Just got it home! Estimated delivery was February 6-20 so much earlier than expected! Yes, it's smaller than the Thunderbolt Display that I had but that's actually better for me because my desk isn't so big. Only thing that I don't like is that it's less stable than the Thunderbolt Display.
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LG UltraFine 5K - Owners Thread
- Thread starter iBrooker
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turbineseaplane
macrumors Penryn
You guys see this?
I guess Apple turned off reviews for the display on their store as they were overwhelmingly negative?
https://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/5p3srp/apple_shutters_reviews_of_lg_ultrafine_5k_display/
I guess Apple turned off reviews for the display on their store as they were overwhelmingly negative?
https://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/5p3srp/apple_shutters_reviews_of_lg_ultrafine_5k_display/
Having read through all this thread I decided I needed to see for myself how my 13" TB MBP (8gb ram, 512 ssd) would cope with the 5k.
My local Apple Store didn't have any same spec Mbps they could use but were really helpful and happy for me to bring mine in.
Having played about with it this evening I've come to the conclusion it just won't cut it for using Lightroom. Browsing my library is fine, the image quality is nothing short of stunning, but most of the tools in the develop module just lag too much to be usable. The most noticeable was trying to edit a custom tone curve - almost impossible to do due to lagging 🙁 I tried all different combinations of tool and image placement to no avail.
I did find the rest of the experience perfectly acceptable - browsing, dragging windows, exposé etc all worked fine - I just know I couldn't live with LR being like that.
The rather large fly in the ointment was that I bought my mbp at the end of November. However, all credit to the team there, they had a chat with their manager and have agreed I can return the 13" and swap for a 15" if I want to even though it's well out of the return period.
Just to be sure I'm doing the right thing, does anyone with a base model 15" have experience of running Lightroom with 16megapixel DNGs on this monitor? Will I be guaranteed a good experience if I upgrade the MBP??
My local Apple Store didn't have any same spec Mbps they could use but were really helpful and happy for me to bring mine in.
Having played about with it this evening I've come to the conclusion it just won't cut it for using Lightroom. Browsing my library is fine, the image quality is nothing short of stunning, but most of the tools in the develop module just lag too much to be usable. The most noticeable was trying to edit a custom tone curve - almost impossible to do due to lagging 🙁 I tried all different combinations of tool and image placement to no avail.
I did find the rest of the experience perfectly acceptable - browsing, dragging windows, exposé etc all worked fine - I just know I couldn't live with LR being like that.
The rather large fly in the ointment was that I bought my mbp at the end of November. However, all credit to the team there, they had a chat with their manager and have agreed I can return the 13" and swap for a 15" if I want to even though it's well out of the return period.
Just to be sure I'm doing the right thing, does anyone with a base model 15" have experience of running Lightroom with 16megapixel DNGs on this monitor? Will I be guaranteed a good experience if I upgrade the MBP??
Apple has had a huge amount of bad press in the last year. Hopefully this serves as a wake-up call to bring back focus on Q&A and high quality products. It feels like they're making record margins at the expense of what earned them a loyal user base.
I lucked out with a perfectly working monitor, no issues; however yesterday I noticed a deep chip in the screen which also happend to be my last day to return. I didn't see it before because I never put up a blank white page in that spot. It wasn't terrible but now that I know it's there I can't help but stare at it.
I returned the monitor and now I'm trying to decide if I should order another now and risk a defective one (assuming issues aren't due to the laptop) or wait a few weeks to see if they fix the issue (either OSX update or hardware fix in monitors manufactured at a later date).
Finally returned my LG 5K display for good today. Initially, it was DOA. The problem was identified as a defective USB-C cable which the Apple Store replaced. Two days later it started randomly going black. It was also causing the screen to intermittently freeze as well as to not scroll smoothly. LG tech support said they would get back to me in 3 business days which I thought was ridiculous. Apple Support was nice in that they got me in touch with a Level 2 tech at LG who said my unit was likely defective and needed servicing. All that aside, it looked great when it worked. Hopefully, Apple and LG will get the issues eventually sorted out. Until they do I'm sticking with my 4 year old TB display which has worked flawlessly since the day I bought it.
turbineseaplane
macrumors Penryn
My LG 5K arrived yesterday, about two weeks early. Unfortunately, it arrived before my new MBP, but gave me the opportunity to setup with my late 2013 Retina. Hooked up with a Thunderbolt cable and the Apple Thunderbolt 3-2 adaptor, works like a charm. Surprisingly good actually - I was always lead to believe the 2013 MBPs couldn't run a 4K monitor, but it runs the 5K at full 5K resolution no problems at all.
I was on the fence about ordering another one, definitely going to pick one up now for dual 27s.
I was on the fence about ordering another one, definitely going to pick one up now for dual 27s.
turbineseaplane
macrumors Penryn
I was in two different Apple stores recently and saw the 5k display hooked up to a Mini and a Pro in both. Seems nice, but the weird thing is that neither computer is actually capable of using the display at 5k! Both could only use it at scaled resolution, and it was fairly obvious, with some fuzziness in text, etc.
This left me wondering what Apple's point was. Sure, it's a monitor, and they have to use something with Minis and Pros, but to show it off without it being in 5k mode seems strange. After all, if they were proud of it at all, they could have hooked it up to a Macbook Pro to show it off at full resolution. Is it just a stop-gap until no headless Macs are left? A stop-gap until new ones are in? Until an 8k Apple monotor is ready? I guess we'll have to see what Apple has, if anything, for the desktop beyond new iMac's this year.
(I did think that they are acceptably-bland for an office environment, and that the "forehead" wasn't too obnoxious either.)
This left me wondering what Apple's point was. Sure, it's a monitor, and they have to use something with Minis and Pros, but to show it off without it being in 5k mode seems strange. After all, if they were proud of it at all, they could have hooked it up to a Macbook Pro to show it off at full resolution. Is it just a stop-gap until no headless Macs are left? A stop-gap until new ones are in? Until an 8k Apple monotor is ready? I guess we'll have to see what Apple has, if anything, for the desktop beyond new iMac's this year.
(I did think that they are acceptably-bland for an office environment, and that the "forehead" wasn't too obnoxious either.)
My business partner and I both have the 5K LG displays and neither of us have had any problems since they were bought new a few weeks ago. Both are being run off of a 2016 MBP 15".
I am not sure why anyone in their right mind would return such a beautiful display. If you got a lemon, get another, the display is flawless. Most issues will likely be fixed via firmware upgrades and software updates.
The waking from sleep issue I've had personal experience with, but not with the LG 5K. My 2011 MBA would do this when connected to my Thunderbolt Cinema Display. I would have to usually restart the MBA. This persisted for 4+ years. I estimate it would happen at the most once a month or less. This doesn't seem like an issue limited to the 5K LG or 2016 MBP. I've had my 2016 MBP crash a few times prior to the latest OSX update, but no issues the last few weeks.
I am not sure why anyone in their right mind would return such a beautiful display. If you got a lemon, get another, the display is flawless. Most issues will likely be fixed via firmware upgrades and software updates.
The waking from sleep issue I've had personal experience with, but not with the LG 5K. My 2011 MBA would do this when connected to my Thunderbolt Cinema Display. I would have to usually restart the MBA. This persisted for 4+ years. I estimate it would happen at the most once a month or less. This doesn't seem like an issue limited to the 5K LG or 2016 MBP. I've had my 2016 MBP crash a few times prior to the latest OSX update, but no issues the last few weeks.
Outrigger
macrumors 68000
It runs the 5k monitor at a 4k scale. It can't run it at the full 5k res.
Brookzy
macrumors 603
According to my LG profile I have a two year warranty on my UltraFine 4K - not sure if that's only in the UK/only on the 4K or whatever, but still.
The sentiment stands though: far too many bugs on these displays! And how shocking is it that we're on the .3 release now (in beta) and the ambient light sensor which LG advertising still doesn't even work!
This means that if you have two UltraFines, the only way you can control the brightness for both of them is via System Preferences. How ridiculous.
I mentioned before that I'm planning on getting two LG 5Ks when the new iMacs come out (hence my continued stalking of this thread!) but I won't be if these basic issues are not sorted out by then.
turbineseaplane
macrumors Penryn
I think main worry is, if you're in the US where the warranty is 1 year and you're having issues right from moment one... What does that possibly mean for the display 1, 2 or 3 years down the road?
Just an expensive gamble that isn't inspiring confidence in users who are having lots of problems right from the start.
The display (screen part) itself is gorgeous! I think all agree!
It's the rest of the situation that is a problem for many.
I fully agree. Another thing - at least based on my two experiences, the tech support at LG with respect to this display is not exactly confidence inspiring. Getting back to a customer in three business days is just not acceptable. Based on that, I can only imagine the turn around time if the display ever had to be sent back to LG for servicing.
turbineseaplane
macrumors Penryn
Oh you have no idea. I've been dealing with LG on my dead 31MU97 - it's basically the opposite of "take something into the Apple Store". I've been dealing with agents that first ask if it's a refrigerator or washer dryer, etc.
Just a generic, foreign call center, "who gives an F" experience.
Awful.
I'm deeply saddened that this is the route Apple is encouraging it's desktop/pro/docked laptop users down.
I've really had it with Tim's Apple.
fabrini
macrumors newbie
I'm running 2 Ultrafine 5Ks on a 2016 MBPr TB.
The only way I can get both of them to fire up is if I turn off the MBP, plug in both displays, then turn on the computer. After the computer is up and running and the internal display and the 2 Ultrafine 5ks are alive, I then plug in my TB Display (via TB2 to TB3 dongle). In this way I'm able to get all 4 displays (counting the internal) working at the same time. I can't get them all to work in any other way.
The only way I can get both of them to fire up is if I turn off the MBP, plug in both displays, then turn on the computer. After the computer is up and running and the internal display and the 2 Ultrafine 5ks are alive, I then plug in my TB Display (via TB2 to TB3 dongle). In this way I'm able to get all 4 displays (counting the internal) working at the same time. I can't get them all to work in any other way.
It's an option in System Preferences, worked fine, just way too small for my eyes. I didn't try and tax it, but yeah was fine.
Brookzy
macrumors 603
If you are using the Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 adapter with the LG 5K display, it is running at 4K resolution stretched to fill the full 27 inches.
Brookzy
macrumors 603
I'm not sure, but it should not be possible. Screenshots of System Preferences and the Graphics/Displays tab in System Information would help to figure out what's going on.
Looks like 5k to me. Always told it shouldn't be possible, but works fine. Like I said, way too small for my eyes, I'm running it at 3360x1890, but it works.
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Brookzy
macrumors 603
Fascinating. I hope you're not trolling! I'm wondering whether this will work on a recent iMac then? Has anyone got one to test?
Not at all! I'd seen a lot of people asking what would happen, so when my monitor was here but no laptop, I had to test.
I'm as suprised as anyone! But I don't seem to be able to select a 4k resolution in System Prefs, which is weird. Haven't used SwitchResX yet, but pretty comfortable with the res I've got.
Did you register on their site for that? I haven't even looked at the pamphlets that came with the monitor..
Apple does some weird upsample/downsample trick. I think what is happening is that it renders as 5K then gets sent to the screen downsampled as 4K since thunderbolt 2 doesn't have the bandwidth to do 5K.