X31 using dvi

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boon · #1 Post by **boon** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 1:16 am

Hi,
I am wondering if the X31 videocard can support dvi using the mini-dock?

I am planning to get either the mini dock or the thinkpad dock I/II so I can connect the laptop to the TV using DVI/HDMI. I have heard the DVI is only compatible on some selected models with a better video card but I wonder if the x31 can? I just wouldn't like the fact I have to get the thinkpad dock which is bit too big and all I needed was a DVI port.

Thanks

rek · #2 Post by **rek** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 6:34 am

Nope, the internal graphics adapter will not support any DVI output from a port replicator or mini-dock. The only solution would be to buy a full-size dock and use a PCI graphics card which has a DVI-out port.

I must say though that my old X31's analog VGA output was excellent, even when the monitor was connected via a port replicator (running at 1680x1050 on a Dell 2007WFP flat panel). Before I tried it, I was worried it would look like crap, but it came out very nicely indeed. I couldn't detect any ghosting on the display at all, except for some very subtle ghosts when viewing white text on a medium-gray background (and even then, you could only see it when looking for it.)

You should have no trouble at all running the analog VGA at e.g. a 1280x720 (720p) resolution on an HDTV. I'm not sure what TV you'll be running but mine (a ~3 year old Samsung DLP) has both digital HDMI and analog VGA input ports at the back.

DVI also has an analog pass-through in its bundle of pins, which your TV may also support receiving a signal from.

boon · #3 Post by **boon** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 11:32 am

sadly, the panasonic plasma EDTV 42" that I have does not have vga ports. I don't really need it to be HDTV or any great quality, but just to connect it to the tv.

should I get a thinkpad dock I or II? difference between them as the II one only support half size pci and a 2.0 usb..

#4 Post by **tomh009** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 12:01 pm

Which Panasonic model do you have? My older TH-42PA20 has VGA inputs ...

boon · #5 Post by **boon** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 12:10 pm

mine is TH-42PD50U it does have all ports except VGA ports

was about 2 yrs old

#6 Post by **tomh009** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 2:31 pm

OK, that's not good. I think they must have eliminated VGA and the front-panel ports to cut costs when they went from the TH42PA20 to the TH42-PD50U.

The only solutions I can think of are either the full dock with a video card, or a CardBus-based video card like the VTBook (about $250). One caveat is that the manual says that the HDMI input "is not intended for use with computers." Why they say that, I don't know ...

boon · #7 Post by **boon** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 3:45 pm

i checked some other recent plasma brand/models and they don't have vga port as well.

I am thinking of getting the full dock as well and is only way, and lucky digging out the old stuff, found an ati 9200 pci car. By checking some posts on full dock, there seem to have lots video card issues so I hope that it would work.

One caveat is that the manual says that the HDMI input "is not intended for use with computers." Why they say that, I don't know ...

is it the TV manual? I did set up my desktop pc and it does connect to the hdmi well, picture quality is great, but letters are hard to read from afar...

X31 using dvi

X31 using dvi

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