Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: 2 DVI cables or 1 required between CineIPM & NEC 800?

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Posted by William F Green (Member # 3192) on 08-21-2012, 08:43 PM:

Hi all,
I have to get a number of cables run to our remotely mounted NEC NC800. Server, processor, CineIPM etc are in the control room below.
I am a little confused whether I need two DVI cables or only one for alternative content via the Christie CineIPM?

It appears that both CineIPM and projector support the use of either a single DVI cable supporting 8bit signals or both DVI's connected to support 10bit signals.

Thanks.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 08-21-2012, 09:53 PM:

Just the one cable and set the projector to 8-bit. I don't think the CIneIPM can even do 10 or 12-bit output. Note it isn't HDCP compliant either.

Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 08-22-2012, 05:09 AM:

Dual-Link DVI still uses only ONE DVI connector, not two physical connectors.

Still, running two DVI cables could be useful (though not necessary) for multiple sources.

- Carsten

Posted by William F Green (Member # 3192) on 08-22-2012, 06:06 AM:

Apparently the CineIPM does indeed output 10bit signals if you select that option - but it needs 2 x separate cables to do that, not a dual-link single cable. I suppose my question was - is there any advantage to having a 10bit output?
Yes, unfortunately the CineIPM is not HDCP compliant but then neither is the projector, so we are using analogue component to get HD from BluRay.

At 15m we are also on the limit of DVI cable length but that's another issue..

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 08-22-2012, 06:42 AM:

For 10 and 12 bit color...one uses "Twin-link" which is a dual cable format. Personally, for those scalers, I would not bother with going beyond 8-bit.

Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 08-22-2012, 06:29 PM:

Yep, Twin-Link is not Dual-Link.

For a remote installation, I would also suggest to NOT use 10Bit output - because 8Bit mode allows to use the second DVI output as a secondary display output. That way you can monitor the signals on a DVI monitor before actually displaying them on the projector. Saves on lamp time/ignitions as well when preparing sources.

10Bit from BluRay will be useless, especially when coming from analog component signals.

And, by the way:

http://www.digital-digest.com/news-62834-Blu-ray-Analog-HD-Output-To-Be-Restricted.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Access_Content_System#Analog_Outputs

- Carsten

Posted by William F Green (Member # 3192) on 08-25-2012, 11:25 AM:

Thanks guys - & that's a very good point about using the second DVI port for a monitor.
I've not had a chance to read those links yet Carsten but most BD players now don't have component outputs. But does that mean that new BD discs will actually prevent the component outputs working to HD on older players? I know it's been talked about for some time but does not seem to have happened so far.

edit: ok have now read those two links - very annoying! I guess I'll have to get hold of an HD fury as that's cheaper than an HDPC upgrade on the proj.