Apple Studio Display and work laptop

[dexterie]

Hello everyone,

My current display (a 4K LG) has been giving me some issues and I believe it’s time to part ways and get a new monitor.
I love how the Apple Studio Display looks. I don’t need it, but I could afford it and enjoy with plugged with my MBP or iPad.
The issue is that I also need my display to work with Windows because of work. My work has us using a random Lenovo Thinkpad and I’m afraid it work work decently with the ASD.
Any feedback about its compatibility with lower end windows laptops?

The alternative would be a Huawei MateView 28, which also looks good, but I have zero experience with this brand.

Edit: the Thinkpad does have a USB-C connector.

 

[KPOM]

Hello everyone,

My current display (a 4K LG) has been giving me some issues and I believe it’s time to part ways and get a new monitor.
I love how the Apple Studio Display looks. I don’t need it, but I could afford it and enjoy with plugged with my MBP or iPad.
The issue is that I also need my display to work with Windows because of work. My work has us using a random Lenovo Thinkpad and I’m afraid it work work decently with the ASD.
Any feedback about its compatibility with lower end windows laptops?

The alternative would be a Huawei MateView 28, which also looks good, but I have zero experience with this brand.

Edit: the Thinkpad does have a USB-C connector.

Is it a Thunderbolt 3 port or just USB-C? If the latter, does it support video out? My 2018 HP notebook can run the Apple Studio Display as a 4K monitor, but I had to use either a USB-4 or Thunderbolt 4 cable (the included Thunderbolt 3 cable didn’t work with the PC).

 

[coffeym]

Provided the laptop will output video through the USB-C port, it will work. You will need to set the brightness with a mac first though as there is no hardware brightness control. Depending on the functionality of your port, you may or may not get access to the webcam, mics, and speakers.

 

[dexterie]

Is it a Thunderbolt 3 port or just USB-C? If the latter, does it support video out? My 2018 HP notebook can run the Apple Studio Display as a 4K monitor, but I had to use either a USB-4 or Thunderbolt 4 cable (the included Thunderbolt 3 cable didn’t work with the PC).

Not sure. I’ve been using it connected to my lg using a usb-c cable only. Guess it’s thunderbolt.

 

[dexterie]

Provided the laptop will output video through the USB-C port, it will work. You will need to set the brightness with a mac first though as there is no hardware brightness control. Depending on the functionality of your port, you may or may not get access to the webcam, mics, and speakers.

Thanks. I don’t need the mics nor the webcam to work with that computer. Guess I’d be fine then no?

 

[coffeym]

Thanks. I don’t need the mics nor the webcam to work with that computer. Guess I’d be fine then no?

Would say it’d be very likely. Could you search online for a manual or spec sheet for your laptop? If the port is thunderbolt or has DisplayPort functionality, you’ll definitely be fine.

 

[dexterie]

Would say it’d be very likely. Could you search online for a manual or spec sheet for your laptop? If the port is thunderbolt or has DisplayPort functionality, you’ll definitely be fine.

It’s a Lenovo Thinkpad L390
According to their website:
USB-C (with power delivery, DisplayPort, data transfer)

 

[KPOM]

It’s a Lenovo Thinkpad L390
According to their website:
USB-C (with power delivery, DisplayPort, data transfer)

It should work, but likely not with the cable that ships with it. This cable and other USB-4 cables should work (technically also a USB-C 3.2 cable, but for the extra few $, I suggest “future proofing” your cable).

 

[joevt]

The Lenovo Thinkpad L390 uses an 8th generation Intel CPU which has UHD 620 graphics? You can't get 5K 60Hz from that without Thunderbolt 3 unless you can switch to 6bpc. I don't know if you can select 6bpc with Intel graphics or if the Apple Studio Display will accept that (the XDR can accept 6bpc).

If the Intel GPU can handle outputting 5K width, then you could try creating a custom timing with lower refresh rate (use CRU Custom Resolution Utility). Start with 5K 30Hz. Pixel clock limit for HBR2 connection is 960 MHz for 6bpc, 720 MHz for 8bpc, and 576 MHz for 10bpc.

Let us know what modes/timings you test and if they are successful or not.

 

[KPOM]

The Lenovo Thinkpad L390 uses an 8th generation Intel CPU which has UHD 620 graphics? You can't get 5K 60Hz from that without Thunderbolt 3 unless you can switch to 6bpc. I don't know if you can select 6bpc with Intel graphics or if the Apple Studio Display will accept that (the XDR can accept 6bpc).

If the Intel GPU can handle outputting 5K width, then you could try creating a custom timing with lower refresh rate (use CRU Custom Resolution Utility). Start with 5K 30Hz. Pixel clock limit for HBR2 connection is 960 MHz for 6bpc, 720 MHz for 8bpc, and 576 MHz for 10bpc.

Let us know what modes/timings you test and if they are successful or not.

My work notebook has the UHD 630. I get 4K output using an active TB4 cable. When I used a passive cable I was briefly able to get 5K but then it wouldn’t drive my internal display.

 

[joevt]

My work notebook has the UHD 630. I get 4K output using an active TB4 cable. When I used a passive cable I was briefly able to get 5K but then it wouldn’t drive my internal display.

Some Thunderbolt 3 PCs may have Thunderbolt ports that only support one DisplayPort connection. Can you connect two displays via a Thunderbolt dock (not with MST)?

For a GPU like the UHD 630 that doesn't support DSC, two DisplayPort connections are required over Thunderbolt to get 5K60 from the Studio Display.

The UHD 630 can support 3 displays total. So the internal display plus two external displays or one dual tile display like the Studio Display should be possible.

With a non-Thunderbolt connection, you may be able to use 6bpc to get 5K60. Or you may be able to create a 5K timing with lower refresh rate.

 

[mambodawgphace]

Hello everyone,

My current display (a 4K LG) has been giving me some issues and I believe it’s time to part ways and get a new monitor.
I love how the Apple Studio Display looks. I don’t need it, but I could afford it and enjoy with plugged with my MBP or iPad.
The issue is that I also need my display to work with Windows because of work. My work has us using a random Lenovo Thinkpad and I’m afraid it work work decently with the ASD.
Any feedback about its compatibility with lower end windows laptops?

The alternative would be a Huawei MateView 28, which also looks good, but I have zero experience with this brand.

Edit: the Thinkpad does have a USB-C connector.

I have the same question! Please let us know if you are successful with the studio display/thinkpad set up.

 

[dexterie]

I have the same question! Please let us know if you are successful with the studio display/thinkpad set up.

It works. You have to set brightness and speaker’s volume with a Mac though. I went to an Apple Store and they were kind enough to let me try it in store.