LG UltraFine 5K Display Works at Lower Resolution With Older Macs Using Adapter

[MacRumors]

There has been some confusion as to whether the LG UltraFine 5K Display works with older Macs, but a new support document published today answers that question and makes it clear exactly which Macs can be used with the display and at what resolution.

At its full 5120 x 2880 resolution, the LG 5K display can only be used with Apple's latest 2016 MacBooks, which have Thunderbolt 3 support. That includes the 15-inch MacBook Pro, the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, and the 13-inch MacBook Pro with no Touch Bar.

Using an Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter and a Thunderbolt cable, the LG 5K Display can be used at 4K resolution with older iMac, MacBook Pro, Mac Pro, MacBook Air, and Mac mini models. A full list is below:

3840 x 2160 at 60Hz
- Mac Pro (Late 2013)
- MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014) and later
- MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2014) and later
- iMac (Retina, 27-inch, Late 2014) and later
- iMac (Retina, 21.5-inch, Late 2015)
- iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2015)
- MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2015)
- MacBook Air (11-inch, Early 2015)

3200 x 1800 at 60Hz
- Mac mini (Late 2014)

For the Mac mini and the Mac Pro, Apple recommends using the LG UltraFine 5K display as a second monitor as it might not turn on until the machines are booted into macOS. Features like Boot Picker and macOS Recovery may not work on the display when used with those machines.

Power delivery features are only available for Macs equipped with Thunderbolt 3, which means only the three newest MacBook Pro models will be able to charge through the display. Power is not delivered when connecting the display to a Mac using the Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter, so on older Macs, a separate power supply will need to be used.

Apple started selling the LG 5K UltraFine Display this morning. While the first orders placed offered shipping estimates of three to five days, supplies were quickly exhausted. Orders placed now will ship out in two to four weeks.

Article Link: LG UltraFine 5K Display Works at Lower Resolution With Older Macs Using Adapter

 

[Asarien]

In person, the screen and sound on these displays are remarkable.

 

[69Mustang]

This would have been good information to have when they introduced the monitor... just sayin'.

 

[robeddie]

Ehhh, I was stoked reading this at first glance that it would mean decent support for an older mac mini or mac pro, but even support for the latest mac pro and mac mini models seems dicey at best.

On another note, totally would have bought one if they had a regular thunderbolt 2 or displayport input. Not sure why Apple insists on even their production partners to limit the ability of their products from working with as many different computers as possible.

Apple just doesn't like their products, or products made for their stuff, to be flexible. That's the sad fact.

 

[metabob]

Funny how they say 2014 models are "older".

My previous MBP was 2010.

I don't get out much.

 

[pat500000]

Something is not right about Mac Pro part. Thunder bolt 2 to 3? This says a lot about next year.

 

[HiFiGuy528]

@MacRumors Is the 4K display pricing extended as well?

 

[metabob]

@MacRumors Is the 4K display pricing extended as well?

Yes.
[doublepost=1482280248][/doublepost]

Apple just doesn't like their products, or products made for their stuff, to be flexible. That's the sad fact.

Driving this number of pixels at a sane refresh rate takes a lot of bandwidth. The older hardware was never designed for this. That's just the way it goes. You can't keep your old hardware and get the new specs, too.

sidenote: is there a way to avoid automatically merging completely unrelated posts? Like what happened with this one?

 

[Wayfarer]

Boycotting this third party travesty until Apple brings back a proper refreshed 5k Thunderbolt Display.

 

[Sheza]

- MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2014) and later

Doesn't exist mate. It's either Mid 2014 or Early 2015. Probably the latter.

 

[Brookzy]

If you want a 4K screen with the price tag of a 5K screen and a forehead, Apple and LG have the solution for you!

 

[japanime]

Remember the old Apple marketing slogan "There's an app for that"?

It's been replaced with "There's a dongle for that."

 

[Wilson1313]

The Mac Pro can't support 5k resolution. Apple sure has their priorities straight...

 

[cdmoore74]

Every time I see this display it just doesn't scream "premium Apple product". More like, "look in the back with the other monitors".

 

[pier]

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2014) and later

​

This is false.

I have the mid 2014 13'' MBP and it only goes 4K at 30Hz.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206587

 

[chfilm]

Just give us a new Mac Pro with tb3 already!

 

[patrickbarnes]

Just give us a new Mac Pro with tb3 already!

And what happens to those of us that bought the nMP already? Funny how Apple gave us a machine that can't be expanded and is limited in what displays it can run even though it has a monster dual GPU...

Why would anyone pay ~1k for a 5K display then run it (poorly) at 4K resolution? Argh.

 

[pixelrogue]

There has been some confusion as to whether the LG UltraFine 5K Display works with older Macs, but a new support document published today answers that question and makes it clear exactly which Macs can be used with the display and at what resolution.

At its full 5120 x 2880 resolution, the LG 5K display can only be used with Apple's latest 2016 MacBooks, which have Thunderbolt 3 support. That includes the 15-inch MacBook Pro, the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, and the 13-inch MacBook Pro with no Touch Bar.

Using an Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter and a Thunderbolt cable, the LG 5K Display can be used at 4K resolution with older iMac, MacBook Pro, Mac Pro, MacBook Air, and Mac mini models. A full list is below:

3840 x 2160 at 60Hz
- Mac Pro (Late 2013)
- MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014) and later
- MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2014) and later
- iMac (Retina, 27-inch, Late 2014) and later
- iMac (Retina, 21.5-inch, Late 2015)
- iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2015)
- MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2015)
- MacBook Air (11-inch, Early 2015)

3200 x 1800 at 60Hz
- Mac mini (Late 2014)

For the Mac mini and the Mac Pro, Apple recommends using the LG UltraFine 5K display as a second monitor as it might not turn on until the machines are booted into macOS. Features like Boot Picker and macOS Recovery may not work on the display when used with those machines.

Power delivery features are only available for Macs equipped with Thunderbolt 3, which means only the three newest MacBook Pro models will be able to charge through the display. Power is not delivered when connecting the display to a Mac using the Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter, so on older Macs, a separate power supply will need to be used.

Apple started selling the LG 5K UltraFine Display this morning. While the first orders placed offered shipping estimates of three to five days, supplies were quickly exhausted. Orders placed now will ship out in two to four weeks.

Article Link: LG UltraFine 5K Display Works at Lower Resolution With Older Macs Using Adapter

 

[pier]

And what happens to those of us that bought the nMP already? Funny how Apple gave us a machine that can't be expanded and is limited in what displays it can run even though it has a monster dual GPU...

Well...

1) It doesn't have a "monster GPU"

2) Why did you buy an overpriced machine you knew couldn't be expanded or upgraded?

 

[pixelrogue]

Anyone know if the 2012 mini can support the Apple/LG 4k 21", or the similar 27" (non-5k)?

 

[Dreamail]

Wasn't the 15" MacBook Pro 2015 GPU model suppsed to support one 5K monitor?
What happened to that? Sorry, we were kiddin'?

 

[trifid]

I'd love to know which monitor Jony Ive uses, I refuse to believe he'd accept this travesty of ugliness.

 

[Maigrais]

And what kind of adapter would be required? There was no word on that.
Thunderbolt 2 and Thunderbolt 3, which one would be male and which one female?

 

[luisfrocha]

Funny how they say 2014 models are "older".

My previous MBP was 2010.

I don't get out much.

I hear ya. I'm replacing my 2010 MBP 15" with same size 2016 model.

 

[realeric]

Digital display at lower resolution = junk.