T510 + passive DP adapter - IBM T221 = Not even detected

Question

Hi there.  I've got a new T510 with the Nvidia card, and I'm trying to set up my exotic IBM T221 DG-3 with it.
The T221, if you're not familiar with it, was nicknamed Big Bertha by the industry when it came out in 2001 - it has a maximum resolution of 3840x2400 @ 41 Hz through four single-link DVI cables.  It can do 1920x1200 @ 41 Hz or 3840x2400 @ 13 Hz (17 Hz overclocked) with just a single cable, and 3840x2400 @ 20 Hz (35 Hz overclocked) with two DVI cables using spanning.  With multiple cables the computer just sees them as separate monitors, but with a single cable it's no different than any other DVI monitor.
I've run it on my desktop with an NVIDIA 7950 GT, Quadro FX 1300, and an ATI 5770.  All of them could handle a single cable at max resolution fine, even though it's way past the stated max resolution spec of any of them.  The problem is bandwidth, not the max resolution - so lowering the refresh rate to just 13 Hz gives plenty of bandwidth for super-high resolutions on any card.
That refresh rate might sound stupidly slow - but believe me, for static things like photo editing and browsing the web it's fine.  Gaming isn't really feasible of course, but the bigger problem for that is input lag.  I have a Sony GDM FW-900 for that anyway.
My problem is that with my T510 and a passive DisplayPort to DVI adapter, when I hook up the T221 it doesn't even wake up from its sleep mode and the T510 can't detect it at all.  It's got its own bulit-in drivers, so I know that's not the problem.  I don't have another DVI monitor to test my DP-DVI adapter, but that's definitely something I need to do.  Still, I feel like a passive adapter is unlikely to have any problems.
So I'm trying to figure out a few things with troubleshooting it.  Is the Nvidia card for the T510 capable of outputting the DVI/HDMI signal through the DP socket?  Everything I've read says it can.
I know the stated max resolution for the single link is 1920x1200, but that assumes a 60 Hz refresh rate which I don't expect to get.  I would have figured that the display would have shown up even if that were the problem.
Can anyone help me in diagnosing the problem?
Thanks,
Ben

Answer 1

ben - welcome to the forum!
i haven't used a T221 in ages but you might have better luck with the mini dock+ 3 for your system.   it has two single-link DVI-D outputs and might be able to span two connections to that display to get 3840x2400 @ 20Hz.
having not tried this myself i cannot speak to its success.   it's worth a try at least -- especially if purchased through a reseller with a good return policy.   and, who knows, you might decide to keep it.
definitely keep us posted on your outcome.   i'd be very interested to know if this works.
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