Dr. Bott Digital Video Link

Digital Video Link allows the use of monitors with mini DisplayPort on video sources with DVI or HDMI connectors.

Dr. Bott offers Digital Video Link in two versions. The basic functionality is the same for both kits: Both support the full resolution for the 24" Apple LED Cinema Display (1920x1200) and the 720p resolution of both the 27" iMac and 27" LED Cinema Display (HD-Ready). The kits each come with all the necessary content for fully supporting one display right out of the box.


Digital Video Link 24 for Apple 24" LED Cinema Display

In this kit you'll find the cables for connecting the 24" Apple LED Cinema Display to a computer with a DVI graphics card.

The primary resolution is set to the 24" Apple LED Cinema Display (1920x1200 pixels), providing an immediate clear picture right after hooking things up, even while the computer is running.

Digital Video Link 27 for 27" LED Cinema Display & 27" iMac

This edition of the Digital Video Link is ready for using the 27" iMac or 27" LED Cinema Display as a display in 720p (HD Ready, 1280x720 pixels). This resolution is already preset so that DVI graphics cards can start up in the correct resolution without manual fiddling.

The kit also comes with an HDMI cable that allows displaying the video from HDMI sources on the 27" iMac display or on the 27" LED Cinema Display. With this your 27" turns into a superb 720p HD Ready TV screen for game consoles, TV receivers or a DVD player.

Digital Video Link is compatible with HDCP (copy protection is passed through unchanged) and also transmits HDMI Audio to the 27" iMac or the 27" LED Cinema Display. This provides video and audio transmission with a single connection, using the iMac/display speakers to play the sound coming from the HDMI source.

Using an iMac 27" as a display is easy: Just press Command (Apple)-F2 to switch back and forth between the iMac screen and whatever external video you have hooked up with Digital Video Link!

Plug & Play

Digital Video Link usually yields the correct image right away on the 24" Apple LED Cinema Display, no further configuration is required.

For the 27" iMac and the 27" LED Cinema Display changing to 720p TV signal may be required. Especially for HDMI video sources one may need to configure the device to show a 720p video signal, this may require a TV set to handle on-screen feedback until this is completed. Some HDMI video sources allow configuration via remote control or by pressing certain buttons on the device so this step may not always require a second TV set. For computers with DVI graphics the resolution is pre-set and the 27" should show a picture without further setup if you are using a 27" Digital Video Link.

Additional Information

MAY 2011: The iMac Mid-2011 series with Thunderbolt cannot be used with Digital Video Link (see Apple Knowledgebase for details).

Note that you can not use the Apple 24" Cinema Display as a 1080p display for HDMI video sources. This is because its vertical resolution is 1200 pixels and it will not display a 1080p (or 720p) video signal.

2560x1440 resolution: Digital Video Link only supports Single Link DVI. If you use a Single Link DVI graphics card Digital Video Link will provide the best possible image (720p or 1280x720).

With dual-link DVI graphics cards you can do more - for such graphics cards there is Digital Video Link DL.