Video card advice, please!

[V8Beast]

I re-calibrated using my friend's Spyder3, and this baby looks badass now. I'm even getting used to the weird humming noise that seems typical with this monitor. Thanks for all the helpful suggestions. Now I can get some editing done

[wickidwombat]

no humming noise on either of my screens, I might have to try re-calibrating again with the colormunki
or failing that borrow a spyder

I just got a 30" apple cinema display and damn that screen has some nice natural colour

[Jamesy]

its the hdmi thats limiting your resolution
you have to use a display port connection to get that resolution
so if your existing video card has a display port output then try that it will probably get full res

I am looking at buying a laptop with nVIDIA 600m or 670m. The one with the 670m ($300 more) have a display and DVI ports and both units have HDMI 1.4a. I just Googled around and found that the newer HDMI spec appears to support higher resolutions - can anyone confirm that?

http://www.hdmi.org/manufacturer/hdmi_1_4/hdmi_1_4_faq.aspx#1

Here is a link to the two notebooks (desktop replacements, really)
http://www.reflexnotebook.ca/laptops-notebooks/screen-size/15-display/sager-np6350.html
http://www.reflexnotebook.ca/laptops-notebooks/screen-size/15-display/sager-np9150.html

I thought I would be fine with the 6350 model for my needs and think the NP6350's HDMI port will support monitors beyond 1920x1080.

[V8Beast]

I just got a 30" apple cinema display and damn that screen has some nice natural colour

Did you have to calibrate the Apple monitor much? It sounds like it has nice color right out of the box. This Dell was nowhere close, but it looks good now. Stuff on the web looks great after tuning it up with the Spyder as well. I've always like the Apple monitors, but I'm not a fan of the glossy screen. Not sure if they work on a PC, either? 

[bchernicoff]

As far as i know the IPS panel in that monitor is only 8-bit.

Edit: it is 8-bit with ARC for an emulated 10-bit, but either way the pro workstation cards are well out of the price range.

Where did you find that this is an 8-bit panel?

The ATI v4800 is a workstation card for $160 that outputs 10bit color over DisplayPort: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814195096

[wickidwombat]

I just got a 30" apple cinema display and damn that screen has some nice natural colour

Did you have to calibrate the Apple monitor much? It sounds like it has nice color right out of the box. This Dell was nowhere close, but it looks good now. Stuff on the web looks great after tuning it up with the Spyder as well. I've always like the Apple monitors, but I'm not a fan of the glossy screen. Not sure if they work on a PC, either?

the apple is pretty sweet straight up I havent run a calibration on it yet either, i will do and see how it looks after this is the older one with the anti glare screen not the new glossy one

[wickidwombat]

its the hdmi thats limiting your resolution
you have to use a display port connection to get that resolution
so if your existing video card has a display port output then try that it will probably get full res

I am looking at buying a laptop with nVIDIA 600m or 670m. The one with the 670m ($300 more) have a display and DVI ports and both units have HDMI 1.4a. I just Googled around and found that the newer HDMI spec appears to support higher resolutions - can anyone confirm that?

http://www.hdmi.org/manufacturer/hdmi_1_4/hdmi_1_4_faq.aspx#1

Here is a link to the two notebooks (desktop replacements, really)
http://www.reflexnotebook.ca/laptops-notebooks/screen-size/15-display/sager-np6350.html
http://www.reflexnotebook.ca/laptops-notebooks/screen-size/15-display/sager-np9150.html

I thought I would be fine with the 6350 model for my needs and think the NP6350's HDMI port will support monitors beyond 1920x1080.

HDMI 1.4 can do 1920x1200 but cant stretch to the 2560x1440 of the dells

same all the usb graphics cards max out at 1920x1200 so not sure of any way to get dual screens at 2560x1440 each on a macbook pro (2011)

also Dell documentation states that the U2711 HDMI port is (internally) limited to 1920x1080

only way to get max res is with a display port or dual link dvi

[Jamesy]

HDMI 1.4 can do 1920x1200 but cant stretch to the 2560x1440 of the dells

same all the usb graphics cards max out at 1920x1200 so not sure of any way to get dual screens at 2560x1440 each on a macbook pro (2011)

also Dell documentation states that the U2711 HDMI port is (internally) limited to 1920x1080

only way to get max res is with a display port or dual link dvi

Sounds like the HDMI port on the Dell is the limiting factor rather than HDMI 1.4a. It is like plugging in a USB 2.0 device to a USB 3.0 port - you are still limited to USB speeds.