GeForce GT 120 512MB questions

[macmesser]

Nvidia GT 120 512MB is the standard equipment card for my 09 machine and I have some basic questions for which I couldn't find answers.

The card has a mini DP and dual link DVI. Does anyone know the color channel bit depth for the mini DP connection? I was told in another post that for this card the DVI port had 10 bits per channel while the mini DP offered 12 bits per channel. Since I am using a wide gamut monitor, 12 bits per channel would be better for me. Anyone know for sure?

The card is listed as having three connectors; one mini DP and two DVI (dual link). I see only two connectors on the card. What is meant by dual link DVI?

Thanks for any insights.

 

[CaptainChunk]

1. The graphics card drivers in OS X have never done anything beyond 8-bit per channel output, unfortunately. So regardless, it doesn't really matter if the card's DVI port is capable of 10-bit output. The only way I know of to get 10/12-bit output at all is with specialized capture cards (Blackmagic, Matrox, AJA, etc.) outputting to SDI displays.

2. I don't know where you're getting 3 video outputs, because the Apple GT 120 has always had only two (one dual-link DVI and one MDP). What is meant by "dual-link" DVI is that the port is capable of driving a display up to 2580x1600 resolution (single-link maxes out at 1920x1200).

 

[xcodeSyn]

The card is listed as having three connectors; one mini DP and two DVI (dual link). I see only two connectors on the card. What is meant by dual link DVI?

As already explained by the previous post, dual link DVI doesn't mean two connectors, it means doubling video bandwidth with more connecting pins compared to single link. See here for the differences between double and single link connectors. Make sure you have the dual link DVI cable to take advantage of the higher resolution on your monitor.

 

[Loa]

Hello,

To clear things up with the ports: the Nvidia 120GT can have more than two ports, but the APPLE Nvidia 120 GT cannot.

Loa

 

[Upgrader]

To add to this...

If I plugged in two Dell Ultrasharp u2715h displays running at 2560 x 1440 to my stock Apple GT120 it's going to power them ok?