LG UltraFine 5k Performance

[MacFan1957]

Just got a LG UltraFine 5k to go with my MacBook Pro 13. The picture quality is as good as I'd hoped but performance in other areas is a little disappointing. I see a lot of screen tearing when I swipe from screen to screen and web page scrolling is anything but smooth. Is this due to the lack of dedicated image processor in the MacBook, or something else?

I knew there were issues with this monitor but most seemed connected to the USB hub.

Keith

 

[Brookzy]

Almost certainly down to the integrated graphics in the 13" Pro. A lot of pixels to push in that 5K screen.

 

[Kcetech1]

if you don't have a dGPU screen tearing is pretty normal.

 

[satinsilverem2]

I think its due to the Iris 550 for sure.

 

[MacFan1957]

I think its due to the Iris 550 for sure.

Kind of disappointed that none, not one, of the many LG UltraFine 5k reviews I watched and read mentioned this! Oh well, its not too bad but also not as good as I'd hoped for.

Thanks for the comments everyone.

 

[maflynn]

Kind of disappointed that none, not one, of the many LG UltraFine 5k reviews

Why? Its not the monitor's issue, but rather the computer driving the monitor. If you don't have a powerful enough GPU then there will be performance issues.

 

[MacFan1957]

Why? Its not the monitor's issue, but rather the computer driving the monitor. If you don't have a powerful enough GPU then there will be performance issues.

Well the monitor is only sold by Apple and all the reviews I saw used either a 2016 13 or 15 inch MacBook Pro. Seems reasonable to assume the brand new laptop I just bought can drive a monitor that was built for it, don't you think? Apple states that the 13 can run a single LG UltraFine 5k display, don't recall any caveat's about poor performance.

If it was the case that the 13 does not have the graphic power to run a 5k display it would be nice to know before buying it. It's not like I bought some random laptop and paired it with a random monitor. They are supposed to work together, or did I missunderstand that part of the PR?

 

[maflynn]

did I missunderstand that part of the PR?

I think you needed to ask if the laptop could drive the monitor. Apple sells the 12" Macbook and Mini, as well. Not all computers that apple sells can drive all monitors.

 

[Baldrake]

I think you needed to ask if the laptop could drive the monitor. Apple sells the 12" Macbook and Mini, as well. Not all computers that apple sells can drive all monitors.

maflyn, you're being a bit harsh. The LG UltraFine 5K product page lists this under "System Requirements":

Operating System: macOS Sierra 10.12.1 or later
Connection: Thunderbolt 3–enabled Mac

It doesn't say anything about GPU requirements, so it's perfectly reasonable to infer that any TB3 mac will be able to use it.

 

[dyn]

It also doesn't say anything about how well it will work

 

[HenryAZ]

It also doesn't say anything about how well it will work

Did you use the right-side USB-C ports on the 13" MBP?

 

[dyn]

Four things: 1. it's Thunderbolt 3, not USB-C (USB-C says nothing), 2. the 13" comes with 2 or 4 ports where the one with 2 does not have ports on the right-side, 3. when the GPU is the issue the ports don't matter and most importantly: 4. you absolutely didn't get the point.

The specs do not say anything about what GPU is required, it only says that it supports Thunderbolt 3-enabled Macs. That means that you can connect it to a 13" or a 15" MBP and it'll work but it does not say anything about how well it will perform. Baldrake makes it seem that the performance on all MBPs would be equal but it won't be because the 15" MBP has a much faster GPU. That much faster GPU allows the 15" to drive 2 of those 5k displays whereas the 13" MBP can only drive 1 (even the 4-port one).

In other words: @maflynn is not being harsh at all, he's just stating the facts: being able to connect a display is one thing, being able to use it smoothly/without being annoyed is another. Some 13" MBP owners have tried the display (no matter which side it was connected to) and found that it was too laggy for their taste. If you were to ask them then their answer to the question if any TB3 Mac is able to use the display would be a "no".