[cortexbomb]

It may be a bit early, but does anyone know if the new 20" display can be used with Windows? I believe this is the first standalone display Apple has released with a non-standard resolution (1680x1050), and I am wondering if PC nVidia or ATI drivers can handle/detect it -- it's the same 8:5 aspect ratio as the Cinema HD.

[AssassyN]

Yeppers, this was actually covered in a topic here now too long ago...can't seem to find it, but I beleive www.drbott.com sells the adapters to connect the Apple displays to a PC...if you're willing to spend $300. Yeah, I'm serious.

[iDORK]

What about the DVI-to-ADC adaptor from Apple for $99 ?

[AssassyN]

Don't take this as definite truth, but I'm almost positive, for some reason, that it'll only work with Apple devices because I've heard that somewhere before maybe? Doesn't really make sense though, since DVI is a standard output on Apple's and PC's...dang man, dunno...maybe someone else more knowledgeable can chime in.

[iDORK]

Originally posted by AssassyN:
Don't take this as definite truth, but I'm almost positive, for some reason, that it'll only work with Apple devices because I've heard that somewhere before maybe? Doesn't really make sense though, since DVI is a standard output on Apple's and PC's...dang man, dunno...maybe someone else more knowledgeable can chime in.

Yeah, I know what you mean. It's just a matter whether Windows XP or the videocard drivers will detect the display. I'd love to run the Apple 20" with my desktop PC and Powerbook 1Ghz.

Can anyone confirm?

Thanks

[cortexbomb]

You can use the other current Apple displays (15", 17", 23") with Windows, as long as you can make the physical connection (using Apple's or Dr. Bott's DVI Adapter, and optionally a DVI-VGA cable for a real Frankenstein setup). So the question is really about whether or not this new rez would be a problem for Windows boards/drivers.

Until I know this, I'll have to resist the urge.. the suspense is killing me!

[iDORK]

Originally posted by cortexbomb:
You can use the other current Apple displays (15", 17", 23") with Windows, as long as you can make the physical connection (using Apple's or Dr. Bott's DVI Adapter, and optionally a DVI-VGA cable for a real Frankenstein setup). So the question is really about whether or not this new rez would be a problem for Windows boards/drivers.

Until I know this, I'll have to resist the urge.. the suspense is killing me!

Yeah, it's going to depend on the NVIDIA and ATI drivers. I have a Radeon 9700 Pro and it's listed as one of it's requirements on Apple's specification. I'm going to the Apple store to find out more info on this. I'll let you guys know!

[cortexbomb]

I assume they are referring to the Mac 9700, but let us know, thanks!

[dnoguero]

I have the 20" Cinema working with Windows XP right now. I wasn't able to get Windows using 1680x1050, so I'm using 1600x1024. I can tell the display is scaling down, but it looks pretty good! I'm using a GeForce4 Ti card that has a DVI connector and the $99 Apple DVI-ADC converter. For what it's worth, it displayed the POST screen during bootup fine (although it looked very pixelated).

I did ask the salesperson at the Apple store if it would work on a PC before I bought it, and he told me yes as long as I had a video card that had DVI out and used the Apple (or other third-party) ADC-DVI converter.

Hope this information helps.

->Dan

[iDORK]

Originally posted by dnoguero:
I have the 20" Cinema working with Windows XP right now. I wasn't able to get Windows using 1680x1050, so I'm using 1600x1024. I can tell the display is scaling down, but it looks pretty good! I'm using a GeForce4 Ti card that has a DVI connector and the $99 Apple DVI-ADC converter. For what it's worth, it displayed the POST screen during bootup fine (although it looked very pixelated).

I did ask the salesperson at the Apple store if it would work on a PC before I bought it, and he told me yes as long as I had a video card that had DVI out and used the Apple (or other third-party) ADC-DVI converter.

Hope this information helps.

->Dan

Thanks for letting us know! I haven't gotten a chance to visit the Apple store but you beat me to it. Looks like I'll buy the 20" for my desktop PC and for my Powerbook.

I hope the latest drivers from ATI and NVIDIA will have 1680x1050 available soon. Have you tried running 3D games with it?

[douthat]

Originally posted by dnoguero:
I wasn't able to get Windows using 1680x1050, so I'm using 1600x1024.

What resolution is your video card capable of outputing? I'd bet ca$h that the 20" can work on full resolution if you have a video card cable of outputing 1920 x 1080 or above..

[escher]

FWIW, there's a memeber named TrunksGoku on Spymac who has posted pictures of his Shuttle XPC hooked up to the 20" ACD via the Apple DVI-to-ADC adapter. According to his posts, he is using a GeForce 4 card (I don't know which model), which I understand recognized the 20" ACD's resolution. He's also hacked Windows XP to look almost like Mac OS X. Have a look at TrunkGoku's gallery for pictures and more details.



If you're forced to run Windows, this looks like a fantastic combination to me. Add to that a Dr. Bott DVI KVM sitch and you can share the 20" ACD between a Wintel box and a PowerMac. Since my wife has been clamoring for a Wintel box I'm actually considering a similar setup.

Escher

[MaxPower2k3]

there is a program called powerstrip that allows you to set non-standard resolutions. ive used it, and it works well.

http://www.entechtaiwan.com/ps.htm

[cortexbomb]

Originally posted by dnoguero:
I have the 20" Cinema working with Windows XP right now. I wasn't able to get Windows using 1680x1050, so I'm using 1600x1024.

Even though the monitor is an excellent deal, I wouldn't want to pay that much if i cannot run the monitor in its native resolution, and esp. if it only runs in a different aspect ratio (i.e. distortion).

I'd love to hear more success stories with Windows like TrunkGoku's.

[dnoguero]

Originally posted by iDORK:
Thanks for letting us know! I haven't gotten a chance to visit the Apple store but you beat me to it. Looks like I'll buy the 20" for my desktop PC and for my Powerbook.

I hope the latest drivers from ATI and NVIDIA will have 1680x1050 available soon. Have you tried running 3D games with it?

I haven't really tried in earnest to up the Windows resolution -- I'm sure it can be done. My video card only has 64mb, so that may be a factor as well. I ran Neverwinter Nights briefly and it looked great. The XP desktop definitely doesn't look distorted or anything, but I can tell when looking at text closely that some scaling is occuring. The difference between the two resolutions is pretty small, but I will still make further attempts to get Windows working in 1680x1050. If anyone has any suggestions, let me know. I did try Powerstrip but didn't have much luck with it... it was still showing that my video cards max resolution was 1600x1024.

->Dan

[escher]

Originally posted by MaxPower2k3:
there is a program called powerstrip that allows you to set non-standard resolutions. ive used it, and it works well. http://www.entechtaiwan.com/ps.htm

Great suggestion, MaxPower2k3. I got another reply from TrunkGoku and he used PowerStrip to create profiles for the 20" ACD's unusual wide-screen resolutions. He is thus able to drive the ACD at all the (wide-screen) resolutions recommended by Apple. BTW: He's running a GeForce 4 Ti4600, but thinks any of the recent vid cards listed on Apple's support page should work.

cortexbomb: Please let us know if you go through with this. If you want to do it, it certainly looks like it's easily possible. If I had the cash handy right now I would certainly try it as well.

Escher

[dnoguero]

Woohoo... got it working! I guess I just didn't know how to use PowerStrip properly. For reference, I have a Verto GeForce4 Ti 4200 card.

Here's what I did to get it working:

1. From the PowerStrip tray icon, I went into monitor information and selected "Write custom monitor driver" under Options. I put the max. resolution at 1680x1050 and the max. scan frequency at 64 horiz. and 61 vert. Then clicked the disk icon to save it to a .inf file.

2. Opened up Windows display settings and updated the "Plug-and-play" monitor driver that it used by default with the .inf that PowerStrip created.

3. Back in PowerStrip tray icon, I went into "Display Profiles...Configure". I clicked the "Advanced timing options..." button. In the new dialog, I clicked "Custom resolutions..." I selected the "User defined" radio button at the bottom. I made sure that 168x1050 was the new resolution (it seemed to default to that) and clicked the "Lock total geometry" checkbox. I then clicked the "Add new resolution" button.

4. PowerStrip informed me that the display adapter accepted the resolution and asked if I wanted to switch to it. I said yes and... ah... instant clarity.

This is just what I did to get it working, so YMMV. I hope this helps someone save some time

->Dan

[iDORK]

Originally posted by dnoguero:
Woohoo... got it working! I guess I just didn't know how to use PowerStrip properly. For reference, I have a Verto GeForce4 Ti 4200 card.

Here's what I did to get it working:

1. From the PowerStrip tray icon, I went into monitor information and selected "Write custom monitor driver" under Options. I put the max. resolution at 1680x1050 and the max. scan frequency at 64 horiz. and 61 vert. Then clicked the disk icon to save it to a .inf file.

2. Opened up Windows display settings and updated the "Plug-and-play" monitor driver that it used by default with the .inf that PowerStrip created.

3. Back in PowerStrip tray icon, I went into "Display Profiles...Configure". I clicked the "Advanced timing options..." button. In the new dialog, I clicked "Custom resolutions..." I selected the "User defined" radio button at the bottom. I made sure that 168x1050 was the new resolution (it seemed to default to that) and clicked the "Lock total geometry" checkbox. I then clicked the "Add new resolution" button.

4. PowerStrip informed me that the display adapter accepted the resolution and asked if I wanted to switch to it. I said yes and... ah... instant clarity.

This is just what I did to get it working, so YMMV. I hope this helps someone save some time

->Dan

Thank you! I'm going to order the 20" now!

[michaelb]

Originally posted by iDORK:
Thank you! I'm going to order the 20" now!

You took the words right out of my mouth!

[cortexbomb]

excellent work, dnoguero! how does it look with 3D games?

[escher]

Originally posted by dnoguero:
Woohoo... got it working!

dnoguero: Glad to hear you made it work. How are brightness and color? Can you adjust them? Since you are running a PowerMac and Wintel box side-by-side, how does color compare between the two?

Escher

[dnoguero]

The brightness and color are great... it doesn't seem like I can control brightness from the PC side though. When connected to the Mac, hitting the brightness button on the display caused the display system preference to come up. On the PC, it doesn't seem to do anything.

When I was using the display on the Mac, I was running it at about 50% brightness which is what I found to be comfortable. The PC is definitely running at a higher brightness, but it is still quite acceptable. The colors look great on the PC (well, as much as Luna CAN be great)

I don't have a PowerMac anymore as I returned the dual 1.25 tower w/ combo drive I bought with the display when I found out I couldn't fit my OEM Pioneer DVR-104 into it (the drive's front plate wouldn't clear the tower's optical drive opening). I have since ordered a dual 1.42 but will have to wait a month for it So, I can't compare side by side at the moment.

As I mentioned above, the only 3D game I played was few minutes of Neverwinter Nights, and I found the display looked just fine.

Now I'm just going to have to find a KVM switch to go back and forth between the two. It looks like most of them are quite expensive!

->Dan

[banal]

Originally posted by dnoguero:
Now I'm just going to have to find a KVM switch to go back and forth between the two. It looks like most of them are quite expensive!

->Dan [/B]

Anyone have any experience with any of these Compucable http://www.compucable.com/peripheral_sharing/embed.asp?stuff=se_adc_body.html? Looks pretty promising feature-wise, but damn expensive (200+ dollars!).

[todrain]

So is it worth the money to get the 20" for a PC? I'm dying to replace my 17" CRT, but i don't have an Apple that can use the 20" yet, but I can justify it as a PC replacement monitor. I think my GeForce III can run it at 1680x1050.

[henry604]

i have a problem with the post screen . i followed the instructions but i still cant get my 20 acd to show the post screen in windows