Best solution for using cheap Catleap-class 2560x1440 monitors from a T430/X230?

I have a T430 and I am looking to get one of those cheap $300 27" Korean 2560x1440 IPS/PLS monitors, but the problem is all of the cheap models only take dual link DVI, while the new T430/X230 notebooks only output via displayport.

I was thinking the best solution for this would be to buy a Lenovo dock that natively outputs dual link DVI (DP to dual link DVI adapters do not allow for refresh rate overclocking). Though on the Lenovo website they don't specify whether their docks output single or dual link, and I am not sure if the signal conversion is done "natively" or via some custom chip in the docks which might prevent refresh rate overclocking. If the docks are only single link DVI or do not allow overclocking then that leaves either buying a $70 adapter and forgoing the overclocking or buying a significantly more expensive monitor with displayport input (and more input lag).

What have your guys' experiences with connecting your T430/X230 to one of these monitors been like? And what do you think would be the best solution at the moment?

 

I use a T61 (NVS 140M GPU) connected to a Dell U2713HM. Drives 1440p as a secondary display no problems (until I try playing 1080p video, that is; also, I can adjust the output resolution to 1920x1080 or 1280x720 to play movies and the monitor scales perfectly). Get a docking station on ebay for cheap and a Dell/Samsung/Asus monitor (amazon has them for cheap, sub $500, don't cheap out on a catleap).

 

That's the problem, as it seems all of the current docking stations being sold by Lenovo and listed as compatible with the T430 only have single-link DVI. The older docks for the older thinkpads did include dual link DVI, though I am not sure if they are compatible with the new T430. Are they compatible with the T430 even though they don't list it as compatible?

I would love to just throw my T430 into a cheap older dock and get pure dual link DVI output, but I do not know if that is possible.

 

The new docks have 2x DVI-D and 2xDisplayPorts which also easily support 1440p. Get a Dell monitor and use that.

https://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary...item.detail?GroupID=460&Code=433815U#overview

 

Those docks only support single link DVI. I live in Canada and those Dell monitors are more than twice the cost of the Korean equivalents. It now looks like I can either go with a Korean monitor with the $70 DP to DL DVI monoprice adapter for around $400 total and accept that it cannot go beyond 60 Hz, buy a $500 Nixeus Vue with displayport, or wait until the price drops heavily on the Dell monitors up here.

It is too bad that Lenovo dropped the dual link DVI outputs from their docks.

 

the new crossover monitors (all the korean ones are basically the same) support displayport, if you are still looking

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

 

They cost less than $600 on Days-of-deals, with free shipping, no bright pixels warranty, matte, decent adjustable stand and a wide array of input ports.

Monitors live for a long time ( I still haven't found a good excuse to replace a pair of almost 5 years old 2709Ws ), so unless you're planning to buy more than 1, the savings aren't all that great adding up shipping+possible taxes/brokerage+dual DVI adapter, compared to the very real disadvantages.