MacBook Pro 5,4 with 22in Samsung LCD can't power full res

Joined
Apr 9, 2009
Messages
2,073
Reaction score
68
Points
48
Location
Ithaca NY
Your Mac's Specs
13 inch alMacBook 2GHz C2D 4G DDR3, 1.25GHz G4 eMac
Alright guys, so I met a client at Best Buy the other day who has the following issue. He has a Samsung display that he has used successfully in the past with a PowerBook G4. He powers both displays at once, so the MacBook (or previously PowerBook) and the external display will both be used for their screen real estate.

"Hi, Jason,

I was in at Bestbuy yesterday with the Samsung screen. Here are my Mac’s particulars:

Mac OS X version 10.6.3
2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4 GB 1067 MHz DDR3

MacBookPro5,4

The 15” screen on the MacBook is clear at 1440 x 900
The SyncMaster 226CW settings works but is not clear at 1600 x 1000 59.9 Hz
I think it is supposed to be 1680 x 1050 59.9 Hz, but when I check that option, it turns blank

It worked perfectly on my old Powerbook, just a few months ago. As I told you, I cannot remember if it went blury right when I started usig the new computer, or after awhile."

My initial thoughts were, "is that one of the MacBooks with both the 9400m and the 9600gt or just the 9400m, and if just the 9400m, can the card really not power both displays at once just to do some MS Office stuff? Am I thinking down the right path? Maybe the minidisplay port to DVI adapter? or VGA?

What have you guys got for me. If you need more info, I can certainly ask. I've already asked about the graphics cards, and directed him where to look.

Thanks!

Update: It's the 9400m in the MacBook. So he can't power the full native resolution of the Samsung display, but he can power lower resolutions. As he says, they don't look "clear." Having tested the display at Best Buy, it looked fine there, other than it doesn't look clear because the display isn't at its highest native res.
 
OP
DarkestRitual
Joined
Apr 9, 2009
Messages
2,073
Reaction score
68
Points
48
Location
Ithaca NY
Your Mac's Specs
13 inch alMacBook 2GHz C2D 4G DDR3, 1.25GHz G4 eMac
Seriously? Come on, my legions of Macxperts.
 

pigoo3

Well-known member
Staff member
Admin
Joined
May 20, 2008
Messages
44,208
Reaction score
1,411
Points
113
Location
U.S.
Your Mac's Specs
2017 15" MBP, 16gig ram, 1TB SSD, OS 10.15
I was in at Bestbuy yesterday with the Samsung screen. Here are my Mac’s particulars:

Mac OS X version 10.6.3
2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4 GB 1067 MHz DDR3

MacBookPro5,4

The 15” screen on the MacBook is clear at 1440 x 900
The SyncMaster 226CW settings works but is not clear at 1600 x 1000 59.9 Hz
I think it is supposed to be 1680 x 1050 59.9 Hz, but when I check that option, it turns blank

Update: It's the 9400m in the MacBook. So he can't power the full native resolution of the Samsung display, but he can power lower resolutions. As he says, they don't look "clear." Having tested the display at Best Buy, it looked fine there, other than it doesn't look clear because the display isn't at its highest native res.

According to "Everymac.com"...the MacBook Pro 15" 2.53ghz with the 9400m video is supposed to be able to "drive" an external monitor up to a resolution of 2560x1600...MUCH MUCH more than a 22" monitor. And the customer is correct...a 22" monitors "Native resolution" is usually 1680 x 1050.

Why this resolution (1680 x 1050) isn't showing up (selectable) in the customers display resolution list for their external display is confusing. I'm assuming that the customer has "display mirroring" turned off. Otherwise, this could be the problem.

Hope this helps,

- Nick
 
Joined
Jan 17, 2010
Messages
1,466
Reaction score
47
Points
48
Your Mac's Specs
2.8 GHz 15" MacBook Pro OS X 10.7.x & some old Macs
I don't see why it wouldn't work. If you have access to a MBP with the 9600 graphics card and can hook it up to his monitor then you will know for sure if it's the graphics card or not.

Unless I'm mistaken PowerBooks do come with dedicated graphics cards but that shouldn't be a factor since the 9400 in theory should be able to support that resolution.
 

bobtomay

,
Retired Staff
Joined
Dec 22, 2006
Messages
26,561
Reaction score
677
Points
113
Location
Texas, where else?
Your Mac's Specs
15" MBP '06 2.33 C2D 4GB 10.7; 13" MBA '14 1.8 i7 8GB 10.11; 21" iMac '13 2.9 i5 8GB 10.11; 6S
The first thing I'd check... make sure the RTA feature on this monitor is turned off.

Then it's time to start testing, different cable, switch from DVI to VGA or vice versa, try a different monitor, try a different computer.

If both the computer and monitor work attached to other devices, it may be worth trying SwitchResX.
 
OP
DarkestRitual
Joined
Apr 9, 2009
Messages
2,073
Reaction score
68
Points
48
Location
Ithaca NY
Your Mac's Specs
13 inch alMacBook 2GHz C2D 4G DDR3, 1.25GHz G4 eMac
Thanks guys, I'll send those inquiries and suggestions his way.
 

Shop Amazon


Shop for your Apple, Mac, iPhone and other computer products on Amazon.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
Top