The external display blinks on then off.
- After returning from display sleep, the monitor continues to display nothing (black).
- The MacBook hangs when removing the adapter and then plugging it back in. But not every time I do this. And I'm usually doing this to get the MacBook to re-detect the display due to one of the aforementioned issues.

There was mention of an Apple update to the MacBook Pro Nvidia drivers that occurred in late January. That update has since been removed by Apple from their support site.

I'm giving the adapter a two star rating because it does work, for as long as I keep the MBP from not sleeping the display, once I convince the MBP that there is a display attached and it syncs up without snow.

Soooo...I'm anxiously awaiting news from Apple in some form (support KB, new driver, new adapter, anything!).

10 of 11 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter

Awesome =] works GREAT!

Written by MI from Mississauga

Feb 28, 2009

I got this for my 42 in PHILIPS LCD 1080p. I was very disappointed at first as it did not work, but after reading some of the reviews on here I realized I had to plug in in the USB to supply power to the dual-link (I know Duh!). Now, it not only works but the picture is crystal clear!

hence my review title, Awesome =]

17 of 26 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter

Apple changes product description

Written by RK from Toronto

Feb 26, 2009

This product description use to state this adapter would work for any monitor that required a dual-link dvi connection.

After receiving multiple complaints, Apple has changed the description to include only their 30" cinema display instead of fixing the real issue.

The adapter WILL work with my 30" Dell display, but I occasionally will experience issues (static, snow, etc) - only a reset (computer, display, settings, sleep) will bring it back. A serious nuisance.

43 of 46 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter

Works great with MacBook Air

Written by PP from New York

Feb 26, 2009

The adapter works great with MacBook Air (late 2008 of course). Is seems that the USB plug is just to provide power to the big adapter, without connecting the USB cable it does not work.
It works perfect connected to Logitech 4-ports USB hub (the hub is powered). The screen is 30-inch Apple display. Image is perfect. The only problem is that keyboard and mouse works better connected to the hub not the monitor - the movement of the mouse is smooth. Expensive but definitelly works.

10 of 19 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter

flicker

Written by RP from Norman

Feb 26, 2009

I thought I would be one of the lucky ones after waiting 3 months for my adapter.... I guess not. I have slight flickering and my wired mouse tends to be very jumpy. Honestly, if I would have known this beforehand, I would not have bought the new MBP.

16 of 18 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter

Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter is terrible

Written by RP from Newark

Feb 21, 2009

I read the reviews, but since I replaced my 2 year old macbook pro 17, with a brand new unibody, i needed this adapter. Tried 2, absolute terrible performance. Display looks grainy, it flickers every now and then, fet random bars down right habd side, and I cant see to use the usb socket on the adapter even with an iPhone - please leave well alone until its fixed.

12 of 13 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter

Slow MacBook Pro

Written by SY from Davis

Feb 21, 2009

After paying $99 plus tax, I thought I will be very happy driving 30 inch Apple Cinema Display from my new MacBookPro. Wrong! It is SLOW !!! Especially when I run VMWare Fusion full screen mode, my Mac runs so slowly that I fall asleep. I am not sure why they made MDP to run only half the capacity. Apple must have known this, so then they should have left dual DVI or provided a different solution.

10 of 12 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter

Problem's with 30" Display

Written by DH from Greenwood

Feb 20, 2009

As others have stated there are many problems with this adapter and using it with a 30" display. I never had a single problem with my two prior 15" MacBook Pro's and my Dell 30" display. With this adapter I experience flicker every 10-15 minutes and have seen it drop one link of the dual-link connection as well. I would avoid this adapter and had I known this would not have purchased a new 15" MacBook Pro.

26 of 27 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter

Apple 30 inch Cinema Display Flickers

Written by PD from MIAMI

Feb 18, 2009

I did not need this adapter with my late 2007 Model MBP using the internal DVI connection. However, living on the bleeding edge, I had to get the new MBP back on Dec 31, 2008. I since learned the hard way that I needed this new Mini-Port to Dual-Link DVI Adapter to match the resolution of my previous MBP. Then I got an unexpected
present.

DISPLAY FLICKERING!!!!!

This thing flickers under all circumstances. It doesn't matter if I just turned the MBP on, or after hours of use. I have been trying workarounds that others have tried and have been sifting through rumors of hardware issues, software issues, or environmental causes to the problem.

I am not one the usually writes reviews on products, but I simply could not let this one slide. I too read the reviews prior to purchasing this product, and I did not see one mention at the time to this particular issue at the time. Now I see that others are experiencing the same problem. I encourage everyone that has purchased this product, and experiencing these issues to voice there feedback. I would tell others to hold off on purchasing this product.

More importantly if you use an external display and are considering a new MBP I would hold off until there is official word from Apple that the issues have been identified and resolved with either this product or more seriously a new generation of MBP.

30 of 32 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter

Does not work with 30" Dell and MBP

Written by AA from Minneapolis

Feb 17, 2009

We use 30" Dells and Macbook Pros at work, and between two machines and monitors, we're determined this product is terrible. I've tried working with the lid closed, re-plugging from the monitor end, the laptop end, tried the "official fix" from Apple including deleting plist files and resetting PRAM, and still see the sudden loss of clarity/fuzziness/noise issues I've seen that other have photographed. My hope is that Apple will replace this cable with one that works, my fear is that no cable will work and no 3rd party cables will be available.

31 of 32 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter

Disappointed by this poor product

Written by CC from Los Angeles

Feb 16, 2009

As everyone else has mentioned, this product (as currently integrated with OS X) is defective.

Apple delayed the release of this product, charged an outrageous price, and then did not provide the necessary software updates to make the product work.

I have new MacBook Pro 2.53 with a 30 inch Apple Cinema Display.

My mouse jumps several inches sporadically. I've seen in forums online that there is an easy way to replicate this problem. Drag the mouse in a circle over and over. Every few times, the mouse will jump several inches.

In addition, the screen flickers, changes colors, etc.

I'm confident that this is just a software problem. (I hope so). Apple MUST update this product, software, or refund the customers. At the moment, we bought a dud.

.....disappointed.

25 of 25 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter

Design Engineering Staff Shouid be Publicaly FLOGGED!!

Written by DB from San Diego

Feb 14, 2009

Please forgive my possibly ignorant rant knowing I am open to any schooling from an informed source, unless otherwise corrected I believe the Design Engineering Staff at Apple should be publicly Flogged or at the very least be made to give up a portion of their paychecks to accommodate the prolific permutations of video connectors Apple has SPAWNED! Really now, Intel / PC based computers, that offer equivalent graphic performance have managed to utilize the same 15 Pin cable for 20 years!!! Could someone please tell me WHY APPLES FEELS IT IS COMPULSORY EVERY TIME A MODEL OR MID MODEL CHANGE HAPPENS THEY MUST INVENT ANOTHER *&!@#!# VIDEO CONNECTOR?!!!! One must carry a printed product compatibility map the size of a bed sheet to PURCHASE the correct $30 to $125 adapter so that one can connect AN APPLE MONITOR TO AN APPLE COMPUTER!!! Shame on Apple once again for showing absolutely NO ALLEGIANCE to Long Standing Consumers! I had hoped Intel would have put a stop to the 8Pin, D-Sub, BNC, 15 Pin, Powerbook 100 Series adapter, Powerbook Duo Adapter, DVI, VGA, Mini DisplayPort to VGA, Mini DVI to VGA, Mini DisplayPort to DVI, Mini DVI to DVI, Mini DVI to Video, Mini DisplayPort to VGA, Micro DVi to Video, MADNESS!!! Just to name a few.....

83 of 94 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter

Monitor flickers every 20-40 minutes.

Written by TK from Richboro

Feb 11, 2009

Our office has 9 of the new MBP laptops that require these adapters to drive our 30" monitors. I personally have a 30" apple display, all others are 30" Samsungs. Every monitor regardless of brand or age flickers (blanks out and then comes back on) every 20-40 minutes. None of the monitors exhibit this behavior when using a direct DVI connection to an older MBP. Problem is either this adapter or the graphics chips in the new MBP's.

43 of 45 people found this useful

Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter

Working fine after 3 days...

Written by CW from Toronto

Feb 10, 2009

I have no doubt there are significant issues with some or most of these adapters, but unfortunately it is the only way to hook a new MacBook / MacBook Pro up to a 30" monitor; anyone who has such a display is unlikely to give it up.

I bought one of these from the local Apple store, and tested it in the store with a Macbook Air + a 30" cinema display they had there - worked fine. After 3 days of 8+ hr/day use with a MacBookPro purchased in Early Jan connected to a Dell 3008WFP it is just fine - display rock steady, no issues whatsoever. The MacBook is plugged in (powered), one of the MacBook's 2 USB ports powers the adapter, the other goes to the USB hub located in the monitor. Energy saver is set to "better battery life" (ie 9400M); haven't bothered to enable the 9600.

Yes, this is far too expensive, large, and generally a ridiculous solution - particularly compared with the direct-connect dual-link DVI on the previous generation. And yes, why is there not a mini-DisplayPort to DisplayPort cable available, 4+ months after the product introduction? However, the particular unit I appear to have works just fine. If you really need one of these things, perhaps you can get lucky and wind up with an operational unit as well.

Otherwise, sticking with a previous-generation MacBook with a more immediately useful display connector, or perhaps a different brand of laptop all together would serve as a better solution.

22 of 28 people found this useful