Does the Dell 2405FPW support or need Dual Link DVI?

Question

I recently purchased a Dell 2405FPW and I am wondering if it supports or needs Dual Link DVI.  The maximum specification for single link DVI is 1920 X 1080 at 60hz, but the resolution on the 2405FPW is 1920 X 1200 at 60hz.  The monitor comes with a Single Link cable, but it would seem like that's not sufficient.   Few cards support dual link, so before I go out and purchase a 7800 GTX does anyone know if the monitor actually supports or even needs it?   I've been getting some tearing issues while playing World of Warcraft even with vertical sync on with my 9800 pro and 3200+.  Frame rates are around 40 while this happens.

Seven7Thirty30 · Answer

I have an Nvidia 6800GT connected to my 2405 via an Acoustic Research DVI-Dual Link cable. I don't have any problems like the ones you're describing.

leosoft · Answer

I have the same question my friend. I would like an official answer from Dell for that. This monitor seems to have a DVI-D Single Link connector, but it supports 1920x1200@60Hz that is normaly covered by a Dual Link signal...

Personaly I have a similar problem with a 3DLabs Wildcat III 6110 card. When I connect the monitor with analog cable it works, but when I set my card's resolution at 1920x1200@60Hz (Vesa), the monitor understands it as 1600x1200@60Hz !!!! Strange????

Now, when I connect my monitor through DVI signal, I cannot go in any resolution beyond 640x480 because Im getting black screen! Probably because 3Dlabs needs a Dual link connection on native DVI??? Who knows..........

Finally, does somebody from Dell can give to us an official answer????

Rescue · Answer

I am also interested in finding out the real story.  I have already purchased a nice Belkin DVI dual link cable because it seems some of the problems associated with the 2405 are a direct result of the low quality (single link) cable that comes with it.  I will do some testing with my 7800GTX's with Dell's original cable and my upgraded cable.  I think Dell should recall the single link cables and provide dual link cables to cover their behinds in case someone decides to make a big deal about this. Message Edited by Rescue on 11-06-2005 07:25 PM

SteveEast · Answer

According to:

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

1920x1200@60Hz is a single link signal.

* Example display modes (single link):
o HDTV (1920 × 1080) @ 60 Hz with 5% LCD blanking (131 MHz)
o 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz (154 Mhz)
o UXGA (1600 × 1200) @ 60 Hz with GTF blanking (161 MHz)
o SXGA (1280 × 1024) @ 85 Hz with GTF blanking (159 MHz)
* Example display modes (dual link):
o QXGA (2048 × 1536) @ 75 Hz with GTF blanking (2×170 MHz)
o HDTV (1920 × 1080) @ 85 Hz with GTF blanking (2×126 MHz)
o 2560 × 1600 pixels (on 30-in. LCD)

The manual for the 2405FPW certainly seems to say that the dual-link pins on the DVI connector aren't used. And it agrees with the 154MHz bandwidth requirement above for 1920x1200@60Hz - which is inside the 165MHz cut-over to Dual Link. Perhaps the Dual Link cables are just better quality than the Single Link supplied by Dell?

Steve.

Andytfb · Answer

?? i'm interested in the answwer to this question as well.....

Just received my new 2405FPW :) and connected it up tom my home built machine with nVidia 6800 GT with two DVI outputs.

Using the supplied VGA cable (and a DVI-VGA adaptor that came with the card, the monitor is fine, runa at 1920x1200@60Hz and the images is bright and stable. tried playing call of duty 2 and looks very good.

Tried to hook it up via the supplied DVI cable, and didn't get any signal! Just a blank screen followed by the self test message. I then tried the Belkin DVI Pure AV one I had (DVI D Dual) and still nothing!!

Wondering weather I've got a faulty DVI input on the monitor?? 2 faulty Cables ?????? or there is some issue with the cables @ resolution combination???

Would like to get the DVI working (so I can use the expensive cable I bought especially for it), but VGA is already good.

Any thoughts?????

chulett · Answer

Silly question, but sorry have to ask to get it off the table... when you switched the cables, did you also switch the Input on the monitor from 1: D-SUB to 2: DVI-D?

If so and it's still blank then it does sound like there may be an issue with the DVI input on your monitor. I ran mine for a period of time just fine on a 6800GT with both the supplied cable and then a Belkin dual link cable before I upgraded my machine.

Andytfb · Answer

Yes, toggled the input selector several time to check it, always behaves as if it's gone to sleep (light goes amber after 5secs or so. I've heard that some monitors (including some Dells) have had an issue with the DVI going into power saving mode and not coming out again. The solution for them was apparently a DVI reset utility but not sure where to go to get this or if it's even needed?

GR.Peace · Answer

I think this is definitely an issue that needs to be adressed better/officially by DELL. On www.widescreengamingforum.com there is a similar topic, but it's also somewhat inconclusive (as this thread is). Has anyone come up with the answer here, i.e...

...Will a Dual-link DVI-D cable give a more stable/better image when running the 1920 x 1200 res? The info (see previous posts or below) clearly suggests so may be the case

Good site that describes the digital video interface (DVI):

http://www.datapro.net/techinfo/dvi_info.html

"DVI single link 60-Hz LCD can display a resolution of 1920 x 1080, while a DVI dual link can display a resolution of 2048 x 1536."

Monitors

Does the Dell 2405FPW support or need Dual Link DVI?

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