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Dell 6K U3224KB Monitor

Plus points it’s 6K so a retina display at half the cost of the Pro Display XDR with stand. On the downside the camera is ugly and unlike the Pro Display XDR it doesn’t have mini LED backlighting and I don’t think it is a true 10 bit panel either (Dell’s mini LED 10 bit 4K panel, the UP3221Q, costs significantly more). It looks more like a 6K version of their 4K video conferencing monitor, the U3223QZ.

​

​

 
On the spec sheet, it says “10-bit” for the mDP 2.1 but “10-bit FRL” for the HDMI 2.1 port. That gives me hope it’s a true 10-bit panel.

I’m confused by the TB4 specs though, which is probably most important for Mac users.
 
FRL doesn't have anything to do with the bit depth of the panel.
FRL means Fixed Rate Link which is the connection method for HDMI 2.1 as opposed to TMDS which is the connection method for HDMI/DVI.
If it said FRC, then that would definitely affect the bit depth of the panel. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frame_rate_control

6144x3456@60Hz requires a pixel clock of 1327 MHz (assuming CVT-RB2 timing calculation).
That means HBR2 4:2:0 8bpc or DSC@12bpp (HBR2 or HDMI 2.1 (6Gbps)) or HBR3 6bpc or UHBR13.5 or HDMI 2.1 (12 Gbps) is required for 60Hz.

What's the lowest refresh rate it can support?

Can it support chroma sub sampling 4:2:0 or 4:2:2?

Does it support dual link SST modes (dual tile for 5K and dual tile for 6K) over Thunderbolt 3/4 like the XDR can for GPUs that don't support DSC? It supports Thunderbolt downstream DisplayPort output, which might mean that it does not support dual link SST modes. The XDR doesn't have a downstream Thunderbolt port because it uses the second Thunderbolt port internally for the second DisplayPort connection to support dual link SST modes. I suppose the Dell display could be smarter than the XDR and allow dual link SST mode when a display is not connected to the downstream Thunderbolt port.

Code: 
22Hz HDMI2 bpc10
26Hz HBR2 bpc10
27Hz HDMI2 bpc8
32Hz HBR2 bpc8
32Hz HDMI2 bpc10_422
32Hz HDMI21_6 bpc10
39Hz HBR2 bpc10_422
39Hz HBR3 bpc10
40Hz HDMI21_6 bpc8
41Hz HDMI2 bpc8_422
43Hz HBR2 bpc6
43Hz HDMI2 bpc10_420
43Hz HDMI21_8 bpc10
48Hz HDMI21_6 bpc10_422
49Hz HBR2 bpc8_422
49Hz HBR3 bpc8
52Hz HBR2 bpc10_420
53Hz HDMI21_8 bpc8
53Hz HDMI21_10 bpc10
54Hz HDMI2 DSC_or_bpc8_420
58Hz HBR3 bpc10_422
58Hz UHBR_10 bpc10

Code: 
60Hz HDMI21_6 bpc8_422
64Hz HBR2 DSC_or_bpc8_420
64Hz HBR3 bpc6
64Hz HDMI21_6 bpc10_420
64Hz HDMI21_8 bpc10_422
64Hz HDMI21_12 bpc10
66Hz HDMI21_10 bpc8
72Hz HBR3 bpc8_422
72Hz UHBR_10 bpc8
77Hz HBR3 bpc10_420
78Hz UHBR_135 bpc10
79Hz HDMI21_6 DSC_or_bpc8_420
79Hz HDMI21_8 bpc8_422
79Hz HDMI21_10 bpc10_422
79Hz HDMI21_12 bpc8
84Hz HDMI21_8 bpc10_420
86Hz UHBR_10 bpc10_422
94Hz HDMI21_12 bpc10_422
95Hz HBR3 DSC_or_bpc8_420
95Hz UHBR_10 bpc6
96Hz UHBR_135 bpc8
98Hz HDMI21_10 bpc8_422
104Hz HDMI21_8 DSC_or_bpc8_420
104Hz HDMI21_10 bpc10_420
106Hz UHBR_10 bpc8_422
113Hz UHBR_10 bpc10_420
113Hz UHBR_20 bpc10
114Hz UHBR_135 bpc10_422
117Hz HDMI21_12 bpc8_422
124Hz HDMI21_12 bpc10_420
126Hz UHBR_135 bpc6
129Hz HDMI21_10 DSC_or_bpc8_420
140Hz UHBR_10 DSC_or_bpc8_420
140Hz UHBR_20 bpc8
141Hz UHBR_135 bpc8_422
150Hz UHBR_135 bpc10_420
153Hz HDMI21_12 DSC_or_bpc8_420
166Hz UHBR_20 bpc10_422
182Hz UHBR_20 bpc6
185Hz UHBR_135 DSC_or_bpc8_420
203Hz UHBR_20 bpc8_422
215Hz UHBR_20 bpc10_420
263Hz UHBR_20 DSC_or_bpc8_420

Code: 
w=6144
h=3456

HBR2=$(bc <<< "scale=10; 5.4*4*8/10")
HBR3=$(bc <<< "scale=10; 8.1*4*8/10")
UHBR_10=$(bc <<< "scale=10; 10 * 4 * 0.967125")
UHBR_135=$(bc <<< "scale=10; 13.5 * 4 * 0.967125")
UHBR_20=$(bc <<< "scale=10; 20 * 4 * 0.967125")
HDMI2=$(bc <<< "scale=10; 6*3*8/10")
HDMI21_6=$(bc <<< "scale=10; 6*4*16/18")
HDMI21_8=$(bc <<< "scale=10; 8*4*16/18")
HDMI21_10=$(bc <<< "scale=10; 10*4*16/18")
HDMI21_12=$(bc <<< "scale=10; 12*4*16/18")

DSC_or_bpc8_420=12
bpc10_420=15
bpc8_422=16
bpc6=18
bpc10_422=20
bpc8=24
bpc10=30

for thebandwidth in \
HBR2 \
HBR3 \
UHBR_10 \
UHBR_135 \
UHBR_20 \
HDMI2 \
HDMI21_6 \
HDMI21_8 \
HDMI21_10 \
HDMI21_12
do
    for thebitdepth in \
    DSC_or_bpc8_420 \
    bpc10_420 \
    bpc8_422 \
    bpc6 \
    bpc10_422 \
    bpc8 \
    bpc10
    do
        MHz=$(bc <<< "scale=10; ${(P)thebandwidth} * 1000 / ${(P)thebitdepth}")
        if [[ $thebandwidth == HDMI* ]] && [[ $thebitdepth == bpc6 ]]; then
            :
        else
            Hz=0
            for ((therefresh = 1;therefresh < 1000; therefresh++ )); do
                Hz_MHz="$(edid-decode -S --cvt w=$w,h=$h,fps=$therefresh,rb=2 | sed -E '/.* ([0-9.]+) Hz .* ([0-9.]+) MHz.*/s//\1 \2/')"
                calcHz=${Hz_MHz% *}
                calcMHz=${Hz_MHz#* }
                if (( $(bc <<< "$calcMHz > $MHz") )); then
                    break
                fi
                Hz="$therefresh"
            done
            echo "${Hz}Hz ${thebandwidth} ${thebitdepth}"
        fi
    done
done | sort -V

I didn't include 2-lane DisplayPort connections since you wouldn't want to cripple the display by connecting it behind a USB-C dock.
 
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What's the Ethernet controller? Is it PCIe (requires Thunderbolt) or USB?
 
I hope LG sees the potential in this panel for a Mac display. I really like their 24MD. It’s so well thought out for Max users; just way too small for me.

But since nothing has been announced yet, there’s a good chance I’ll buy this Dell. If you want a 32” HiDPI display, it’s this or the Pro Display XDR.
 
XDR does NOT have miniLED!

Patchwork said:
Plus points it’s 6K so a retina display at half the cost of the Pro Display XDR with stand. On the downside the camera is ugly and unlike the Pro Display XDR it doesn’t have mini LED backlighting and I don’t think it is a true 10 bit panel either (Dell’s mini LED 10 bit 4K panel, the UP3221Q, costs significantly more). It looks more like a 6K version of their 4K video conferencing monitor, the U3223QZ.

​

​

Click to expand...
 
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Last edited:
My mistake I meant zones rather than mini led. The point is though the Dell 6K display looks more like their video conferencing monitor (the U3223QZ) with a 6k display rather than a 4K display. Dell’s mini led 10 bit display, the UP3221Q, is the one with a lot of zones (nearly four times those for the Pro Display XDR). However that has a much higher MSRP of $5,030, though you can pick it up for around $4,000. Apart from resolution I don’t think the Dell 6k display is competing with the Apple Pro Display XDR, but at about half the price you wouldn’t expect it to. This does not mean it is a bad display, far from it. A much cheaper 32 inch Retina display is what a number of Apple users have been asking for. I just wish it wasn’t so ugly.
 
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We are talking about Dell 32" 6K screen so if someone mentions XDR display its assumed that its the 32" Apple XDR display. Not the laptop ones. And as such 32" XDR (clarified here just for you!) is not MiniLED.

Realityck said:
The 14.2” and 16.2” XDR displays used with 14”/16” M1/M2 Pro/Max MBPs is miniLED based. See https://www.apple.com/macbook-pro-14-and-16/specs/ Just because Apple doesn’t say that now doesn’t change anything. :D

www.notebookcheck.net

Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 Laptop Review: The performance of the M1 Max is limited

Notebookcheck reviews the Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 with the M1 Max SoC, 24-core GPU, and the Mini-LED screen.
www.notebookcheck.net www.notebookcheck.net
Click to expand...
 
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Absolutely! I think we need more manufacturers to jump on the retina bandwagon as we will only gain. Once there is more options for customers we will all be happier as we wouldn't have to pay the insane prices Apple is asking for. Until now, all the retina displays were pretty much Apple only so this (and the Samsung S9) is the step into right direction.
And yes, this display is ugly but the assumption here is that the panel will eventually make it into one of those 3223Q versions that don't have the camera so that is what I would love to get.

I'm just excited that we get options as XDR for $5k without a stand is an absolute joke.

Patchwork said:
My mistake I meant zones rather than mini led. The point is though the Dell 6K display looks more like their video conferencing monitor (the U3223QZ) with a 6k display rather than a 4K display. Dell’s mini led 10 bit display, the UP3221Q, is the one with a lot of zones (nearly four times those for the Pro Display XDR). However that has a much higher MSRP of $5,030, though you can pick it up for around $4,000. Apart from resolution I don’t think the Dell 6k display is competing with the Apple Pro Display XDR, but at about half the price you wouldn’t expect it to. This does not mean it is a bad display, far from it. A much cheaper 32 inch Retina display is what a number of Apple users have been asking for. I just wish it wasn’t so ugly.
Click to expand...
 
enc0re said:
MSRP ($3,199) and spec sheet are up.

Let the discussion begin!
Click to expand...
There's no hits for 3,199 in that pricing document Where are you seeing it? What's the SKU?

1682798910353.png
 
Freida said:
There is actually. I had the same issue until I realised that the search field doesn't go through all those 20k pages or so.
Click to expand...
What I found was actually 3,190.99 rather than 3,199.99, but that almost seems like a typo huh. Would be a slightly odd price.
 
Zest28 said:
MacRumors will call this display garbage because it's not a gaming monitor.
Click to expand...
Right. I wager the majority of those that want 120hz at these sizes and resolution would also scoff at what such a monitor would end up costing.
 
I think if you search for 199 you will find quite a lot of 3199

rumz said:
What I found was actually 3,190.99 rather than 3,199.99, but that almost seems like a typo huh. Would be a slightly odd price.
Click to expand...
 
Lava Lamp Freak said:
Today's update of the MSRP price list dropped the U3224KB to $2,999. After the eventual discount that should bring it to around $2,399.

Click to expand...
Thanks for posting that. And nice to see it's listed less cyptically this time (see screenshot)

The 20% discount you're assuming seems reasonable, since I filtered Dell's site for Ultrasharp monitors, and nearly all were indeed discounted 20%. But how long do you think it will take before a discount shows up for this one, particularly given its premium nature?

1683244307187.png
 
Last edited:
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I don't know if this holds true for all monitors, but I just checked archive.org for the U3223QE and U2723QE product pages, and both were released in February and discounted 20% in March.
 
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Patchwork said:
Apart from resolution I don’t think the Dell 6k display is competing with the Apple Pro Display XDR
Click to expand...
Agreed -- at $2400 discounted, its 32" size makes it a strong competitor for the ASD (especially for those who want a matte screen and tilt-adjustable monitor).

Though I personally prefer glossy screens for desktops because I can control the light in my room, and glossy screens have sharper text and avoid the "snowfield" effect. Hopefully the Dell will use a very light matte finish.
Patchwork said:
I just wish it wasn’t so ugly.
Click to expand...
As others have mentioned, just as Dell followed the 32" 4k U3223QE ($1280 MSRP), which seems to have same forehead speakers & camera as the 32 "6k, with an identical version without them a few months later (U3223QE, $860 MSRP), they may do the same for the 32" 6k. If the latter has the same ~$400 price reduction, then its MSRP would be $2600, giving ~$2100 at 20% off.
 
If this thing seriously gets priced in the low $2k range, then Apple should be embarrassed for their XDR and ACD. They're both such ripoffs that it makes Apple look like a bunch of con artists in comparison. It's legit offensive.
 
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