DVI to HDMI (or DVI to Display Port) connection to UltraWide (2560x1080p) monitor?

English Hardware
#1

I have what I think to be two hardware questions, although possibly I am looking at a software answer. It is associated with a planned LEAP-15.2 to 15.3 update.

I think I know the answer (to both questions) but I thought I would ask to give me confidence I have not overlooked anything.

1st question: Will the output of an old nvidia GTX-260 graphic card (using a DVI to HDMI adapter) display OK on an ultrawide LG29 monitor (capable of 2560x1080p resolution) at a lower resolution?

I don’t care if I don’t get 2560x1080p resolution … as I simply want to connect for a few hours to update the desktop with the nividia GTX-260 graphic card from LEAP-15.2 to LEAP-15.3. Once the update is successful, I will disconnect the LG29 monitor and connect to the desktop ‘headlessly’ (ie via ssh/vnc).

I suspect the answer is ‘yes’ this will work (giving 1920x1080 with black bars on either side of ultra wide monitor).

Supporting information:

  • the GTX-260 grapic card supports 2560x1600, it has only DVI connectors,
  • the LG29 ultrawide monitor supports 2560x1080 , it only has 2xHDMI and 1xDisplay Port.
  • To connect the two I pondering to use a DVI to HDMI adapter to connect the graphic card to the monitor with an HDMI cable. However I have read DVI to HDMI adapters only support 1920x1080 resolution, which is fine for me … But will the LG monitor display at 1920x1080 resolution with the adapter in the electrical connection?
  • This is for only a very brief few hours connection.

Surfing on that has not yet given me a definitive answer (I suspect the answer is yes - however I have read of users with different monitors saying DVI-to-HDMI to an ultrawide monitor fails for them).

2nd question: Am I better off paying more money buying a “Dual Link DVI” to Display port adaptor and also buying a display port cable (for only a few hour connection) ? I have read the nvidia GTX-260 supports Dual Link DVI (which will support up to 2560x1600)? I don’t particularly care for this route as it means spending more money.

I suspect the answer is yes this will work, but I will need to buy a ‘dual link DVI adapter’ and buy an appropriate Display Port cable.

Background: A few more details (likely not so relevant - so it can be skipped) :

This is on an ancient core-i7-920 desktop running openSUSE-LEAP-15.2 that I plan to update to LEAP-15.3. The monitor I use with this desktop long since died, but that was no bother as its my 3rd PC and I simply connect to it headlessly via ssh and vnc over the family LAN. The desktop is sitting under a desk with the LG29 monitor, so the connection would be easy to make (the desk and monitor are used nominally by my wife for use with her laptop).

3rd approach I have not considered: I have not done a ‘headless’ upgrade to from one LEAP version to another LEAP version (which I suspect may be possible) but since I don’t have that GNU/Linux experience I don’t have the confidence that if I try that, that the upgrade from LEAP-15.2 to 15.3 will work. Hence my pondering to use a DVI to HDMI cable (and sort of rejecting the Dual Port DVI to Display port adapters approach to save money - after all this is a VERY OLD desktop).

In summary questions:

  1. Will the DVI output of a graphic card display ok on an Ultrawide monitor at a lower resolution? (lower resolution as its driven via a DVI to HDMI cable)?

  2. Is it a better/safer approach to use a Dual DVI to Display Port adapter to connect graphic card to the Ultrawide monitor ? [which means spending more $$]

I would be curious as to any experience.

#2

Basically answering my own question (which is the question I didn’t ask … lol … ) …

Probably I should attempt a headless update from LEAP-15.2 to 15.3 (via SSH) on this old desktop … and then if I fail to access the desktop after the update, to then connect the ultrawide monitor (using a DVI to HDMI adapter) to the desktop and boot the desktop to see if I can access LEAP-15.3. There is nothing critical on this old desktop so that is likely the best way for me to learn …

If I have issues doing a headless update to LEAP-15.3 I will post in an Install/Boot/Login thread (although I will research this a lot first prior to attempting such an update).

#3

Hi
Upgraded my ADS-B headless system yesterday via ssh and zypper, one thing I did do was switch to the mirrorcache URL (See the news about that for your region) and downloaded all the updates first (was only ~800MB). No issues and all back and running after the reboot…

You need to ensure if on btrfs to follow the /var/cache subvolume setup.

https://en.opensuse.org/SDB:System_upgrade

#4

For my location, that likely would be Hong Kong, or Singapore, or Malaysia ( https://mirrors.opensuse.org/ ). I will have to check to see how to switch to a mirrorcache.

Thanks. I’ve been reading that.

To download all updates first I assume it means I need to use the " --download-in-advance " option.

This old desktop has the Linux partitions formatted with ext4, so there are no btrfs complexities.

#5

Hi
This article: https://news.opensuse.org/2021/12/23/download-redirector-state/

So http://mirrorcache-au.opensuse.org/

Yes, the download-in-advance option, you could also run download-only to make sure you get everything and then dup, I would also add verbosity to see what’s happening as well with the -vvv option.

#6

Thanks, those links lead me here with excellent guidance for the mirror: https://en.opensuse.org/MirrorCache#Setting_up_MirrorCache_for_your_machine

Thanks for the ’ -vvv’ option suggestion.
.

#7

My 2560x1080 display:

# hwinfo --monitor
22: None 00.0: 10002 LCD Monitor
  [Created at monitor.125]
  Unique ID: rdCR.ENry2eDt2v4
  Parent ID: IluS.RGxIQMAo_bD
  Hardware Class: monitor
  Model: "DELL U2913WM"
  Vendor: DEL "DELL"
  Device: eisa 0x408a "DELL U2913WM"
  Serial ID: "5W92N66N105L"
  Resolution: 720x400@70Hz
  Resolution: 640x480@60Hz
  Resolution: 640x480@75Hz
  Resolution: 800x600@60Hz
  Resolution: 800x600@75Hz
  Resolution: 1024x768@60Hz
  Resolution: 1024x768@75Hz
  Resolution: 1280x1024@75Hz
  Resolution: 1152x864@75Hz
  Resolution: 1280x1024@60Hz
  Resolution: 2560x1080@60Hz
  Size: 673x284 mm
  Year of Manufacture: 2016
  Week of Manufacture: 25
  Detailed Timings #0:
     Resolution: 2560x1080
     Horizontal: 2560 2624 2688 2784 (+64 +128 +224) -hsync
       Vertical: 1080 1083 1093 1111 (+3 +13 +31) +vsync
    Frequencies: 185.58 MHz, 66.66 kHz, 60.00 Hz
  Driver Info #0:
    Max. Resolution: 2560x1080
    Vert. Sync Range: 49-86 Hz
    Hor. Sync Range: 29-94 kHz
    Bandwidth: 185 MHz
  Config Status: cfg=new, avail=yes, need=no, active=unknown
  Attached to: #8 (VGA compatible controller)
#

I don’t know that there’s any software that reports what input connection types are available on a display. This one has DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI, VGA, and also a DisplayPort output.

This is my fermi:

# inxi -GSayz
System:
  Kernel: 5.3.18-59.34-default x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 7.5.0
  parameters: root=LABEL=<filtered> ipv6.disable=1 net.ifnames=0 noresume
  mitigations=auto consoleblank=0 5
  Desktop: Trinity R14.0.11 tk: Qt 3.5.0 info: kicker wm: Twin 3.0 vt: 7
  dm: TDM Distro: openSUSE Leap 15.3
Graphics:
  Device-1: NVIDIA GF108 [GeForce GT 630] vendor: Gigabyte driver: nouveau
  v: kernel bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:0f00 class-ID: 0300
  Device-2: NVIDIA G84 [GeForce 8600 GT] vendor: XFX Pine driver: nouveau
  v: kernel bus-ID: 05:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:0402 class-ID: 0300
  Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.3 **driver: loaded: modesetting**
  unloaded: fbdev,vesa alternate: nouveau,nv,nvidia display-ID: :0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 2560x1080 s-dpi: 120 s-size: 541x228mm (21.3x9.0")
  s-diag: 587mm (23.1")
  **Monitor**-1: **DVI**-I-1 res: **2560x1080** hz: 60 dpi: 97
  size: 673x284mm (26.5x11.2") diag: 730mm (28.8")
  OpenGL: renderer: NVC1 v: 4.3 Mesa 20.2.4 direct render: Yes
#

which is quite newer than a GTX 280.

This is my Tesla, about a year older than a GTX 280:

# inxi -GSayz
System:
  Kernel: 5.3.18-59.37-default x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 7.5.0
    parameters: root=LABEL=<filtered> ipv6.disable=1 net.ifnames=0 noresume
    mitigations=auto consoleblank=0 vga=791 5
  Desktop: Trinity R14.0.11 tk: Qt 3.5.0 info: kicker wm: Twin 3.0 vt: 7
    dm: TDM Distro: openSUSE Leap 15.3
Graphics:
  Device-1: NVIDIA G98 [GeForce 8400 GS Rev. 2] vendor: PNY driver: nouveau
    v: kernel bus-ID: 0b:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:06e4 class-ID: 0300
  Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.3 **driver: loaded: modesetting**
    unloaded: fbdev,vesa alternate: nouveau,nv,nvidia display-ID: :0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1920x1080 s-dpi: 120 s-size: 405x228mm (15.9x9.0")
    s-diag: 465mm (18.3")
  **Monitor**-1: **DVI**-I-1 res: **1920x1080** hz: 60 dpi: 72
    size: 673x284mm (26.5x11.2") diag: 730mm (28.8")
  OpenGL: renderer: NV98 v: 3.3 Mesa 20.2.4 direct render: Yes
#

The Tesla came up in 1400x1050 mode, which my Dell has an affinity to when connected to an older GPU via DVI. I switched it to 1920x1080 with xrandr, the maximum mode it reported.

The connection was a shorty DVI-to-HDMI adapter and a 6’ HDMI cable.

I can imagine no reason you can’t be happy with the process.

#8

Thanks for the input. …

At this stage its more for a backup plan, in case the headless update that I am in the process of doing (as I type this) fails.

My main worry was if I used the GTX260 (not a GTX280) with a DVI-to-HDMI adaptor to the LG29 ultrawide monitor it would only give a black screen with the LG monitor (where a user with my identical hardware reported on the Internet they only could get a black screen (albeit MS-Windows), followed by another user who stated it could not possibly work with DVI to HDMI adapter, … followed by another who stated with the same hardware it worked with no problem at 1920x1080 on a 2560x1080 display (with simple black bars on both sides).

This sort of conflicting information/experience on the Internet, often complicates one’s planning. Who to believe?

…

I switched to the Australian mirror, from the default openSUSE.org repository, for the headless update from 15.2 to 15.3, and its downloading at about 1/2 the speed for (sometimes 1/3 the speed) of what I typically would get with the openSUSE.org repository (and no mirror). I know they say to use a mirror closer when doing the update (claiming better speeds can be obtained), but honestly - that is not my experience. Slower speeds are typically obtained in my experience. I recall trying a mirror switch (but for only small updates) once before over a year ago, and again I had very very slow down load speeds with a few different geographically closer mirrors.

… still I am retired - and I have the time to wait - so a bit longer does not matter. The process is underway (its been downloading now for 2 hours and its about 80% complete the ~3GB download). … and I have a fast fiber optic connection at home, capable of more than 20x the download speeds I am getting with this update.
.

#9

The 260 is also a Tesla. Its release was at least 6 months after my 8400 GS rev2.

If you do need your backup plan, read my post here from just hours ago about NVidia GPUs and kernel-default-extra.

#10

Thanks. It took about 3.5 hours, but the install to LEAP-15.3 (from 15.2) was a success. Thanks to Malcolm for the confidence building posts.

I had only one interaction during the install,where it complained it could not delete the old LEAP-15.2 kernel (although the 15.3 kernel installed ok).

I am accessing the old PC via vnc piped over ssh at present time. Not much to configure as this type of headless update configures most everything and takes a lot of the work/fun out of updating with a clean install rotfl! I miss the fun !! rotfl!

I had the resolution left at 1024x768 (piped over vnc) because I used to on occasion access it with an old laptop that had a low resolution. But now that I have my Lenovo X1 Carbon with its high resolution, accessing this headless desktop at 1024x768 is just too small a resolution. I will need to check a bit as to what I need to do to increase the resolution to 1600x1200 (when accessing this headless device via vnc).

In case any are curious, here is the ‘headless’ old PC:


oldcpu@oldcorei7:~> inxi -F
System:    Host: oldcorei7 Kernel: 5.3.18-59.10-default x86_64 bits: 64 Desktop: KDE Plasma 5.18.6 
           Distro: openSUSE Leap 15.3 
Machine:   Type: Desktop Mobo: ASUSTeK model: P6T DELUXE V2 v: Rev 1.xx serial: <superuser/root required> 
           BIOS: American Megatrends v: 1108 date: 09/21/2010 
CPU:       Topology: Quad Core model: Intel Core i7 920 bits: 64 type: MT MCP L2 cache: 8192 KiB 
           Speed: 1604 MHz min/max: 1600/2668 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 1636 2: 1629 3: 1604 4: 1627 5: 1604 
           6: 1629 7: 1604 8: 1606 
Graphics:  Device-1: NVIDIA GT200 [GeForce GTX 260] driver: nouveau v: kernel 
           Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.3 driver: nouveau unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,vesa s-res: 1024x768 
           OpenGL: renderer: NVA0 v: 3.3 Mesa 20.2.4 
Audio:     Device-1: Intel 82801JI HD Audio driver: snd_hda_intel 
           Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.3.18-59.10-default 
Network:   Device-1: Marvell 88E8056 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet driver: sky2 
           IF: eth1 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: 00:24:8c:7e:ee:38 
           Device-2: Marvell 88E8056 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet driver: sky2 
           IF-ID-1: eth0 state: down mac: 00:24:8c:7e:ee:39 
Drives:    Local Storage: total: 1.36 TiB used: 162.19 GiB (11.6%) 
           ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Seagate model: ST31500341AS size: 1.36 TiB 
Partition: ID-1: / size: 28.71 GiB used: 12.80 GiB (44.6%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda2 
           ID-2: /home size: 1.17 TiB used: 149.39 GiB (12.5%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda7 
Swap:      ID-1: swap-1 type: partition size: 6.35 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) dev: /dev/sda5 
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 58.0 C mobo: N/A gpu: nouveau temp: 51 C 
           Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A gpu: nouveau fan: 0 
Info:      Processes: 225 Uptime: 2h 46m Memory: 5.79 GiB used: 1.25 GiB (21.6%) Shell: bash inxi: 3.1.00

I can’t recall exactly when I bought this old non-name PC (custom assembled with hand picked items) but I think it was around 14 years ago. Its a bit of a fossel. lol!

#11

Hi
Great news :slight_smile: Yes upgrade to Leap 15.4 should be just as painless… Once I swapped over the repos and made the /var/cache change, ran the upgrade and left it to it…

#12

What is that about? I’ve done lots up Leap version upgrades, including to 15.4, without any notice of anything to do with cache.

#13

Hi
If it’s a big upgrade and using btrfs it’s a ‘just in case’ esp if running snapshots, my setup is small for this system (16GB SSD), I should really have just put all of /var on xfs like MicroOS does… I’m using less than 4GB and the update was only 700MB so would have been fine and not running snapshots.

#14

I managed to get the resolution I wanted (I decided to go for 1280x1024 instead of 1600x1200), but it took me a few hours to figure it out - and I am not certain I used an optimal approach.

I posted here about it: https://forums.opensuse.org/showthread.php/564832-Resolution-in-headless-desktop-when-accessing-remotely-via-x11vnc-piped-over-ssh
.