Port Replicator with DVI that does 1920x1200??

[Larswa]

I am looking at getting a X61s, but I would REALLY miss having DVI out as I need to plug it into my DVI KVM switch.

So I am looking for a 3rd party port replicator that has DVI out andsupports the resolution of my Dell 2407 screen.

Anyone seen such a replicator? I posted here because this might be of interest to other X6 users.

/Lars

[tomh009]

A third-party replicator would need to convert analog (VGA) to digital (DVI) -- surely this would be no better than doing it inside the monitor itself.

Is the 2407FPW display quality very bad with VGA? My old 2001FP (at 1600x1200) is still very good with VGA, but Dell switches monitor internals at the drop of a hat, so the 2407FPW may not have the same kind of circuitry inside.

Alternately you could look at a CardBus-based video card that could support DVI, but I don't think that's a very tidy solution, either.

Personally, I expect to continue to run VGA on my 2001FP, but with an X61/X61s in the near future.

[Larswa]

Hi, thanks for your reply.

I was thinking if there might be a replicator that had expresscard capabilities, like the Targus Expresscard docking station. That might give some decent DVI output?

I am sure that the VGA looks ok, and good enough for my purpose, but it is also a convenience thing. I have a 4 port DVI KVM switch, and would like the X60s to plug into that switch.

So if one such PR exists ... I am first in line, as it would integrate an X61s better into my existing setup.

[tomh009]

Not a replicator, but a CardBus video card might do it (X61 has CardBus rather than ExpressCard). VTBook is one option:
http://www.villagetronic.com/vtbook/index.html

Margi's Display-to-Go card is now discontinued but can be found on eBay (there is one listed right now for $40!):
http://www.margi.com/products/prod_dtg.htm

If convenience is the main criterion, you could also look at a DVI-I conversion cable (the DVI connector carries analog signals on it as well) as this might well work with your monitor. One example here:
http://www.cablestogo.com/product.asp?c ... &sku=26955

[Larswa]

Hey ... thanks. Good suggestions. And thanks for clearing up the express/cardbus misunderstanding.

I have already ordered a DVI conversion cable to test out the 3rd suggested solution, to check if it works.

Will post my findings here, later.

[vkyr]

Additionally there will soon also be little hot pluggable USB-to-DVI-I graphic cards available, which support resolutions till 1600 × 1200 (4:3) or1680 × 1050 (16:10) pixels. One taiwan company called Sunix actually shows such a device at the Computex, see an image here:

http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/90616

As an GPU the DisplayLink DL-160 is used on that device, which isn't really cappable for 3D-applications, but handles office and internet data quite well.

Another taiwan Company called Magic Control Technology (MCT) has a similar USB-to-VGA adapter (but not DVI so far) which can show up resolutions until 1920 x 1200 pixels. See for a little image:

http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/87031