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mini paired with Hauwei's new 4.5K 3:2 monitor = iMac killer?

For those who already have this monitor, what is the USB-A port speed you are getting while connecting it to a MAC via USB-C only? No Display Port or HDMI connection? For example connecting it to a MacBook Air or Pro.

As far as I know, when a USB-C port is used for sending video to a monitor via Display Port Alt Mode, then the USB data speed over that cable can't be faster than USB 2.0 since the majority of the bandwidth is taken by the video data. I am asking because I am trying to figure out if a USB port on the monitor is fast enough to connect an external SSD for Time Machine backups form a Macbook; USB 2.0 would not be fast enough.

For people that use the monitor connected via Display Port directly, then the remaining USB-C data connection would indeed work at full speed USB 3.0 because there is no video data in that wire.

Huawei lists the USB-A ports as USB 3.0, but I think it is a bit misleading and doesn't apply for a one USB-C cable connection, it would only work at full speed USB 3.0 if the monitor is connected separately via Display Port or HDMI.
 
Does anyone know if the 2014 Mac mini can output 3840 x 2520 over DisplayPort? I don't care if it's 24 or 30Hz only.
 
DrCC said:
For those who already have this monitor, what is the USB-A port speed you are getting while connecting it to a MAC via USB-C only? No Display Port or HDMI connection? For example connecting it to a MacBook Air or Pro.

As far as I know, when a USB-C port is used for sending video to a monitor via Display Port Alt Mode, then the USB data speed over that cable can't be faster than USB 2.0 since the majority of the bandwidth is taken by the video data. I am asking because I am trying to figure out if a USB port on the monitor is fast enough to connect an external SSD for Time Machine backups form a Macbook; USB 2.0 would not be fast enough.

For people that use the monitor connected via Display Port directly, then the remaining USB-C data connection would indeed work at full speed USB 3.0 because there is no video data in that wire.

Huawei lists the USB-A ports as USB 3.0, but I think it is a bit misleading and doesn't apply for a one USB-C cable connection, it would only work at full speed USB 3.0 if the monitor is connected separately via Display Port or HDMI.
Click to expand...
Have just bought Mateview for my 16" M1 MBP, since I got a bit disappointed by the ASD (high price for "just" an IPS panel). I tried Blackmagic disk speed test with USB-C SSD (with adaptor) and it is only ~37 MB/s with the Huawei's USB port (vs. 400 MB/s when plugged into Macbook directly), so pretty miserable :) but it will be okay for a webcam...
I have MBP attached via USB-C cable to the monitor.

Edit: I just saw that System Information shows this as USB2.0 only anyway :)

1648156089147.png


I also have the OWC TB4 hub I used with my old LG 4k monitor (which did not have any USB-C) laying here disconnected... So I will have to see whether I can live without additional USB3.X ports or the hub will get into action again :) (but I love the minimalistic setup with Mateview and MBP only)
 
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ice29 said:
Edit: I just saw that System Information shows this as USB2.0 only anyway :)

View attachment 1980077

I also have the OWC TB4 hub I used with my old LG 4k monitor (which did not have any USB-C) laying here disconnected... So I will have to see whether I can live without additional USB3.X ports or the hub will get into action again :) (but I love the minimalistic setup with Mateview and MBP only)
Click to expand...

Thank you for testing. So it is as I expected, it is only USB 2 speed if the video data goes through USB-C.

Could you please do the same test and connect the monitor to HDMI or Display Port? Then just connect the USB-C from the monitor to the laptop only for data transmission, with no Video data. I am curious if it will report as USB 3 and the speed will be better.
 
DrCC said:
Thank you for testing. So it is as I expected, it is only USB 2 speed if the video data goes through USB-C.

Could you please do the same test and connect the monitor to HDMI or Display Port? Then just connect the USB-C from the monitor to the laptop only for data transmission, with no Video data. I am curious if it will report as USB 3 and the speed will be better.
Click to expand...
Does not work, Macbook sees Mateview as two displays, one over HDMI and one over USB-C, I haven't found a simple way how to turn the USB-C one off :) So it is still USB2.0
 
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InuNacho said:
Would you happen to have a link to it? I can't seem to find it.
Click to expand...

www.amazon.co.uk

HUAWEI MateView 28.2 inch Monitor, 4K UHD(3840x2560), 1 Billion Colours, Ultra-thin, 60 Hz Refresh Rate, IPS,HDR400,MiniDP, HDMI, 2xUSB-C,2xUSB Mystic Silver

HUAWEI MateView is a monitor that enhances every aspect of your experience. It presents elegance in a stunning 4K+ display and intensifies your love of colour. It enables smart work via wireless connectivity to multiple devices. Use your finger to conveniently control MateView functions and setti...
www.amazon.co.uk
 
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turbineseaplane said:
www.amazon.co.uk

HUAWEI MateView 28.2 inch Monitor, 4K UHD(3840x2560), 1 Billion Colours, Ultra-thin, 60 Hz Refresh Rate, IPS,HDR400,MiniDP, HDMI, 2xUSB-C,2xUSB Mystic Silver

HUAWEI MateView is a monitor that enhances every aspect of your experience. It presents elegance in a stunning 4K+ display and intensifies your love of colour. It enables smart work via wireless connectivity to multiple devices. Use your finger to conveniently control MateView functions and setti...
www.amazon.co.uk
Click to expand...
Cool thanks! Hmm, I guess if we import it to the states we'd need a converter correct? Is that even recommended for long term usage?
 
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InuNacho said:
Cool thanks! Hmm, I guess if we import it to the states we'd need a converter correct? Is that even recommended for long term usage?
Click to expand...

Probably -- I'm not sure.

For me it's a no go to order a monitor from a source where returning/exchanging is a potential nightmare
 
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Lars B. said:
Does anyone know if the 2014 Mac mini can output 3840 x 2520 over DisplayPort? I don't care if it's 24 or 30Hz only.
Click to expand...
If it's the 1.4 GHz model with the HD Graphics 5000, it's unlikely. The 2013 MacBook Air with the same GPU won't output "4K" properly... not even at 30 Hz.

If it's one of the faster models with the Iris 5100, it might be able to. UPDATE: Nope.

InuNacho said:
Hmm, I guess if we import it to the states we'd need a converter correct?
Click to expand...
No, the power adapter can handle 100-240V AC input. Just checked mine.
 
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DrCC said:
As far as I know, when a USB-C port is used for sending video to a monitor via Display Port Alt Mode, then the USB data speed over that cable can't be faster than USB 2.0 since the majority of the bandwidth is taken by the video data.
Click to expand...
That depends on whether the monitor and the system it's connected to support DisplayPort 1.4.

If they do, only two high-speed lanes are required for DisplayPort's HBR2 link rate and thus "4K" resolution at 60 Hz. The two remaining high-speed lanes remain available for USB 3.x speeds.

If they don't, i.e. you're limited to DisplayPort 1.2, all four high-speed lanes are required for DisplayPort's HBR2 link rate and thus "4K" resolution at 60 Hz. No high-speed lanes remain for USB 3.x speeds, limiting you to USB 2.0 speeds.

The MateView doesn't support DisplayPort 1.4, so when using USB-C DisplayPort Alternate Mode, USB 2.0 is as good as it gets.
 
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tornado99 said:
Hauwei are launching a new Mateview Standard Edition, which is exactly the same but dropping bluetooth, NFC, and wireless projection.
Click to expand...
If that's simply the non-wireless version of the MateView: that has been available for months. I have both a wireless and a non-wireless version.

TheBigApple2006 said:
I am quite sure that no Mac can stretch to 5K 120Hz yet, and we do not yet have the cabling for it yet either.
Click to expand...
jamesjingyi said:
TB3/4 doesn't have the bandwidth for 5K120
Click to expand...
DisplayPort 1.4 can do 5K120 with DSC. It's possible to encapsulate DisplayPort 1.4 plus DSC in a Thunderbolt 3/4 stream. So all that's missing is the panels. (And we need DSC to reliably work on macOS.)
 
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Amethyst1 said:
So all that's missing is the panels. (And we need DSC to reliably work on macOS.)
Click to expand...

Now that the ASM exists, I really hope LG might do a 5k refresh and make it more "normal" in terms of inputs and the offering. I'd love one for my Hack and it would seem like a better product overall if it was brought up to the most modern connection standards and made more easily usable across platforms.

Easier to connect and use = more buyers!

(still a crap aspect ratio in my opinion - but it is what it is I guess. I don't get this 16:9 obsession we are living through)
 
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Amethyst1 said:
Asus and Eizo have 21.5” “4K” OLEDs. ≈204 PPI... for five grand or so. :D
Click to expand...

I've only used 22 inch 1080p monitors (and I think a 21.5" iMac at one point) and I've always felt that a monitor that size is just a little too small for a desktop. It seemed like not enough of my periphery vision was being filled. I would say around 24" is the sweet spot, so a slightly smaller version of the Mateview would be my dream monitor!
 
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Lars B. said:
Does anyone know if the 2014 Mac mini can output 3840 x 2520 over DisplayPort? I don't care if it's 24 or 30Hz only.
Click to expand...
Short answer: No.

Long answer:

I've just tested this using a Late 2013 13" Retina MacBook Pro, which sports the same Intel Iris 5100 GPU that the faster 2014 Mac minis have, on macOS Big Sur v11.6.5. Custom resolutions were created using SwitchResX.

Results:
  • The absolute maximum height is 2400, so 3840×2560 is impossible. At a width of 3840, the maximum height is 2320.
  • 3840×2320 at 48 Hz works and is within the GPU's 450 MHz pixel clock limit using the CVT-RB v2 timing formula. The MateView displays that properly, i.e. with black bars at the top and bottom. Setting the scaled resolution base to 3840×2320 in SwitchResX makes macOS offer aspect-correct scaled HiDPI resolutions, such as 2560×1547.
 
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Heads up for UK users - the MateView 28" is currently on sale for £399.99 from Amazon.co.uk.
(Obviously this may be a sign that a newer version is in the pipeline, but £400 sounds like a deal to me...)

I've ordered one just to give it a try out as a second display on my iMac while I ponder whether to get a Mac Studio (or wait for the mythical M2 Mini) to go with it.
 
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