Anyone with UltraWide Displays? feedback?

[whodatrr]

Anyone using UltraWide displays? How do you like them? Any issues with apps or scaling?

I'm a screen real estate junkie. While CPU horsepower is important, I personally find that being able to work with lots of windows open boost my productivity the most. I currently have three 27" 2.5k displays, which I've had for a while now (27 iMac and 2 Dell U2713HM). For me, this works. Center display is production, Right is for communications, and Left is for consumption).

Though I'm currently using a late 2012 iMac, I did briefly try a 5k. While the 5k was beautiful, I didn't find that it would help me with work productivity much. Yes, it was better for photos and perhaps video, but that's not really how I pay my bills (probably 5% or less of my work). But looking at some of the ultrawides has me salivating. I'm talking about the 3440x1440 models like the Dell UltraSharp U3415W. My thought is that, when I get my next 5k iMac, I replace one screen with the ultra wide, and eventually 2 of them. I still plan too have the 5k in the middle for work & personal stuff where accurate image rendering is important.

• Anyone currently using a 3440x1440?
• Anyone use one with a 5k iMac? If so, how do they match up?
• Anyone figure out how to get one to work with an old iMac (my late 2012 says max external is 2560x1440)
• Any feedback on particular models of display? I'm looking at the Dell UltraSharp U3415W

Thanks!

 

[whodatrr]

Hmmm.... nobody is using one?

Maybe to risky to consider? I tried googling the display I want along with iMac 5k, and came up with little info. Mostly people asking whether it will work, and getting no replies. Hmmm....?

 

[theSeb]

There are quite a few people using these displays and there have been a few large threads about them in this section of the forum. You will have to do a bit of searching to find them.

 

[Ahboyd]

Anyone using UltraWide displays? How do you like them? Any issues with apps or scaling?

I'm a screen real estate junkie. While CPU horsepower is important, I personally find that being able to work with lots of windows open boost my productivity the most. I currently have three 27" 2.5k displays, which I've had for a while now (27 iMac and 2 Dell U2713HM). For me, this works. Center display is production, Right is for communications, and Left is for consumption).

Though I'm currently using a late 2012 iMac, I did briefly try a 5k. While the 5k was beautiful, I didn't find that it would help me with work productivity much. Yes, it was better for photos and perhaps video, but that's not really how I pay my bills (probably 5% or less of my work). But looking at some of the ultrawides has me salivating. I'm talking about the 3440x1440 models like the Dell UltraSharp U3415W. My thought is that, when I get my next 5k iMac, I replace one screen with the ultra wide, and eventually 2 of them. I still plan too have the 5k in the middle for work & personal stuff where accurate image rendering is important.

• Anyone currently using a 3440x1440?
• Anyone use one with a 5k iMac? If so, how do they match up?
• Anyone figure out how to get one to work with an old iMac (my late 2012 says max external is 2560x1440)
• Any feedback on particular models of display? I'm looking at the Dell UltraSharp U3415W

Thanks!

I just got my (4 days) Dell U3415W with Macbook 12" 1.2GHz El Capitan connect to the monitor via HDMI and using Apple's USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter.

I will be talking about which most reviews on the internet won't mention so you have would have better info.

- Volume up/down won't work right off from your keyboard. My work around is to hook up a speakers with an external volume button. And the volume adjusts on the monitor is a soft button which somewhat difficult to access when suddenly the video sound is very loud.

- Mirroring display can't display full 3440x1440 on the monitor. It will have black margin on the left and right side of the screen. See picture below

- After awake from sleep, the resolution is still set at 3440x1440. However, it will be shrunken down and you can see black margin on 4 sides like picture below. The work around is the refresh the resolution to whatever and choose 3440x1440 again!

- Monitor stand is highly adjustable considering most OEM monitor stand won't be this flexible. The highest point of the lowest adjustment would be 15 3/4" and the highest point for the highest adjustment is 20". This is good for your neck.

- Find a good windows management utility.. I'm currently trying out Moom and BetterSnapTool. They are pretty good. However, sometime it would have a hick up like it won't do resizing properly then i had to restart the computer.

Anyway, these are my 4 days observation. Generally are very happy with the monitor. Great color, minimal back lights bleed (provided that you are not in a dark dark room).

Hope this help and Happy hunting!

 

[whodatrr]

Outstanding!!! I really do appreciate the info. If I do pull the trigger on one, my rMB will occasionally be using it as well, so this really helps.

Apparently, the Microsoft store will be selling these for $699, on Black Friday.

BTW, does the rMB have any trouble keeping up wth 3440 resolution? Does it feel slow, or is it fluid?

 

[Ahboyd]

Outstanding!!! I really do appreciate the info. If I do pull the trigger on one, my rMB will occasionally be using it as well, so this really helps.

Apparently, the Microsoft store will be selling these for $699, on Black Friday.

BTW, does the rMB have any trouble keeping up wth 3440 resolution? Does it feel slow, or is it fluid?

3440x1440 is noting for the rMB.

 

[Stacc]

I am running the Dell U3415W off of a 2011 15" Macbook Pro and I am loving it. Its awesome being able to run everything on one screen. Probably some day I will miss having a retina display but maybe this will hold me through until something like that exists. I do slightly regret not getting the LG version of this monitor as it has thunderbolt but I got a great deal on the Dell. My MBP is restricted to doing 50 Hz at 3440x1440 since it is only displayport 1.1 but I don't really notice it either in games or in general use. Just a note, if you want the full resolution, you will need to use displayport and not HDMI.

 

[Ahboyd]

I am running the Dell U3415W off of a 2011 15" Macbook Pro and I am loving it. Its awesome being able to run everything on one screen. Probably some day I will miss having a retina display but maybe this will hold me through until something like that exists. I do slightly regret not getting the LG version of this monitor as it has thunderbolt but I got a great deal on the Dell. My MBP is restricted to doing 50 Hz at 3440x1440 since it is only displayport 1.1 but I don't really notice it either in games or in general use. Just a note, if you want the full resolution, you will need to use displayport and not HDMI.

How is your mirroring or extend display mode. I would like to know how is it behave. Is it same as I described above?

 

[whodatrr]

So, I finally got my U3415W. Im't currently running it off of my late 2012 27 iMac, with a 680mx. Surprisingly, the old iMac is running two 1440ps along with the U3415W, without a hitch.

This is a gorgeous display! It was a bit weird for the first hour or so, getting used to the curve and the width. But after a couple hours, you couldn't wrestle it off my my desktop. As I'm about to swap out my old iMac for another system, I eventually may want two of these ultra-wides with a 4k.

 

[Erdbeertorte]

Still did not unbox it, but I bought the LG 34UC97-S instead of the Dell U3415 because it has additional two Thunderbolt 2 ports. I read somewhere that Dell is using the same panel, but I am not 100% sure, could also have been the not curved one or both. The LG is more expensive but I found a very good deal on Amazon for it.

 

[whodatrr]

Yeah, I seriously considered the LG for the extra ports. But I've had really bad luck with LG appliances breaking (~6 repairs on my dishwasher and 3 on my washing machine, in the past 4 years), so I guess my view was a bit tainted. Also, MS store had the Dell for $699 on Black Friday, so I took the plunge. If the Dell outlet has them in the next 6mos or so, very cheap, I may add another.

But the LG specs look great, and it's the same panel. So, good either way. Unbox that sucker... you'll love it!!!

Still did not unbox it, but I bought the LG 34UC97-S instead of the Dell U3415 because it has additional two Thunderbolt 2 ports. I read somewhere that Dell is using the same panel, but I am not 100% sure, could also have been the not curved one or both. The LG is more expensive but I found a very good deal on Amazon for it.

 

[Erdbeertorte]

Yeah, I seriously considered the LG for the extra ports. But I've had really bad luck with LG appliances breaking (~6 repairs on my dishwasher and 3 on my washing machine, in the past 4 years), so I guess my view was a bit tainted. Also, MS store had the Dell for $699 on Black Friday, so I took the plunge. If the Dell outlet has them in the next 6mos or so, very cheap, I may add another.

But the LG specs look great, and it's the same panel. So, good either way. Unbox that sucker... you'll love it!!!

I actually bought it for my 17" Late 2011 MBP, that has only TB 1 and USB 2.0 in the hope to get the full resolution and maybe also the USB 3.0 HUB is working when connected to Thunderbolt.
But I also got an iMac 5K in the meantime, where i could use it as second screen.
Luckily there is much time left for sending back both and decide, because at the moment I am most of the time lying sick in bed with the MBP and cannot test the new stuff.

Maybe I can get a good price for the 17" MBP, because it's the latest 17" with matte screen and the faster i7, also upgraded to 16GB RAM and two SSDs. Normally it was my Desktop without external screen, but I really need a much bigger, better and brighter screen or two.
Could get back to the MB Air for mobile things or even my white 2010 MB, because it's so cute and nobody else has one here. Won't give that away. It also has 16 GB RAM and an SSD, but the screen is not really nice.

 

[venom600]

Though I'm currently using a late 2012 iMac, I did briefly try a 5k. While the 5k was beautiful, I didn't find that it would help me with work productivity much. Yes, it was better for photos and perhaps video, but that's not really how I pay my bills (probably 5% or less of my work). But looking at some of the ultrawides has me salivating. I

I'm not sure I understand your logic. Ultrawide monitors are great for machines that don't support 4k or 5k, but they don't even provide as much usable workspace as a 4k monitor, and those are often cheaper. The 3840x2160 of a 4k monitor is far superior, and it enables high res (retina mode) on machines that support it. I'm a little confused at how you think a lower resolution monitor would help you be more productive, unless you really need the physically larger view of the 34" monitor.

 

[Stacc]

I'm not sure I understand your logic. Ultrawide monitors are great for machines that don't support 4k or 5k, but they don't even provide as much usable workspace as a 4k monitor, and those are often cheaper. The 3840x2160 of a 4k monitor is far superior, and it enables high res (retina mode) on machines that support it. I'm a little confused at how you think a lower resolution monitor would help you be more productive, unless you really need the physically larger view of the 34" monitor.

Remember, the UI is scaled on a high resolution display. That is why the retina 27" iMac with a 5k display UI elements have the same size as the old non-retina 27" iMac. Apple's standard PPI is ~110. Retina doubles this to 220, but scales it so the workspace area is the same but all UI elements have more detail. A 4k 27" monitor without scaling would make the UI elements too small to use without some sort of scaling.

A 34" ultra wide monitor keeps the 110 PPI standard and extends it horizontally, resulting in a resolution of 3440x1440. This provides more useable space than a 27" monitor either at non-retina or retina resolutions.

 

[whodatrr]

Ditto, as Stacc said below. I do happen to have a 27" 4k display, yet the lower res 34W provides more "effective" usable space, in essence a larger desktop. The 27" 4k/5k splays provide the same effective desktop as the old 27" 1440p, just with more detail.

Put another way, I can have 2 browser or MS Word windows open side by side, on my 27" displays, while I can have three of them on the 34".

I'm not sure I understand your logic. Ultrawide monitors are great for machines that don't support 4k or 5k, but they don't even provide as much usable workspace as a 4k monitor, and those are often cheaper. The 3840x2160 of a 4k monitor is far superior, and it enables high res (retina mode) on machines that support it. I'm a little confused at how you think a lower resolution monitor would help you be more productive, unless you really need the physically larger view of the 34" monitor.

Remember, the UI is scaled on a high resolution display. That is why the retina 27" iMac with a 5k display UI elements have the same size as the old non-retina 27" iMac. Apple's standard PPI is ~110. Retina doubles this to 220, but scales it so the workspace area is the same but all UI elements have more detail. A 4k 27" monitor without scaling would make the UI elements too small to use without some sort of scaling.

A 34" ultra wide monitor keeps the 110 PPI standard and extends it horizontally, resulting in a resolution of 3440x1440. This provides more useable space than a 27" monitor either at non-retina or retina resolutions.

 

[maplingstorie]

I would die for a retina ultra wide display

 

[whodatrr]

A few more days into it, and I just have to say that I'm floored!

4k/5k is nice, but it doesn't improve my productivity that much. But this 34" 1440p does, significantly. Also, the fact that the besets here are smaller than my other Dell displays and my iMac does help.

Yes, UDH (4-5k) is great to have on one display, if you're doing 4k video or perhaps professional photo work. But for everything else that I do at work, this level of resolution is perfect. It's accurate and pleasing to the eye, while not consuming excess GPU load.

They're back on sale for $699 at the MS store, today only. yes, I just ordered another one. Heck, if I had the money, I'd likely order three. Still, I'll keep a 4k in the mix, for those rare times when pixel-perfect photos may come in handy, or the kids want to play 4k games (on the PC).

 

[bluesnoop85]

Will my rMBP (Late 2013) work with Ultra wide monitors that sport 3440 x 1440 resolution? At the moment I'm running two old Dell U2312. I really like the idea of having a single monitor that will have similar/more screen real estate.

But unsure if my rMBP can power the monitor at full resolution.

 

[maplingstorie]

Will my rMBP (Late 2013) work with Ultra wide monitors that sport 3440 x 1440 resolution? At the moment I'm running two old Dell U2312. I really like the idea of having a single monitor that will have similar/more screen real estate.

But unsure if my rMBP can power the monitor at full resolution.

yes. my rMBP 2012 can run it

 

[dogslobber]

Still did not unbox it, but I bought the LG 34UC97-S instead .

How are you managing to not inbox it? Impressive willpower!

 

[bluesnoop85]

yes. my rMBP 2012 can run it

Thanks for confirming. Just need for them to drop in price in the UK.

Also, does the rMBP need to be connected to power supply whilst connected to the monitor? Which input are you using?

thanks

 

[maplingstorie]

thunderbolt. i would highly recommend using with power supply but it should be fine on battery just that it takes a lot of gpu power, your battery will die a lot faster

 

[Erdbeertorte]

How are you managing to not inbox it? Impressive willpower!

It's still in the box. My desk is way too small. The 27" iMac is taking up almost all of it's space.

I wanted to wait until my new apartment with the large desk is ready to move in, but it takes much longer than expected.

I have a big table in the kitchen/living room. Seems I have to test it there soon with any of my MacBooks, because I bought it on November 30 and Amazon's return period might be over in a few days.

 

[gman36]

I'm using the Lg 34um94-p, I ran it off a 2012 13in MacBook Air just fine. I absolutely love it, I just wish I bought the curved!

 

[deparko]

Hi,
I'm running a MBP 13" late 2012 with a Dell U3514W. Love the monitor but would like to have the refresh at 60 hertz. I'm using the mini display port 1.2 and only getting 50 hertz at 3440x1440. is there a way to get to 60 hertz?

thanks