VAIO Z Core i5/i7 connected to Apple Cinema Display (Max Resolution : 1280x800)

It's been less than a month using my Z VPCZ1290X and love it so far . So I decided to the use this with my Apple Cinema 30" Display and the only way I could make it to work was using a HDMI-DVI-D cable since I'm using the Belkin SOHO DVI Switch with 4 ports. The Max resolution I get is 1280x800 . I read through several forums but got totally lost and it just generated more noise.

1) Is this possible ? - To use the full resolution of the display 2500x1600 using either VGA to DVI Cable or HDMI to DVI-D cable ?
2) If yes, what would I need to make this work ?

I have tried all options for switching by turning off the Notebook LCD making the Cinema Display Primary, Extended etc. Nothing worked.

The SOHO switch is fully capable of the display resolution since I have 2 other devices working at full resolution.

I read some posts and they are using ViDock and that would not be an option for me. Since I spent a big bunch on the Laptop and now the SOHO Switch and If I keep going for another device, I will not have any space on my desk.

Any help is much appreciated.

 

I am pretty sure you will have to use VGA to get that resolution. IIRC that resolution can only be achieved with VGA or DUAL link DVI. HDMI is equivalent to single link DVI.

 

The maximum for VGA connections is 2048x1536. It will not drive the 30" Cinema Display. Anyways, I thought the 30" incher was a Dual Link DVI, or mini-displayport only?

 

Not true. VGA is an analog connection and it doesn't have a hard limit (like a digital connector would). I've personally ran my 21" CRT at 2560x1440 @ 60 Hz over a VGA cable.

To the OP, quick answer is the max external resolution you'll get out of the HDMI port on the Core i5/i7 Z laptop is 1920x1080 or maybe 1920x1200 if you're lucky. It's hardware backend is a single-link DVI, but 2560x1600 requires a dual-link DVI or equivalent digital port.

 

If I use the VGA Cable, I'm running into Analog to Pure Digital DVI-D and no pic comes up for both VAIO Z & Macbook Pro. If I use HDMI, I can get the 720p and it does not let me change beyond 720p (1280x800). When HDMI is connected, I get a message that conveys I can change the resolution but when launched, I cannot change the HDMI resolution since the TAB is disabled.

 

I wonder if that has anything to do with HDMI Resolution Settings in VAIO Control Center. By default it is set to 720p.

 

The docking station for the Vaio Z comes with a DVI-D port. Does anyone know if it would be capable of outputting the full 2500x1600?

 

I looked and looked, but have yet to see anyone who has been able to actually do this.

There are HDMI specs that support it, but not what is currently installed on vaios.

 

Just bought a Kensington dock K33930US to see if it fixes my problem, It just made it worse ( During the install the screen went blank and my only option was to power it off using the power button ). Spent sometime with the support and they could not it either so it looks like it's going back.

Back to square one again.

 

Will be checking the docking station but I'm very skeptical since it does not support anything over 1080p (1920 x 1080).

 

Try HDMI to dual link DVI-D... Here.

 

Docking station does not do anything either. Also bought Toshiba Dock U which has the supported optimum resolution for Cinema Display 30" (1900x1200) and that did not work also. So I'm back to using my HDMI to DVI which pretty much gives me the same resolution of 720p.

For anybody buying this notebook and want to use it with a higher resolution than 1080p or do not have optimum or native resolution, they can forget about using this. After some research, I found the way things work with this laptop, My Cinema Display supports the following resolution of

2560 x 1600 pixels (optimum resolution)
2048 x 1280
1920 x 1200
1280 x 800
1024 x 640

So when I hookup this laptop, it locks me to the nearest resolution to the max which is 1280 x 800. So if you plan to use it with any higher LCD display's make sure your display supports 1080p or it lock you to the closest below that. I was able to check the list all modes and change the resolution but it very horrible to read or do anything other than the supported resolution

 

Theoretically, you are correct shurcooL, but Sony specifies the max VGA limit in the product documentation:
External Resolution via VGA: 2048x1536

Maybe there is a RAMDAC limitation. Dunno