T42 w/Port Replicator. Can I drive dual DVI 22" LCDs?

[simms]

T42 with Radeon 9600, 64MB in Vista.
Looking at buying a pair of these and running at 1680x1050:
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/prod ... u=320-5205
Something tells me I can only run them at my max resolution though, SXGA+ (1400x1050) - is this correct?

I found out that I can drive two LCDs using one as DVI and one as VGA, but can I have a splitter that will give me both DVI? Will the quality be degraded?

Or do I need DVI dual link to drive two DVI monitors? If that's the case then it's just a matter of checking the back of the port replicator to see if it is single or dual...

[Initial D]

The LCDs will be able to run at native resolution 1680x1050. I run the same resolution on my 20.1" wide screen through a port replicator (DVI).

I'm not too sure about the splitter question.

But, if I wanted to use dual DVI, I'd go with the Dock II with a dual DVI card inside it (more $$$).

[simms]

I'm guessing in order to run your resolution 1680x1050, you used the Omega drivers?

I checked the back of the port replicator and it is DVI dual link. So just to reiterate - can I use a DVI splitter to drive two LCDs in DVI with one DVI-D port?

[zacha81]

you will be able to run at native res. omega drivers are not needed afair. even my t40p was able to run 1920x1200 at my Dell 2405. with a dvi splitter you will have the same image on both monitors. if this is what you want you may use one.

[simms]

The LCDs will be able to run at native resolution 1680x1050. I run the same resolution on my 20.1" wide screen through a port replicator (DVI).

If what you're saying is true, how it this possible:
http://ati.amd.com/products/MobilityRad ... tures.html
"165 MHz integrated TMDS transmitter, for support of DVI Digital Flat Panels at up to UXGA resolution (1600x1200)"

Moreso, your X300 in your sig is the same:
http://ati.amd.com/products/mobilityrad ... specs.html
165 MHz integrated TMDS transmitter, for support of DVI Digital Flat Panels at up to UXGA resolution (1600x1200)

The Dell 22" widescreen is 1680x1050,
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/prod ... u=320-5205

Meaning that it cannot support the 22" monitor. Am I correct?

[darkwish]

That Dell 22" is 1680x1050, which should be supported.

[zacha81]

WUXGA over a single link dvi uses "reduced blanking". IT WORKS. 1680x1200, even if i don't believe there is any monitor on the market supporting this resolution, should work too. if you don't believe me take a look at the pictures area. there you can find my dell 2405, which is WUXGA connected to a t43p dvi port. BUT this worked before AS WELL with a T43 and a T40p.

[simms]

WUXGA over a single link dvi uses "reduced blanking". IT WORKS. 1680x1200, even if i don't believe there is any monitor on the market supporting this resolution, should work too. if you don't believe me take a look at the pictures area. there you can find my dell 2405, which is WUXGA connected to a t43p dvi port. BUT this worked before AS WELL with a T43 and a T40p.

Thanks for the correction - I had made a typo and it is 1680x1050. If that is the case, what is the biggest resolution the T42 can handle with dual LCDs?

If it can take the 2405 which is 1920x1200, can it handle two? There must be some limit to the capability of the resolution output of a (dated) graphics card.

[zacha81]

as it has only one dvi port it can't handle two. of course it can handle a second one via the vga port or via a secondary graphics adapter in the dockingstation. with any 165mhz transmitter you'll be able to drive a wuxga tft with reduced blanking.

[simms]

as it has only one dvi port it can't handle two. of course it can handle a second one via the vga port or via a secondary graphics adapter in the dockingstation. with any 165mhz transmitter you'll be able to drive a wuxga tft with reduced blanking.

Thanks. So the DVI port can support a maximum of 1920x1200 (WUXGA). I want to know the maximum resolution a T42 can support using the VGA and DVI ports. We have determined that the T42 DVI can take WUXGA, what about the VGA port?

[zacha81]

i think QXGA will work (2048x1536) BUT... you don't want this! even at wuxga the picture is very smooth with shadows on it (even if you have a very good vga cable) basically the vga resolution is only restricted by the ramdac speed of the graphics adapter and this is (afair) 400MHz so a pixel clock of 400MHz will be supported. for QXGA 60hz you would need ~ 190 MHz. for running a good wuxga crt at 100Hz you would need ~ 230 Mhz. But as we all now there is a physical limit in transmission speed over the vga cable and running wuxga 60 hz is something i wouldn't recommend anymore especially if you have connected a Flat Panel via DVI as primary display, the difference will be very noticable. I recommend a maximum of UXGA over the VGA port. A fried of mine is running a L200p at the vga port of his X31 and it looks okay. For me I would never step back to VGA anymore. Better grab a dock II and put a pci graphics adapter in and connect a second display via dvi if you chose something like a FIreMV 2200 or 2400 you will be able to connect even more than two monitors via dvi.