Apple Cinema Display (30-inch DVI) might show 1280 x 800 as maximum resolution
When you connect an Apple Cinema Display (30-inch DVI) to your computer, you may find that the highest available resolution is 1280 x 800 even though the optimum resolution for the display is 2560 x 1600. This can happen if the display has a single-link DVI connection instead of a dual-link DVI connection.
Connect the display to a dual-link DVI port to access the higher resolutions available to the display. The following product combinations should give you the best resolution.
Computer | Video card | Best port or adapter for optimum resolution |
|---|---|---|
Mac Pro (Late 2013) | Dual AMD FirePro D300 Dual AMD FirePro D500 Dual AMD FirePro D700 | Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI adapter |
Mac Pro (Mid 2012 and older) Power Mac G5 (all models) | NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 ATI Radeon HD 4870 ATI Radeon HD 5770 ATI Radeon HD 5870 | 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 MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) and later MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009) and later MacBook Air (Late 2008) and later MacBook (13-inch, Aluminum, Late 2008) MacBook (13-inch, Late 2009) and later | Equipped with a Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt port | Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI adapter |
iMac (Early 2009) and later Mac mini (Early 2009) and later | Equipped with a Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt port | Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI adapter |
Notes:
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 you use a Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter you must use a dual-link compatible adapter.
Learn more
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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