Does anyone know if the 15" Macbook Pro (late 2013 or mid 2014) with integrated Iris Pro graphics support 60Hz single stream transport mode on the newer 4k monitors? I haven't been able to find a clear answer. People with the 15" Macbook Pro with the discrete Nvidia 750M graphics are reporting that their machines support 60Hz SST while the 13" Macbook Pro with Iris integrated graphics does NOT support 60Hz SST but I haven't been able find any reports or tests with the 15" Macbook Pro with Iris Pro and 60Hz SST. Apple's support document on 4k monitor support was prepared when 4k monitors with SST only supported 30Hz and it hasn't revised yet to address the newer monitors that support 60Hz SST. I may purchase a 15" Macbook Pro soon and frankly, I'd like to say some money but I don't want to go with the 15" Macbook Pro Iris Pro model if it doesn't support 60Hz SST with 4k monitors. Thanks in advance for any light you might be able to shed.
I think it's best to contact Apple technical support and get a definitive answer. Are you sure that there are monitors which support 4K 60Hz under SST?
Yes, there are at least two monitors on sale at the moment with revised scalers that support 60Hz using single stream transport. They are Samsung 28" U28D590D http://techreport.com/news/26337/samsung-28-display-serves-up-single-tile-4k-at-60hz-for-800 and the Asus 28" PB287Q: http://www.legitreviews.com/asus-pb287q-28-4k-single-stream-60hz-monitor-review_142719 They have identical specs so it's likely they have the same electronics which explains why they both support 60Hz SST. Also, here's an article from AMD which mentions both monitors and touts AMD's support for 60Hz SST with their drivers: http://community.amd.com/community/...ebrating-a-new-generation-of-ultrahd-displays
So do we know the answer now? I'm in the same situation now, is the junior 15' model fine with 4K @60 Hz? Thanks.
As a software developer i don't need much GPU power, but lots of screen space. So i just decided to give it a shot. I have a MacBook Pro 15" mid 2014, the version WITHOUT the Nvidia 750M, only Iris Pro. Aaaaaaand... SUCCESS! It runs the Asus 28" PB287Q at 3840 x 2160 @ 60hz via DisplayPort with a miniDP-to-DP-cable, an older BenQ 1920 x 1080 @ 60hz via HDMI (good port placement, thank you apple) and its internal Display at the same time. The Asus is a single tile SST, not MST Display, so the Iris Pro on the MacBook supports HBR2 over Thunderbolt. I also tried a MacBook Pro 13" from mid 2010 with Nvidia 320m, which runs the Asus at 3840 x 2160 @ 30hz, and an 21.5" iMac from mid 2010 with ATI Radeon HD 4670, which would recognize the Asus over DisplayPort, but not show anything at any resolution on it; it shows 1920 x 1080 @ 60hz over a miniDP-to-HDMI cable on the Asus.
Lukewarm, as usual, and so far i have not heard the fans. Seems to be no problem for the system. Scrolling, moving windows etc. is smooth.