Apple 27" LED Cinema Display

[DefBringer]

I just purchased this monitor. Running on Win7 x64.

I have downloaded and installed Boot Camp 3.0, 3.1, and 3.2 updates. No matter what I do, I am not seeing a Brightness tab in my Boot Camp control panel. Looking in my Device Manager I see that I have two unknown usb devices. When I play sound, it will play through the monitor's speakers, but it cuts in and out. The camera does not work.

I'm guessing that somehow the monitor is not interfacing through USB properly which is why I am not getting brightness controls to show up? Does anyone have any ideas?


EDIT - I figured it out.

My keyboard (Das Keyboard) has an integrated USB hub. Sometimes it is fishy. Well, I unplugged my keyboard and plugged the ACD 27's USB cable back into my computer and a bunch more USB devices were successfully discovered and are now working. Now I see brightness controls. WOW this monitor looks so much more vivid pushed up past 50%.

I went to http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/ and used their tests and now everything is looking great.

 

[Yeslifer]

I buillt myself a new PC with the graphics card "XFX RADEON HD6870 1GB GDDR5 PCI-E DVI/HDMI/DP". The speakers worked fine on my ACD27, but not the iSight (Windows 7). I downloaded the program for brightness here and that worked great. However, after installing bootcampp 3 + 3.1 + 3.2, my speakers won't work anymore, and the iSight still doesn't work for me. Now I cannot even go back to working speakers when trying to uninstall bootcamp drivers.

Does anyone have a clue whats wrong here? Have I missed something?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[Liekomg]

Most people here don't recommend installing the bootcamp drivers if you aren't actually running on a bootcamped mac. The speakers don't need any drivers (they show up as a generic USB Audio Device). I was not able to get the iSight to work either under Windows XP, though others here say that its simple plug and play with Windows 7, so you might need input from others that have gotten the isight to work.

 

[Ashok0]

The iSight camera worked for me out of the box in Windows 7 x64. No drivers required. There is oddly enough an "Exclamation" mark next to iSight in my Device Manager, but if I open up Skype the camera does work.

 

[alxnet2003]

I buillt myself a new PC with the graphics card "XFX RADEON HD6870 1GB GDDR5 PCI-E DVI/HDMI/DP". The speakers worked fine on my ACD27, but not the iSight (Windows 7). I downloaded the program for brightness here and that worked great. However, after installing bootcampp 3 + 3.1 + 3.2, my speakers won't work anymore, and the iSight still doesn't work for me. Now I cannot even go back to working speakers when trying to uninstall bootcamp drivers.

Does anyone have a clue whats wrong here? Have I missed something?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Open up the sound panel within your control panel and make sure the Cinema display is set as the default sound device.

 

[Yeslifer]

Open up the sound panel within your control panel and make sure the Cinema display is set as the default sound device.

Yeah I pretty much tried everything

 

[Sky15]

Anyone with a GTX 580 have this monitor, I'm thinking of buying the GTX 580, and I know I'll need that adapter. Any pictures too?

 

[alxnet2003]

Anyone with a GTX 580 have this monitor, I'm thinking of buying the GTX 580, and I know I'll need that adapter. Any pictures too?

I've got my GTX 580 using this thing:

http://www.amazon.com/Mini-Displayp...?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1292403225&sr=1-27

Works like a champ. There's one downside though. This adapter will not display your bootscreen (e.g. BIOS or Windows loading screen). Once Windows is up and running, everything runs great.

In order to see the boot screen, you'll need a graphics card with native displayport. I used a Gigabyte 5770 for a brief while and that thing displayed everything, boot screen and all.

 

[Ashok0]

I've got my GTX 580 using this thing:

http://www.amazon.com/Mini-Displayp...?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1292403225&sr=1-27

Works like a champ. There's one downside though. This adapter will not display your bootscreen (e.g. BIOS or Windows loading screen). Once Windows is up and running, everything runs great.

In order to see the boot screen, you'll need a graphics card with native displayport. I used a Gigabyte 5770 for a brief while and that thing displayed everything, boot screen and all.

I don't know if this is a card specific issue, but I use the Atlona DP-400 with my nVidia GTX 260 and the BIOS and Windows loading screen display fine.

 

[Sky15]

I've got my GTX 580 using this thing:

http://www.amazon.com/Mini-Displayp...?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1292403225&sr=1-27

Works like a champ. There's one downside though. This adapter will not display your bootscreen (e.g. BIOS or Windows loading screen). Once Windows is up and running, everything runs great.

In order to see the boot screen, you'll need a graphics card with native displayport. I used a Gigabyte 5770 for a brief while and that thing displayed everything, boot screen and all.

What brand are you using?

 

[FMX]

Seriously consideringg this screen... Why does CNET say this is a good screen but there are better for the money? Isn't this display priced quite well competitively? I also see this thread highly praises the screen, well I have a MacBook pro and am highly pleased with the screen on it. I don't mind the gloss and actually prefer it to matte anyway.

 

[the_real_7]

Ok finally ordered the 6970s so i can use this screen , beside the software for brightness is there anything else i will need , from my understanding screen is plug and play with 6870s

 

[Ashok0]

Seriously consideringg this screen... Why does CNET say this is a good screen but there are better for the money? Isn't this display priced quite well competitively? I also see this thread highly praises the screen, well I have a MacBook pro and am highly pleased with the screen on it. I don't mind the gloss and actually prefer it to matte anyway.

Well, c|net and Anandtech both reviewed the Apple LED Cinema Display 27" from the perspective that it wasn't compatible with PCs. Technically, this was somewhat true as out of the box, brightness settings couldn't be adjusted without a real Mac. But now that folks have found that a few simple tricks make display fully PC functional, yes, I'd say it's a killer display for the money.

 

[Yeslifer]

I got it working on Win 7 just by changing USB port, suddenly the speakers, the camera and the mic started working.

Has anyone got it all to work in Windows XP Pro 32/64?

 

[alamone]

Not sure if this was addressed in the thread, but to anyone who already owns one: is the breakout cable detachable from the monitor or is it hardwired? If it is detachable, is it a proprietary connector or would you be able to plug in a mini-displayport cable directly in without the breakout cable? I'm considering swapping my 27" iMac for the cinema display but I'm not sure it will work because I'm using the Altona converter box for switching between MDP and HDMI and it's rather sensitive to long cord runs (too long and you get flickering or snow). Thanks in advance.

 

[Ashok0]

Not sure if this was addressed in the thread, but to anyone who already owns one: is the breakout cable detachable from the monitor or is it hardwired? If it is detachable, is it a proprietary connector or would you be able to plug in a mini-displayport cable directly in without the breakout cable? I'm considering swapping my 27" iMac for the cinema display but I'm not sure it will work because I'm using the Altona converter box for switching between MDP and HDMI and it's rather sensitive to long cord runs (too long and you get flickering or snow). Thanks in advance.

The cables are hardwired to the ACD27". The miniDisplayPort cable is a little on the short side so I picked up the Dr. Bott Mini DisplayPort Monitor Extension Cable (6.6 ft./2 m). I use this with the Atlona DP-400 converter box and have had no resulting video issues.

 

[Sky15]

So I placed my order for one, will get it tomorrow. Also how do you adjust the brightness, is it on the monitor it's self? Or through the control panel. I'll be using the altona adapter.

 

[Liekomg]

Through the control panel application, which can be found at the above link.

 

[thelead]

without reading this whole thread, are there any cheap (i.e. ~$100) video card options to get this running in win7?

 

[Ashok0]

without reading this whole thread, are there any cheap (i.e. ~$100) video card options to get this running in win7?

Hi lead,

The best bang for the buck is probably the GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 768MB. It's got DisplayPort and works with the ACD27", and it's $124.99 after the mail-in rebate.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...yMark=False&IsFeedbackTab=true#scrollFullInfo

The PowerColor Radeon HD 6850 1GB is also a very nice card for $169.99.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131374

 

[SebRamsland]

I had a Geforce 8800GTS which worked perfectly fine together with my Atlona DP-400 adapter with this display.

Unfortunately my graphic card recently died, so I bought a Sapphire AMD HD 6850. I cannot get this card to work as it should with my adapter and display. The highest resolution I get is 1280x720 in Windows 7, and Catalyst Center is only giving me 800x600 as maximum resolution. Any help here will be highly appreciated!

Luckily my graphics card have a Displayport output, so I just ordered a female Mini Displayport -> Displayport adapter, which I hope will solve my problem. It sucks though that I bought the expensive Atlona adapter, which I no longer even need.

Just thought you guys should now. The Atlona adapter seems to have problems with lots of ATI/AMD cards. It worked flawlessly on my nVidia card.

Works like a champ. There's one downside though. This adapter will not display your bootscreen (e.g. BIOS or Windows loading screen). Once Windows is up and running, everything runs great.

In order to see the boot screen, you'll need a graphics card with native displayport. I used a Gigabyte 5770 for a brief while and that thing displayed everything, boot screen and all.

Not true. Not here at least.

My adapter shows up boot screen with both my elder 8800GTS, and current AMD HD8650 graphics card. Although, as mentioned, it won't deliver me native resolution on my AMD card, which makes it useless.

 

[Ashok0]

Unfortunately my graphic card recently died, so I bought a Sapphire AMD HD 6850. I cannot get this card to work as it should with my adapter and display. The highest resolution I get is 1280x720 in Windows 7, and Catalyst Center is only giving me 800x600 as maximum resolution. Any help here will be highly appreciated!

Hey SebRamsland,

Doesn't the Sapphire AMD HD 6850 already have a DisplayPort connector on it? You should be able to connect the 6850 directly to the ACD27" with a simple $10 miniDP to DP cable, no Atlona DP-400 converter necessary. If that doesn't get you 2560x1440 in Windows 7, I'm afraid I'm at a total loss.

 

[SebRamsland]

Hey SebRamsland,

Doesn't the Sapphire AMD HD 6850 already have a DisplayPort connector on it? You should be able to connect the 6850 directly to the ACD27" with a simple $10 miniDP to DP cable, no Atlona DP-400 converter necessary. If that doesn't get you 2560x1440 in Windows 7, I'm afraid I'm at a total loss.

Yes, it has. And that is also my plan to get a miniDP to DP cable.

The problem is that I had a nVidia 8800 GTS before, which only had 2 x DL DVI. Then I was forced to buy the adapter, but unfortunately for me it recently died, which made me buy another graphic card. It just sucks that I have bought such an expensive adapter, which doesn't even work with my current graphic card.

 

[greid]

FYI - My experience with ACD 27" on a PC.

I have a Dell 435MT Studio PC running Vista. I upgraded the PSU and installed a XFX 6850 video card. Trying to get ACD 27" to work at full resolution. I have not installed Bootcamp (will not load - I'm researching a bootable drive solution discussed earlier in the thread).

Using the Displayport output with a Monoprice DP to MiniDP cable:
Monitor is recognized by Windows system devices as a generic monitor but no picture (as if no information is being sent to the ACD 27"). Speakers work.

Using an Atlona DP-400 from the DVI output:
Monitor works at a maximum resolution of 1280x720 only. Interestingly the brightness automatically adjusts to room conditions as it would on the MAC.

Bottom line: The ATI 6850 was not an out of the box solution for me.

 

[the_real_7]

i saw this monitor in store was great even with its blue ting i saw but love someone to show some pics here , and express there gaming experince , there is no osd so lag shouldn't be a probelm

 

[Liekomg]

i saw this monitor in store was great even with its blue ting i saw but love someone to show some pics here , and express there gaming experince , there is no osd so lag shouldn't be a probelm

Check my mini review on the bottom of page 13 of this thread

 

[the_real_7]

Check my mini review on the bottom of page 13 of this thread

very nice review ! ! one thing i didnt understand was you said black had problems because of a polarizer ? im blank there can you explain please

 

[Liekomg]

very nice review ! ! one thing i didnt understand was you said black had problems because of a polarizer ? im blank there can you explain please

The black levels are poor at an angle due to the *lack* of a polarizer, which I demonstrated in a few of my pictures. Here are a couple that might help you understand what a polarizer can do:

The "glow" that you see on the HP monitor (which is IPS by the way) is not backlight bleed, its white glow, which is the same that all IPS display exhibit that don't have a polarizer. The NEC 2490WUXi is one of the few displays that did have a polarizer, but is now discontinued. You can see that the black levels on the NEC are preserved, even when looking at it from an angle.

 

[the_real_7]

The black levels are poor at an angle due to the *lack* of a polarizer, which I demonstrated in a few of my pictures. Here are a couple that might help you understand what a polarizer can do:

The "glow" that you see on the HP monitor (which is IPS by the way) is not backlight bleed, its white glow, which is the same that all IPS display exhibit that don't have a polarizer. The NEC 2490WUXi is one of the few displays that did have a polarizer, but is now discontinued. You can see that the black levels on the NEC are preserved, even when looking at it from an angle.

got you Liekomg thanks for explaing that that no big deal for me as i never further than 2 feet straight from my monitor , and as of now my nec 20wmgx2 does a same , but since the picture quality is beyond excellent i don't mind. . . if you ever get a minute could you show a striaght angle pic love to see it

 

[Sky15]

Can anyone help me, I have everything but I can't get a picture once it boots in Vista? I can see it post and everything, but once windows loads it goes blank? I'm using the adapter, I have no clue what it's doing?

BtW I'm using my 4870x2, not my GTX 580.

 

[Liekomg]

Can anyone help me, I have everything but I can't get a picture once it boots in Vista? I can see it post and everything, but once windows loads it goes blank? I'm using the adapter, I have no clue what it's doing?

BtW I'm using my 4870x2, not my GTX 580.

Very strange, I've had no such problems using the adapter. Its the DP-400 right?
What happens if you try it with the GTX 580, does it work then?

Try booting into safe mode, and uninstall your ATI drivers. Then reboot normally and see if your desktop appears. Windows might be trying to drive your ACD at a resolution or refresh that the it doesn't like from your previous display. Getting rid of the drivers and reinstalling may help.

 

[Sky15]

Very strange, I've had no such problems using the adapter. Its the DP-400 right?
What happens if you try it with the GTX 580, does it work then?

Try booting into safe mode, and uninstall your ATI drivers. Then reboot normally and see if your desktop appears. Windows might be trying to drive your ACD at a resolution or refresh that the it doesn't like from your previous display. Getting rid of the drivers and reinstalling may help.

My GTX 580 isn't finished, not until tomorrow, so I'll know then. I reinstalled new drivers and that didn't help. When I plug in the Apple, and then replug my old monitor the res goes to 600x800 from 19x12 on my older monitor.

I guess I'll see tomorrow with my GTX 580.

The monitor works in safe mode but not in regular ol windows.

 

[Liekomg]

My GTX 580 isn't finished, not until tomorrow, so I'll know then. I reinstalled new drivers and that didn't help. When I plug in the Apple, and then replug my old monitor the res goes to 600x800 from 19x12 on my older monitor.

I guess I'll see tomorrow with my GTX 580.

The monitor works in safe mode but not in regular ol windows.

Thats telling me that there is something wrong with ATI's drivers. Are you sure they are completely uninstalled before reinstalling them?

 

[Haiku214]

I myself would probably opt for an IPS panel with polarizer. Even though the above image shows a "glow" and not really "backlight bleed," still that "glow" is as bad as a "bleed."

 

[Godmachine]

I myself would probably opt for an IPS panel with polarizer. Even though the above image shows a "glow" and not really "backlight bleed," still that "glow" is as bad as a "bleed."

Too bad there are zero IPS panels currently available with A-TW polarizer.

 

[ToastyX]

The black levels are poor at an angle due to the *lack* of a polarizer, which I demonstrated in a few of my pictures.

All LCD monitors have polarizers. The HP doesn't lack a polarizer. The NEC has a special filter that NEC called the A-TW polarizer.

Too bad there are zero IPS panels currently available with A-TW polarizer.

The HP DreamColor LP2480zx has the A-TW polarizer and is still available, although it costs a lot. Beware though, it has the grainy anti-glare coating.

 

[Sky15]

Thats telling me that there is something wrong with ATI's drivers. Are you sure they are completely uninstalled before reinstalling them?

I'll try again, I didn't do a drive cleaners, just tge normal uninstall from the cp. I'll see if there's any difference if I do the driver cleaner.

 

[Sky15]

I got it running normally, but the highest res it allows me 1280x720.

It doesn't recognize the monitor though just a generic PnP monitor.

 

[Liekomg]

It doesn't recognize the monitor or adapter for me either - its listed as just a "plug and play" monitor, yet I still get full range of resolutions including max. Try it with the GTX 580 and let us know if it works.

 

[Sky15]

It doesn't recognize the monitor or adapter for me either - its listed as just a "plug and play" monitor, yet I still get full range of resolutions including max. Try it with the GTX 580 and let us know if it works.

Got my new PC up and running everything is beautiful now, haha,. One question how do I adjust brightness on the monitor? Is it right click on my desktop or something?

Thanks.