DisplayConfigX gives you a wide range of resolutions and sets them to whatever your monitor supports (auto detected, if your monitor supports EDID 1.2). If you want 100Hz resolutions or if the default resolutions aren't enough, this is your tool. Provides pretty much arbitrary resolutions (depending on your hardware). Works with most decent vga monitors and graphic cards. Supports DVI monitors and HDTV style devices.
What's New
Version 1.0.9: Optionally keeps default resolutions.
Requirements
PPC, Mac OS X 10.2 or later, multi-scan monitor.
After I upgraded to 10.5 on my original MacBook, my external monitor no longer had a 1440x900 resolution available. I just bought DisplayConfigX, and it's working perfectly, now (10.6, now).
A real life saver. I was trying to hook up an HP w2338h monitor to a MacBook with a mini-DVI to HDMI cable. It should have worked, but System Preferences would not give me the monitor's native resolution (1920 x 1080, 60 hZ, not interlaced) as a choice.
Then I remembered using this application to set an old CRT to a higher refresh rate years ago. I had to buy a new license because I no longer had access to that computer or email account, but it was worth it.
It's not completely straight forward to set up, but only because there are lots of options that are beyond my level of understanding, but I read the instructions on the website and only changed what I was sure I wanted to change -- I preserved the system resolutions and added one timing setting at 1920 x 1080, 60 hZ, not interlaced, without changing any thing else. It worked perfectly.
If you know your computer is capable of supporting your monitor's native resolution, but System Preferences won't allow you to do it, this program is worth a try.
Unfortunately, this is a PowerPC-only app. This means it runs under emulation (Rosetta) on any current Mac. SnowLeopard doesn't install Rosetta by default, so you'll get a warning dialog on first launch.
It has been four years since the Intel switchover. Time to recompile for the current architecture. The OS doesn't even run on PowerPC anymore.
Just wanted to give this guy full credit! With generous email support from the author, i realised my problem (reported earlier) was just pilot error. I am now easily able to output interlaced video formats from my MacMini (Early 2006 model, Intel Core Duo, with the intel GMA 950 graphics chipset). I'd like the user interface to be a wee bit more obvious, but it surely gets the job done! Excellent stuff!
Dave, could you please share some of the info you received from the developer. I am trying to get 1080p working on a early 2006 Mac mini used with an Insignia 42" LCD which is supposed to do a full 1080p resolution.
Well all I did really was very VERY carefully read the instructions. Everything I needed was there in the first place, you just have to be very meticulous. There were many MANY restarts and trial and errors, and I needed to use AppleRemoteDesktop (or VNC) a lot because hooked to my TV if the signal came out wrong then I could not see the screen.
Basically start with a "known good" configuration and tweak it a bit and restart. If that's good repeat, else go back a step.
http://www.kjams.com/wiki/HDTV
Anonymousreviewed on 17 Oct 2005
App (1.09) unexpectedly quits as soon as it stops 'bouncing' in the dock. Any help would be grealy appreciated. I'm on a Mac Mini running 10.4.2.
I wish it would work as this is an amazing app that I have used in the past w/ other computers.
[Version 1.09]
Anonymousreviewed on 10 Oct 2005
Unfortunately, this utility insists on writing something into the app's directory.
Therefore, it was immediately deleted as this is completely unacceptable behavior.
[Version 1.09]
Anonymousreviewed on 27 May 2005
Still works in Tiger 10.4.1 yay!
I love this little utility.
i have a 12" G4 Powerbook and i use a 17" Dell P780 CRT.
there are many resolutions between 1024x768 and 1280x1024 that OSX doesn't give me. And many of them have really high refresh rates supported by my Dell CRT. So with this app i'm able to find that perfect resolution for my eyes - 1184x888 @ 91hz.
[Version 1.07]
Anonymousreviewed on 26 Jan 2005
Great, great utility. I finally managed to run my Sanyo PLV-Z3 projector at its native 1280x720 resolution from my 12" Al powerbook.
DisplayConfigX succeeded where SwitchresX failed, well worth the paltry $12.
[Version 1.02]
Anonymousreviewed on 31 Jul 2004
Have been using this tool for a month now, and I'm still happy!
I have downloaded DisplayConfigX and purchased a serial number, but I have not received the serial number. The e-mail addresses on the website are not responding. Anybody have any good ideas how to make contact with these guys?
Help anyone? A friend bought a Mini and wants to hook it to her 1080 Mitsubisi tv. In tryinh to help her, I have had SO much trouble, and ended up with just a plain blue screen. After 3 hours on hold with the Apple support, they made an appointment with a local Genius Bar. The Genius there told us about this great program and said it has worked like a charm to hook up his large tv. So this will be my next plan of attack.
So, my question...does anyone know what resolution I need for a new mini and a new Mitsubishi 1080 tv?
Boy, would help EVER be appreciated!!!!
Thanks,
franson1@mac.com
I wrote to the author several days ago, and did not hear back.
The author claims "compatability with the new MacMini", however, I can not make it work with 1080i. I see others are having success with 1080i on other machines. When I add that resolution and restart, it does NOT show up in the menu (as 480p does show up). What am I doing wrong?
The software seems to be perfect, except I can't find value in it if it doesn't work on my setup. I'm happy to re-evaluate if i've done something wrong. Thanks.
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DisplayConfigX gives you a wide range of resolutions and sets them to whatever your monitor supports (auto detected, if your monitor supports EDID 1.2). If you want 100Hz resolutions or if the default resolutions aren't enough, this is your tool. Provides pretty much arbitrary resolutions (depending on your hardware). Works with most decent vga monitors and graphic cards. Supports DVI monitors and HDTV style devices.
+4
Paul Dorman reviewed on 12 Aug 2010
+1
SEK reviewed on 16 Sep 2009
Then I remembered using this application to set an old CRT to a higher refresh rate years ago. I had to buy a new license because I no longer had access to that computer or email account, but it was worth it.
It's not completely straight forward to set up, but only because there are lots of options that are beyond my level of understanding, but I read the instructions on the website and only changed what I was sure I wanted to change -- I preserved the system resolutions and added one timing setting at 1920 x 1080, 60 hZ, not interlaced, without changing any thing else. It worked perfectly.
If you know your computer is capable of supporting your monitor's native resolution, but System Preferences won't allow you to do it, this program is worth a try.
It has been four years since the Intel switchover. Time to recompile for the current architecture. The OS doesn't even run on PowerPC anymore.
+22
Does this work on leopard so I can upgrade tiger ???
davecotter reviewed on 18 Mar 2006
+22
Basically start with a "known good" configuration and tweak it a bit and restart. If that's good repeat, else go back a step.
http://www.kjams.com/wiki/HDTV
Anonymous reviewed on 17 Oct 2005
I wish it would work as this is an amazing app that I have used in the past w/ other computers.
Anonymous reviewed on 10 Oct 2005
Therefore, it was immediately deleted as this is completely unacceptable behavior.
Anonymous reviewed on 27 May 2005
I love this little utility.
i have a 12" G4 Powerbook and i use a 17" Dell P780 CRT.
there are many resolutions between 1024x768 and 1280x1024 that OSX doesn't give me. And many of them have really high refresh rates supported by my Dell CRT. So with this app i'm able to find that perfect resolution for my eyes - 1184x888 @ 91hz.
Anonymous reviewed on 26 Jan 2005
DisplayConfigX succeeded where SwitchresX failed, well worth the paltry $12.
Anonymous reviewed on 31 Jul 2004
So, my question...does anyone know what resolution I need for a new mini and a new Mitsubishi 1080 tv?
Boy, would help EVER be appreciated!!!!
Thanks,
franson1@mac.com
+334
http://www.3dexpress.de/
The author claims "compatability with the new MacMini", however, I can not make it work with 1080i. I see others are having success with 1080i on other machines. When I add that resolution and restart, it does NOT show up in the menu (as 480p does show up). What am I doing wrong?
The software seems to be perfect, except I can't find value in it if it doesn't work on my setup. I'm happy to re-evaluate if i've done something wrong. Thanks.
-dave