re: SP2309W monitor: DVI cable single-link or dual-link?

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the reply. You have completely resolved my problem. I made the assumption that the connector at a glance would reveal its DVI type, but as you pointed out the 6 middle pins are disabled. This made me consider the source DVI from the graphics card, which on the surface appears to be DVI-D Dual link, but according to the complete specs, is actually DVI-I (single or dual-link not specified).

For Reference the card is a Gigabyte NVidia GeForce 6600GT GV-3D1. At the moment I am running both monitors off this card: 1 attached via VGA giving me a full screen of native resolution 2048x1152; and 2 attached via DVI giving me a full screen scaled 1680x1050.

I will update this post once I test this on a card that outputs DVI-D. It may take some time before I have access to one.

Ok, I've managed to get a acceptable work-around established, however it is far from ideal.

I am still confused as to why I am unable to operate the SP2309W's via DVI. My source signal is from a DVI-I port on the back of a NVidia card (as posted above) specified to have a capability of a max resolution of 2048x1536 @ 85 Hz @ 32bpp colour (it is not specified whether this is for VGA or DVI). I've updated all drivers (monitor, motherboard, graphics card). In regards to the graphics card drivers I first tried the 186.18WHQL, but due to some comments of its unreliability posted on the Nvidia forums, I decided to move to the 182.50WHQL. In both cases I experience the same problem:

1680x1050 being shown fully. Scaled and distorted. Unable to set "Do Not Scale."
1280x1024 being shown fully. Able to set all 4 options of scaling. Working like it should.
2048x1152 being shown partially. Unable to set "Use Monitor's Scaling". Moving mouse cursor to borders of desktop will pan to reveal hidden parts.

I've not had the opportunity to test on a newer graphics card. However I am now running both monitors @ native resolution. 1 via VGA cable to VGA port. Other via VGA cable to VGA-DVI adaptor to DVI port. Image quality is a little less crisp (comparing to case above where I can view partial desktop).

If anyone has any comments as to why this is still unable to work, please post a reply. If anyone can shed light on the max resolution of the aforementioned card (VGA or DVI) I'd also appreciate it.

Hi there...

I am about to buy SP2309W monitor for my new setup. I have Nvidia GTX 295 Single as graphics card which has 2 dual DVI outs available to connect monitors...

My question is whether I would be able to get full resolution 2048x1152 using DVI cable? I do not want to use VGA which degrades the singal...

Many thanks...

The monitor can do it. It all depends on the video card and the video card driver. By default, the DVI-I connectors on that video card support up to 2560x1600 at 60Hz. But, 2048x1152 is not in the list. You would have to select a custom resolution to choose 2048x1152. But the video card driver has to support that custom resolution.

"2048x1152 being shown partially. Unable to set "Use Monitor's Scaling". Moving mouse cursor to borders of desktop will pan to reveal hidden parts."

Has this issue been looked into any further? Any possible methods that may resolve this issue?  I am running the same Nvidia 6600GT card and having the exact same issue. I have already updated both the drivers for the card  & monitor.

goyangyi:

Has this issue been looked into any further? Any possible methods that may resolve this issue?  I am running the same Nvidia 6600GT card and having the exact same issue. I have already updated both the drivers for the card  & monitor.

 

Nope. I am still running both of my SP2309W's via VGA cables. I've yet to test them on a newer graphics card.

Long time Dell product user here, and just purchased the SP2309W, i have a Dell XPS with a Geforce 7800 GTX video card, latest NVIDIA driver v8.16.11.9107 running on Windows 7.  I am experiencing the same issues, unable to obtain the native resolution advertised for this monitor with the cable provided.

From the NVIDIA Control Panel, with "use my display's built in scaling" enabled, and a custom resolution set to 2048X1152 following Dells Chris M recommendation, i get the following display warning message: "input timing not supported by monitor display" and reverts back to 1920X1080.

I see the makings of a real problem here with this product, would hate to have to return it. Can Dell look a little harder into this?

Thanks so much!

Try it on another PC not running Windows 7 and see if it will do 2048x1152. Or, did you get 2048x1152 on this PC before loading windows 7?

Thanks Chris for such a quick response!

Actually, i was able to obtain the 2048x1152 with XP SP3, but had the panning issue, meaning the desktop became larger than the display and i was also stuck with 1920x1080. Was hoping windows 7 had a magical fix...

As i understand the DVI format, a DVI single link 60-Hz LCD can only display a resolution of up to 1920 x 1200, while a DVI DUAL link can display a resolution of up to 2560 x 1600.  If this is right, then my video card must support dual, and the monitor must support dual, and i need a dual cable??? Arent the NVIDIA Geforce 7800 GTX cards dual link?

Am i barking up the wrong tree here on this one?

I take it you do not have a DVI-D Dual Link cable to test on?

It's on order...should have it in a couple days. This is driving me crazy! It's actually a DVI dual to HDMI...

Here is what I know by researching all the specs on your equipment.

The SP2309W Monitor is DVI-D Single Link.

The Gigabyte GeForce 6600GT GV-3D1 Video Card is DVI-I Single Link

The DVI Cable that came with the SP2309W Monitor is DVI-D Single Link

So, if all the connections are Single Link, it should work.

And here are some other specs I looked up, specs you already know:

DVI-D Single Link supports monitor resolutions up to 1920 x 1080 @ 60hz

DVI-D Dual Link supports monitor resolutions up to 2560 x 1600 @60hz

Looking at those specs is how you can tell if your card and/or monitor is a Single or Dual DVI connection.  Most of the DVI ports I see on monitors and Video Cards look like DVI-I ports, thats the DVI Multi use port with all the pin holes, for either Single, or Dual, or Analog DVi Cable connections.  So staring at that DVI Multi Use Port isn't going to tell you anything except that  you need to look at the specs.  And locating all those DVI and Monitor specs ain't always easy.  Why they make it so hard to find them is beyond me.  Its a numbers game, they throw out that big resolution number and leave you wondering if its an analog or digital specification.  Its like dating, looking for that perfect match between Monitor and Video Card.

If I see a spec for native resolution 2048 x 1536 @60hz , 75hz, or 85hz, then I'm thinking its analog (VGA).  Especially since your monitor does not have the higer DVI-D Dual link connector port...but it does have the Higher Resolution VGA port in addition to the lower resolution DVI-D Single Link connector port.

It seems that you are trying to get VGA (analog) signals thru your DVI (digital only) cable, by believing that you are going to see a 2048 x 1536 resolution with a DVI-D cable that only supports 1920 x 1080.  Think again.

So now that you know what DVI connections you really have, you should be able to fix your problem, if you haven't already.

There may be other issues at play here also, you Video Card may not have enough juice from your power supply.  Especially if you are running dual monitors.

You might have to upgrade to a bigger power supply.  350watts to 450watts or more.

I hope this helps.  And that I haven't posted any erroneous information.    If I have, someone please correct me!

I know what I know about this, because for the last two weeks I have been researching AGP Video Cards and DVI connections so that I can find a Computer Video Card to go along with my new Samsung 26" widescreen TV/Monitor.  Its amazing now on VGA, but I want to try out the Digital DVI connection, I hear and read that its better than Analog (VGA).  I hope I get this done before my head spins off.

Avis Anna

Hi I have been having the same problem with my Dell SP2309W

The maxium resolution I can get in windows 2000 is 1680x1050@60 hz using the DVI connection.

For what its worth I think the problem is with how the Dell monitors EDID (Extended display identification data) reports itself. Using linux I found the dell monitor reports this...

(II) NVIDIA(0): --- Building ModePool for DELL SP2309W (DFP-0) ---
(II) NVIDIA(0):   Validating Mode "2048x1152":
(II) NVIDIA(0):     2048 x 1152 @ 60 Hz
(II) NVIDIA(0):     For use as DFP backend.
(II) NVIDIA(0):     Mode Source: EDID
(II) NVIDIA(0):       Pixel Clock      : 156.75 MHz
(II) NVIDIA(0):       HRes, HSyncStart : 2048, 2096
(II) NVIDIA(0):       HSyncEnd, HTotal : 2128, 2208
(II) NVIDIA(0):       VRes, VSyncStart : 1152, 1155
(II) NVIDIA(0):       VSyncEnd, VTotal : 1160, 1185
(II) NVIDIA(0):       H/V Polarity     : +/-
(WW) NVIDIA(0):     Mode is rejected: PixelClock (156.8 MHz) too high for
(WW) NVIDIA(0):     Display Device (Max: 155.0 MHz).

 I can override this check in linux, but alas I don't know what to do about it in windows.