Does cable type affect availability of resolutions in external monitor?

[hajime]

Hello, I know that the resolutions available for external monitors is depending on the specifications of the GPU. However, somewhere on the net I read that using mini display port to hdmi cable could lead to less available resolutions to choose from. Is this correct? Currently I am connecting mini display port to hdmi of a LG 38" monitor. It is supposed to output 2560x1600 according to the specs of my MBP 2010 17". However, the best it can do is 1080p. Before I purchased the monitor, LG recommended using mini display port to display port cable rather than via hdmi.

 

[Audit13]

The resolutions available are limited by the MBP and/or the monitor.

Can the LG support 2560x1600 via hdmi?

 

[CreatorCode]

It can. There are different versions of the HDMI spec. I believe you'll need at least HDMI 1.3 to get 2560x1600. Everything -- computer/adapters, cables, and the port on the monitor -- will have to be HDMI 1.3 or later for it to work.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Hello, I know that the resolutions available for external monitors is depending on the specifications of the GPU. However, somewhere on the net I read that using mini display port to hdmi cable could lead to less available resolutions to choose from. Is this correct? Currently I am connecting mini display port to hdmi of a LG 38" monitor. It is supposed to output 2560x1600 according to the specs of my MBP 2010 17". However, the best it can do is 1080p. Before I purchased the monitor, LG recommended using mini display port to display port cable rather than via hdmi.

Does your Mac support a higher resolution?
https://support.apple.com/kb/sp581?locale=en_GB
Seems to suggest 1920 is the max.

 

[hajime]

Does your Mac support a higher resolution?
https://support.apple.com/kb/sp581?locale=en_GB
Seems to suggest 1920 is the max.

I think it says the external display supports up to 2560x1600.

 

[Audit13]

What is the lg monitor model number? Sounds like it may be a 38" 1080p HDTV.

 

[hajime]

What is the lg monitor model number? Sounds like it may be a 38" 1080p HDTV.

http://www.lg.com/us/monitors/lg-38UC99-W-ultrawide-monitor

 

[Audit13]

Wow, very nice monitor.

The monitor's native resolution is 3840 x 1600 which is higher than the Macbook's highest output resolution which is 2560x1600.

 

[hajime]

Wow, very nice monitor.

The monitor's native resolution is 3840 x 1600 which is higher than the Macbook's highest output resolution which is 2560x1600.

For the 2017 MacBook Pro 15" which I may buy, the native resolution is 2880x1800. Don't know about possible scaling as I drag application windows between the laptop screen and the external monitor.

 

[Audit13]

I don't know much about the LG monitor but I will say that my experience with running any monitor below its maximum resolution results in poor picture and font quality.