Dell 6K U3224KB Monitor

[Thyme]

@tstafford, glad to hear 14.4.1 made progress for HDR over TB4.

Unfortunately, on my M2 Pro Mini with HDMI, 14.4.1 still requires that I downgrade to 30 Hz to get the HDR button to appear.

On the upside, when I enable HDR, I do now again see an obvious difference between HDR on and HDR off. That's some progress from what I was observing with 14.4.0, where toggling HDR on/off had zero visual effect. Not sure if anyone else had that problem.

 

[tstafford]

Update: whatever is happening is unstable. When I checked this AM, I had again lost the HDR toggle and could only get it to reappear by switching down to 30 Hz. However after a reboot it is behaving "normally" again. I guess it's just buggy.

 

[TMF93]

Update: whatever is happening is unstable. When I checked this AM, I had again lost the HDR toggle and could only get it to reappear by switching down to 30 Hz. However after a reboot it is behaving "normally" again. I guess it's just buggy.

View attachment 2362718

I'm starting to get the feeling that whatever is happening regarding updates breaking and fixing HDR is simply coincidental to code work somewhere else...
As it currently stands, the graphics stack (on apple silicon) seems to seriously lack maturity and appears pretty fragile.
As an example, 14.2 introduced pretty big gpu performance issues for me that were not completely fixed until 14.4... (anything using the GPU was measurably slower, Google earth wouldn't render smoothly, etc...)

Given the fact that Apple has been churning out its own GPU silicon since 2017 and we are about 3,5 years into Apple silicon on desktop, I feel that the software should be better sorted than what it is now (based on empirical evidence).

 

[tstafford]

I'm starting to get the feeling that whatever is happening regarding updates breaking and fixing HDR is simply coincidental to code work somewhere else...
As it currently stands, the graphics stack (on apple silicon) seems to seriously lack maturity and appears pretty fragile.
As an example, 14.2 introduced pretty big gpu performance issues for me that were not completely fixed until 14.4... (anything using the GPU was measurably slower, Google earth wouldn't render smoothly, etc...)

Given the fact that Apple has been churning out its own GPU silicon since 2017 and we are about 3,5 years into Apple silicon on desktop, I feel that the software should be better sorted than what it is now (based on empirical evidence).

Makes sense to me. I have a hard time believing anyone at Apple cares if I'm happy with a Dell monitor!!

 

[sammich]

I'm not sure the Venn diagram of people who own 6K displays and have a monitor light overlap at all but here goes:

I have this Xiaomi Monitor light on my Studio Display (with a tiny riser to stop it from covering the camera). Assuming I don't care about the Windows Hello/presence functionality, could that monitor light clip on to the top of the camera module? I reckon I'd have to give up the tilting if so, too.

Would someone be able to measure thickness at the top of the display? The user guide says it's 66mm which seems like too much. Thanks

 

[tstafford]

I'm not sure the Venn diagram of people who own 6K displays and have a monitor light overlap at all but here goes:

I have this Xiaomi Monitor light on my Studio Display (with a tiny riser to stop it from covering the camera). Assuming I don't care about the Windows Hello/presence functionality, could that monitor light clip on to the top of the camera module? I reckon I'd have to give up the tilting if so, too.

Would someone be able to measure thickness at the top of the display? The user guide says it's 66mm which seems like too much. Thanks

Maybe I don't understand what you're asking.

But the top of the Dell 6K isn't close to 66mm at any point. The top is tapered and at it's thickest in the middle. The camera is about 42mm thick and I'd say the display is about the same at its thickest.

Looking at the light bar, I don't think it will clip well to the camera because there's no flat surface. But w/o having it, I can't say much for certain.

 

[pdm]

I'm not sure the Venn diagram of people who own 6K displays and have a monitor light overlap at all but here goes:

I have this Xiaomi Monitor light on my Studio Display (with a tiny riser to stop it from covering the camera). Assuming I don't care about the Windows Hello/presence functionality, could that monitor light clip on to the top of the camera module? I reckon I'd have to give up the tilting if so, too.

Would someone be able to measure thickness at the top of the display? The user guide says it's 66mm which seems like too much. Thanks

I have the BenQ light and to mount it I had to 3d print my own adapter that raised the entire contraption above the camera. It basically straddled the camera on either side and made a platform above it. It worked but I ended up not really appreciating it. Mounting to the camera itself isn't really going to work as it can tilt and is not flat. I tried putting the light below my monitor and that actually worked a little better, since the monitor is raised up a good bit to be at eye level anyway. Good luck.

 

[sammich]

Maybe I don't understand what you're asking.

But the top of the Dell 6K isn't close to 66mm at any point. The top is tapered and at it's thickest in the middle. The camera is about 42mm thick and I'd say the display is about the same at its thickest.

Looking at the light bar, I don't think it will clip well to the camera because there's no flat surface. But w/o having it, I can't say much for certain.

You got it. I obviously don't have the display, and I can only gather so much from videos and Dell's info, and the thickness already tells me it won't work. Thanks.

I have the BenQ light and to mount it I had to 3d print my own adapter that raised the entire contraption above the camera. It basically straddled the camera on either side and made a platform above it. It worked but I ended up not really appreciating it. Mounting to the camera itself isn't really going to work as it can tilt and is not flat. I tried putting the light below my monitor and that actually worked a little better, since the monitor is raised up a good bit to be at eye level anyway. Good luck.

Looks like you've tried everything I would've tried, which was exactly the post I was looking for, so thanks 🙂

I guess if I got this monitor, the monitor light will just have to go into the cupboard. I could potentially do some cutting/modding of the light to make it fit somehow. Taking a closer look at the product images the monitor, it looks like the Xiaomi light could clip on to it if only the clip opened up enough.

Anywho - thanks for the responses. Still just pondering this purchase for later in the year.

 

[slonoed]

I have 2 strange issues and want to check if anyone had same and found fix.
I have 2 laptops: M1 Max and M3 Max. They have a very similar configuration besides CPU (64G memory, 14 inch display). I wanted to connect them both to Dell 6k and use it as only display (laptops will be closed). Both laptops are updated to last version of MacOS and all Dell related software is updated.

Unable to use 3072 resolution on one of laptops

For some reason M1 is not able to do 3072 resolution on HDMI+USB setup. If I connect it to Thunderbolt it works fine.
Weird part is that M3 is fine on both connections.

This is the pain for me because I want M3 to be connected via one wire (instead of 4) since I take it with me more often.

Unable to use monitor mic at all

This is pretty sad situation. Both laptops unable to get sound from monitor mic regardless of connection type (Thunderbolt or HDMI+USB). I see that laptop has mic as device U3224KB/A. However, I can't get sound from it (and it's not turned off by monitor mute button). I'm trying to understand if this is software issue that may be fixed or hardware issue and I need to return monitor. But I'm out of ideas on how to debug it.

 

[TMF93]

I have 2 strange issues and want to check if anyone had same and found fix.
I have 2 laptops: M1 Max and M3 Max. They have a very similar configuration besides CPU (64G memory, 14 inch display). I wanted to connect them both to Dell 6k and use it as only display (laptops will be closed). Both laptops are updated to last version of MacOS and all Dell related software is updated.

Unable to use 3072 resolution on one of laptops

For some reason M1 is not able to do 3072 resolution on HDMI+USB setup. If I connect it to Thunderbolt it works fine.
Weird part is that M3 is fine on both connections.

This is the pain for me because I want M3 to be connected via one wire (instead of 4) since I take it with me more often.

Unable to use monitor mic at all

This is pretty sad situation. Both laptops unable to get sound from monitor mic regardless of connection type (Thunderbolt or HDMI+USB). I see that laptop has mic as device U3224KB/A. However, I can't get sound from it (and it's not turned off by monitor mute button). I'm trying to understand if this is software issue that may be fixed or hardware issue and I need to return monitor. But I'm out of ideas on how to debug it.

View attachment 2363562

Just a couple of things, have you checked that the mic is selected as default in system settings? and especially that the input volume for it is turned up ? As I remember, I had to turn it all the way up on mine to get usable audio.

 

[slonoed]

Just a couple of things, have you checked that the mic is selected as default in system settings? and especially that the input volume for it is turned up ? As I remember, I had to turn it all the way up on mine to get usable audio.

Yep. And it even reacts to change: when I move all the way down in settings monitor mute button become red.

Looks like you are right. Mic does work but very low level. Essentially, I can only record when I knocking on monitor where mic is. But even loud speech can't get through. It turned all the way up in systems settings. So, I guess it either really weak or there is some internal volume value set to low.

 

[babylon55]

I have an issue with 10bit color.
Im using a Macbook Pro 16, M1 Max. Macos 14.4.1
Monitor firmware: M2T105
Tried the original TB4 cable and an Anker TB4 cable I had.

If I go in the OSD of the monitor, into Display Info it shows: 6144x3456,60HZ 24-bit.
Which means its running in 8bit color
If I select for 30HZ in macos it shows 6144x3456,30Hz 30-bit. (10bit color)
In the same OSD window is shows: Stream Info: 8.1 Gbps
This seems quite low?

In macos I have selected 3072x1728, but here I also tried other resolutions and it didn't help.

What could be the issue or is it impossible to get 10bit color with 60hz?

I tried an Macbook pro 14, M2 Pro, and there it works with 30-bit (10bit color), with the same cable.

 

[babylon55]

Dumb question ... where is this HDR button supposed to be? I am connected via Thunderbolt directly to my Mac Mini M2 Pro, and am also running Sonoma 14.4, and I don't see anything.

Why is it showing 20Gb/s x1 for me, and 40Gb/s for mike here?
Im using the original TB4 cable. Running an Macbook Pro 16, M1 Max. macos 14.4.1.

 

[Thyme]

I have an issue with 10bit color.
Im using a Macbook Pro 16, M1 Max. Macos 14.4.1
Monitor firmware: M2T105
Tried the original TB4 cable and an Anker TB4 cable I had.

If I go in the OSD of the monitor, into Display Info it shows: 6144x3456,60HZ 24-bit.
Which means its running in 8bit color
If I select for 30HZ in macos it shows 6144x3456,30Hz 30-bit. (10bit color)
In the same OSD window is shows: Stream Info: 8.1 Gbps
This seems quite low?

In macos I have selected 3072x1728, but here I also tried other resolutions and it didn't help.

What could be the issue or is it impossible to get 10bit color with 60hz?

I tried an Macbook pro 14, M2 Pro, and there it works with 30-bit (10bit color), with the same cable.

This was working in MacOS 14.2 and 14.3, but 14.4.0 broke a lot of things, including 10-bit color (and thus HDR too) for us. Unfortunately, it's still broken in 14.4.1. I've seen that other monitors have been affected too, e.g., LGs. Hopefully Apple will fix this stuff in 14.4.2.

 

[turbineseaplane]

This was working in MacOS 14.2 and 14.3, but 14.4.0 broke a lot of things, including 10-bit color (and thus HDR too) for us. Unfortunately, it's still broken 14.4.1. I've seen that other monitors have been affected too, e.g., LGs. Hopefully Apple will fix this stuff in 14.4.2.

On my OLED TV, on 14.4.1, BetterDisplay claims 10bit, and SysInfo says: 30-Bit Color (ARGB2101010)

...

But the TV itself reports 3840x2160p @ 120hz YCBCR420 8Bit ITU709, which I assume is "the truth" here?

 

[babylon55]

Would this usbc - hdmi 2.1 adapter solve the issue?

DP/USB-C/Thunderbolt 3/4 to HDMI 2.1 4k@120hz RGB4:4:4 10b HDR with Apple Silicon M1/M2 now possible !

WARNING 31.10.23: macOS Sonoma 14.1 and newer breaks HDR with HiDPI 4k@120hz 4:4:4 and beyond. We are looking for a solution. NOTE: To ensure proper credit for this solution, kindly reference this thread when sharing. Thanks! Apple limited HDMI-Transportstream over USB-C/TB/DP to maxed...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[Thyme]

On my OLED TV, on 14.4.1, BetterDisplay claims 10bit, and SysInfo says: 30-Bit Color (ARGB2101010)
...
But the TV itself reports 3840x2160p @ 120hz YCBCR420 8Bit ITU709, which I assume is "the truth" here?

Whatever the monitor/TV reports as the input signal is almost certainly the truth.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Whatever the monitor/TV reports as the input signal is almost certainly the truth.

Tomorrow I'm going to try a DP to HDMI2.1 (tv side) adapter to see if macOS gives me different results that way.

 

[tstafford]

This was working in MacOS 14.2 and 14.3, but 14.4.0 broke a lot of things, including 10-bit color (and thus HDR too) for us. Unfortunately, it's still broken in 14.4.1. I've seen that other monitors have been affected too, e.g., LGs. Hopefully Apple will fix this stuff in 14.4.2.

Yeah it's a mess. Kind of works, kind of doesn't. If I futz with it, I can get HDR at 60hz. But it's flaky and not worth messing with IMO.

 

[actic]

I have 2 strange issues and want to check if anyone had same and found fix.
I have 2 laptops: M1 Max and M3 Max. They have a very similar configuration besides CPU (64G memory, 14 inch display). I wanted to connect them both to Dell 6k and use it as only display (laptops will be closed). Both laptops are updated to last version of MacOS and all Dell related software is updated.

Unable to use 3072 resolution on one of laptops

For some reason M1 is not able to do 3072 resolution on HDMI+USB setup. If I connect it to Thunderbolt it works fine.
Weird part is that M3 is fine on both connections.

This is the pain for me because I want M3 to be connected via one wire (instead of 4) since I take it with me more often.

Unable to use monitor mic at all

This is pretty sad situation. Both laptops unable to get sound from monitor mic regardless of connection type (Thunderbolt or HDMI+USB). I see that laptop has mic as device U3224KB/A. However, I can't get sound from it (and it's not turned off by monitor mute button). I'm trying to understand if this is software issue that may be fixed or hardware issue and I need to return monitor. But I'm out of ideas on how to debug it.

View attachment 2363562

M1 generation did not have HDMI 2.1 which I believe is required for 6k@60Hz. That was introduced in the M2, and would also be present of course in your M3.

 

[vanc]

Yep. And it even reacts to change: when I move all the way down in settings monitor mute button become red.

Looks like you are right. Mic does work but very low level. Essentially, I can only record when I knocking on monitor where mic is. But even loud speech can't get through. It turned all the way up in systems settings. So, I guess it either really weak or there is some internal volume value set to low.

Please also choose the "U3224KB/A" as output device, not the one via displayport. I remember there was some quirks about mic volume if you chose the displayport audio out.

I've been using the builtin mic for confernce calls and also recorded via the Voice Memo app, and the volume sounds similar as my Logitech BRIO 500.

 

[TMF93]

Please also choose the "U3224KB/A" as output device, not the one via displayport. I remember there was some quirks about mic volume if you chose the displayport audio out.

I've been using the builtin mic for confernce calls and also recorded via the Voice Memo app, and the volume sounds similar as my Logitech BRIO 500.

Yeah, same thing for output as well: you can only control volume through the system when you choose this one. (Seems like U3224KB/A is the USB device)

 

[PixelsForBreakfast]

Looks like there's a new version of the firmware (M2T106), but it's only available for Windows as of now. Anyone tried it yet?

 

[dbrewood]

Hopefully out for the Mac soon......

 

[vanc]

What's the Ethernet controller? Is it PCIe (requires Thunderbolt) or USB?

It's USB. The 2.5Gbps speed doesn't really need PCIe.

I could get a consistent 2.35Gbps measured with iperf3. The service side runs on a 10Gbps NIC (Intel X550).