Sapphire Vid 2X Display Expander Review (with Macbook Air)

1. Introduction2. Vid-2X Display Expander DVI Version (PSE-DV2185)3. Vid-2X Display Expander DVI Version (Super High Res Gallery)4. Vid-2X Display Expander Displayport Version (PSE-DP4196)5. Vid-2X Display Expander Displayport Version (Super High Res Gallery)6. Testing the Vid 2X with Macbook Air7. Closing Thoughts8. View All Pages

The Dual Link DVI version arrives in a predominately blue box with an image on the front highlighting the multiple screen capabilities and the model identity listed top right.

Inside the box is a thick user manual, USB power cable, plug adapter and a DVI cable which is connected from the computer to the Sapphire Vid 2X unit. There is also a power connector which supports multiple countries.

The unit itself is small, measuring 114 mm x 32 mm x 107 mm (WxHxD). The weight of the Vid 2X is only 210g. It is finished in an attractive black with the company branding on the top of the chassis. At the front is an OLED display readout, a diagnostic button, a device reset button and a set of configuration switches.

These configuration switches allow the user to quickly configure the box. Switch 1 controls the output mode – stretch or clone and switch 2 the choice of monitor blanking time. Switches 3 to 8 control the number of pixels removed for the hardware bezel correction feature.

If Switch 1 is in the ‘on' position (up) then it changes from stretch screen to dual clone screen. If Switch 2 is in the ‘on' position (up) then it will use the LCD monitor blanking time, rather than the default fixed reduced blanking time. As you change the position of switches 3 through 8 it will remove pixels from the output stream, enabling the user to compensate for bezel thickness. Up to 186 pixels can be removed from each monitor output, for a total of 372 pixels.

One side of the product has a Dual Link DVI port. The supplied cable connects this directly to the computer for video input. There is also a USB header here which also plugs into the computer, to power the device.

The other side of the Vid 2X has dual DVI headers which connect to either one or two monitors. You can also use HDMI to DVI adapters to connect to HDMI panels if you wish, but these aren't supplied in the box.

It supports the following resolutions:

Display Mode Table @ 50Hz/60Hz, 24 bpp: Stretch-Mode : 3840×1200 / 3840×1080

Display Mode Table @ 60Hz, 24 bpp: Stretch-Mode : 3360×1050 / 3200×1200 / 3200×900 / 2880×1050 / 2880×900 / 2732×768 / 2560×1024 / 1920×1200
Stretch/Clone-Mode:1920×1080 / 1600×1200 / 1600×900 / 1440×1050 / 1440×900 / 1366×768 / 1360×768 / 1280×1024 / 1280×800 /1280×768 / 1024×768 / 800×600

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