Issues with Mac Pro and Dell 30" display

[hartleymartin]

Hi everyone. I am having issues with my Dell 3008wfp 30" display on my Mac Pro 2008.

I am using a PC card: HD7950, Dual-link DVI cable. Any resolution other than 1920x1200 has artifacting and I really would like it to run at the proper 2560x1600 resolution.

Is it a problem with my GPU or is it that I should use a different cable?

 

[Squuiid]

Hi everyone. I am having issues with my Dell 3008wfp 30" display on my Mac Pro 2008.

I am using a PC card: HD7950, Dual-link DVI cable. Any resolution other than 1920x1200 has artifacting and I really would like it to run at the proper 2560x1600 resolution.

Is it a problem with my GPU or is it that I should use a different cable?

Try a different cable first, then look at GPU. Check airflow in GPU, clean out dust if needed.
Amazon Basics do good quality, reliable cables at reasonable prices. They may not be pretty but they do the job well. That would be where I start.

 

[hartleymartin]

I've just tried the HMDI to Dual-Link DVI cable and no luck. In fact I get 1920x1200 as the maximum possible resolution from the card using that set-up.

You would think that a GPU with 3GB of Video RAM would cope with 2560x1600, but I seem to be stuck with 1920x1200.

 

[Squuiid]

I've just tried the HMDI to Dual-Link DVI cable and no luck. In fact I get 1920x1200 as the maximum possible resolution from the card using that set-up.

You would think that a GPU with 3GB of Video RAM would cope with 2560x1600, but I seem to be stuck with 1920x1200.

No, you'll need a good high quality Dual-Link DVI cable to get that working.
Even better, get a Displayport to Mini-Displayport cable. That would be the ideal.
Again, go Amazon Basics if you can.

BTW, I also use the Dell 3008WFP monitor as my primary monitor for my Mac Pros.
One is plugged in using DisplayPort-->DisplayPort on a GTX 1080 and the other plugs in using Dual-Link DVI cable on a GTX 680.
Both run happily at 2560x1600.

I use one of these to switch the keyboard/mouse/webcam/speakerphone between the two inputs:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00B1RX0L2/

 

[mcnallym]

I used to run a Dell 3008WFP off my MacPro 2010 fitted with a Zotac GTX680 4Gb and flashed with the available EFI.

If hooked up via DVI then never used to identify the Monitor properly and instead used Display Port which was flawless.

Would seriously look at a mini-dp to DP cable for the connectivity

 

[shaunp]

Depends which version of HDMI you are using, some are restricted to lower resolutions. try display port to the multilink DVI. Display port supports higher resolutions.

 

[hartleymartin]

And as luck would have it, I've loaned my mini-DP to DVI cable to a friend!
[doublepost=1493390239][/doublepost]Update: I have found that when I take a screen-capture (Command+Shift+3) I don't get the artifacting. Clearly it isn't a software issue. For the time being I've switched back to the 8800GT because it is a Mac-specific card.

 

[hartleymartin]

BAH! I got my Mini-DP to DVI (Dual Link) adaptor cable and again I've topped out at 1920x1200.

Looks like I'll have to go out and buy a good-quality DVI-Dual Link cable to make it work properly, or get a DisplayPort cable.

 

[hartleymartin]

Issues solved by swapping in a 5770 card and using displayport. I've ordered a mini-DP to Full DP cable and when that arrives I'll try my 7950 again.

 

[Fl0r!an]

Converting DP or HDMI to dual link DVI requires expensive active adapters, passive adapters max out at 1080p for technical reasons. Native DP is the best choice for anything beyond 1080p, especially in macOS.

 

[hartleymartin]

Converting DP or HDMI to dual link DVI requires expensive active adapters, passive adapters max out at 1080p for technical reasons. Native DP is the best choice for anything beyond 1080p, especially in macOS.

Good to know. I have passive adaptor cables for HDMI/DVI, Mini-DP/HDMI and Mini-DP/DVI which worked fine on my 1050p and 1080p displays.

This should mean that when my Mini-DP to DisplayPort cable arrives I should be able to bring back my 7950.