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2017 13" MacBook Pro Users, 4K/60 YouTube...

lpolarityl

lpolarityl

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Dec 1, 2009
529
342
Ohio
Per title, can someone with a 2017 13" MBP play this video in 4K/60 FPS (use Chrome).


Report back if it plays smoothly or constantly buffers. Also, report processor usage.

Curious to see some feedback.
 
I can test this tomorrow morning on my 2017 13” MBP w/TB, and let you know.

Is there any particular issue you are experiencing with the video playback?
 
Painter2002 said:
I can test this tomorrow morning on my 2017 13” MBP w/TB, and let you know.

Is there any particular issue you are experiencing with the video playback?
Click to expand...

I was interested to know it. I have plan to buy MBP 13" 2017 nTB.

Your MBP is i5 or i7 ?
 
2017 MBP Pro 14,1 (13 inch Retina Space Gray)
Model # ZOUK9LL/A (A1708)
Intel Core i7-7660U @ 2.5 GHz
16.0 GB 2133 MHz LPDDR3
Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640 1536 MB (2560 X 1600 Retina)
512 GB SSD

Plays with No problems.
I am using Safari.

KenK
 
Kenny99 said:
2017 MBP Pro 14,1 (13 inch Retina Space Gray)
Model # ZOUK9LL/A (A1708)
Intel Core i7-7660U @ 2.5 GHz
16.0 GB 2133 MHz LPDDR3
Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640 1536 MB (2560 X 1600 Retina)
512 GB SSD

Plays with No problems.
I am using Safari.

KenK
Click to expand...

If you're using Safari, it's unfortunately not playing in 4K/60. Try using Chrome and change the format to 4K/60.
 
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Sorry I didn't know that I needed to use Chrome. So downloaded it and ran the Youtube ,didn't see and pauses, stuttering, or interruptions. Was looking at the eye "winks" and the movement of hair and clothing.

KenK
 
plays ok for the most part. however i wish the frame-rate was higher (I selected 4k@60 in youtube but it looks like ~20 fps to me). a few stops/buffers here and there but overall not too bad.

2017 13inch i7 3.5G - latest Chrome, played in both window and full-screen mode.
upload_2018-12-31_13-26-53.png
 
anpaman said:
I was interested to know it. I have plan to buy MBP 13" 2017 nTB.

Your MBP is i5 or i7 ?
Click to expand...
So I have a 2017 13" Macbook Pro, with Touchbar; 3.1ghz i5, and 8 GB RAM.

I tested with this in two different setups, one with playing the video through Chrome on just the laptop screen, and the other with playing the video in Chrome while my MBP was connected to dual 25" 2K monitors via a Caldigit TS3 dock. My internet was tested at 223 Mbps download speed and 11.2 Mbps upload speed.

In both cases I experienced stuttering at 4k @ 60FPS every 5-10 seconds while using Chrome. If I dropped the video down to 2K @ 60FPS (1440p res), the video played without any issues.

As for CPU usage, it spiked drastically with it showing about 70-80% CPU User usage, and about 7.5% System Usage. Of course alot of this I would assume is related to Chrome being very poorly optimized for the MacOS. Also, my computer temps shot up to 70 Celsius, from normal running temp of 35-50 Celsius for me. You mentioned you were looking at the non-touchbar version, so it should be worth noting that that model only has one cooling fan, versus the two on the Touchbar model.
 
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You got me interested in this so I found the Heaven Benchmark test and downloaded it. Ran it and averaged 30 FPS +/- 3 FPS. @ 80 - 90 deg. Could not drive it any faster with this benchmark.
I think the 4K youtube video does play on this machine (2017 MBP) at 4K but only at 30 to 40 FPS, but I don't know of any way to test the exact FPS that it is displaying. I think for everyday use this a great machine. If you looking to do video and photo's I would look at the MAC Mini and think about updating to an external video card and a SSD HD later when you have the $. With the way the MFG's are bring out new equipment you might find "new" used items at good prices that would meet your needs.

KenK
 
The way I see it if your machine can’t play 4k60 at 60fps then it can’t play 4k/60
 
MBP Touch Bar 2016 here: at 4k the video plays at like 25fps with drops every 5-10 seconds. CPU is maxing out and the macbook gets very warm.
 
This is one of very few videos that makes my Samsung KS8000 struggle at 4k/60. Plays smoothly for the most part, but chugs along during a few scenes. 300mbps connection on 5.8ghz.
 
I'll admit, I'm not a videophile. I don't know really much about videography. I didn't realize how demanding 4k/60 is, did some research on it, turns out it is very demanding. 4K/30 plays fine, 4K/60 from Vimeo plays fine (not sure what codec Vimeo uses, probably h.264), but VP9 (Which YouTube requires for 4K), is super demanding.

Try this Vimeo vid in Safari, plays very smooth and does not tax the processor as much:

 
My MacBook pro 2017 13 tb runs 4k videos smoothly. It doesn't stutter but it gets a little hot. 8/10
 
lpolarityl said:
I'll admit, I'm not a videophile. I don't know really much about videography. I didn't realize how demanding 4k/60 is, did some research on it, turns out it is very demanding. 4K/30 plays fine, 4K/60 from Vimeo plays fine (not sure what codec Vimeo uses, probably h.264), but VP9 (Which YouTube requires for 4K), is super demanding.

Try this Vimeo vid in Safari, plays very smooth and does not tax the processor as much:

Click to expand...

Hello all, i second that, base nTB MBP 13" 2017, no problem playing in safari. Testing now the OP video and coming back!

OP's video playing in Safari with a few stutters and buffering on a 50Mbps VDSL connection.
 
Safari is maxed at 1080p 60fps, doesn't even have option for 1440p/2160p I guess because of the codec youtube use for 4k. On 1440p it runs ok, but 2160fps is "slow-mo" and constant stutter&loading. If you say it runs smoothly on your mac then you probably haven't turned on 4k yet.. it starts at 1440p automatically.
 
My 2016 13” Fn-Edition MbP stutters streaming 2K video on Chrome pushing to a Samsung 4K monitor set to 2K Res. Don’t even ask about 4K... 🙄

Specs: 2.0GHz i5, 8GB ram, 256 SSD, Iris 540. Internet ping 25ms, Down: 75mbps.

Apple says this lappy can push a 4K monitor, and it can, but it cannot stream and play 4K content.

Main Q: minimum specs/MbP needed to stream 4K video from YouTube on Chrome?
 
Bump!

djlythium said:
My 2016 13” Fn-Edition MbP stutters streaming 2K video on Chrome pushing to a Samsung 4K monitor set to 2K Res. Don’t even ask about 4K... 🙄

Specs: 2.0GHz i5, 8GB ram, 256 SSD, Iris 540. Internet ping 25ms, Down: 75mbps.

Apple says this lappy can push a 4K monitor, and it can, but it cannot stream and play 4K content.

Main Q: minimum specs/MbP needed to stream 4K video from YouTube on Chrome?
Click to expand...
 
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