XHD3000 Introduction and Basic Setup

I like big computer monitors and always have. Back in my editing days I utilized a Mac-based AVID video edit workstation and got very accustomed to dual 20-inch CRT screens. That turned out to be a curse and, until recently, I always surrounded myself with a dual-monitor system at home as well. Through the years the sizes have gone from 15-inch to 19-inch and the technology from CRT to LCD but I always needed a lot more real-estate than a single monitor could give me.

Until now.

Gateway's new 30-inch 2560x1600 behemoth XHD3000 monitor is like a dream come true. Finally, I can actually get more than two (large) screens worth of content onto a single screen. My desk is cleaner, sleeker and let's face it – a giant 30-inch display sitting a scant 20-inches away from your face is a sight to behold. It turns heads, heck – it almost breaks necks.

Basic Setup and Installation

Setup is easy, except for the expected difficulties of finagling cables and connections to the bottom of a rather large monitor. Each of the inputs and connections are labeled on the back of the display, however the think white text and graphics may be difficult to make out in dim light, so bring a flashlight if you're not in a brightly-lit room.

The display comes pre-mounted on its stand – a very robust and futuristic-looking assembly that would make any industrial engineer proud. It was too bad that the robust and slick-looking tilt/swivel assembly has to exist on the back – it was so beautiful I wanted to show it off. If you don't have your desk up against a wall as I do, you'll have the opportunity to do just that.

Note on Dual-Link DVI-D: DVI-D (dual-link) is a unique and special connection. It requires three things: 1) a compatible video card that supports dual-link output, 2) A dual-lnk DVI-D cable, and 3) a monitor that is dual-link compatible. The ONLY way you will get 2560 x 1600 resolution on the XHD3000 is through a dual-link chain.

Every time you boot the XHD3000 you will be treated to a melodic succession of 7 tones which greet you and welcome you to the world of uber-large displays with enough resolution to show not only the adorable mole on Milla Jovovich's face but its texture. In my initial setup I quickly realized that the ATI Radeon X600 PCI-Express video card installed in my PC simply wouldn't cut it. My maximum resolution was 1920 x 1200 – the same as with my current 24-inch LCD monitor. I had utilized the dual-link cable supplied with the XHD3000, so I was a bit confused until I realized that my video card didn't support dual-link DVI-D output, thus choking the resolution. Gateway came to the rescue by shipping me an nVidia GeForce 8600 GT PCI-Express card. That did it. OK, so I needed a $200 video card to run it – actually you can get dual-link for a less than that, so don't fret it.

Connections

There are a plethora of inputs on the rear of the the XHD3000, however duplicates are not something Gateway considered critical. What this means is that while you have one each of HDMI, DVI-D, VGA/HD-15, component, etc – if you have two DVI-D outputs from two different PCs you're out of luck. I personally run a Mac Mini and a PC. To get both connected I simply utilized the VGA input for the Mac. I am completely satisfied with this arrangement (the Mini won't support 2560 x 1600 resolution regardless) but those users hoping to pipe two DVI-D outputs into this monitor will need to get a separate switcher.

The availability of separate audio inputs for each of the analogue and the DVI-D inputs means that this is a true multi-source display. I have seen many displays that “share” audio inputs, especially between composite and S-video. The dxp Speaker Bar (DXP stands for “Digital eXplosive Power” – just kidding I made that up) plugs into the rear of the display and requires both an audio and power connection which are provided.