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Monitor for 2012 RMBP

K

Keepoffthegrass

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 4, 2012
21
0
Hi,
Im thinking about an external display for my 2012 RMBP. I have done some reading and i gather i can't push 4K from this machine.
Does anyone have any recommendations ? I would like it to be 27 - 30 inches and the best resolution possible but still giving a good colour. I can't afford the apple display unfortunately.
Thanks in advance.
 
I use the U2515H with my 2012 rMBP and installed/have used the U2415H with a PC. I would only get the U2515H if you are going to run it at its native resolution of 2560x1440, which can be difficult to use unless you have great vision and/or sit 12 inches from the display. Even sitting this close, I still run Windows 10 at 110% scaling (Parallels 10).

Depending on your needs, you may still be able to achieve the 4k 60hz effect using dual DP or dual HDMI. Have you checked out this discussion: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/mid-2012-rmbp-15-and-4k-uhd-samsung-u28d590d-monitors.1735590/ ?

I went with the U2515H, and kind of wish I would have tried a 4k 60hz monitor with good picture-by-picture support.
 
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bootz said:
I use the U2515H with my 2012 rMBP and installed/have used the U2415H with a PC. I would only get the U2515H if you are going to run it at its native resolution of 2560x1440, which can be difficult to use unless you have great vision and/or sit 12 inches from the display. Even sitting this close, I still run Windows 10 at 110% scaling (Parallels 10).

Depending on your needs, you may still be able to achieve the 4k 60hz effect using dual DP or dual HDMI. Have you checked out this discussion: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/mid-2012-rmbp-15-and-4k-uhd-samsung-u28d590d-monitors.1735590/ ?

I went with the U2515H, and kind of wish I would have tried a 4k 60hz monitor with good picture-by-picture support.
Click to expand...

Ill have a trawl through - thank you .
Do you think 30 v 60 hz would make a massive difference ? - i won't be gaming.
 
Keepoffthegrass said:
Cheers bootz,
So i could run this at its native res, in 60hz , through 1 hdmi cable ?
Click to expand...

A 4k display? No. The highest 60hz resolution you can get out of the mid-2012 rMBP is 3440x1440 if you use a 21:9 display using 1 mDP cable. The U2715H would work as well.

You can't output native 4k at 60hz using any 1 cable on your rMBP. The workaround is use a 4k monitor that supports PBP (picture-by-picture). You connect two DP or HDMI cables to the monitor, each outputting 1920x2160 at 60hz. There are issues to deal with, such as no easy way to do a full screen display of an app. You would have to drag the window across the entire display, and still you'd be stuck in windowed mode. There is a good chance of color abnormalities between the two outputs.

I think it comes down to your goals and budget. What will you be using the monitor for? If you are determined to get a 27 inch, the U2715H would be great. I also think the Dell U2415H and U2515H are great monitors. If you want the most pixel-dense display that will run at 60hz, Dell makes a 24 inch 1440 display, the P2416D.
 
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Reactions: Keepoffthegrass
bootz said:
A 4k display? No. The highest 60hz resolution you can get out of the mid-2012 rMBP is 3440x1440 if you use a 21:9 display using 1 mDP cable. The U2715H would work as well.

You can't output native 4k at 60hz using any 1 cable on your rMBP. The workaround is use a 4k monitor that supports PBP (picture-by-picture). You connect two DP or HDMI cables to the monitor, each outputting 1920x2160 at 60hz. There are issues to deal with, such as no easy way to do a full screen display of an app. You would have to drag the window across the entire display, and still you'd be stuck in windowed mode. There is a good chance of color abnormalities between the two outputs.

I think it comes down to your goals and budget. What will you be using the monitor for? If you are determined to get a 27 inch, the U2715H would be great. I also think the Dell U2415H and U2515H are great monitors. If you want the most pixel-dense display that will run at 60hz, Dell makes a 24 inch 1440 display, the P2416D.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply buddy ,
It will be mainly for home photo work and a bit of video editing. I guess any of these will be an improvement over my 1998 iMac.
 
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