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4k Monitor with 15' rMBP question

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Mike Boreham

macrumors 601
Original poster
Aug 10, 2006
4,094
2,102
UK
I am close to getting a Dell UP2414Q 4K monitor for using with my late 2013 15" rMBP.

Main source of info is this article which says, as expected, that the true retina experience is using 1920 x 1080, which is pixel doubling the native 3840 x 2160.

I would be happy with 1920 x 1080 on a 24" monitor for my main usage but would sometimes like more real estate.

My question is whether the options for "more space" would apply?

Thanks
 
Mike Boreham said:
I am close to getting a Dell UP2414Q 4K monitor for using with my late 2013 15" rMBP.

Main source of info is this article which says, as expected, that the true retina experience is using 1920 x 1080, which is pixel doubling the native 3840 x 2160.

I would be happy with 1920 x 1080 on a 24" monitor for my main usage but would sometimes like more real estate.

My question is whether the options for "more space" would apply?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Yes, once hidpi mode is enabled, you can change the resolution to true 4k if you want more real estate.
 
Raunien said:
Yes, once hidpi mode is enabled, you can change the resolution to true 4k if you want more real estate.
Click to expand...

Thanks! Text would be too small for me at full 4k, so I am hoping intermediate scaled resolutions would be available. From what you say I am sure they are, even if third party tool like switchrez is needed.
 
Keep in mind I don't believe you would be able to run that monitor on 60hz with that laptop. Not sure if that matters to you or not.
 
My mistake then, I apologize! I had been reading all over this forum that only the new 2015 13 inch could run 60hz. There must have been something I missed (maybe the 15 inch could all along). Sorry again.
 
Mike Boreham said:
The article I linked and this Apple page say I will be able to.

Note the reviewer in the first one found he was limited to 30Hz with his 13' rMBP and changed to a 15" (like mine) to get 60Hz.
Click to expand...

I think that it is possible only with certain displays, like the Dell UP2414Q you are considering, to get the full 60hz. They are able to do that using MST where the display is treated as two 1920x2160 panels. Other 4k displays are not wired like this, and would be limited to 30hz.
 
zhenya said:
I think that it is possible only with certain displays, like the Dell UP2414Q you are considering, to get the full 60hz. They are able to do that using MST where the display is treated as two 1920x2160 panels. Other 4k displays are not wired like this, and would be limited to 30hz.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Confirms my initial impression that the subject is fraught with pitfalls and hence my uncertainty in jumping in.

What I really want is for Apple to bring out a 4K Thunderbolt Display II, but that may never happen. With the new iMac being 5K I suspect if/when Apple do it they might go straight to 5K.
 
Mike Boreham said:
Thanks. Confirms my initial impression that the subject is fraught with pitfalls and hence my uncertainty in jumping in.

What I really want is for Apple to bring out a 4K Thunderbolt Display II, but that may never happen. With the new iMac being 5K I suspect if/when Apple do it they might go straight to 5K.
Click to expand...

That's probably true.

And yes, the whole transition to 4k is hard to decipher. One additional thing to note is that screens like the Dell you are considering do not support daisy-chaining. That's the trade-off to getting 4k @60hz.
 
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