Video cable - getting 1680 x 1050 resolution

DonnyDave

I am trying to get two monitors to work to their optimum. They are both on a single PC and the cables for both of which need to be 5 metres long.

The monitors are a Xerox XA7-22 (not sure exactly which model) and an Acer AL2016W. Their native resolutions are 1680 x 1050 and they are both analogue only.


They work fine when connected only with the 1.8m cables supplied. The PC switches to respective native resolutions and the NVIDIA Control Panel shows the model name of each device correctly.

With some longer (5 metre) male to female extensions connected onto the standard 1.8m leads they either fail to work completely or work but not at the native resolution and a poor picture (ghosting).


What does work is a 5m Belkin Super VGA extension cable (part number F2N025b05M-GLD) connected onto a 1.8m lead (provided with the monitor). The respective monitor is identified correctly on the PC and it also switches to native resolution. The picture is excellent with no ghosting whatsoever.

I'm looking for another lead that works as well this.


The only others that work (after a fashion) are:

• a Belkin 5m male to male lead, part number unknown, although on the cable it says AWM and "Style 20276". This is the same as is on the two 1.8m leads (not Belkin though). It doesn't identify the monitor model and doesn't switch to the native resolution.
• a 3m extension which switches to the native resolution but which has ghosting on.

So, what is so special that makes the F2N025b05M-GLD work? Is it individual screening that is required or something else? Why might the 5m 20276 cable not work?


It may also be worth explaining that the 1.8m leads have ferrite beads on each of the ends, and that none of the other leads or extensions do. Is this perhaps relevant?

I did swap round end to end the 5m Belkin extension plus 1.8m lead so that the 1.8m lead was at the PC end and it seemed to give a much better picture.

davb

I think it's down to the quality of the leads, so at that length you need the best you can get. I assume that the leads that don't work are thinner and more flimsy than the F2N025b05M-GLD
If the original 1.8m leads are not fixed to the monitors, you may be better with a single lead - if so, there is an F2N028B05M-GLD replacement cable (M-M) here which may work for you - reading the reviews, just make sure they send the right one.

almillar

Donny - I think you know the answer already - at 1.8m the quality of the cable doesn't matter so much. At a low resolution it doesn't matter so much either.
But you want a LONG cable with a HIGH resolution, so you need to spend more on a quality cable. You must be able to find one of those tried and tested Belkins you have found to work on eBay or something? That would be the fastest way to solve the problem. Ghosting is usually caused by interference within, or from outside the cable. Better screened cable helps prevent this, so does keeping your cables away from power cables.

DonnyDave

Thanks for the suggestions.

I've ordered a M-M 5m version (F2N028B05M-GLD) as suggested by davb.