[TPU] AMD Intros Affordable DP-DVI Active Adapter

[Behemot]

AMD rolled out a reference-design DisplayPort to DVI active adapter today, that lets the masses create Eyefinity setups on existing monitors easier. The adapter plugs into full-sized and mini DisplayPort connectors on ATI Radeon graphics cards, and gives out a single-link DVI signal. The conversion between DP to DVI is active, and conserves video quality, as well as other features such as content protection. This is because when Eyefinity-ready graphics cards with DisplayPorts from AMD came to be, some manufacturers sold cheap $10 DP-DVI dongles that pass DVI signals from the DP directly (passive conversion). Such dongles more often don't work, because Radeon GPUs don't give out DVI signals from DP. Active adapters (those which actively convert DP signals to DVI) were sold at the time in upwards of $100.

AMD has managed to bring the price of such active adapters down to $30. There however, is a limitation. The output is a single-link DVI, meaning that it will support digital resolutions only up to 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz (1080p is supported). It shouldn't matter for the target users, because the DisplayPort on ATI Radeon HD 5000 graphics cards conveys only one TLDS link, so even with a DVI dual-link capable adapter, it would only give out single-link output. At least a bulk of the users are covered, at a very affordable price point. AMD will market this adapter directly, and through its growing network of add-in board partners (in bundles with graphics cards, or directly). PowerColor beat AMD to today's announcement, and released PowerColor-branded AMD-reference DP-DVI adapter last week.

link

Pretty good move to boost Eyefinity cards sales

[generics_user]

huh?

never had any issues running a DVI monitor from a DP-DVI cable on my 5850 ?!

[MrMojoZ]

huh?

never had any issues running a DVI monitor from a DP-DVI cable on my 5850 ?!

You had 3 of them going?

[Mech0z]

huh?

never had any issues running a DVI monitor from a DP-DVI cable on my 5850 ?!

Tried using 3 screens? If you do you cant run 3 dvi screens without this new thing. You need to use 2 DP screens and one hdmi

[Zigosity]

Oh man, so happy about this. So many of my customers hate spending the 100+ on the active adapter, these should make eyefinity setups a lot more accessible .

[generics_user]

Tried using 3 screens? If you do you cant run 3 dvi screens without this new thing. You need to use 2 DP screens and one hdmi

nope only two

are HDMI-DVi adapters working?

[El Mano]

Good news indeed.
Now I only need two more monitors and probably another 5870

[Mech0z]

nope only two

are HDMI-DVi adapters working?

You can only use 3 screesn the ways I descriped before or if you get an active adapter then it can work as well, but thats very expensive which is why these new cheap cables are nice.

[Mechromancer]

What we need are affordable DISPLAYS with DisplayPort ports.

[informal]

What we need are affordable DISPLAYS with DisplayPort ports.

Exactly...

[PaganII]

Or use 1 analog + 2 DVI/HDMI

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

[saaya]

1. way late
2. 30$? uh...
3. single link dvi only? nevermind...

[SKYMTL]

3. single link dvi only? nevermind...

And what resolution do you game at again?

[Sparky]

And what resolution do you game at again?

Especially with 3 screens at once...

[Iconyu]

And what resolution do you game at again?

My friend has a Apple 30" and two Dell 3008's in his room, so he'd turn his nose up at these too. And it's not just about gaming, it would just be nice for all three to turn on. But then I guess it's a good thing the Dells have Displayport.

[trn]

Great news... its only about 10 months late. I bought one of those $100+ active adapters when I first got my 5870, that adapter caused bad flickering. I would expect that the AMD adapter would work without these problems. Maybe in another 2 years they will fix xfire + eyefinity.

[blindbox]

MOST 30" monitors have DP port already. So this is good news for non-30"ers.

Great news... its only about 10 months late. I bought one of those $100+ active adapters when I first got my 5870, that adapter caused bad flickering. I would expect that the AMD adapter would work without these problems. Maybe in another 2 years they will fix xfire + eyefinity.

Amazing optimism there (don't worry, my sarcasm detector is active) .

[Johnny87au]

ill stick with my 2x dvi +1 x display port using my dual link dvi adapter..

[geo]

Thats nice but Wish ATI got manufacturers to reduce the Bezel size

[SKYMTL]

My friend has a Apple 30" and two Dell 3008's in his room, so he'd turn his nose up at these too. And it's not just about gaming, it would just be nice for all three to turn on. But then I guess it's a good thing the Dells have Displayport.

So he has $4000 worth of monitors and what.....he can't afford the active dual link adaptor?

You're missing the point of this thing. It is meant for people who either already have multiple monitors without DP compatibility or just don't want to add $120 to the price of a budget monitor purchase.

These days you can find DVI-only equipped monitors for under $200 quite easily but they won't be equipped with DP and adding $120 for an adaptor is nuts. So for people going the budgetary route, $30 is much easier to stomach.

[MrMojoZ]

So he has $4000 worth of monitors and what.....he can't afford the active dual link adaptor?

You're missing the point of this thing. It is meant for people who either already have multiple monitors with DP compatibility or just don't want to add $120 to the price of a budget monitor purchase.

These days you can find DVI-only equipped monitors for under $200 quite easily but they won't be equipped with DP and adding $120 for an adaptor is nuts. So for people going the budgetary route, $30 is much easier to stomach.

Exactly. The amount of complaining in this thread about a product that will actually be good for a specific group of people is just silly.

[Iconyu]

So he has $4000 worth of monitors and what.....he can't afford the active dual link adaptor?

You're missing the point of this thing. It is meant for people who either already have multiple monitors with DP compatibility or just don't want to add $120 to the price of a budget monitor purchase.

These days you can find DVI-only equipped monitors for under $200 quite easily but they won't be equipped with DP and adding $120 for an adaptor is nuts. So for people going the budgetary route, $30 is much easier to stomach.

I never said any of that, I said he wouldn't buy the product on offer. It was a really simple statement, you want me to break it down for you?

He has three 30" monitors, so it wouldn't even work for him.
Not everyone buys a HD5**0 for gaming, as it offers three monitor support on desktop too.

Also, 1680 x 1050 at 120hz needs dual link too, as these monitors are normally made as cheap as possible $100 is a big mark up for multi display.

[Particle]

It's also a good thing for those of us who like using some older monitors. I've got a 2007FP on each side of my 2408FPW. The 2008 model has DP but as you can imagine the 2007s are much more limited. If I didn't have the 2408 with DP, I'd need one of these. Most people don't have the luck to have a DP monitor.

[jmke]

My friend has a Apple 30" and two Dell 3008's in his room, so he'd turn his nose up at these too. And it's not just about gaming, it would just be nice for all three to turn on. But then I guess it's a good thing the Dells have Displayport.

ya, exactly, after you shelled out $3000+ that $100 for that extra adapter really is a deal breaker

[SocketMan]

Nice,better late then never.
I will try 19-19-19in
and
19-24-19
Ghettofinity