Lemme letcha do the math:
MacBook Air (13-inch, M4, 2025) - Tech Specs - Apple Support
MacBook Air (13-inch, M4, 2025) - Tech Specs
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4K at 30Hz only
- Thread starter Scrooge MacDuck
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Lemme letcha do the math:
Not yet tried; ordering one shortly. Actually, I wouldn't mind 2K, but... blurry fonts whenever Retina ain't active (whatever that buzzword even means).
I just want an external monitor that won't have blurry fonts. For Mac OS, though, 4K seems too much, and 2K, too little. Kind of proves what I said before about Apple making it all too complex for the end user. Connecting a monitor should be easy as 1-2-3, with its normal performance not tied to PPI, port, or manufacturer. Mind you, I couldn't hook up an UltraFine if I wanted to, seeing as it's 5K. These ridiculously high resolutions only seem to exist in the Applosphere; the rest of the market can't be bothered.
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Awww man I didn't know that the hub isn't compatible with 4K/60hz.. I only used with a 1080p monitor so..
I think a DP cable can solve your problem. The main problem with these little mac is the only one USB C port so you are in a must with hubs. Also, i believe that the portability and the performance are not a good combination and you will need to sacrifice one thing or another
I mean, if 4K @ 60 Hz is too much of an ask performance-wise, than something is seriously wrong with this tech. Was then and still is now.
All this tiny-shiny kit is like chocolate-covered sh..
- Angry Video Game Nerd, reimagined
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You're expecting modern functionality out of a non-modern computer, my man.
My Silicon Mac works great with a low-end LG 4k monitor.
30 Hz shouldn't have existed in the first place. I doubt anyone would knowingly buy any gear limited to it, let alone a fairly expensive monitor, seeing as it's borderline unusable.
Retina mode on?
...which is still supported on Ventura ☝️
Also: if the monitor was released in 2014, then either it was intended for 30 Hz, which I doubt, or this functionality you're talking about ain't all that modern 😉
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The search result you found is incorrect in this case, the P2415Q/Qb does support 4k/60 over HDMI but HDMI 2.0 has to be enabled in the hidden menu mentioned elsewhere in this thread.
We can see that you have a lot of time to spend on it... 🤣Can't believe this simple thread has blown so much
That's a bit like saying 2017 shouldn't have existed. You're using obsolete tech. Time for an upgrade. And maybe buy a Dell.
Yes, with retina mode on. Sharp text and everything.
Then downgrade to Ventura?
Ordered what? A new cable? The problem is not the cable. I explained the problem at
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/4k-at-30hz-only.2455257/post-33858961
Do you mean a DisplayPort cable? But the hub you have has HDMI.
The monitor is not limited to 30Hz. The connection provided by the user is limited to 30Hz. The user should provide a better connection or use a lower resolution or use a display mode that uses less bandwidth.
These are the choices for the MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, 2017):
1) USB-C hub supporting USB 3.x (1a) 4K30 (1b) 1440p60
2) USB-C hub supporting USB only up to USB 2.0 (2a) 4K60
Here's an example of a USB-C hub that supports USB only up to USB 2.0:
https://www.cablematters.com/Cable-Matters-USB-C.aspx
A 3rd option is no hub (4K60 like option #2) but this MacBook has only one USB-C port.
I am surprised it took so long for OP to figure this out on an ancient vintage laptop.
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Ventura is only supported in a security updates capacity, that doesn’t mean it’s still getting new features.
This will also likely be the last year it’s supported, and that Mac was added to the vintage list last year, likely to go on the obsolete list next year.
Of course that doesn’t automatically make the computer useless or anything, but if you are experiencing compatibility issues today, it’s *not* going to get better
This will also likely be the last year it’s supported, and that Mac was added to the vintage list last year, likely to go on the obsolete list next year.
Of course that doesn’t automatically make the computer useless or anything, but if you are experiencing compatibility issues today, it’s *not* going to get better
Edit: apparently this won't work.
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That hub doesn't have a USB-C with DisplayPort Alt Mode port for video output. Useless in this situation.
Also, it supports USB 3.x so it would not allow 4K60 for the MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, 2017) even if it had a USB-C with DisplayPort Alt Mode port.
I suppose a fourth option would be a USB DisplayLink Adapter to get 4K60. DisplayLink doesn't use DisplayPort. It uses compressed video over USB. That means it won't perform as well (5 Gbps for USB vs 16 Gbps for DisplayPort) but it might be good enough for browsing and data entry.
https://www.synaptics.com/products/...field_displaylink_category_value=usb_adapters
You'll be surprised, but I'm using tech that's much more 'obsolete'. Just check out my signature. Mind you, that isn't even all of it.
As I said elsewhere in this thread already, they don't make Macs like this anymore. Come to think of it, how is it that a ten-year-old computer is lighter, thinner, and even has a more 'futuristic' feel to it than the latest and greatest of the same make? As for Dell, I ain't interested in Windows, however good they might be. Maybe I'll buy a (Mac) mini one day, but the monitor issue aside, I'm a rather light user. Productivity and security just don't excite me that much in my spare time, seeing as I get plenty of those at work.
I ain't gonna respond to this 'vintage' talk anymore. If your only contribution is 'buy new kit', than I'll let you do the honours, and will gladly put it on my shelf and in my signature so that folks don't pester me with their upgrade suggestions. PM for details 😉
- Picard out (c)
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I thank you for the deep dive, but I'm afraid I've not the slightest about things like HBR or chroma subsampling. This further proves how unbelievably complicated Apple, Intel, and the standardising bodies responsible for all those specs make it for home users. The webpage you're referencing times out. Is this here what you're talking about, perchance? https://www.amazon.de/Cable-Matters-Multiport-Adapter-Ethernet-Schwarz/dp/B0746RM54Y
Also, UGreen claim their USB 3 enabled hubs can do 4K@60: https://eu.ugreen.com/de/products/45363
Even these guys do (right on da friggin' case): https://www.ebay.de/itm/127001055982
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Yes, but you're also not asking your 2004 iBook to output in 4k to a modern monitor with the cheapest possible cables.
Dell P2415Qb seems to support 4K@60 Hz only via the DisplayPort and not via HDMI (which is version 1.4 and means maximum 30 Hz at that resolution).
Not sure if you've already concluded that, but the thread is long and I thought I'd post this anyway.
Not sure if you've already concluded that, but the thread is long and I thought I'd post this anyway.
If you don't understand a word then you can look it up in a dictionary or wikipedia.org or google.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DisplayPort
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB-C
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chroma_subsampling
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Display_Stream_Compression
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_depth
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_space
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YCbCr
etc.
Apple made it perfectly clear. Your MacBook supports 4K60.
You made it complicated when you decided to constrict the DisplayPort output with a USB-C dock that supports USB 3.x (and therefore removes half the bandwidth available to DisplayPort).
That model should work for HDMI.
I prefer DisplayPort because it has more bandwidth and you can choose your own HDMI adapter instead of being stuck with the one they built-in (in case one day a better HDMI adapter becomes available).
That model supports two displays using MST. macOS does not support multiple displays using MST. It will just mirror the displays.
The model I was trying to link is:
https://www.cablematters.com/pc-899...-usb-20-fast-ethernet-and-power-delivery.aspx
https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Matters-Multiport-DisplayPort-Ethernet-Charging/dp/B06Y5N3YCD
I already explained why no USB-C hub that supports USB 3.x can support 4K60 with your Mac unless the hub uses DisplayLink instead of USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode or you find a way to reduce the bandwidth required for 4K60 such as by using a different OS like Windows that lets you choose color depth or chroma sub sampling options. Those options might not exist for Intel graphics in Windows? They are likely to exist for ATI or Nvidia graphics but that doesn't matter with this MacBook.
I also explained what is required from a Mac to output 4K60 using a USB-C hub that supports USB 3.x.
You missed/ignored the posts that mention a hidden menu of the Dell P2415Q that enables HDMI 2.0 (4K60) for its HDMI port. The thread is less than 3 pages. Not long at all. And this secret menu was mentioned in the first post.Dell P2415Qb seems to support 4K@60 Hz only via the DisplayPort and not via HDMI (which is version 1.4 and means maximum 30 Hz at that resolution).
Not sure if you've already concluded that, but the thread is long and I thought I'd post this anyway.
I have the same monitor and have used the hidden menu to enable 4K60 via HDMI.
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