IBM T220/T221 LCD monitors

The IBM T220 and T221 are LCD monitors with a native resolution of 3840×2400 pixels (WQUXGA) on a screen with a diagonal of 22.2 inch (564 mm). This works out as over 9.2 million pixels, with pixel density of 204 pixels per inch (80 dpcm, 0.1245 mm pixel pitch), much higher than ordinary computer monitors (which typically have about 100 pixels per inch) and approaching the resolution of print media. The display family was nicknamed "Big Bertha" in some trade journals.

IBM T220 (9503-DG0)

The IBM T220 was introduced in June 2001 and was the first monitor to natively support a resolution of 3840×2400. [cite press release | url=http://domino.research.ibm.com/comm/pr.nsf/pages/news.20010627_display.html | title=IBM Introduces World's Highest-Resolution Computer Monitor | publisher=IBM | date=2001-06-27 | accessdate=2007-07-17] In order to support such a high resolution, it features an unusual connector arrangement. On the rear of the display are two proprietary video connectors. A pair of cables supplied with the monitor attach to the connectors and each terminates in two single-link DVI connectors, for a total of four DVI channels. One, two or four of the connectors may be used at once.

IBM T220 comes with a Matrox G200 MMS video card, and two power supplies. To achieve native resolution, the screen is sectioned into four columns of 960×2400 stripes. Under DOS mode, the monitor/card combination only supports 960×1200Fact|date=July 2007 screen mode running at 56 Hz. The monitor's native refresh rate is 41 Hz.

IBM T221

This is a replacement model of IBM T220. Notable improvements include using only one power adapter instead of two, supports more screen modes, out of box Linux driver support. However, power consumption is increased from 111 to 135 (111 to 150 at maximum) watts. It is initially available as 9503-DG1, and 9503-DG3 models. The 9503-DG1 model came with a Matrox G200 MMS video card, and two LFH-60 connector cables. The 9503-DG3 model included one DVI cable.

For 9503-DG1 model, when used with the video card, T221 only runs in maximum resolution in four 960×2400 stripes (with 1920×1200 tile mode on later firmware).

The officially supported maximum refresh rates at native resolution depends on how many TMDS links are used. Single, double, quad-link support 13, 25, 41 Hz respectively. With reduced blanking periods single, double, and quad-TMDS-link can obtain 17.0, 33.72, and 41 Hz respectively. The monitor's native refresh rate is 41 Hz. The product is withdrawn with the introduction of the DG5 model in September 2003. [cite press release | url=http://news.thomasnet.com/fullstory/25978/264 | title=IBM T221-DG5 22.2-Inch QUXGA-W Flat-Panel Color Monitor | publisher=IBM | date=2003-09-02 | accessdate=2007-07-17]

9503-DG5 model has a native refresh rate of 48 Hz, did not come with a video card, but included an external converter box that accepts a dual-link DVI signal and splits it into two single-link signals - one carrying odd pixels and the other even pixels - for the monitor. Using just the dual-link DVI interface through the converter box allows a refresh rate of 24 Hz or 25 Hz. When this converter box is used with the third single-link DVI input, a refresh rate of 48 Hz can be achieved. In this mode, the dual-link DVI drives the left 2624×2400 portion of the screen and the single-link DVI drives the remaining 1216×2400 portion. Two converter boxes can be used simultaneously with a dual dual-link DVI card to drive the DG5 as two 1920×2400 at 48 Hz. For video cards with only three TMDS channels (such as most cards based on NVIDIA Quadro FX 3000 or NVIDIA GeForce 6), the converter box is needed to get the maximum refresh rate. With four TMDS links, the monitor can be driven at maximum refresh rate at any resolution using four 1920×1200 tiles. The converter box does not work with earlier revisions of the monitor. Driving the monitor with four DVI cables requires powerful enough graphic cards such as the Matrox Parhelia HR256. [cite web | url=http://www.matrox.com/mga/workstation/3dws/products/special/hr256.cfm | title=Matrox Parhelia HR256 | publisher=Matrox | accessdate=2007-07-17] The uncommon resolution, connection and screen splitting may require custom settings for systems not officially supported.

The Viewsonic VP2290b-3 is a rebadged version of this monitor. The IBM T221-DG5 was discontinued in June 2005.

History

IBM T221 started out as an experimental technology from the flat panel display group at IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center. In 2000, a prototype 22.2" TFTLCD, code-named "Bertha", was made in a joint effort between IBM Research and IBM Japan. This display had a pixel format of 3840×2400 (QUXGA-W) with 204 ppi. On 10 November 2000, IBM announced the shipment of the prototype monitors to U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California. Later in 2001-06-27, IBM announced the production version of the monitor, known as T220. Later in November 2001, IBM announced its replacement, IBM T221. On 19 March 2002, IBM announced lowering the price of IBM T221 from US$17,999 to US$8,399. Later in 2 September 2003, IBM announced the availability of the 9503-DG5 model.

IBM and Chi Mei Group of Taiwan formed a joint venture called IDTech [cite web | url=http://www.idtech.co.jp/en/about/index.html | title=IDTech LCDs - Resolution so high, it's more than meets the eye | publisher=IDTech | accessdate=2007-07-17] [cite web | url=http://www.idtech.co.jp/en/920LCD/index.html | title=9.2 Million-Pixel 22.2-Inch LCD Monitor | publisher=Idtech | date=2003-11-26 | accessdate=2007-07-17] in 2001 to manufacture the T221 in Japan. ViewSonic [cite press release | url=http://www.viewsonic.com/companyinfo/pressrelease_detail.cfm?key_press_release=155 | title=ViewSonic Brings World’s Highest Resolution Monitor To Its LCD Lineup | publisher=ViewSonic | date=2002-06-25 | accessdate=2007-07-17] and iiyama [cite web | url=http://www.lcdnfo.com/html/Iiyama_AQU5611DTBK-lcd-monitor.html | title=Iiyama AQU5611DTBK flat screen monitor specification | publisher=LcdNfo.com | accessdate=2007-07-17] OEMed the T221 and sold it under their brand names. The production line of IDTech at Yasu was sold to Sony in 2005 [cite press release | url=http://www.idtech.co.jp/en/news/press/20050107.html | title=Sony To Acquire IDTech's Yasu LCD Manufacturing Facility | publisher=IDTech | date=2005-01-07 | accessdate=2007-07-17] and the fate of the T221 is unclear. The monitor is no longer on sale. Chi Mei has since demonstrated a 56" 3840×2160 QuadHDTV display. [cite press release | url=http://www.cmo.com.tw/cmo/english/about/shownews1.jsp?
| title=CMO's 56-inch LCD TV Panel Garners Taiwan Excellence Gold Award | publisher=Chi Mei Optoelectronics | date=2006-08-24 | accessdate=2007-07-17]

Rebadged models

Other Manufacturers of this Resolution

Toshiba

* 3840 x 2400 pixels(WQUXGA)
* 235 cd/m2 brightness
* 300:1 contrast
* 120-degree vertical & 100-degree horizontal view angles.
* dual-link graphics card required

References

External links

*cite paper | first=Steven L. | last=Wright | title=IBM 9.2-Megapixel Flat-panel Display: Technology and Infrastructure | publisher=IBM | date=2002-03-08 | url=http://domino.research.ibm.com/library/cyberdig.nsf/1e4115aea78b6e7c85256b360066f0d4/25973492611bacf885256b800053728b | accessdate=2007-07-17
*cite news | url=http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=8578 | title=IBM T221 - the world's finest monitor? | publisher=The Inquirer | first=Nebojša | last=Novaković | date=2003-03-28 | accessdate=2007-07-17
*cite news | url=http://www.yeraze.com/article.php?story=2005101208503255 | title=The IBM T221 on Linux | first=Randall | last=Hand | date=2005-10-12 | accessdate=2007-07-17