Dell 6K U3224KB Monitor

[tornado99]

Did the ACD have an A-TW polarizer? These were common on high end monitors about 10 years ago, but were dropped to save cost.

What is an A-TW (Advanced True White) polarizer? What are the benefits and drawbacks?

The A-TW filter is an additional film that is applied to some LCD panels with the aim of improving off-axis viewing of the display by reducing the "glow" effect that can be seen when viewing very dark images at extreme angles on S-IPS LCD panels. While it does reduce the glow effect, it can also introduce a slight coloration artifact that causes the glow to appear green when viewed from one angle, and magenta from another.

@GrandCiel , I frequently switch between a 24 inch 4K Matte monitor at work, and a glossy LG Ultrafine at home. The glossy is better but not by a huge amount. I still definitely appreciate the retina resolution on the matte and it never feels blurry.

 

[tstafford]

Hmm… It was US$3199.99 yesterday on the US site. I wonder if $2399.99 is the new price going forward.

Yeah. Interesting how quickly and deeply they discounted it. Slightly tempting again at this price. But I think I'll pass . . .

 

[mushy peas]

Interesting how quickly and deeply they discounted it.

Sadly not here in Australia, still full price.

 

[EugW]

Yeah. Interesting how quickly and deeply they discounted it. Slightly tempting again at this price. But I think I'll pass . . .

I'll pass too. Although a much better deal than a couple of days ago, given the idiosyncrasies of this monitor on Macs, it's not something I'd spend > US$2000 on. I'm prepared to wait a year or two longer until something with better Mac compatibility comes along.

 

[tstafford]

I'll pass too. Although a much better deal than a couple of days ago, given the idiosyncrasies of this monitor on Macs, it's not something I'd spend > US$2000 on. I'm prepared to wait a year or two longer until something with better Mac compatibility comes along.

Agreed. For this kind of money, I'd rather wait (and pay more) to Apple for something that really works. For now my ASDs are more than adequate. I had high hopes for the Dell as I miss my XDR but I just don't think it would dazzle me.

 

[GrandCiel]

I haven't read all 25 pages of the thread but what are these idiosyncrasies of this monitor on Macs @EugW and what doesn't really work? @tstafford

I want a monitor to use for video editing and while photo editing would be nice, I have an NEC MultiSync PA272W for editing and Adobe 1998 photo and printer profiling.

I have the MacBook Pro M2 Max with 64GB memory.

Seems HDMI may be the most robust monitor connection while the Thunderbolt Hub cable routing is the most convenient unless I can use USB-C as a dock and HDMI for the monitor. I want to leave the keyboard and mouse connected to the monitor for convenience but that isn't critical. I also have a windows Desktop I would like to switch the monitor to at times.

Are there recommended setup instructions that will work best with my M2 Max?

Thanks.

M2 Max

Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display at 1 billion colors and:

Up to four external displays: Up to three external displays with 6K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt and one external display with up to 4K resolution at 144Hz over HDMI

Up to three external displays: Up to two external displays with 6K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt and one external display with up to 8K resolution at 60Hz or one external display with 4K resolution at 240Hz over HDMI

Thunderbolt 4 digital video output

Support for native DisplayPort output over USB‑C

HDMI digital video output

Support for one display with up to 8K resolution at 60Hz or 4K resolution at 240Hz

 

[EugW]

I haven't read all 25 pages of the thread but what are these idiosyncrasies of this monitor on Macs @EugW and what doesn't really work? @tstafford

I don't have direct experience but there are posts that describe some of the issues, like these:

The trade-offs have been discussed at length in this thread. If I had kept the monitor I would probably be running it at macOS native 6016 x 3384, 2x scaling for like 3008x1692, until and if you can get full bandwidth at 6144×3456.

If you are going to use TB4, the monitor will stretch out the screen by about 3% (unless you change the aspect ratio). The whole point of me buying a 6K 32 inch monitor was to have clear text by using high DPI. If you are OK compromise on the quality, paying 3K for this monitor doesn’t make sense IMHO.

 

[TECK]

I was actually looking for this monitor, but decided to go with an used Pro Display XDR.

 

[tstafford]

I haven't read all 25 pages of the thread but what are these idiosyncrasies of this monitor on Macs @EugW and what doesn't really work? @tstafford

I currently run 3 ASDs w/ my M1M Studio which replaced a 24" iMac and XDR. While I'm much happier with this set-up, I miss the XDR. I'd hoped that the Dell could replace one of my ASDs and be sort of an XDR-lite. But the comments of the earlier adopters in this thread convinced me not to buy. At the end of the day - to replace one of my ASDs this monitor would need to be pretty amazing. From what I can tell it's not. HOWEVER - if I was buying fresh I think I would give it a try esp. at the current price.

 

[TECK]

While I'm much happier with this set-up, I miss the XDR

I was in the same boat, buy two ASD or an XDR. The price I got on the XDR made it a no brainer for me, glad I went this route. Also, this review made me decide to go with the XDR, see missing features section. I will purchase another 6K XDR when the new 7K XDR comes out, prices on used market should drop substantially.

 

[GrandCiel]

@tstafford @EugW Thank you. I am going back and looking for these earlier comments. I don't see the Mac model listed and wonder if the MacBook Pro M2 Max with its monitor support has all the same issues.

 

[EugW]

I was actually looking for this monitor, but decided to go with an used Pro Display XDR.

CA$5000 for an XDR with Pro Stand, with AppleCare+? Nice deal. Congrats!

For the non-Canadians, that's US$3775 or 3461 EUR.

 

[TECK]

CA$5000 for an XDR with Pro Stand, with AppleCare+? Nice deal. Congrats!

Thank you, is a Nano display also. Looking forward to use it for the next 10 years.

 

[tstafford]

I was in the same boat, buy two ASD or an XDR. The price I got on the XDR made it a no brainer for me, glad I went this route. Also, this review made me decide to go with the XDR, see missing features section. I will purchase another 6K XDR when the new 7K XDR comes out, prices on used market should drop substantially.

That's a great price. The XDR for sure has more features. If HDR is important then the ASD is a no-go. The extra brightness isn't a big deal otherwise (IMHO). I miss the size. It's unfortunate that neither the XDR or ASD is better than 60hz.

 

[tstafford]

@tstafford @EugW Thank you. I am going back and looking for these earlier comments. I don't see the Mac model listed and wonder if the MacBook Pro M2 Max with its monitor support has all the same issues.

No direct knowledge but I can't see why that would matter.

 

[mushy peas]

I don't see the Mac model listed and wonder if the MacBook Pro M2 Max with its monitor support has all the same issues.

No, the M2s have HDMI 2.1 ports, which can be used instead of TB ports, which in turns means you’re not reliant on Apple’s dodgy DSC implementation, which has been causing a lot of the issues. If you want to connect via TB though, you’ll have the same problems.

 

[EugW]

No, the M2s have HDMI 2.1 ports, which can be used instead of TB ports, which in turns means you’re not reliant on Apple’s dodgy DSC implementation, which has been causing a lot of the issues. If you want to connect via TB though, you’ll have the same problems.

Perhaps M3 / Pro / Max will solve these Thunderbolt issues.

I'm happy to wait with my M1 Mac mini until at least M3 / Pro / Max or later. Ironically my 4K+ monitor works fine over USB-C, but its HDMI port doesn't even support its own full 3840x2560 resolution, as its HDMI port only supports HDMI 2.0 up to 3840x2160.

 

[mushy peas]

Perhaps M3 / Pro / Max will solve these Thunderbolt issues.

I doubt it for two reasons: one, Apple never bothered fixing its broken DSC implementation of Intel Macs, which is a software issue. And two, I doubt Apple would ever bother to try and support a monitor resolution beyond their own 6K monitor, unless 6K monitors with the same resolution as Dell’s catch on.

 

[Pressure]

I doubt it for two reasons: one, Apple never bothered fixing its broken DSC implementation of Intel Macs, which is a software issue. And two, I doubt Apple would ever bother to try and support a monitor resolution beyond their own 6K monitor, unless 6K monitors with the same resolution as Dell’s catch on.

I have been using 8K on Macs since 2019 🤷🏼‍♂️

 

[mushy peas]

I have been using 8K on Macs since 2019

I’m talking about DSC support over Thunderbolt. And you’re not using 8K over Thunderbolt, so the point is moot.

 

[GrandCiel]

I received my Dell U3224KB today and connected it to my MacBook Pro M2 Max via HDMI. I've just begun to skim through the user guide but I'm running at 6144 x 3456 and can turn on HDR without issue.

I don't know which HDR setting is correct or which Preset. Default has me at Apple XDR Display (P3-1600 nits) and Refresh rate is set at ProMotion. I can't change from ProMotion while in Apple XDR Display but assume I could if I selected a different preset.

I'll need to figure what preset is best for 4K video editing and possibly photo editing. Hopefully the same preset can be used.

I have a lot to learn and haven't found any calibration guides yet. I'd appreciate any links if others know of them. I have a couple sensors available. Datacolor Spyder 5 and Eye1 Display Pro if they can work with a Mac.

 

[Pressure]

I'll need to figure what preset is best for 4K video editing and possibly photo editing. Hopefully the same preset can be used.

The user preset you calibrated with your colorimeter or spectrophotometer to match your target? 😅

They are not the same for video and photography though. You can use the Eye1 Display Pro with DisplayCal for photography but it won't be able to calibrate anything related to HDR content. You need the Display Plus for that.

For photography and print you should target 80-120 nits and D65 white point. You will also need to control the lighting in the room. In the end you will probably have to view the material at whatever place the print should hang at (restaurant or home have vastly different lighting for example).

 

[ronaldo217]

Dell arranging RMA for me but they said is out of stock now and will need 2 more weeks for the delivery, Maybe you can contact Dell too.

I just got my replacement Today!! after some test with the new one, I found that the local dimming function on the previous one is not working and now the black quality is much better!!! I took two photo 1 with 1/250 and 1 with 1/30 shutter(Max Brightness and Contrast), you guys can have a look.

 

[lion.oiliest.0f]

Did anyone try thunderbolt connection with the newest Mac OS beta?

 

[joevt]

Did anyone try thunderbolt connection with the newest Mac OS beta?

Did you try SwitchResX or BetterDisplay to see if they can help with the max resolution problem of your M1 Pro?