Why can't I find a monitor driver for my Sun monitor to hook it up to a PC ?

Asset ID:	1-71-1010342.1
Update Date:	2010-09-10
Keywords:

Solution Type Technical Instruction Sure

Solution 1010342.1 : Why can't I find a monitor driver for my Sun monitor to hook it up to a PC ?

Applies to:

Solaris Operating System - Version: 8 and later [Release: and later ]
All Platforms

Goal

Find a monitor driver for my Sun monitor to connect it to a PC.

Solution

Why can't I find a monitor driver for my Sun monitor to hook it up to a PC?

Monitors do not require drivers. Monitors seek a graphics card that offers a resolution/timing that they are compatible with and can sync up to. The only driver involved with a monitor would actually be a driver for the graphics/video card that might allow it to offer a resolution that a monitor can work with. We recommend that you check with the manufacturer of your graphics/video card about what resolutions your card is capable of and/or if they have a driver for you card that will allow it to work with a Sun monitor. They may also be able to help you adjust your graphics card to offer a compatible resolution. You might also check with the manufacturer of your operating system (assuming that you're trying to hook this monitor up to a PC and not a Sun). If you're hooking up this monitor to a Sun system, it will work if your graphics card offers one of the resolutions listed on the Sun System Handbook page for your monitor.

Information about specific models of Sun Monitors

https://support.oracle.com/handbook_private/Devices/Monitor/MONITOR_TOC.html

Video cards used in the PC world typically output separate horizontal and vertical sync signals. Any monitor used with them must be able to accept these separate sync signals, or it will not work at any resolution. Unfortunately, some Sun monitors only accept a single "composite" sync signal, while other Sun monitors will accept either composite or separate horizontal and vertical sync. Sun monitors that are capable of using either type of sync are identified in the Sun System Handbook with the following statement: "This monitor is PC compatible". Likewise, monitors that can only accept composite sync will state: "This monitor is not PC compatible". Use of a composite sync monitor with a PC video card would require the use of a cable adapter that combines the separate sync signals from the video card into a single, composite sync required by that monitor. Check with your local Computer Store to acquire such an adapter for use with non-Sun equipment. The following link is a list of External Data Cables by Type.

https://support.oracle.com/handbook_private/Devices/Cables/cables_ext_data.html#MNTR

To summarize, in order for a sun monitor to work with a PC video card, the video card must be capable of outputting at least one resolution, timing, and sync signal(s) that are compatible with the monitor.

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