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Apple 30" Cinema Display on PC

M

MiXdNuTs

Gawd
Joined
Aug 9, 2002
Messages
832
I have this extra 30" Apple Cinema Display laying around and want to put it on a PC. The problem is that the DVI connector on this thing is that weird rounded mac type. Normally DVI connectors have squared edges, but this thing is oval. Are there any converters that I can purchase? Also, I have no access to a dual link DVI card so I will have to drive this thing at a lower resolution than optimal, but that is ok. I just need to find a small part, kinda like the DVI to VGA connectors, that will let me hook this thing up to a normal DVI port. Thanks for the help.
 
I own a 30" ACD and it has a completely normal dual-link DVI connector. The only thing odd about it is that the plastic housing is a little excessive.

Why does yours have something different?
 
You happen to have "this" 30" Mac display laying around? How did you get it? Something to do with your business or job and such? You could probably sell it on ebay and get a 23inch LCD for half what you get from it and then buy a whole new PC in the process. Unless you want to get rid of it quickly and cheap, let me know :)
 
TimothyB said:
You happen to have "this" 30" Mac display laying around? How did you get it? Something to do with your business or job and such? You could probably sell it on ebay and get a 23inch LCD for half what you get from it and then buy a whole new PC in the process. Unless you want to get rid of it quickly and cheap, let me know :)
Click to expand...

Yeah its for work. A web developer left and now we have some mac junk lying around. We are going to surpluss the G4s because they are loud and useless, but this display is too good to toss out.
 
MiXdNuTs said:
I have this extra 30" Apple Cinema Display laying around and want to put it on a PC. The problem is that the DVI connector on this thing is that weird rounded mac type.
Click to expand...

You shouldn't be trouble by a problem like this. Sincee you so happen to have it laying around, just send it to me, and I'll take care of your problem
:D
 
MiXdNuTs said:
This is almost what I wanted, but that is for putting a regular DVI LCD on a mac. What I need is to put mac's weird ADC monitor on a DVI PC. Kinda the opposite of what you found but its close.
Click to expand...

my bad. im not quite the mac genius yet. :p
 
There are others on this forum who have the Apple 30" on their PC... just look down a few threads, and you'll find the threat. You can just PM them and ask how they got theirs working.
 
NO SUCH CONNECTOR EXISTS!!! You must send the display to me! I will....erm...fix it for you, but it takes a long time... like i dont know, how long would it take yout oforget about it?
 
It's so nice to hear that there are many of you willing to take it off of my hands if I can not get this figured out. :)
 
From another thread it sounded like you'd need some special dual-link DVI card, which might only be available in a high-end workstation graphic card in the $1000+ range. While Apple has a 6800 version meant for it at $600.

Was the montior already being used on a Mac and at it's full res? If so, when you get rid of your G4s you might want to check the video card of the one the 30inch was on, it could be a 6800Ultra worth $600 for macs.

I wish I could afford it if you guys decide to get rid of it, as I'm sure you'll be asking atleast 80% of it's value. I could trade you my Dell 2005FPW for the Apple 30inch :)

EDIT: I found the thread that might help:
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=828776&highlight=apple

This guy is running it on PNY Quadro FX 3400
 
Seriously, what you essentially want is one of these plug and go. although the apple site does list that it should have a dvi connector. From the blurb :

Single cable with elegant breakout for connection to DVI, USB and FireWire ports
 
yeah u need dual dvi... which would require either the 6800gt or ultra... its to support the "massive amout of pixels"... and i was the first to reply to you thread even though i didnt have any usefull info i think i get first dibs :) haha (pm me for where to send it :D )... its not like you need it.... since it was laying around :) haha me i need it... cause im going to school for graphic design... and 30 inch monitor would fit nicely on my desk... :D
 
No offense, but this seems bogus to me. You still haven't explained why yours would be the only 30" ACD I've ever heard of that doesn't have a dual-link DVI cable. Also, it's kind of suspicious that this monitor would be associated with a bunch of G4s, since anyone who could afford one of these would also likely be able to afford a G5.

Can you post a picture of the monitor and of the cable termination?
 
Blethrow said:
No offense, but this seems bogus to me. You still haven't explained why yours would be the only 30" ACD I've ever heard of that doesn't have a dual-link DVI cable. Also, it's kind of suspicious that this monitor would be associated with a bunch of G4s, since anyone who could afford one of these would also likely be able to afford a G5.

Can you post a picture of the monitor and of the cable termination?
Click to expand...

Really though, from a lot of posts at hardforum and my own experience at my workplace, businesses sometimes don't know what is needed for an artists and order the worst computers and some of the best parts and the wrong time. So it's not unusual to see bad management when it comes to computers at businesses.
 
Yeah, that's true. Still, the only way I can see this thing having anything other than a dual-link DVI connection is if it were some sort of prototype or something. Which doesn't seem likely at all, but I guess it's possible. I just can't think of any good explanantion and I would like to see a picture of the system in question.
 
Blethrow said:
No offense, but this seems bogus to me. You still haven't explained why yours would be the only 30" ACD I've ever heard of that doesn't have a dual-link DVI cable. Also, it's kind of suspicious that this monitor would be associated with a bunch of G4s, since anyone who could afford one of these would also likely be able to afford a G5.

Can you post a picture of the monitor and of the cable termination?
Click to expand...

No camera at work. I don't feel like starting a silly arguement with you but it is the older clear plastic style of 30" Cinima display. More than a year old. It came with a top of the line G4 at the time. The only connector that this monitor has is the ADC type. Looks exactly like this.

"the old cinema displays used to have adc.
but apple went to dvi for their new displays, because it's more compatible and it lets you connect apple displays to pcs as well." is a nice quote that I found here.
 
its not a 30" model then. its either a 23" or a 20".

get a new ruler ;)

the 30" ACD is ONLY in the new, aluminum models.
 
I'm sure it seems large enough to be 30", but wait until you see the real thing. I have to turn my head just to look at all of it. :D
 
MiXdNuTs said:
No camera at work. I don't feel like starting a silly arguement with you but it is the older clear plastic style of 30" Cinima display. More than a year old. It came with a top of the line G4 at the time. The only connector that this monitor has is the ADC type. Looks exactly like this.

"the old cinema displays used to have adc.
but apple went to dvi for their new displays, because it's more compatible and it lets you connect apple displays to pcs as well." is a nice quote that I found here.
Click to expand...

Then it can't be the 30" display... because 1) it's not over a year old... and 2) it's been ONLY in the aluminium case.
 
It can't be the 30inch, the 30inch was only introduced recently and at the start of the new thin metal design.

But this is good as this means it will probably be easier to hook up to a PC with a simple adapter.

So if it doesn't look like the big one in this pic, then the one you have is one of the smaller screens to the right of it.

So if you thought the 23inch was big, look at the 30inch next to it. Plus, the old style with the thick sides might give an appearance of a larger screen:

applecinemadisplayfamily.jpg
 
it's a 23" with a ADC connector. Plain as day from his somewhat tortured, twisted, description. You cant use it with a PC unless you get a ADC to DVI converter. But you dont need a special video card, any DVI one will work.

I'll take those useless loud G4's off yer hands if the price is rite. You are so bothered by anything Mac that I feel it is I that does you the favor. :D
 
MiXdNuTs said:
No camera at work. I don't feel like starting a silly arguement with you but it is the older clear plastic style of 30" Cinima display. More than a year old. It came with a top of the line G4 at the time. The only connector that this monitor has is the ADC type. Looks exactly like this.
Click to expand...

Oh....well then the part about sending it to me, disregard it. I just check my house, absolute no space. Send it to someone else.
:D
 
That is not really what I was asking. I want to convert from ADC to DVI. It doesn't matter if the display is 4".
 
MiXdNuTs said:
That is not really what I was asking. I want to convert from ADC to DVI. It doesn't matter if the display is 4".
Click to expand...

you said in the topic you had a 30" ACD. you said it had an ADC connection. we all got confused.

ADC<->DVI converters are roughly 100 bucks, they sell them on apple.com still i believe.
 
MiXdNuTs said:
Yeah its for work. A web developer left and now we have some mac junk lying around. We are going to surpluss the G4s because they are loud and useless, but this display is too good to toss out.
Click to expand...

i wouldnt mind taking a G4 off ur hands. how powerful?
 
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