Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Dell 4k monitor with macbook pro retina

C

Chevelle

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 9, 2010
142
6
I have this posted in the peripherals section but nobody goes there. I've been looking into monitors and it's getting confusing. I'm ordering a new macbook pro retina. I want a monitor to hook it up to when at home. Was thinking Apple Thunderbolt, but I want an update.

Is it worth getting a 4k monitor? Can I even take advantage of it using a mbp retina? I get confused by the different resolutions and how they pair up together. Basically, will I get a sharper image connecting my mbp retina up to it while web browsing, reading, watching movies/shows, and gaming?
 
Chevelle said:
I have this posted in the peripherals section but nobody goes there. I've been looking into monitors and it's getting confusing. I'm ordering a new macbook pro retina. I want a monitor to hook it up to when at home. Was thinking Apple Thunderbolt, but I want an update.

Is it worth getting a 4k monitor? Can I even take advantage of it using a mbp retina? I get confused by the different resolutions and how they pair up together. Basically, will I get a sharper image connecting my mbp retina up to it while web browsing, reading, watching movies/shows, and gaming?
Click to expand...

Hi,

Well, you can hook your rMBP to the monitor using DP 1.2a in the Thunderbolt port. Theoretically, that should provide you with 4k resolution at 60Hz. However, all evidence up far claims that the frame rate will be limited to 24Hz (or maybe 30Hz). Unfortunately, I don't think anyone here has actually purchased a 4k monitor yet and tested it out over thunderbolt (DP 1.2). Some members might have 4k monitors, but those usually don't have miniDP connectivity that the Dell monitors offer.

If you're planning on getting the 24" monitor, it'll run great in HiDPI mode; it'll be like a 1920*1080 retina display. The 30" will work like that too, but 1920*1080 on a 30" display is quite unappealing.

As for your question regarding sharpness, it'll be somewhat like the difference between the display of a cMBP and that of an rMBP. However, with external monitors, the difference isn't that great. Personally, I would rather have the screen real estate of a 1440p 24" monitor than the sharpness of a 4k monitor running on HiDPI mode.

Finally, watching movies will be great, but you don't really have much 4k content available. If you do find some 4k movies, you'll love the sharpness and clarity. I don't think you would want to read a book on such a big screen, but the text will be a tad sharper if you do. Forget about gaming; the resolution is too high for your rMBP to handle in proper gaming. Furthermore, if the refresh rate is limited to 24Hz, your game will be far too choppy anyway.

If you end up getting the 4k monitor, do test it out over DP and report your result here.

Regards
Raptor

UPDATE: Just to clarify, DP 1.2a is only available in Thunderbolt 2, so you won't be able to use an older rMBP for potential 4k 60Hz output.
 
Last edited:
I'll let you know in about two weeks when I get my 24" Dell UP2414Q. At the moment though, I am pretty sure I can tell you that it will only run 4k in 30hz, because Apple has locked it to so via drivers on OSX. It will run 4K at 60hz in Windows (Bootcamp) with no issues on DP 1.2.
 
Plateglass said:
I'll let you know in about two weeks when I get my 24" Dell UP2414Q. At the moment though, I am pretty sure I can tell you that it will only run 4k in 30hz, because Apple has locked it to so via drivers on OSX. It will run 4K at 60hz in Windows (Bootcamp) with no issues on DP 1.2.
Click to expand...

Are you planning to do a review? I'm wanting one of those but want to hear what a mac user has to say about them first.
 
I currently use a Dell P2715Q 4K monitor on my 13" Retina and it works fine at 60 Hz. I used the Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort cable that came with the monitor. I also did this when I had a 15" Retina.
 
dlimes13 said:
I currently use a Dell P2715Q 4K monitor on my 13" Retina and it works fine at 60 Hz. I used the Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort cable that came with the monitor. I also did this when I had a 15" Retina.
Click to expand...

At which resolution?
 
dlimes13 said:
I run it at 3008 x 1692, basically one step away from native 3840 x 2160. Everything is too small at that resolution.
Click to expand...

Can you test if the P2715Q @ 60hz is possible in portrait mode?

I read somewhere that if you set Display Settings -> DisplayPort 1.2 to Enable, then you lose the option for 90 degree rotation (i.e.. portrait mode) in the OS X System Preferences. I doubt that, but I'd like to know before buying one, as I work in portrait.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back