MP 7,1 Large Monitors with Mac Pro 7,1

[Boulez]

Hello
I’m about to purchase or lease a Mac Pro 7,1 (leasing maybe due to ARM announcement). My questions are not directly about Mac Pro but about which monitor(s) to pair it with. Sorry about that—have asked the questions in a few places without finding many answers!

I work editing classical music scores but have some serious eye health issues. I need a 43 inch 4K 16:9 monitor (or larger) to deal with tall orchestral scores. Alternatively, I might use an array of smaller monitors (maybe in Portrait, must be bezel free, or very thin bezels). Apple don't offer a large format monitor; I can’t afford a Pro Display XDR, let alone two; the LG ones are relatively expensive and seem to have poor reviews.

So—I’m wondering about monitors such as: Acer CG436K / Asus PG43UQ / Asus XG438Q / Dell U4320Q / Iyyama X4372UHSU / Philips Momentum 558M1RY (55 inch). Most of these are: flicker free / blue light filter / non-reflective screen.

My questions are:
1. Are there reasons why these monitors (or similar) will not work optimally (or at all) with Mac Pro 7,1?
2. Are there any Mac Pro 7,1 users here who use a similar monitor and have relevant recommendations to share?
3. I’m concerned some of the latest monitors may be too bright/piercing for my eyes. I understand some can be turned down to c.200 nits. Presumably this is low enough for long periods of use each day?
4. Some of the monitors (above) are for gaming. I won’t be gaming, so is there any benefit to paying for a 100Hz/120Hz/160Hz etc gaming monitor?

Thanks for any help!

 

[mattspace]

if colour accuracy / calibration isn't the primary need, why not go for large 4k thin bezel TVs? Most of what's different between a monitor and a TV is for tasks that are related to colour accuracy and predictability. if all you're using it for is displaying the waveforms of the music, tools, setting etc, you might find big TVs cheaper.

 

[Boulez]

Thanks mattspace. I considered TVs and kind-of ruled it out, but not 100%.

Yes, colour accuracy is not a primary need – although I’ll occasionally do some amateur video editing. There are actually three main uses:

1. editing music scores (music notation package – Dorico)
2. composition / sequencing (Logic Pro) with high-end orchestral sample libraries (Spitfire, Orchestral Tools, Vienna Symphony)
3. developing a brand new music software product, with a colleague programmer

I understood (maybe wrongly?) that timing when using a mouse is slightly compromised on a TV relative to using a computer monitor. Because some actions in Logic and in the new software are timing critical, I thought to avoid any compromise and stick with a computer monitor. But maybe this fear is unfounded?

Another aspect: OLED TVs are easy on the eye. Unfortunately, most music software is static, so will cause 'Burn-in'

 

[mattspace]

I understood (maybe wrongly?) that timing when using a mouse is slightly compromised on a TV relative to using a computer monitor. Because some actions in Logic and in the new software are timing critical, I thought to avoid any compromise and stick with a computer monitor. But maybe this fear is unfounded?

You might be thinking about the reputation of older large TVs to only be 30Hz, or to have input lag - if you research that term you'll see TVs often have a "game" mode to reduce input lag, and turn off the motion-smoothing etc.

 

[BubbaMc]

Consider a Dell P4317q, or similar monitor from that era which is 4k 43" (Panasonic made one, I think LG did also). I've got one, used for composition and score work also, and I'm very happy with it.

Alternatively I'd also highly recommend a Dell or HP 30" 2560x1600 monitor (or two).

Either will work no problem with the 7,1.

 

[BubbaMc]

43" 4K options:
Dell: https://www.dell.com/hr/p/dell-p4317q-monitor/pd
Panasonic: https://na.panasonic.com/us/audio-v...el-displays/th-43eq1u-43-class-entry-level-4k
LG: https://www.lg.com/au/it-monitors/lg-43UD79

30" 2560x1600 options:

Dell UltraSharp 30 Monitor with PremierColor: UP3017 | Dell Australia

Dell UltraSharp 30 inch monitor with PremierColor delivers every creative professional their ideal color space.

www.dell.com

HP ZR30w 30-inch S-IPS LCD Monitor Product Specifications | HP® Customer Support

Specifications of HP ZR30w 30-inch S-IPS LCD Monitor.

support.hp.com

Dell and HP have made many other versions of 30" 2560x1600 monitors.

I'm sure you'd be happy with any of the above. If desk space is limited I'd go for a 30".
[automerge]1593676733[/automerge]

So—I’m wondering about monitors such as: Acer CG436K / Asus PG43UQ / Asus XG438Q / Dell U4320Q / Iyyama X4372UHSU / Philips Momentum 558M1RY (55 inch). Most of these are: flicker free / blue light filter / non-reflective screen.

Out of those I'd choose the Dell U4320Q. No reason why it wouldn't work.

 

[glbrad]

I have the U4320Q and have used it with 15" and 16" MacBook Pro. Would highly recommend it. Only issue is that you can't really control the sound volume very well and have to balance onscreen and monitor volume.

 

[Graham King]

I've had the LG 43UD79-B 43" 4K monitor for several years and I'm happy with it. I'm a professional video producer and color accuracy is good enough.

 

[Theophilos]

I have an LG 38” widescreen display, which works well enough except for the fact that MacOS doesn’t recognize it as a monitor, but rather a TV. The prevents me from using Night Shift, but it’s not too big a deal for me. When prices drop a bit, I hope to upgrade to the XDR display or a new true 4K widescreen.

 

[codehead1]

I totally get why people value huge screen real estate—just making a couple of comments for discussion, not trying to change anyone's mind.

The OP mentioned blue filter and avoiding too much brightness:

I'd need some convincing that the blue light filter is anything but a sham. We're not talking about levels coming from the sun, we're talking about a computer screen that can't put out much of it. If not me, trust the American Academy of Ophthalmology on this.

Too much brightness...typically there's more eye strain with too little brightness. Again, we're not talking about the sun. Try reading your iPhone, set to max brightness, outdoors on a sunny day if you need idea of how pathetic the light is coming from a computer display.

But maybe the OP has particular reasons for this—just saying this isn't normally an issue for most people. With a bright display, your pupil is smaller and the eye works less to focus. Just like working on paper documents under good lighting versus poor lighting.

(When I was young, it was commonly said you shouldn't watch TV without a light turned on because it would hurt your eyes. There was a good reason for this advice: lamp salesmen. Yeah, a sham.)

Lastly, my comment for eye strain...wow, has "Retina" made a difference for me. Even though the text is considerably smaller on my Pro Display XDR than on my old Cinema LED (connected to my old MP) next to it, it's so much clearer it's easier to read. No focus hunting on the anti-aliased text, the Retina text is on the XDR is as sharp as my eyes can accommodate, an easy target to focus on. (I'm near sighted, wear contacts when I go out, put on glasses to watch TV, battled for decades to keep the ability to read the computer screen without resorting to glasses and making things worse—it's easy now for both eyes.)

The catch is that you only get Retina with 27" LG 5k (I know there at least another Japanese 27" 5k, but in general), 32" XDR 6k, or the 32" Dell 8k (not 100% sure of the flexibility there vs Mac, but it should be good). I understand that a bigger monitor may be more important than sharper text in many uses.

 

[blackadde]

The issue with brightness isn't 'a bright screen is bad for you' or 'a dim screen causes eye strain' - it's that a screen that's significantly brighter or dimmer than its surroundings is harder on your eyes.

For instance, theater screens generally sit at about 48 cd/m2, in a controlled (dark) lighting environment. Obviously that's not gonna fly if you're trying to combat sunlight filtering into your office during a Northern summer. But blasting your eyeballs with 500 cd/m2 in an otherwise regular office environment will do you no better.

A 'typical' sRGB monitor has traditionally sat at around 140 cd/m2. Most people working late into the night would be well served with some cheap, dim LED bias lighting if you want to combat eye strain.

 

[codehead1]

The issue with brightness isn't 'a bright screen is bad for you' or 'a dim screen causes eye strain' - it's that a screen that's significantly brighter or dimmer than its surroundings is harder on your eyes.

"We’ve all heard that using the computer in a dark room is bad for your eyes—but this claim has absolutely no basis in scientific fact." (Fact or Fiction? 6 Myths About Screens and Monitors)

For instance, theater screens generally sit at about 48 cd/m2, in a controlled (dark) lighting environment. Obviously that's not gonna fly if you're trying to combat sunlight filtering into your office during a Northern summer. But blasting your eyeballs with 500 cd/m2 in an otherwise regular office environment will do you no better.

Theater projectors are historically limited in the amount of light they can put on a screen—I don't see the point of using theater screens as a reference. And nobody has to "blast" their eyes (what does that even mean, when our eyes can withstand being in the sun for long periods of time, even while reading, without eyestrain?)—the slider in my Pro Display XDR control panel is there for me to set it how I like it.

A 'typical' sRGB monitor has traditionally sat at around 140 cd/m2. Most people working late into the night would be well served with some cheap, dim LED bias lighting if you want to combat eye strain.

The issue with bright screens and working late is the supposed affect on sleep (according to research, apparently). It's what Dark Mode is for. I've never used it—worked for decades in in the night on the computer, straight to bed—doesn't seem to affect me. Really, this is the only issue with brightness that merits consideration beyond setting a comfortable level.

 

[Boulez]

Just want to say Thank You to everyone who commented here! I was taken ill a day or so after I posted (Covid, I think, more or less recovered now) and my MacRumors post completely went out of my mind. (I’m surprisesd MacRumors didn’t send email notifications of responses. I must check whether I checked that tickbox, maybe I did it on another forum but not this one).

Thanks especially to BubbaMc for the advice on specific monitors – very helpful. You may be right that the Dell is the way to go, as I can also envisage scenarios where I might connect two (possibly more) machines at the same time.

And thanks for all the other comments too. Regarding those concerning eye strain/blue filter/and so on——I am also not totally 200% convinced of the relevance either, especially for those with normal eyesight. However, for those of us who already have impairment, sometimes of multiple kind, I think it’s a different matter, and it may be worth erring on the cautious side. Time will tell, I guess. Anyway, thanks again for all contributions and apologies for disappearing! All fine now.

 

[teredgel]

I have the U4320Q and have used it with 15" and 16" MacBook Pro. Would highly recommend it. Only issue is that you can't really control the sound volume very well and have to balance onscreen and monitor volume.

@glbrad, thanks for your post!

I have a new 2019 MacBook Pro 16" and an old Windows PC.

Throughout the day, I'll sometimes need to use the MacBook, and sometimes I need to use the PC. (I have no desire for them to communicate with each other or share files. I am happy to put one in sleep mode whenever I'll be using the other one.)

Since I'm looking to share USB peripherals (keyboard, mouse, headset) and at least 1 monitor between the two computers, I'm considering buying the Dell U4320Q monitor.

(I don't care if it's 1 monitor or two, but I want at least 3840x1080 resolution and at least 39 inches total diagonal; the Dell U4320Q meets these criteria.)

Goal: I'd love if my 1 keyboard, 1 mouse, and 1 headset would automatically work with whichever of the 2 computers I wanted to be using at the moment, and I'd love if the active computer would show its display on the monitor (and I'll leave the MacBook Pro lid closed).

I'm trying to understand how my setup my work, and I drew this diagram here:

I was wondering:

1. Do you use a single USB-C cable plugged into your Mac (to your monitor)?
2. I see that the Dell U4320Q outputs "up to" 90W as compared to the 96W you'd get from the wall adapter. Have you had any problems?
3. Is it true that that single USB-C cable handles driving the external display, providing the power to the Mac, and connecting the other USB peripherals that are attached to the monitor? That sounds quite convenient.
4. On the other side of my setup (the PC side): To ensure that my USB peripherals (keyboard, mouse, etc) are connected to my PC drive the USB peripherals, I have USB-A 3.0 ports available on my PC, but I'm not sure which of the monitor's ports I'd need to connect to. I.e. Can the PC connect to a port other than the monitor's main USB-C port that the Mac will be plugged into? (Can the Mac's cable always remain plugged in there? I wouldn't want to need to unplug and re-plug cords every time I'm switching machines.)
5. Am I correct that putting one computer to sleep is the way to "switch" the monitor to use the other computer (once I wake the other one up)?
6. Would the setup in the diagram work? Do you recommend buying the Dell U4320Q to achieve my goals?

Thank you so much!

I'm sure you are saving me tons of time and headache. I really appreciate it.

 

[Ph.D.]

Take a serious look at LG's 48" CX OLED 4k TV.

It's a "TV", but its not-so-secret intention is for use as a monitor. Glorious OLED picture quality, 120 Hz display, ~zero bezels, and vastly better sound than most monitors.

It's not "retina", but at 48" and 4k it's about exactly the same PPI as traditional LCD monitors such as Apple's old thunderbolt display.

Just about the only down-side is the usual fear of burn-in with OLED, but I don't think that's a serious problem these days, especially when used as a second monitor.

 

[mattspace]

Take a serious look at LG's 48" CX OLED 4k TV.

Oh, that's interesting - G-Sync AND Freesync in the one display.

 

[deconstruct60]

@glbrad, thanks for your post!



Goal: I'd love if my 1 keyboard, 1 mouse, and 1 headset would automatically work with whichever of the 2 computers I wanted to be using at the moment, and I'd love if the active computer would show its display on the monitor (and I'll leave the MacBook Pro lid closed).

You would need a KVM ( keyboard video mouse) switch to work with one set coupled to two computers. This Dell Monitor doesn't contain a build in KVM switch. There is just one "upstream" ( the computer side) USB socket (Type-C) and 4 flavors of "downstream" (i..e., hang peripherals , phones , etc. off the monitor) USB sockets.

The ports aren't multiple directional.

The headset throws a extra curveball at the complexity. Would need a KVM that had a switchable USB hub in it also.

Or two different monitors and just move the headset between them as you switch.

I was wondering:

1. Do you use a single USB-C cable plugged into your Mac (to your monitor)?

The single USB-C cable from the Mac into this particular monitor would send mostly DisplayPort v1.2 single to the monitor in Alt-DP mode. There would be a trickle of USB 2.0 level connectivity to the monitor. Not sure how much fidelity pushing through headset but may not be enough.

1. I see that the Dell U4320Q outputs "up to" 90W as compared to the 96W you'd get from the wall adapter. Have you had any problems?

The MBP 16" cranked up to full load would probably start to deplete the battery.

1. Is it true that that single USB-C cable handles driving the external display, providing the power to the Mac, and connecting the other USB peripherals that are attached to the monitor? That sounds quite convenient.
   

For one computer... yes.

1. On the other side of my setup (the PC side): To ensure that my USB peripherals (keyboard, mouse, etc) are connected to my PC drive the USB peripherals, I have USB-A 3.0 ports available on my PC, but I'm not sure which of the monitor's ports I'd need to connect to. I.e. Can the PC connect to a port other than the monitor's main USB-C port that the Mac will be plugged into? (Can the Mac's cable always remain plugged in there? I wouldn't want to need to unplug and re-plug cords every time I'm switching machines.)

There is only one upstream port on the monitory. Whatever is connected to the Type-C upstream port beneath is it . Done. If want two computers you'd have to seperate out the video feed to two different cables and run the USB into the Type-C upstream port from a KVM.

 

[teredgel]

This Dell Monitor doesn't contain a build in KVM switch.

@deconstruct60 Wow, thank you for your thoughtful answer! I'm bummed that it won't work, but I'm so glad that you saved me the trouble. I thought these high-end monitors had KVM built in.

But I looked up its manual and see no mention of KVM. The u3219q manual does mention KVM, but that's too small.

I've spent 20+ hours trying to figure out how to achieve my goal. I thought it would take 5 mins, but now I'm starting to worry it's impossible. I wish Apple supported daisy-chaining USB-C.

Thanks again for your help.

 

[theSeb]

I had the same problem, but with USB. I have a Mac and PC connected to a Dell monitor via DP cables. I bought a cheap USB3 KVM from Amazon. I think it was Startech. I am not sure, since I don't use the set up anymore and now have a larger desk with two sets of keyboards. I love different keyboards so this works for me.

Basically the USB KVM had two inputs for USB 3 cables and then I would connect the output from the KVM to the monitor. A mouse and a keyboard was connected to the monitor. When switching between the machines I would change the KVM and also change the input source on the Dell monitor.

It worked ok for the most part, but the KVM did have occasional issues where it would just sit there blinking its blue light at me and not doing anything. The fix was always to disconnect it completely and connect back in. It did not happen all the time though.

I see that similar devices are available on Amazon, but they are not cheap and cheerful.

Here is one example

SABRENT KVM Switch, peripheral sharing with 2 port USB C inputs, 2 ports USB-C outputs, 60W (PD 3.0) 2 USB ports HDMI port, thunderbolt compatible, Control two pcs with one monitor (USB-KCPD)

SABRENT KVM Switch, peripheral sharing with 2 port USB C inputs, 2 ports USB-C outputs, 60W (PD 3.0) 2 USB ports HDMI port, thunderbolt compatible, Control two pcs with one monitor (USB-KCPD)

www.amazon.co.uk

 

[deconstruct60]

... I thought these high-end monitors had KVM built in.

But I looked up its manual and see no mention of KVM. The u3219q manual does mention KVM, but that's too small.

As more laptops push into the higher core count range ( 8+ ) , higher MAX RAM ( > 64GB ) , and virtualization gets more common , the coupling of the "one cable solution" to a single laptop will probably get more common. Less folks needing two physical systems to space two OS instances running concurrently. The "two desktops, one monitor" configuration is probably going to relatively fade a bit as percentage of the overall market.

KVM built in wasn't always ubiquitous going back into either. It probably won't disappear completely but there are general market forces that will work to squeezing it out. Even at Dell which tries pretty hard to sell everything for everybody.

I've spent 20+ hours trying to figure out how to achieve my goal. I thought it would take 5 mins, but now I'm starting to worry it's impossible. I wish Apple supported daisy-chaining USB-C.

Thanks again for your help.

You are welcome.

Apple does daisy chained Thunderbolt v3 Type-C just fine. Thunderbolt isn't conducive to KVM set ups though (that wouldn't just be an 'Apple' thing).

It is possible. Just not all wrapped up with one 'box' and the minimum number of cables.

 

[panjandrum]

Hello
I’m about to purchase or lease a Mac Pro 7,1 (leasing maybe due to ARM announcement). My questions are not directly about Mac Pro but about which monitor(s) to pair it with. Sorry about that—have asked the questions in a few places without finding many answers!

I work editing classical music scores but have some serious eye health issues. I need a 43 inch 4K 16:9 monitor (or larger) to deal with tall orchestral scores. Alternatively, I might use an array of smaller monitors (maybe in Portrait, must be bezel free, or very thin bezels). Apple don't offer a large format monitor; I can’t afford a Pro Display XDR, let alone two; the LG ones are relatively expensive and seem to have poor reviews.

So—I’m wondering about monitors such as: Acer CG436K / Asus PG43UQ / Asus XG438Q / Dell U4320Q / Iyyama X4372UHSU / Philips Momentum 558M1RY (55 inch). Most of these are: flicker free / blue light filter / non-reflective screen.

My questions are:
1. Are there reasons why these monitors (or similar) will not work optimally (or at all) with Mac Pro 7,1?
2. Are there any Mac Pro 7,1 users here who use a similar monitor and have relevant recommendations to share?
3. I’m concerned some of the latest monitors may be too bright/piercing for my eyes. I understand some can be turned down to c.200 nits. Presumably this is low enough for long periods of use each day?
4. Some of the monitors (above) are for gaming. I won’t be gaming, so is there any benefit to paying for a 100Hz/120Hz/160Hz etc gaming monitor?

Thanks for any help!

Hi Boulez, best of luck finding a solution that works well for you. Our school ended up using inexpensive flat-screen TVs for some of our students that require accommodations in this area and they work quite well. One thing we discovered is that, in addition to being able to purchase a much larger screen at a similar price, the TVs had a much higher range of contrast, color, and brightness settings, as well as adjustable sharpness (some computer monitors do not have a sharpness setting). This allows us to accommodate students with color/brightness/contrast needs better than with a standard computer monitor, not just students that require larger images. The only downside we found was the one that others have mentioned; it isn't possible to get a picture that is technically as "good" as that of a good computer monitor; but that's just not the point in this case; the point is to get you an image that you can work with comfortably.

My suggestion would be for you to try a large 4K TV from a seller with a good return policy just in case things don't work out. You *might* avoid going too big. I work with one client who has macular degeneration and she finds their approx.65" TV too large; she has to move around too much, and actually move her chair and adjust the chair height to see all the parts of the screen comfortably. She ends up using her laptop screen and the zoom feature more than the big screen TV because of this.

 

[teredgel]

@deconstruct60 Do you think this would work?

(I think switching computers would require 2 steps: press the button on the USB switch box, and toggle the monitor inputs.)

• https://www.amazon.com/Selector-Com...f2a2b293c732161fa98bf6cd8ab463&language=en_US
• LG https://www.amazon.com/LG-43UN700-B...d132794f25fa173aaa1fd65bc27481&language=en_US or Dell https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/dell-ultrasharp-43-4k-usb-c-monitor-u4320q/apd/210-avke
• https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-MK2...557202ad808d171e1c9268d2c0f064&language=en_US
• https://www.amazon.com/AUKEY-Adapter-Compatible-Chromebook-Pixelbook/dp/B01AUKU1OO

Is there anything wrong with this setup?

Would there be any way to use fewer cables?

I really appreciate your help!

 

[teredgel]

@deconstruct60 @Boulez @theSeb Do you think this Dell monitor and USB switch would enable the setup I want? https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/large-monitors-with-mac-pro-7-1.2243943/post-29130639
I really appreciate your thoughts! Thanks.

 

[s66]

GO with the OLED TV!

Easy on your eyes - they are your only pair. Monitors, TVs etc. are easy to replace.

They do not burn in all that easily. TV station put logos in their programs all the time on the exact same spot. Even after years they do not burn in.
Some (if not most) OLED TVs have a "cleaning" function as well to get rid of ghosts on the screen - have only seen a ghost once on our OLED TV after having watched (and fallign asleep behind it) a very long snooker session. Where the bright green cloth is shown most of the time, you could see some ghost on it, power off/on cleaned it up completely.

 

[theSeb]

Going by the specs, yes the 43" Dell would allow you to connect the computers to the monitor how you've drawn it. Great drawings by the way. Is it some sort of mind mapping app?