Digital is much more crisp than VGA. At least it is on my setup. I have an NEC LCD2070NX display running at 1600x1200. It works fine on the VGA output from any of my ThinkPads, but it also has a DVI input which I was using with my (fairly old) Mac Mini. Since I don't use the Mac that much, when I got the W510 I thought I would try switching it around and use the VGA output on the Mac and digital on the ThinkPad.
I got a passive DisplayPort-to-DVI adapter, probably much like the one you linked to, and it works great. The digital output is much more clear on the NEC, although now of course the Mac looks worse on VGA than it did before. It seems likely that the T510 has the same DVI-through-DisplayPort capability as the W510, although I haven't tried it myself. I don't like the mechanical design of the adapter you linked to, though. I prefer one that has a cable between the two connectors - seems like it would stress the connectors less, and it's easier to get the bulky part (the DVI connector) out of the way. I got one from Central Computers that looks like this (not exactly the same model but close): http://www.centralcomputers.com/commerce/catalog/product.jsp?product_id=69547&czuid=1273694792140 -Mike On Wed, May 12, 2010 at 10:23 AM, Jonathan Berry <[email protected]>wrote: > I'm wondering if any list-ers have connected a monitor > to their new Lenovo DisplayPort Thinkpad, and how they > evaluate the experience. > > > I have a T510 and an LG - DVI / HDMI / VGA - 24" 1920x1080 > monitor. I confess that the result is acceptable on my X32 > via old VGA (and unauthorized drivers), but am led to believe > that all-digital is much better. > > In particular, > > > http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10428&cs_id=1042801&p_id=4827&seq=1&format=2 > > gives a DP (DisplayPort) Male to DVI-D Female Adapter (Single-Link) > for 10 bucks. > > But there's the following ominous NOTE highlighted on the same page. > > "Note: This is a passive adapter. While DisplayPort connectors > are capable of passing a DVI signal, DisplayPort and DVI > signals are basically different and not compatible with each > other. This adapter does not actively convert a DisplayPort > signal into a DVI signal. In order for this adapter to function > properly, you must have a DisplayPort source device capable of > producing and passing out a DVI signal through the DisplayPort > jack." > > So what's the "smart shop" in this case? > > > > >To be fair, you can find HDMI cables for $85 too, and you can get > >DisplayPort cables for $6 from Monoprice. I'm not claiming one > >technology or monitor is better than the other, just that the cable > >point is a non-issue. You just have to shop smart. > > > >Rob > > > >Jonathan Berry wrote: > >> DisplayPort versus the old ways > >> > >> Thanks for the heads-up. I had read the wiki page on DisplayPort, > >> but nothing really caught my imagination. Here's the scheme: > >> > >> I have a perfectly good HDMI monitor and a cable that cost $4.50. > >> > >> The per-unit royalty on HDMI is something like 4 cents. > >> > >> Here's a 6-ft Display Port to HDMI cable that costs > >> $85: > >> > >> > http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=40646&vpn=DP2HDMIMM6&manufacture=Startech.com%20Ltd > >> > >> Or if I want to get a DisplayPort monitor and pay a mere $24 for > >> the cable, I'm looking at $400 for a 1920x1200 screen: > >> > >> > http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=45554&vpn=NL773A8#ABA&manufacture=Hewlett%20Packard > >> > >> There are cheaper screens, but they don't have so many pixels. Do you > >> really want to get an external monitor that's only, say, 1680x1050 ? > >> > >> I sure hope that DisplayPort has some breathtaking > >> advantages over the old technology. DisplayPort could turn > >> out to be the best thing since sliced bread. Or it could > >> turn out to be a bit of a dud, like hand scanners or DL > >> DVD+-R disks or DVD-RAM or bubble memory or 5" diskettes > >> (not to be confused with 5.25" floppies) .... > > > > -- > happy > Jonathan Berry and Erika http://members.shaw.ca/berry5868/fun.htm > > _______________________________________________ > Thinkpad mailing list > [email protected] > http://stderr.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/thinkpad > > _______________________________________________ Thinkpad mailing list [email protected] http://stderr.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/thinkpad
