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Hello everyone, I'm wrestling over the idea of buying an Apple 30 inch Cinema Display monitor.

Is it worth it? I'm worried that all my videos will end up looking stretched out at the maximum resolution!

Will I have to watch movies in small squares on the screen (shudder).

I'm also VERY worried that since the model was first put out in 2004, there's some awesome new (better) model coming out soon! Which I won't be able to buy because I'll already have bought the old model.

I've heard that the quality suffers as a result of the size. But I don't know enough. I've wrestled back and forth on this issue, can anyone advise me?

Also I've got an Nvidia GeForce 7600 GS video card, is it compatible and can I watch at full resolution?

Thank you for any help or advice.:sad:

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Short answer: the 30" Cinema Display is a gorgeous panel, but it only pays off if your PC can drive it at its native 2560×1600. That monitor requires a dual‑link DVI connection to reach full resolution — without dual‑link you’ll be stuck at much lower modes (1280×800 or similar). (Apple spec).

Why you see 1280×800: three common causes are (a) the GPU’s DVI output is single‑link, (b) the cable/adapter in use isn’t a true dual‑link DVI connection, or (c) Windows is using a generic monitor driver so the card never exposes the high mode. Many GeForce 7600 GS boards can support 2560×1600 only if the vendor wired a dual‑link DVI port — some boards do, some don’t — so you have to check the exact card spec from the manufacturer. (7600 GS spec example; Apple/B&H listing noting dual‑link requirement: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/538701-REG/Apple_30_Cinema_HD_Display.html).

Practical steps to try now (in this order):

  1. Confirm the exact card model on the sticker/box and read the vendor spec for “dual‑link DVI” support.
  2. Install the latest NVIDIA drivers and let the monitor be detected (avoid Generic PnP). Microsoft forum threads show driver/EDID issues can limit available modes.
  3. Use the card’s confirmed dual‑link DVI port and a true dual‑link cable (Apple’s original cable is dual‑link).
  4. If the card lacks dual‑link, the only real fixes are a GPU with confirmed dual‑link outputs (professional cards like Quadro FX 4500 are known to work) or an active adapter solution. (Quadro FX 4500 spec).

Note: movies won’t be “stretched” by default — 2560×1600 is 16:10 and most players keep source aspect ratio. As discovered, 1280×800 is a strong sign of single‑link/driver limits; as ’s post shows, higher‑end cards can drive the panel fine. Verify dual‑link support before buying.

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Member Avatar for cronus88

I'd like to post an update and a question.

I've got a Dell Dimension 9100 Intel Pentium 4, with a 3.2 GH processor and 3 GB of Ram. I've got an Nvidia GeForce 7600 GS video card.

But whenever I hooked up this computer to the Apple 30inch display I could not get my resolution above 1280x800

When i hooked the computer up to the 23inch Cinema Display i had no problem maximizing the resolution to 1920x.

THe problem is only on the 30inch. I heard that the Nvidia GeForce 7600GS has one single and one dual DVI slot, and only the dual will allow a full 2560x resolution on the 30 Inch display.

But switching the display plug from one slot to the other didn't help the matter, I still cannot raise the resolution past 1280x800

Can anyone please help? is it just impossible to get max resolution on a 30inch Apple Cinema display if you're not running an Apple pc?

Member Avatar for 'Stein

Moved to better location. ;)

Member Avatar for Dani

I am using the Apple 30" HD Cinema Display right now on my Dell workstation. I have the Nvidia Quadro FX 4500 video card. (Brand new computer, for those of you following my Alienware/Dell woes). My previous computer had a Geforce FX 5900 SE video card which couldn't even get this monitor to display anything. Therefore, I was using this monitor with my G5 mac until I was able to get this new Dell which is capable of running it.

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