Intel Imac Dual Monitor Help :(

[LindseyDarragh]

Hi. So My name is Lindsey and I have been an avid apple supporter. However in the last two weeks I've come extremely close to selling everything apple I own and going back to windows lol. I purchased a refurbished Intel Imac through the apple store about 4 months ago. Awesome computer, everything worked great. Well I recently decided to add an additional monitor so of course I started browsing the forums and did my due diligence. I read that there were some compatibility issues with some of the older imacs and the apple 24 in led display so naturally I called my nearest apple store to find out if I could use this display.

The sales associate listened as I explained that I had a 2008 intel Imac and assured my the display would work without an adapter. Of course you guys know this is totally wrong but I was unaware of this fact at the time. SO I drove a 6 hour round trip to Dallas and paid 970 in cash for my new monitory. Get it home and realize that something is obv wrong. I call the store back and the clerk tells me I need an adapter that can be bought at Best Buy. I drive 45 min to best buy. They are sold out. Next day I drive an hour and a half to the next closest Best Buy. They dont have it either.

So, frustrated I call Apple customer care where I get a representative who basically tells me I'm crazy, that the cables on the display are correct and I just cant figure out how to hook it up. So I lose this guy and call back. Get someone who can barely speak english who also says I need an adapter and he orders it for me. I get off the phone and look this adapter up and Its obv incorrect.

Call back again get a lady who says I need an additional adapter and a dvi cable. She orders them for me. A week later my parts arrive and to my dismay still no luck. So I call back and have yet another customer care rep tell me I have everything I need I'm just not smart enough to hook it up. Finally I call back and demand a supervisor who in forms me of what I have suspected all along. This display is in no way compatible with my computer. He apologizes and volunteers that If I will just take my display back to the apple store they will upgrade me to the 30 in HD display which he assures me will work with my Imac.

So after yet another 6 hour round trip I arrive home with my 30 in display and I have to take my desk apart just to fit this thing in there. I dont mind though because I am still thrilled. after two hours of rigging my desk I finally connect everything and am frustrated to find that I cannot get matching resolutions.

So I call the apple store and find out that I need a dual link dvi adapter. Now I may not be the smartest person in the world but I am no idiot. Before purchasing I looked this cable up. And I find that while yes a dual link dvi cable would work with a newer Imac mini dvi does not support the resolutions that dual link dvi cables will. So I call yet another customer care rep who tells me that yes, it can. We argue for about ten minutes and she hangs up on me. Livid I call the apple store and tell them I will be bringing them back their freaking monitor and I expect a refund for the full cost of the 30 inch display.

Anyway, before I drive all the way back to dallas a 3rd time I thought I would ask the only people I have been able to find reliable information from so far, you guys.

If you guys would just confirm for me that I cannot in fact run the 30 in display on the high resolutions that it is capable of with my intel imac.

If this is the case, is a 24 in the largest monitor that I can use and have optimal resolutions on both monitors? I am interested in a samsung 26 inch monitor but I dont want to end up in the same boat.

Frankly I've grown so frustrated in the last 3 weeks I would even consider selling my imac and moving the whole setup over to PC. I guess my question is. What is the best way to set up two large monitors with matching resolutions and an nice transition from screen to screen.

All help would be greatly appreciated.

Sry this is so long, I really needed to vent lol.


oh.. also, I would consider going back to the Led display if I though there would be a solution for that compatibility in the very near future. I know I read that there was talk of an adapter but they are fairly expensive to make.

 

[swiftaw]

If you have an iMac 24" with a mini-DVI port then I would buy a Dell 24" with the same resolution. Connected it using the mini-DVI to DVI and then you'll be all set.

 

[Hellhammer]

Mini-DVI supports only up to 1920x1200 and 30" ACD resolution is 2560x1600. Yes, you have had terrible service. Next time, ask from here. 26" Samsung will work (it's 1920x1200 or 1920x1080), just get right adapter (Mini-DVI to DVI, VGA or HDMI). I'm sorry to hear that kinda story

 

[txnoob]

WOW! Lindsey, you're better than I. VERY sorry for all you've been through, the two posts above are good info. Please let us know how it turns out.

 

[LindseyDarragh]

new info

well, I just had someone tell me that there is in fact an adapter being released in september that will allow the mini display to dvi conversion. Its crazy expensive but heres what I think I am planning at this point.

So far I have only invested the $899 cost of the 24 in LED into this project so I think this weekend I will take the 30 in back to the apple store and collect the refund for the full 1799.00. Then from there I will order the refurbished 24 in LED from the online store or 599 and purchase the adapter for 179.

So while this has all been an absolute nightmare it looks like I may actually be able to use the original monitor that I wanted and still manage to profit about $1000.00

Something good may come of this mess after all.

However I'm not set on this plan and am still open to all suggestions if someone knows a better set up.

Thanks for the speedy replies!

 

[Hellhammer]

well, I just had someone tell me that there is in fact an adapter being released in september that will allow the mini display to dvi conversion. Its crazy expensive but heres what I think I am planning at this point.

So far I have only invested the $899 cost of the 24 in LED into this project so I think this weekend I will take the 30 in back to the apple store and collect the refund for the full 1799.00. Then from there I will order the refurbished 24 in LED from the online store or 599 and purchase the adapter for 179.

So while this has all been an absolute nightmare it looks like I may actually be able to use the original monitor that I wanted and still manage to profit about $1000.00

Something good may come of this mess after all.

However I'm not set on this plan and am still open to all suggestions if someone knows a better set up.

Thanks for the speedy replies!

Why don't you just return the 30" ACD and get 1800$ and buy 3rd party monitor right now with DVI input? You can get good ones for less than 500$ depending on your needs

 

[LindseyDarragh]

I had considered this but I'm very bothered by the mismatching units. The overall appearance as well and the difference in the glossy and matte screens. I would definitely pursue this route if I didnt think I could get an apple display to work but the two just look so great together.

 

[preppyclubguy]

I recently had an 08 imac with a mini dvi connected to a cable(mini dvi - vga) also i have a (mini dvi - dvi) for when i bring my imac to my friends studio to hook up his cenema display.. with the new imac i just got it has a (mini display port - dvi) which is now hooked up to my samsung 2433(24" monitor) works perfect and looks nice plus the samsung monitor brand new at sams club was 239.00 allot cheaper then the 899 for the apple one

 

[ADent]

I would say buy a Mac mini and two monitors. If you are set on Apple displays, you are screwed with the mini unless you can get a used 23" monitor with DVI inputs (places like PowerMax have some) because while the Mac mini can drive a 24" LED and the 30", both need the miniDP and won't work with the miniDVI. Or just get a mini and two Dells with DVI ports and the right adapters and call it a day.

The adapter to drive a DisplayPort monitor from DVI may be quite expensive and typically these things are flaky.

If you need 3D or faster than 2.26 or more than 4GB then you would need a MacPro.

There is a program to share a monitor from another Mac. You could buy a Mac mini, hook up the 24" LED, and use Screen Recycler ( http://www.screenrecycler.com/home.html ). But the monitor on the mini could have a slight lag since it does it via VNC.

 

[swiftaw]

I would say buy a Mac mini and two monitors. If you are set on Apple displays, you are screwed with the mini unless you can get a used 23" monitor with DVI inputs (places like PowerMax have some) because while the Mac mini can drive a 24" LED and the 30", both need the miniDP and won't work with the miniDVI. Or just get a mini and two Dells with DVI ports and the right adapters and call it a day.

The adapter to drive a DisplayPort monitor from DVI may be quite expensive and typically these things are flaky.

If you need 3D or faster than 2.26 or more than 4GB then you would need a MacPro.

There is a program to share a monitor from another Mac. You could buy a Mac mini, hook up the 24" LED, and use Screen Recycler ( http://www.screenrecycler.com/home.html ). But the monitor on the mini could have a slight lag since it does it via VNC.

Did you even read the post. She already has an iMac all she wants is a second monitor for it.

 

[ADent]

Did you even read the post. She already has an iMac all she wants is a second monitor for it.

And the monitor she has won't work with the iMac. Nor will any monitor Apple sells. And the adapter she is waiting for has a chance of being expensive and finicky (but it should get the job done).

Basically she needs to get over matching monitors or sell the iMac and get a MacPro or mini.

 

[Hellhammer]

Basically she needs to get over matching monitors or sell the iMac and get a MacPro or mini.

All other monitors smaller than 30" (2560x1600) works with it. She just wants one with Apple logo. No reason to sell it and get new one.

I wouldn't trust the upcoming adapter. Just get yourself a nice Dell or other display.

 

[fhall1]

Lindsey - I hope another lesson learned in all of this is use the phone or at least go online and check your store's availablility of an item before venturing out to Best Buy...it would have saved you two long drives for nothing.