Compatability of Sapphire Radeon 9200 with Apple Cinema 20&q

[stapwill]

I own a Windows XP Pro PC, with a Sapphire Radeon 9200 Atlantis video card.  I'm seriously considering purchasing an Apple Cinema 20" display, the optimum resolution of which is 1680 x 1050.  AMD customer care has told me that 1680 x 1050 is not supported by the Radeon 9200 with ATI drivers.  The display settings that are revealed when I click on the ATI icon in my tool bar range from a low  of 800 x 600 to a high of 2048 x 1536.  Although specific resolutions of 1600 x 1200 and 1792 x 1344 are revealed, 1680 x 1050 is not shown. In the Display Properties Window under the settings tab, there is a resolution adjustment slider with a range of low to high.  When you move the slider a specific resolution appears, but 1680 x 1050 isn't one that is shown.  I use my PC mainly for Microsoft Word, Photoshop, internet. I'm not a gamer
 Has anyone tried this video card with a monitor that has a 1680 x 1050 optimum resolution?  Would PowerStrip solve this problem? Is there a good low price video card that supports 1680 x 1050?  Thanks for your input.

[Ashley Saldanha]

Download PowerStrip and create 1680x1050 like so:

1. PowerStrip menu > Display profiles > Configure > Advanced timing options > Custom resolutions
2. Select "1680x1050p (ACD)" from the list (this is specifically for the Apple ACD)
3. Click "Add resolution"
4. Follow the instructions on screen to finish up

Note that Apple does not accept analog input, so it will be critical that they have a properly formatted VESA E-EDID specifically naming 1680x1050 as the preferred timing for the display (which they should). Lots of very fine 22" LCDs available that cost less than an ACD - you should at least check those out.

[stapwill]

Ashley, thanks for the reply.  Two questions. (1) How can I find out if the Apple Cinema 20" Display has "a properly formatted VESA E-EDID specifically naming 1680x1050?"  I checked Apple's website for specifications on ACD 20".  I did not find any mention of VESA (except for mounting); however it did state that 1680x1050 was optimum resolution for this display.  2.Regarding the "Lots of very fine  LCD's available that cost less than an ACD."  Do you know which, if any, have been praised as  working well with Photoshop or similar image enhancement programs?

[Ashley Saldanha]

1) How can I find out if the Apple Cinema 20" Display has "a properly formatted VESA E-EDID specifically naming 1680x1050?"

You really can't w/o trying it. Make sure wherever you get it and an acceptable return policy.

2.Regarding the "Lots of very fine LCD's available that cost less than an ACD." Do you know which, if any, have been praised as working well with Photoshop or similar image enhancement programs?

I'm sure you could find "praise" - whatever that's worth - for many, if not most, possibly even all of them - at least the brand name ones. Again:  
find a source with a decent return policy.

I'd insist on one that (a) was 22", (b) supported DDC/CI, and (c) claimed a sub-10ms response time. The HP 2207, Gateway 2275, Samsung 226B, LG 226, Dell 228, Benq 222 would all be candidates on my list, esp. since in my neck of the woods I could buy any *two*  of these for the price of one smaller 20" Apple ACD. :)