Anyone using Macbook Pro Early 2014 with 4K Monitor?

[johannarg]

I am looking into buying a Dell P2715Q which is 3840 x 2160 to use with a Macbook Pro Retina Early 2013 which does not support 4K but I read that using this adapter and a software called Switchresx it can be done https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01B702YTG/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A590JFSRVCU25. My only concern is the HDMI port on the monitor is 1.4 but correct me if I'm wrong, the adapter should convert to 2.0 and the Thunderbolt plugged into the Macbook allow 4K at 60 Hz? Anybody actually using it and can confirm it works ok?

 

[M87]

What do you mean it doesn't support 4k? I had the very first gen retina MBP and it did 4k. My understanding is that none of them will do 60hz at 4k over HDMI though.

 

[johannarg]

M87, thanks for your response! This Apple link is what confuses me, says only Macbook Pros Late 2013 and later will support 4K. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206587.

 

[Patcell]

No Mac computer currently available will be able to drive a 4K display at 60hz via HDMI. The current Macs have HDMI 1.4 outputs, which limits a 3840x2160 display to 30hz. No way around that.

As far as I know, the only 13" MacBook to support 4k at 60hz is the Broadwell (2015) model via one of its Thunderbolt 2 ports (Displayport 1.2). Regardless of adapter, the Intel Iris 5100 iGP in the late 2013/ mid 2014 13" MacBook Pros is not capable of driving a 3840x2160 display at 60hz - they will do it at 30hz via HDMI. Intel's product information states that the Iris 5100 cannot handle 4k at 60hz.

 

[jerryk]

Just curious, your new monitor has display port (and mini display port) is there any reason you want to use HDMI?