Can I use an external 10-bit display with an iMac?

[thomas223]

I'm currently using a late-2013 27"iMac with a GTX775m graphics card and El Capitan OS. I'm considering purchasing a 10-bit external display to use with the iMac to edit photographs . Will this machine support 10-bit colour on the external monitor or will it be a waste of money? Should I rather get an 8-bit monitor?

El Capitan seems to have introduced 10-bit support but I'm not sure if my nvidia graphics card supports 10-bit external monitors.

Thanks for the help.

 

[CWallace]

Well the GPU supports 10-bit color (per nVidia, all GPUs since the GeForce 200 do), but it looks to be model specific to the iMac 4K, iMac 5K and Mac Pro (2013).

Someone noted their 2012 MacBook Pro did not support it, even though the nVidia GPU in it does. So I would be inclined to say it will not.

 

[thomas223]

Well the GPU supports 10-bit color (per nVidia, all GPUs since the GeForce 200 do), but it looks to be model specific to the iMac 4K, iMac 5K and Mac Pro (2013).

Someone noted their 2012 MacBook Pro did not support it, even though the nVidia GPU in it does. So I would be inclined to say it will not.

Thanks for the reply. Do you perhaps know if the person with the 2012 MacBook Pro was running El Capitan?

Or do you think I should rather save some money and opt for an 8-bit display?

 

[CWallace]

Thanks for the reply. Do you perhaps know if the person with the 2012 MacBook Pro was running El Capitan?

Yes.

Or do you think I should rather save some money and opt for an 8-bit display?

Depending on how long you want to keep the display and how soon you intend to upgrade to a new iMac, you could buy the 10-bit model and use it in 8-bit mode now and 10-bit mode in the future.

 

[thomas223]

Ok, great, thanks for the help.