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2014 rMBP with a 4K tv as monitor

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bigpoppamac31

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Aug 16, 2007
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Canada
So I'm looking into using my 13" rMBP with a 4K TV as my monitor. I've tried doing it with my current 1080p TV but the picture (especially text) is not that great. So I want to upgrade to a 4K TV. So I kind of have two questions. In my research it appears that all components of a setup (tv, receiver, blu-ray player, computer, ATV, etc.) need to support the HDCP 2.2 protocol to be able to get the 4K picture. Does the 2014 rMBP support that or could Apple enable that with a software update? Also the rMBP sends a 4K signal (3840-by-2160) at only 30Hz whereas a 4K tv processes at 60Hz. Would that present an incompatibility issue? Would 30Hz from the rMBP be too slow? Thanks for any help.
 
hi, two years ago I bought a 65" panasonic tv which has Displayport 1.2 input - so I use a Displayport to Minidisplayport Cable to connect the late 2013 retina Macbook Pro 15", 4k, 60Hz, worked well but nowdays the screen becomes black from time to time, without a reson
my Dell XPS 15 9550 is using an active Startech Thunderbolt 3/ USB C to HDMI 2.0 adapter, connected to that TV
also 4k 60Hz
a Windows 10 PC, Nvidia 980'er graphics card is directly connected to the HDMI 2.0 port, 4k 60 Hz
 
Well my 2014 rMBP has an HDMI out and thunderbolt display out. I'm just curious as the Mac sends 4K at 30Hz whereas a 4K TV is 60Hz. Also the issue of the HDCP 2.2 codec. Would that apply only to 4K blu-ray and such or for anything 4K signal?
 
HDMI == HDMI 1.x ==> max. 4k 30 Hz
HDMI 2.0 ==> max. 4k 60 Hz
Displayport 1.2 ==> max. 4k 60 Hz
a Laptop with direct HDMI 2.0 output is very rare
I could not find a working thunderbolt 2 to hdmi 2.0 adapter only thunderbolt 3 to hdmi 2.0
as far as I know the 30 / 60 Hz limitation applys to all signal
 
radus said:
HDMI == HDMI 1.x ==> max. 4k 30 Hz
HDMI 2.0 ==> max. 4k 60 Hz
Displayport 1.2 ==> max. 4k 60 Hz
a Laptop with direct HDMI 2.0 output is very rare
I could not find a working thunderbolt 2 to hdmi 2.0 adapter only thunderbolt 3 to hdmi 2.0
as far as I know the 30 / 60 Hz limitation applys to all signal
Click to expand...

Hmm okay. So basically what you're saying is I'm screwed? LOL The rMBP is only TB2. I won't get a 4K resolution on a 4K tv with my Mac? The 2014 rMBP external display specs are as follows: "Up to 3840 by 2160 pixels at 30Hz (4K) or 4096 by 2160 pixels at 24Hz (HDMI) Up to 3840 by 2160 pixels at 30Hz (Thunderbolt)".
 
you wont get 4k 60 Hz, unless your TV has Displayport 1.2 input
you can get 4k 30Hz HDMI
 
radus said:
you wont get 4k 60 Hz, unless your TV has Displayport 1.2 input
you can get 4k 30Hz HDMI
Click to expand...

Okay. So I'll still get the 4K resolution supported by my Mac but at 30Hz instead of 60Hz. But isn't 30Hz a slow refresh rate for such high resolution?
 
I use my Early 2011 MBP with a 48" curved 4K 3D SmartTV via mDP->HDMI 1.2 adapter at 30Hz. It's OK even for watching videos.

I plan to connect my PC with a USB-C->HDMI 2.0 adapter at 60Hz, but that will not be full color.
 
cube said:
I use my Early 2011 MBP with a 48" curved 4K 3D SmartTV via mDP->HDMI 1.2 adapter at 30Hz. It's OK even for watching videos.

I plan to connect my PC with a USB-C->HDMI 2.0 adapter at 60Hz, but that will not be full color.
Click to expand...

Yeah but you don't get 4K resolution with your Mac right?
 
bigpoppamac31 said:
Yeah but you don't get 4K resolution with your Mac right?
Click to expand...
Yes, at 30Hz. Otherwise I would need an eGPU. You can even do 3D at half resolution by splitting, so you may lose nothing with a passive display.

I said 1.2 but I think it's 1.4.
 
Last edited:
cube said:
Yes, at 30Hz. Otherwise I would need an eGPU. You can even do 3D at half resolution by splitting, so you may lose nothing with a passive display.

I said 1.2 but I think it's 1.4.
Click to expand...

I think the latest is 1.4 before it went to 2.0. I can use an external GPU with my rMBP?
 
Yes, you have to check the adapter explicitly states that it supports 4K.

You can use a Thunderbolt eGPU, but it's DIY, with different combinations of simplicity, cost, and power.
[doublepost=1469699158][/doublepost]Club3D has a DP 1.2 -> HDMI 2.0 adapter, but my Mac has only 1.1.
 
I use UPTab Mini DP 1.2 to HDMI 2.0a active adapter
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01B702YTG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I tried on a 2013 13" MBPr and a 2015 13" MBPr connected to Samsung 40" 4K TV through HDMI 2.0 at 3840 x2160 @60Hz. On the 2013 the scaling option on the TV is limited to full 4K or 1080p HiDPI. On the 2015, there are more scaling option equivalent to 1800p HiDPI and 1440p HiDPI. On a 40" screen, I like the look of 1800p HiDPI scaling the best.
 
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The only way to get 4k@60hz on any mac is to use the mini displayport 1.2. Those thunderbolt 2 ports include DP 1.2

So what you need is a Club3D mini DP 1.2 to HDMI 2.0 and an HDMI 2.0 cable. Make sure you buy the right HDMI 2.0 cable in the shortest length you can get away with.

Considering your macbook is from 2014, I believe you're restricted to 30hz, which IMO is too slow for a computer.

As for which 4k Monitor you should get, I reccommend sticking with a 40". It has a similar DPI to 27" 1440p monitors, so text size will be perfect with no scaling issues.

I've done a lot research surrounding this setup and I'm in the same boat as you. I'm going to wait to upgrade my MBP so that it can do 4k@60hz natively.
 
MrX8503 said:
The only way to get 4k@60hz on any mac is to use the mini displayport 1.2. Those thunderbolt 2 ports include DP 1.2

So what you need is a Club3D mini DP 1.2 to HDMI 2.0 and an HDMI 2.0 cable. Make sure you buy the right HDMI 2.0 cable in the shortest length you can get away with.

Considering your macbook is from 2014, I believe you're restricted to 30hz, which IMO is too slow for a computer.

As for which 4k Monitor you should get, I reccommend sticking with a 40". It has a similar DPI to 27" 1440p monitors, so text size will be perfect with no scaling issues.

I've done a lot research surrounding this setup and I'm in the same boat as you. I'm going to wait to upgrade my MBP so that it can do 4k@60hz natively.
Click to expand...

Hmm okay. Well my Mac is running well overall. Though I wish I had gotten the 15" with dGPU. I just don't have the coin to upgrade my Mac frequently. Would be nice if there was a way to "turn on" 4K @60Hz in a software update. The upgrade will be slow and steady but it will happen eventually. I'm just trying to get ideas and such.
 
The Club3D mini DP 1.2 to HDMI 2.0 did not work with my Panasonic TV and the retina MacBook Pro 15" Nvidia 750m late 2013 (same hdmi cable used with the Dell XPS 15 / thunderbolt 3 to hdmi 2.0 combo which works well), may be the adapter was defect?
 
radus said:
The Club3D mini DP 1.2 to HDMI 2.0 did not work with my Panasonic TV and the retina MacBook Pro 15" Nvidia 750m late 2013 (same hdmi cable used with the Dell XPS 15 / thunderbolt 3 to hdmi 2.0 combo which works well), may be the adapter was defect?
Click to expand...
Why all the hassle? I can get 4K@30Hz from my early 2013 15" rMBP straight from it's HDMI port.
Maybe I have to thank the nVidia webdriver for that, never checked if Apple default driver on El Cap can achieve the same.
 
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