Tests confirm Apple's 27" iMac only supports DisplayPort input

123457

Comments

  • Reply 121 of 149
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by nafai23 View Post


    The 4xxx series cards were used successfully with this adapter with the 24'' inch cinema display via display port.



    Could it be an issue of resolution? Perhaps it's only the resolution signal that is not properly transmitted in reverse, much as with the old Mac Video>VGA adapters of old?
  • Reply 122 of 149
    That is possible but you would think a passive adapter would just pass the info along. I have my desktop hooked up at 2560x1600 on my pc and I have put converters such as hdmi and dvi extensions on the line and it always works fine.



    .....and furthermore also the ati/nvidia cards scale resolutions so it could just output at 1920x1080 or whatever and it should display a scaled image. My monitor is a native 2560x1600(dell 3007) and it can display any resolution hooked up to the video card(640x480 through 2560x1600) but will not display anything from any other non scaled source such as an xbox or blu ray player, it has to be native then.



    So if the adapter did in fact not support the higher resolution the video card would just default to something lower and scale it.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by tonton View Post


    Could it be an issue of resolution?



  • Reply 123 of 149
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by nafai23 View Post


    Make sure you go to the official ATI forums and let them know the issues.



    Have you tried the 9.11 beta drivers?



    Also it has been confirmed the apple cinema display does not work on the 5XXX series but did on the 4xxx with the display port.





    just tried the 9.11 beta drivers and no go..not getting the sync message anymore either...with cmd+F2 sometimes all screens go black and catalyst appears to be trying to sync with a blue spinning circle and adding a device sound that windows makes but eventually fails....also tried target display mode with iMac resolution down to 1920x1200 and still no luck





    sure amd is aware of situation by now, if they are the culprits....



    thanks

    jed
  • Reply 124 of 149
    Well, I have been reading through several different forums and have been on the edge about my purchase of the new 27in iMac... this what i have determined. dual reasons for purchasing this system; want a Mac desktop and make the full switch to apple and to connect my PS3 to this through the new input. same thing everybody else is dying to do.

    here is the good news... as previously mentioned the only way to functionally connect the ps3(or any other stand-alone, non-miniDP connection) to the 24in Cinema display was through the use of two different adapters. the Atlona DVI to mini DisplayPort Convertor (to change your signal) and then to deal with the difference in native resolution you needed the HDMI/DVI Scaler. this process has been confirmed to work with the 24in Apple Cinema Display... like i said... I'm sure you are all aware of this already.

    Not so easy with the 27in iMac. First step would work but the second step does not because the iMac's native resolution is a staggering 2560x1440... well above the max single-link DVI connection of only 1900x1200 (basically full HD...1080p)...... drum roll please...... I just got off the phone with Atlona to address this issue and the service rep told me that....in about a weeks time.... the new model of this same scaler will come out and WILL be able to upscale to the level of 2560x1440. While there are no guarantees here and I am going off of the word of this Rep and his project manager... this is so damn exciting news, right? granted some tests would be required for the 100% compatibility and all that stuff... but if I am reading correctly this would solve the one issue everybody is having. native resolution. godspeed!

    oh yes... the Rep said to call before you purchased it... he said about a week and it would be out. but basically you want to call to confirm you are in fact purchasing the NEW model that upscales to the correct resolution. good luck!

    Atlona DVI-to-mini Display Convertor....model: AT-DP200

    Atlona HDMI/DVI scaler - model: AT-HD560 (call to ensure correct version)
  • Reply 125 of 149
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by nafai23 View Post


    The 4xxx series cards were used successfully with this adapter with the 24'' inch cinema display via display port.



    Is the 4xxx card capable of outputting 2560x1440 over a single port?
  • Reply 126 of 149
    with the connection of dp->mdp cable from the ati 5800 series graphics card to the iMac 27 there are evidently compatability issues...it flat out doesn't work...there is a 20 pin out for both the dp and mdp which though aren't "physically" numbered the same am sure the pins correctly correspond when dp->mdp cable is manufactured....





    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DisplayPort

    http://developer.apple.com/softwarel...ions111908.pdf



    displayport spec v1.1a is the present updated spec which VESA just recently included Apple's mdp to that dp spec

    Quote:

    Devices using the mDP connector will meet all the electrical and protocol specifications required by DisplayPort 1.1a, and cable assemblies incorporating an mDP connector at either or both ends must meet the cable assembly electrical specifications required by the standard.

    http://www.vesa.org/



    now is this the hold up? being that apple's mdp has just been standardized do we need all the dp manufacturer's to come in line with Apple or is it Apple to get in line with v1.1a dp spec or both? You would think that dp manufacturers are manufacturing according to the present VESA spec so that leaves Apple to get its act together....



    the future interoperability between dp and mdp should more or less be pnp you would think!!! so is it it just a matter of time?



    question....if you were to take the 5870 6DP Special Edition and output it to the imac 27 would it work today? you would most hopefully think so, wouldn't you?

    http://www.tcmagazine.com/comments.p...=30749&catid=2



    Physically the 5870 and 5870 6DP aren't much different except for the mdp's (see pg.7)

    http://translate.google.com/translat.../view/16308/1/





    So Apple and AMD what are we waiting for? Is it you Apple or is it you AMD that we are hearing the deafening silence from in why a amd dp cannot connect and work when cabled into an imac 27 mdp?
  • Reply 127 of 149
    solipsismsolipsism Posts: 25,726member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by deja_vu View Post


    So Apple and AMD what are we waiting for? Is it you Apple or is it you AMD that we are hearing the deafening silence from in why a amd dp cannot connect and work when cabled into an imac 27 mdp?



    If i were to wage a guess I’d say it’s Apple

    That is a tough question, but I’d wager the problem resides within the iMac itself. I still havent’ seen how the mDP port connects to the GPU. The import feature is atypical so depending on how Apple or ATI designed it to work it may just be a driver issue, it could be part of the design to only work with other Macs or it could be a design issue. As lame as that sounds I wouldn’t put it past Apple.



    For another example of Apple doing wonky things with standardized HW check out this link:
  • Reply 128 of 149
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by solipsism View Post


    The import feature is atypical so depending on how Apple or ATI designed it to work it may just be a driver issue, it could be part of the design to only work with other Macs or it could be a design issue. As lame as that sounds I wouldn?t put it past Apple.





    Quote:

    DisplayPort is a digital display interface standard (approved May 2006, current version 1.1a approved on January 11, 2008) put forth by the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA).

    http://www.pacificcable.com/DisplayPort-Tutorial.html



    Apple has been "anointed" by VESA and incorporated into the "refreshed" displayport spec v1.1a......being this is fairly recent news and that the v1.1a spec has been around since Jan 2008 I would agree that the problem most likely lies with Apple....Apple opened the door, VESA entered and now it is up to Apple to entertain.....



    Technical Specification



    * Hot pluggable: YES

    * Audio signal: Optional, 1-8 channels, 16 or 24 bit linear PCM, 48/96/192 kHz sampling rate, uncompressed, max. 6.144 Mbit/s bit rate

    * Video signal: Optional, maximum 2560x1600 resolution

    * Bandwidth: 1.62 or 2.7 GHz symbol rate, 1/2/4 lanes (total 5.184 or 8.64 Gbit/s; latest version 1.1a, 10.8 Gbit/s) plus 1 Mbit/s for AUX CH (for additional data)

    * Protocol: mini-packet

    * Electrical:

    o +3.3 V

    o Max voltage: 16.0 V

    o Max current: 500mA

    * 10.8 Gbit/s forward link channel supports high resolution displays with a single cable.

    * 8B/10B data transmission (up to 2.7 GHz symbol rate, up to 4 lanes, 8B/10B modulation).

    * Reduced bandwidth transmission for 15 metre cable (at least 1920x1080p60, 24 bpp).

    * Full bandwidth transmission for 2 metre cable.

    * Supports color depth of 6, 8, 10, 12 and 16 bits per color component.

    * Supports YCbCr color space (ITU-R BT.601-5 and BT.709-4), 4:2:2 chroma subsampling

    * Supports legacy signal streams (analog and DVI/HDMI]]); backward compatibility achieved with adapters/dongles

    * 128-bit AES DisplayPort Content Protection (DPCP) support, and support for 40-bit High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) from version 1.1 onwards.

    * Supports internal and external connections so that one standard can be used by computer makers reducing costs

    * Open and extensible standard to help with broad adoption
  • Reply 129 of 149
    solipsismsolipsism Posts: 25,726member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by deja_vu View Post


    Apple has been "anointed" by VESA and incorporated into the "refreshed" displayport spec v1.1a......being this is fairly recent news and that the v1.1a spec has been around since Jan 2008 I would agree that the problem most likely lies with Apple....Apple opened the door, VESA entered and now it is up to Apple to entertain?..



    It does appear to be a problem solely with the iMac 27?, but I?m still not convinced that it?s all Apple?s problem at this point. The ATI GPU seems to be unique in that it allows for input.



    Or could it really be something as silly as the tested adapters not allowing for two-way signaling which is why mDP-to-mDP cables from a MacBook seem to work?
  • Reply 130 of 149
    The iMac's DisplayPort input works fine when connected to a PC with a Radeon 4890:

    http://www.hardforum.com/showthread....1462524&page=3



    There is an apparent hardware/firmware issue with the Radeon 5000 series that is preventing it from working with the iMac (and the 24" ACD as well). It seems to be an ATI issue, not an Apple issue at the moment.
  • Reply 131 of 149
    solipsismsolipsism Posts: 25,726member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by circularreference View Post


    The iMac's DisplayPort input works fine when connected to a PC with a Radeon 4890:

    http://www.hardforum.com/showthread....1462524&page=3



    There is an apparent hardware/firmware issue with the Radeon 5000 series that is preventing it from working with the iMac (and the 24" ACD as well). It seems to be an ATI issue, not an Apple issue at the moment.



    Thanks for the info and welcome to the forum. As stated in your link, I wish I would have read that the 24? LED Apple display with mDP also don?t work with the 5xxx series cards. The idea of the uni-directional cable being the problem never really sat well with me. Hopefully we?ll see more confirmation on this tomorrow.
  • Reply 132 of 149
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by circularreference View Post


    The iMac's DisplayPort input works fine when connected to a PC with a Radeon 4890:

    http://www.hardforum.com/showthread....1462524&page=3



    There is an apparent hardware/firmware issue with the Radeon 5000 series that is preventing it from working with the iMac (and the 24" ACD as well). It seems to be an ATI issue, not an Apple issue at the moment.



    You would figure that before shipping the displayport of the 5800 series was both spec'd externally and internally according to VESA v1.1a. According to the spec all should be plug and play, don't get it...are they that lame!!?? Is that the reason for the last week or 2 you haven't been able to find a 5800 except on Ebay? These cards are backordered to the moon!! Was production stopped?



    Alright AMD fess up will you!!



    Hope that is not the case and is just firmware/driver issue, otherwise my card is going back on Ebay, quick!



    **No "public" mention by AMD's Product Manager of anything wrong with 5800 except 40 nm production

    http://www.hardocp.com/article/2009/...refor_art_thou



    =====================



    relevant posts by circularreference @ hardforum

    #54 http://www.hardforum.com/showpost.ph...0&postcount=54

    #58 http://www.hardforum.com/showpost.ph...2&postcount=58



    seems to confirm it is AMD's problem....thanks circularreference
  • Reply 133 of 149
    Tests confirm Apple's 27" iMac supports the Radeon HD 5970 out of the box!!

    screenshot from iMac screen







    was tired of waiting for the solution for the 5870 series card (to date as far as is known still does not work with iMac 27) upgraded to the 5970 and whoooaaa!!! out of the box without even installing ati drivers (windows installed generic) the iMac took off into targetdisplay mode....afterward installed drivers that came with the PowerColor card and played a little MW2 all maxed on the iMac @ 2560 x 1440 - 100 FPS + on little I played and picture is beauuuuutifull



    so there is hope for gaming pcs to use the iMac 27" as an external monitor!!! now if you can just find the 5970's.....think they sold out everywhere within an hour or so upon release.



    signed

    happy camper
  • Reply 134 of 149
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by deja_vu View Post


    Tests confirm Apple's 27" iMac supports the Radeon HD 5970 out of the box!!



    What cable are you using to connect the 5970 to the iMac?



    Also, I assume the card outputs to the iMac from the moment you power the PC on (i.e. you can see your BIOS startup screen on the iMac)?
  • Reply 135 of 149
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by circularreference View Post


    What cable are you using to connect the 5970 to the iMac?



    Also, I assume the card outputs to the iMac from the moment you power the PC on (i.e. you can see your BIOS startup screen on the iMac)?



    had the BYTECC Mini DisplayPort Male to DisplayPort Male when tried the 5870 and in the box along with the PowerColor card there came a short DP female to Mini DisplayPort Male adapter.....still have an adapter from monoprice coming that ordered before knew that one would be packaged with the 5970



    there has been no display at all of the iMac bios screen....when connected to the 5970 mDP,

    starting the PC from sleep with the iMac in sleep the video card doesnt like it and sorta wigs out and the card fan speed accelerates for a moment with neither the imac or other display displaying anything...have to reboot to have it work right again...there must be a proper exit procedure in CCC when using the iMac as a display and leaving machines in sleep, booting the PC from a powered down condition there seems to be no such problem and again no iMac bios, just a flicker and then up and running with cmd+F2 also working normally
  • Reply 136 of 149
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by deja_vu View Post


    Tests confirm Apple's 27" iMac supports the Radeon HD 5970 out of the box!!

    screenshot from iMac screen







    was tired of waiting for the solution for the 5870 series card (to date as far as is known still does not work with iMac 27) upgraded to the 5970 and whoooaaa!!! out of the box without even installing ati drivers (windows installed generic) the iMac took off into targetdisplay mode....afterward installed drivers that came with the PowerColor card and played a little MW2 all maxed on the iMac @ 2560 x 1440 - 100 FPS + on little I played and picture is beauuuuutifull



    so there is hope for gaming pcs to use the iMac 27" as an external monitor!!! now if you can just find the 5970's.....think they sold out everywhere within an hour or so upon release.



    signed

    happy camper



    Isn't the 5970 a desktop GPU? You can just stick it in the iMac? And it works with OSX and Windows?



    That's like, awesome. I thought the GPU on the iMac wasn't user-replaceable? Is it very difficult?



    Sorry to seem annoying, but I never opened up an iMac. Any chance you could post a step-by-step guide with pictures or video? I'm sure many people would appreciate that!
  • Reply 137 of 149
    solipsismsolipsism Posts: 25,726member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by DaSal View Post


    Isn't the 5970 a desktop GPU? You can just stick it in the iMac? And it works with OSX and Windows?



    That's like, awesome. I thought the GPU on the iMac wasn't user-replaceable? Is it very difficult?



    Sorry to seem annoying, but I never opened up an iMac. Any chance you could post a step-by-step guide with pictures or video? I'm sure many people would appreciate that!



    That is using the display input on the 27" iMac. Other card from ATI with DP have driver issues which make it not work. I think it's the 4xxx series. This is important because initial testing made it sem like it was Apple being stupid not allowing non-Apple devices to connect.
  • Reply 138 of 149
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by deja_vu View Post


    Tests confirm Apple's 27" iMac supports the Radeon HD 5970 out of the box!!

    screenshot from iMac screen







    was tired of waiting for the solution for the 5870 series card (to date as far as is known still does not work with iMac 27) upgraded to the 5970 and whoooaaa!!! out of the box without even installing ati drivers (windows installed generic) the iMac took off into targetdisplay mode....afterward installed drivers that came with the PowerColor card and played a little MW2 all maxed on the iMac @ 2560 x 1440 - 100 FPS + on little I played and picture is beauuuuutifull



    so there is hope for gaming pcs to use the iMac 27" as an external monitor!!! now if you can just find the 5970's.....think they sold out everywhere within an hour or so upon release.



    signed

    happy camper



    Did you have more than one monitor plugged into your card (or another card in your machine hooked up to another monitor) when you use the iMac with your 5970?
  • Reply 139 of 149
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by David Steuber View Post


    Are there any solutions for bringing in HDMI via Firewire 800 or USB 2.0?



    That'd be like routing a firehose through a straw. FireWire 800 is designed for hard drives and standard peripherals, while display adapters have to carry uncompressed full-resolution video. (USB 2.0, meanwhile, is less than half as fast as FW800 for continuously streaming content.)



    FW800 carries 800 megabits per second (more than enough for hard drives, audio interfaces, and compressed HD video like what you get from most camcorders), while HDMI's maximum bandwidth is 4.9 gigabits per second -- which it needs to carry HD resolutions as high frame rates with enough space left for 8 tracks of HD audio.



    Uncompressed 8-bit 1080i video, without audio, has a bit rate of 1.5 gigabits per second. (1080p/24 is 1.2 gigabits, 720p/60 is 1.3 gigabits, and 1080p/60 is a whopping 3.0 gigabits per second.) So the smallest of these standards is still 1.5 times the theoretical bandwidth of FireWire 800.



    FireWire is awesome. But if it were usable as a display standard, Apple would have switched to it long ago.
  • Reply 140 of 149
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by macatihopeful View Post


    Did you have more than one monitor plugged into your card (or another card in your machine hooked up to another monitor) when you use the iMac with your 5970?



    Have 2 monitors hooked up to the one 5970 card besides the iMac 27...below are some configs that are used





    using cmd+F2 makes shifting back and forth between the pc and snow easy...CCC senses the change and migrates what was on iMac display from the PC to other displays when that command is given
Sign In or Register to comment.