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joevt

macrumors 604
Jun 21, 2012
6,935
4,237
I have a few questions about the R1811 board.

1)
With the original firmware, it supports single cable HBR3 connection for 5K 60Hz RGB. DSC is supported and DSC is enabled in Catalina.
Without DSC, only 8bpc can be supported. With DSC, does it support 5K 60Hz 10 bpc RGB? To find out, I would like to see an AGDCDiagnose of a 5K 60Hz single cable connection in Catalina.

2)
In Big Sur, DSC is usually disabled. But maybe DSC can be enabled. Try adding the following (taken from XDR override) to the override file:
Code:
		<key>DisplayPort</key>
		<dict>
			 <key>DisableDSC</key>
			 <integer>0</integer>
			 <key>DisableFEC</key>
			 <integer>0</integer>
		</dict>
Does it make a difference in Big Sur? Show an AGDCDiagnose output for this test.

3)
You might want to use dual cable connection which can do 10bpc using two HBR2 connections. You might want to do this if you can't enable DSC (because your GPU doesn't support DSC or maybe you don't trust DSC quality since visually lossless is not exactly lossless).
To do dual cable HBR2 connection, you need a different firmware. Does that firmware still allow a single cable connection for 5K 60Hz? Does it still support DSC?
I would like to see some AGDCDiagnose outputs for this as well (especially in Catalina which enables DSC by default when it's available).

I wonder if macOS can do dual cable for 10bpc and single cable for 8bpc for 5K? There's no way to force 8bpc in macOS though. 10bpc can be forced using HDR option.
We have seen (or at least one person reported) that the LG UltraFine 5K can do single cable 5K when the refresh rate is reduced to 39Hz (it is limited to HBR2 and pixel clock less than 600 MHz). But that shouldn't be required for the R1811 since it can support HBR3 link rate.
 
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liminalsunset

macrumors newbie
May 29, 2021
15
8
Hi,

Not sure if this is the right place to ask about this, but none of the sellers online appear to be able to provide this information.

I'm looking for the R9A18 and the R1811 boards and I'm hoping someone out there has one of these and can do a quick test, because I do not want to have to buy it, try it, find out it doesn't work at all, and need to return it.

Long story short, these boards have PiP/PbP and four picture capabilities. They also have a DP Output. I want to use one of these boards as a 4K 60Hz multi-viewer/picture in picture processor. Basically, I want to be able to connect multiple computers to a 4K display, and use it as if it were four 1080p screens, with four signals. All commercial options to do this cost over 2000$ or do not support 4K 60Hz. No larger than 43" displays support this natively, and the ones that do are often either expensive, BGR, have poor contrast or brightness, or all of the above. I want to solve the problem by using a 4K TV.


1) Will this board output a signal on the DP out port (DisplayPort on the side)? If so, will it do that at 4K and 60Hz?
2) Will the board do a 4-input PiP/PbP split? How does this menu work, and what are the options?
3) Will this board do 1) and power up without an LCD panel attached, or is this required?
4) Bonus: will a DisplayPort to HDMI adapter on the output of this board work at 4K and 60Hz?

Thanks!
 

citivolus

macrumors 65816
Sep 19, 2008
1,217
268
Sorry for the late reply but I never got notified of new posts to this thread...

So I plugged a dell wall-powered dock into a Thunderbolt 3 port and plugged the SuperDrive into a USB 2.0 or 2.1 port (blue) and it seems like Mac OS still wants it directly plugged in. Have you personally had any luck?

I tried plugging my SuperDrive into the USB port of my R1811 and as expected it didn't work (due to lack of power).

Also, as you meantioned above, I’ve been pondering about how that whole egpu wouldn’t receive audio
Sorry if I mis-spoke but you can send audio along with video on all of the inputs (USB-C, DP, HDMI) of the R1811.

I’m assuming that if I plugged in my 2TB Samsung Evo encased in a USB 2.0 port and connect it to the R1811, would the graphics card only pass through video data and not read write data or do you think that might also be supported?

The USB 2.0 ports on the R1811 are exposed to the host computer connected to the R1811 via a Thunderbolt 3/USB-C cable. So any USB device would work as long as the power requirements are met. SSD storage devices usually are low power so this may work.

Hope this helps.
 

citivolus

macrumors 65816
Sep 19, 2008
1,217
268
I have the R1811 board...

1) Will this board output a signal on the DP out port (DisplayPort on the side)? If so, will it do that at 4K and 60Hz?
Sorry I don't have a second monitor to test this...

2) Will the board do a 4-input PiP/PbP split? How does this menu work, and what are the options?
According to the OSD menu, there are options to display up to 3-inputs simultaneously, although I could only get it to display two at a time despite having four inputs connected.

3) Will this board do 1) and power up without an LCD panel attached, or is this required?
See my response to #1

4) Bonus: will a DisplayPort to HDMI adapter on the output of this board work at 4K and 60Hz?
See my response to #1

Hope this helps...
 

citivolus

macrumors 65816
Sep 19, 2008
1,217
268
I have an issue with the R1811 board where it occasionally stops displaying video from either my Mac mini (DP) or my iPad Pro (USB-C). I also have a Dell laptop connected via USB-C -> Dell Dock -> DP and it has never had the issue. To fix it, I have to unplug the power adapter to the board and then plug it back in. Anyone have a similar issue?
 

Granaten82

macrumors newbie
Aug 21, 2017
15
3
Got the R1811. Any luck with higher frequencies than 60?

I´ve tried 4k 120 hz for example. But the screen doesnt seem to update at the correct frequency.
 

fiatlux

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Dec 5, 2007
352
143
I have an issue with the R1811 board where it occasionally stops displaying video from either my Mac mini (DP) or my iPad Pro (USB-C). I also have a Dell laptop connected via USB-C -> Dell Dock -> DP and it has never had the issue. To fix it, I have to unplug the power adapter to the board and then plug it back in. Anyone have a similar issue?

I did, perhaps a couple of times since I have the monitor (1 year). So not that big a deal for what I’m concerned. I have many more issues getting my eGPU correctly driving the monitor..
 

frnkle

macrumors newbie
Dec 21, 2021
2
0
The 5K eDP 60pin cable between the LCD panel and driver board is not long enough for the driver board to be mounted externally assuming you plan to route it out of the A1419 case via the RAM access door. Share some photos once you finish the build!
Hi all!

Nice work. Any idea if I can use the original edp cable to connect the LCD and driver board? Seller forgot to put the cable into the package.

Thanks in advance for any info!

BR,
Frank
 

citivolus

macrumors 65816
Sep 19, 2008
1,217
268
Hi all!

Nice work. Any idea if I can use the original edp cable to connect the LCD and driver board? Seller forgot to put the cable into the package.

Thanks in advance for any info!

BR,
Frank
I could be wrong but I really don’t think so as I recall them having different number of pins, unless I am mistaken…
 

khronokernel

macrumors 6502
Sep 30, 2020
278
1,425
Alberta, Canada
Hello, quite enjoyed going through this thread and now wanting to something similar myself.

I have an iMac15,1 (2014 5k) that I use for development work for the past little bit, and have actually been using it as monitor via AirPlay to Mac (4k@60Hz via Ethernet). This has been a pretty good combo as I can easily disconnect and run tests on the iMac itself, then reconnect and go back to the MacBook.


For this project, I'd like to keep the iMac alive in the chassis with the driver board routed outside. Then be able to switch between my 14" MacBook Pro and iMac.

The main issue with this approach is that iMac15,1 is limited to DisplayPort 1.2. This means I would need to go with a Dual DisplayPort 1.2 approach if I wish to retain 5k support. Additionally the Belkin Thunderbolt 3 HD dock I use with my MacBook Pro is limited to DisplayPort 1.2.

However seeing as the R9A18 (DisplayPort 1.2 Driver Board) has wonky brightness control, I'd much rather use the newer R1811 which does natively support DDC.


Main questions I have would be:
  • Does the R1811 support a dual DisplayPort 1.2 stream?
    • Previously read it supports dual DP1.4, unsure of 1.2
  • Is DSC still broken in Monterey?
  • Has anyone tested the U49 Alternative Driver Board?
Would greatly appreciate everyone's comments
 
Last edited:
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PaulD-UK

macrumors 6502a
Oct 23, 2009
866
464
Main questions I have would be:
  • Does the R1811 support a dual DisplayPort 1.2 stream?
    • Previously read it supports dual DP1.4, unsure of 1.2
  • Is DSC still broken in Monterey?
  • Has anyone tested the U49 Alternative Driver Board?
Would greatly appreciate everyone's comments
The aliexpress link should be:
 
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khronokernel

macrumors 6502
Sep 30, 2020
278
1,425
Alberta, Canada
Has anyone tested the U49 Alternative Driver Board?
Seller notified that the U49 is limited to 5k@60Hz 8bit. Unfortunate but explains the lower price
Ah thank you, for some reason http://*%20 got appended in front (must've had a space)
 

ZX.81

macrumors newbie
Sep 16, 2014
12
9
Hello everyone,
I have decided to build as well my own 5K second display.
I used these parts and relative costs ( US$ ):

79.99 - iMac 27 A1419 case (eBay)
105.00 - 27" 5K screen LG LM270QQ1 SD A2 Cracked (eBay)
220.00 - R9A18 5K Driver Board incl. 1 DP Cable (Aliexpress)
69.00 - Wavlink Thunderbolt 3 to Dual DP adapter supports 5K with 2 DP cables ( Amazon )
6.00 - DP Cable ( Amazon )
---------
479.99

Received all the parts and assembled everything but... can't get the 5K resolution on the second display.
My iMac 27 5K 2017 sees two external displays with 1080 each instead of one with 5K.
I remember to have read somewhere that another user got to upgrade the firmware of the driver board in order to get the additional input option of DP1+DP2.
He received the file from the supplier of the driver board and had to use a Windows Pc connected with a DP cable in order to perform the upgrade.
Anyone can help me to find again these posts ?
 

runtime_error0x

macrumors newbie
May 3, 2018
21
1
Hello everyone,
I have decided to build as well my own 5K second display.
I used these parts and relative costs ( US$ ):

79.99 - iMac 27 A1419 case (eBay)
105.00 - 27" 5K screen LG LM270QQ1 SD A2 Cracked (eBay)
220.00 - R9A18 5K Driver Board incl. 1 DP Cable (Aliexpress)
69.00 - Wavlink Thunderbolt 3 to Dual DP adapter supports 5K with 2 DP cables ( Amazon )
6.00 - DP Cable ( Amazon )
---------
479.99

Received all the parts and assembled everything but... can't get the 5K resolution on the second display.
My iMac 27 5K 2017 sees two external displays with 1080 each instead of one with 5K.
I remember to have read somewhere that another user got to upgrade the firmware of the driver board in order to get the additional input option of DP1+DP2.
He received the file from the supplier of the driver board and had to use a Windows Pc connected with a DP cable in order to perform the upgrade.
Anyone can help me to find again these posts ?
if you're using the R9A18 board the firmware should already be in place. Select the input source that has 2DP as one input
 

runtime_error0x

macrumors newbie
May 3, 2018
21
1
The only input sources available are:

AUTO
DP1
DP2
HDMI 1
HDMI 2
That's strange, auto doesn't do anything either? If not I would message the seller and let them know you don't see the double DP to one input option. Page 2 here had some posts about upgrading firmware etc but it was for the newer version of the board.
 

ZX.81

macrumors newbie
Sep 16, 2014
12
9
That's strange, auto doesn't do anything either? If not I would message the seller and let them know you don't see the double DP to one input option. Page 2 here had some posts about upgrading firmware etc but it was for the newer version of the board.
The supplier emailed me the files and instructions to perform the firmware upgrade in order to add the 2DP option to the list of inputs. It will be performed using a Windows Pc via one DP cable connected to the driver board.
Wish me luck ! Will keep you posted.
 

ZX.81

macrumors newbie
Sep 16, 2014
12
9
Success !!! I was able to upgrade the firmware of the driver board. Now the DUAL DP input option is finally present and was able to get the full 5K resolution on the second monitor. The crack on the second screen is basically invisible so even more happy with the budget of this project. Thanks to everyone for the good advices and info! P.S. After firmware upgrade, my iMac sees the second screen as a Dell UP2715K.
 

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joevt

macrumors 604
Jun 21, 2012
6,935
4,237
Success !!! I was able to upgrade the firmware of the driver board. Now the DUAL DP input option is finally present and was able to get the full 5K resolution on the second monitor. The crack on the second screen is basically invisible so even more happy with the budget of this project. Thanks to everyone for the good advices and info! P.S. After firmware upgrade, my iMac sees the second screen as a Dell UP2715K.
Can you supply a AGDCDiagnose output? That RTD Customer Tool seems really interesting. Is there a download link?
 

ZX.81

macrumors newbie
Sep 16, 2014
12
9
Can you supply a AGDCDiagnose output? That RTD Customer Tool seems really interesting. Is there a download link?
Can you guide me to create the AGDCDiagnose output ? I can send you the RTD Customer Tool via PM if you want.
 

ZX.81

macrumors newbie
Sep 16, 2014
12
9
I am also able to control the brightness of the second screen via the app Monitor Control.
Just to be sure I have set the DP1 and DP2 option as 1.4
 

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joevt

macrumors 604
Jun 21, 2012
6,935
4,237
Can you guide me to create the AGDCDiagnose output ? I can send you the RTD Customer Tool via PM if you want.
/System/Library/Extensions/AppleGraphicsControl.kext/Contents/MacOS/AGDCDiagnose -a > AGDCDiagnose_RTDdualDP.txt 2>&1
zip the result and attach. Please send a PM with the RTD tool.
 
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