FCP and Dell u2711 monitor on my MBP---- problems!

[shortnstout]

Hi all,
I'm an editor and just bought a Dell u2711 to hook up to my MacBook Pro (2.53 GHz, 4GB Ram, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M). The DVI would only support up to 1920x1280 so I bought a mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort adapter and that got me up to my full resolution for the monitor.
HOWEVER... my computer seems to be too slow or the graphics card isn't good enough to support such a monitor. Is this true? When I use the external monitor as extra desk space and put all my FCP windows in it I get this banding on my subjects when they move. It just looks like very slight glitches and the movement isn't displayed so smoothly. I'm working with 1080p ProRes 422.
When I try and use the Dell u2711 as an external video monitor (display all frames) it lags pretty bad and the motion is stuttery and not showing in smooth motion.
Please help. Would I have been better off with the 27" Cinema display? I thought they were pretty similar monitors. Is my laptop or graphics card not up to the task? Just last Nov. or so I got this laptop with what I thought was the best available graphics card Apple had at the time for this laptop.

 

[KenOnBass]

I'm using the same monitor with a late 2009 MBP '17, 3 GHz, 8GB RAM and the Nvidia 9300. I'm also using a Mini display port to display port cable....also with Final Cut Express. It worked fine for me after changing the power management settings. http://learntoduck.com/techsupport/dual-link-dvi-adapter-macbook-pro


Seems like a lot of people have had issues with this combo, but once the kinks are worked out, it's worth it. Good luck!

 

[shortnstout]

Thanks for the reply! Unfortunately my Energy Saver utility doesn't have those radio buttons for selecting Higher Performance. Hmmmph. I noticed that these guys were using the Dual Link DVI Adapter, not the Mini-Display Port to Display Port adapter. I wonder if that other cable would help- too bad it is super expensive.