Apple Cinema Display (30-inch DVI) has 1280 x 800 as the maximum available resolution
Summary
When you connect an Apple Cinema Display (30-inch DVI) to one of the products noted below, you may find that the highest available resolution is 1280 x 800, even though the optimum resolution for the display is 2560 x 1600. The maximum resolution available when this display is connected to a single-link DVI port is 1280 x 800; you must connect the display to a dual-link DVI port to access the higher resolutions available to the display.
Products Affected
Graphic Cards, Mac Pro, Mac Pro (Early 2008), Mac Pro (Early 2009), Mac Pro (Mid 2010), Mac Pro (Mid 2012), Mac mini (Early 2009), Mac mini (Late 2009), Mac mini (Late 2012), Mac mini (Mid 2010), MacBook (13-inch, Aluminum, Late 2008), MacBook (13-inch, Early 2009), MacBook (13-inch, Late 2009), MacBook (13-inch, Mid 2009), MacBook (13-inch, Mid 2010), MacBook Air (Late 2008), MacBook Air (Late 2010), MacBook Air (Mid 2009), MacBook Air (Mid 2011), MacBook Air (Mid 2012), MacBook Pro (13-inch, Early 2011), MacBook Pro (13-inch, Late 2011), MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2009), MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2010), MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2.53GHz, Mid 2009), MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011), MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008), MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2011), MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009), MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010), MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009), MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2011), MacBook Pro (17-inch, Late 2011), MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2009), MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2010), MacBook Pro (Mid 2012), Power Mac G5, Power Mac G5 (Early 2005), Power Mac G5 (June 2004), Power Mac G5 (Late 2004), Power Mac G5 (Late 2005), iMac (20-inch, Mid 2009), iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009), iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2011), iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2010), iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2011), iMac (24-inch, Early 2009), iMac (27-inch, Late 2009), iMac (27-inch, Mid 2010), iMac (27-inch, Mid 2011)
If this occurs, make sure that you are using a compatible video card or built-in port that provides dual-link support. Compatible video cards must include a dual-link DVI port. When using a Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter, you must use a dual-link compatible adapter. Refer to the table below for compatibility information.
The following product combinations should yield optimum resolution:
| If you're using this computer... | With this video card... | Use this port or adapter for optimum resolution. | |
| Mac Pro (all models) Power Mac G5 (all models) |
NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 |
DVI port or Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI adapter | |
| ATI Radeon X1900 XT NVIDIA Quadro FX4500 ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT NVIDIA Quadro FX5600 |
Either of the two DVI ports | ||
| ATI Radeon 9650 | DVI port 2 only | ||
| NVIDIA GeForce 6600 LE NVIDIA GeForce 6600 NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT |
DVI port 1 only | ||
| ATI Radeon X850 XT NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra DDL NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT DDL |
DVI port | ||
|
MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2009) and later |
Equipped with a Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt port |
Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI adapter | |
|
iMac (Early 2009) and later |
|
Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI adapter |
Additional Information
Older products not listed in this article may not provide a dual-link DVI connection and may not be able to support the Apple Cinema Display (30-inch DVI) at its native resolution (2560 x 1600). Such products will be limited to the maximum resolution available with a single-link DVI connection for this product, which is 1280 x 800 (half of the 2560 x 1600 native resolution). Displays that are not manufactured by Apple that require a dual-link DVI connection will similarly be limited to half the maximum resolution when used with a single-link DVI connection.
For more information on the Apple Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI adapter, see About the Apple Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI adapter.
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