Xenarc 700TSV @ 800x480 on a Mac mini?

**MacVroom** · 03-25-2005, 12:51 PM

Has anyone been able to get a Xenarc 700TSV to display the native 800x480 on a Mac mini? I've been trying to get it to work using DisplayConfigX...

I configured DisplayConfigX to use 800x480 @ 60Hz, and now the resolution is listed in the Displays preferences. The problem is that for some reason when I select the 800x480 resolution, the screen sets itself to 640x480 and the image is scaled. Another strange thing, now when I select 800x600 @60Hz refresh, the screen sets itself to 800x480 with the bottom half chopped off - it actually looks real nice and the image is not being scaled, just chopped off. Any suggestions?

I've also played with SwitchRes and cscreen with no luck.

**iKenndac** · 03-25-2005, 06:13 PM

I've been doing exactly the same thing.

The screen isn't setting itself to 640x480, it's just reporting that it's displaying that. It lies. The jagginess you're seeing is due to the timings being wrong. So... we set the timings exactly as stated on the Xenarc FAQ page... but DisplayConfigX (DCX) won't let me do that - it changes some of the figures to something I don't want.

I emailed the author, and it's a bug in Mac OS X 10.3.x, and DCX prevents you entering values that'll screw up the OS. He said it'd be fixed in OS 10.4. Now, I have a developer subscription with Apple and receive developer builds through the mail, so I asked him to let me try it.

The latest version of 10.4 with the latest version of DCX now let me enter the values... and I get a blank screen. The screen switches itself off completely. Could be a bug in the prerelease version os OS X, or something else.

To this day, I haven't got 800x480 working properly on the Mac mini. But you're right, 800x600 looks nice!

**BigDogTX** · 04-10-2005, 10:20 PM

Is this only a problem with the TSV screens?

I was just about to purchase my MiniMac and a DWW-700M. I know I need 800x480, and am hoping these two play nice together.

**iKenndac** · 04-11-2005, 06:22 AM

I can't think of a reason why Xenarc would use a different screen to the 700T/S/V series. You'll likely have the same issues as us. Wait for Tiger, apparently that'll give better results in conjunction with DisplayConfigX.

**MacVroom** · 04-12-2005, 10:17 AM

We finally got the 800 x 480 resolution working with the help of DisplayConfigX! You can read all about it here...
http://www.macvroom.com/node/36/

**BigDogTX** · 04-12-2005, 09:09 PM

This is great news! Fantastic Find! Can you post the applescript when it is ready? Now I can feel confident in getting a mac mini...although I might wait for 10.4 to come standard on them

thanks again!

**MacVroom** · 04-19-2005, 08:04 PM

We've finished the AppleScript to easily change the Mac mini's resolution to 800 x 480 upon startup. The download and instructions can be found here...
http://www.macvroom.com/node/39/

**sdashiki** · 04-20-2005, 10:05 AM

youd only need to do it once if you let the mac sleep and not turn off. and if you have a 2nd tank battery, like im planning on, you wont ever restart or turn off the mac, rarely. But having a first run applescript is a great idea, good job dooooooooooood.

**4thChild** · 06-13-2006, 04:53 PM

Is this still the best option or are their new considerations? Been out for a while, but have all the parts to start putting this thing together now.... finally. New carnetix macpac on the way before this weekend. Get ready for the questions!!!! LOL (After extensive searching ofcourse!!)