4K and 5K Display Buyer's Guide for Macs

[Miguel Cunha]

4K displays are becoming increasingly popular as they come down in prices, and even some 5K displays have been released over the past year, but there are lots of variables to consider before purchasing one for your Mac.

This buyer's guide will help you determine the ideal 4K or 5K display for your MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac Pro or Mac mini, based on compatibility, price, display technologies and more.

Click here to read more...

Article Link: 4K and 5K Display Buyer's Guide for Macs

Thanks for the article and the links.
Does Apple have any information regarding 5K displays in their support site?

 

[dmo94556]

4K displays are becoming increasingly popular as they come down in prices, and even some 5K displays have been released over the past year, but there are lots of variables to consider before purchasing one for your Mac.

This buyer's guide will help you determine the ideal 4K or 5K display for your MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac Pro or Mac mini, based on compatibility, price, display technologies and more.

Click here to read more...

Article Link: 4K and 5K Display Buyer's Guide for Macs

[doublepost=1468392970][/doublepost]I have the Early 2015 12" Macbook. According to the article a compatible monitor would be

• Ultra HD: 3,840×2,160 pixels

and at that it would be 30hz. So, if I wanted a monitor that could produce 60hz, I would cut that in half, 1920x1080. Is that correct?

Assuming the above is correct, what would the best options be for a monitor?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Samuelsan2001]

[doublepost=1468392970][/doublepost]I have the Early 2015 12" Macbook. According to the article a compatible monitor would be

• Ultra HD: 3,840×2,160 pixels

and at that it would be 30hz. So, if I wanted a monitor that could produce 60hz, I would cut that in half, 1920x1080. Is that correct?

Assuming the above is correct, what would the best options be for a monitor?

Thanks in advance!

I think you'll be fine with anything up to 1600p (very difficult to find) but for best results a 1440p 27 inch screen will look like the pre retina iMac.

 

[dmo94556]

1600p

Does this look like a good option so I can maintain a similar quality to the Rentia display? http://www.monoprice.com/Product?p_id=13808
[doublepost=1468443280][/doublepost]

I think you'll be fine with anything up to 1600p (very difficult to find) but for best results a 1440p 27 inch screen will look like the pre retina iMac.

Does this look like a good option so I can maintain a similar quality to the Rentia display?http://www.monoprice.com/Product?p_id=13808

 

[Samuelsan2001]

Quality and pixel density are 2 entirely different things, you won't get anywhere near the pixel density of your retina screen without buying a 5 k screen you can't run at 60 hz.

However you don't sit nearly so close to big screen so pixel density is not such an issue, I would try and take a look at any screen before you buy if you can.

 

[JacobVR]

I can't believe they're still charging $999 for that woefully outdated display. Nearly six years old, USB 2.0 and first gen t-bolt. Totally unsat.

 

[MikeLW]

I have a Late 2012 iMac. According to MacRumors article, it cannot drive the higher resolutions due to hardware limitations, however I don't want to buy new monitors that are not at least 4Q and end up getting rid of them too soon. If I buy the Dell P2715Q or something similar, can I just use it at a lower resolution? i.e. 2560x1400 @ 60 Hz?

 

[louisitou]

I have a Late 2012 iMac. According to MacRumors article, it cannot drive the higher resolutions due to hardware limitations, however I don't want to buy new monitors that are not at least 4Q and end up getting rid of them too soon. If I buy the Dell P2715Q or something similar, can I just use it at a lower resolution? i.e. 2560x1400 @ 60 Hz?

sure u can

 

[SadBoy Pro]

I run a MacPro 2013 with two of the Dell P2715Q displays. They were working ok for a while. They certainly look nice when working. However, as of 10.11.2 they don't wake up from sleep without unplugging them. They also don't show any boot screens or boot process for OS X or Windows under BootCamp for any revision of OS X, because they don't support the EFI BIOS. I've finally gone back to my Apple displays because all of these issues are a major annoyance in every day use.

They also experience major issues in BootCamp with flickering and being generally unstable due to the poor driver support in Windows. The only way to get them to be driven reliably is to run only a single 4k monitor. It just doesn't seem to be able to handle dual 4k displays very will with the current Bootcamp drivers.

Check the revision number of the monitor, all A0 revisions have issues, I have got one of mine replaced with a revision A01 and it is now not presenting any problems, however the A01 still does. It is an issue recognised by Dell so contact them!

 

[kaspergn]

I have a late rMBP 13" Late 2013 (i5). I'm really confused, whether it could run a 4K-display over Single Stream (SST), or if it's only possible with the 15".
This article says:

Macs refreshed in Late 2013 or later have Thunderbolt 2 ports, allowing for one 4K display at up to 60Hz, or in some cases multiple ones with a powerful enough graphics card. Macs with Thunderbolt 2 compatibility include the following models:

• MacBook Pro (Retina, Late 2013 and later)

It doesn't mention a difference between 13" and 15".
Can anyone confirm, if my rMBP 13" Late 2013 (i5) can run 4K at 60 Hz with a Display>MiniDisplay-cable? For example with a Samsung u28e590d.

 

[saberbe]

I run the Dell P2715Q on my mid 2015 15" rmbp with the discreet video card. It is incredible! I do web dev and I can have two good sized browser windows side by side on the same display. No lag, either.

And do you have problem with running heavy apps, like photoshop with a big file or 3d software or something?

 

[Floris]

While still in doubt about the different iMac models, just reading this great write-up I learned that it's the AMD Radeon R9 M395X graphics that supports the 2x 4K on 60hz or 1x 5k on 2x tb. That helps me choose the right model. Thumbsup

 

[saberbe]

I am a bit afraid that a 5K monitor would ask too much from my system [mid 2015 MacBook Pro Retina (Intel Iris Pro 1536 MB, 16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3, 2,8 GHz Intel Core i7)].
Because I do some heavy photoshopping and mild 3D rendering, and I don't want any change in performance of course.

Anyone has experience with this?

 

[AnoneemusOne]

4K displays are becoming increasingly popular as they come down in prices, and even some 5K displays have been released over the past year, but there are lots of variables to consider before purchasing one for your Mac.

This buyer's guide will help you determine the ideal 4K or 5K display for your MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac Pro or Mac mini, based on compatibility, price, display technologies and more.

Click here to read more...

Article Link: 4K and 5K Display Buyer's Guide for Macs

The Apple Thunderbolt display won't work with the new MacBook Pro... there is no way to hook my Apple 28" Thunderbolt monitor to the new MacBook Pro 15". I am told by Apple store reps that there is no converter cable. Monitor power cable won't fit the USB-3.

I am sorry (and a little angry) that I paid $999.00 for this Apple monitor in February 2016 and now it won't work on a new MBP that is costing me $3,900.

If I want a large monitor, my only choice is to buy the large LG for $1,399. Wow!

 

[rcgottlieb]

Why can't you buy a mini displayport to usb-c adaptor and have your monitor work? Or maybe there needs to be another adaptor in there: display port to mini displayport? I'm trying to figure out which monitor to buy for the my new Macbook Pro 15". I originally bought the LG and then cancelled it because it's a 21.5" and I want at least 27" and I'm not going to pay $1400 for a monitor after spending 3k on a laptop! So I guess what I'm waiting for is to see do I wait for more usb-c monitors to come out (LG has another one the same price as the 21.5" that is 27" but doesn't have as many ports and I'm not convinced it will charge my 15" Macbook Pro) or buy an existing monitor capable of display port of some kind that I can adapt to usb-c somehow? Or ???

 

[AnoneemusOne]

Why can't you buy a mini displayport to usb-c adaptor and have your monitor work? Or maybe there needs to be another adaptor in there: display port to mini displayport? I'm trying to figure out which monitor to buy for the my new Macbook Pro 15". I originally bought the LG and then cancelled it because it's a 21.5" and I want at least 27" and I'm not going to pay $1400 for a monitor after spending 3k on a laptop! So I guess what I'm waiting for is to see do I wait for more usb-c monitors to come out (LG has another one the same price as the 21.5" that is 27" but doesn't have as many ports and I'm not convinced it will charge my 15" Macbook Pro) or buy an existing monitor capable of display port of some kind that I can adapt to usb-c somehow? Or ???

If I find a solution that allows me to keep my 8 month old Thunderbolt display with a new MBP, I will let everyone know.

 

[impaler]

GREAT article! I was searching the web for compatibility with my early 2015 MBP w/Retina, and was pleased to see I could drive a 4K display at 60Hz.

 

[Teon]

Wow, you can display images on a 5k. True 5k will cost exorbitant money, but 4k is becoming cheaper and cheaper))

 

[woosher]

If I find a solution that allows me to keep my 8 month old Thunderbolt display with a new MBP, I will let everyone know.

Well, according to Apple, you can drive FOUR Thuderbolt displays using your gear:

https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT204154

 

[juanmbellini]

Hi, I would like to know if my mid 2015 MacBook Pro without AMD Radeon R9 M370X graphics can handle two 4K (3840×2160) monitors at 60Hz connected via Thunderbolt 2 (one on each port).
I already have one (Dell P2415Q), and it goes perfect. I'm considering buying another one.
Thank you very much!

 

[Mitch Buchannon]

Hi, I would like to know if my mid 2015 MacBook Pro without AMD Radeon R9 M370X graphics can handle two 4K (3840×2160) monitors at 60Hz connected via Thunderbolt 2 (one on each port).
I already have one (Dell P2415Q), and it goes perfect. I'm considering buying another one.
Thank you very much!

Hi, I have tried it with two P2415Q monitors and it works perfectly fine. I've used both the Thunderbolts 2 connections.

 

[turbobass]

Apple suspends sales of its new LG 5K monitor due to hardware issues

http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-suspends-sales-of-lg-ultrafine-5k-monitor-2017-2

 

[juanmbellini]

Hi, I have tried it with two P2415Q monitors and it works perfectly fine. I've used both the Thunderbolts 2 connections.

Hi Mitch, thank you for your reply.
Did you check if both monitors were at 60 Hz?

 

[Mitch Buchannon]

Hi Mitch, thank you for your reply.
Did you check if both monitors were at 60 Hz?

I'll have to check but I believe I've seen the full resolution and 60hz indicated in the menu!

 

[pier]

Many external displays have Mini DisplayPort, meaning all you need to do is connect a Thunderbolt cable between your Mac and the monitor.

This is wrong. You need a mini DP cable to connect to monitors that have mini DP port. A Thunderbolt 1 or 2 cable will not work, even when they have the same connector it is a different cable.

I just ran into this. I bought a useless and expensive Thunderbolt cable to connect a P2415Q to a 2015 MBP and what I actually needed was a much cheaper mini DP cable.