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Need help connecting Dell U2711 to 2016 MBP

P

Pyali

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 22, 2016
53
27
I have a 2016 non Touchbar 13" MBP and im trying to get the dell to display 1440p but it stuck on 1080p. Ive tried a dvi to hdmi cable, a hdmi cable (to hdmi), and hdmi cable with a hdmi to display port adapter but that just didnt output anything. All the others have 1080p max resolution.

Im using the apple multiport hdmi/usb 3/usb c to TB3 adapter. What do I need to make this work?
 
Could be the HDMI cable
I get 1440p @60Hz with my 12" Macbook using Apple's multiport adapter and the HDMI cable also from Apple online store with no problems.
 
Yep the driver is installed. I think it may be an issue of the hdmi not being 1440p compatible, what combination of cables/adapters would make it work? Im using a dell U2711.
 
NoisyCat said:
u2711 doesn't support 1440p on HDMI, only on DisplayPort or dual link DVI.
Click to expand...
Is that the same for the Dell U2515H I have? At the moment I am using it at 60Hz but 2048x1152 resolution with HDMI. I always thought my laptop couldn't do 1440p at 60Hz, but that's incorrect then? I would need a displayport cable or adapter for the new MBP then?
[doublepost=1479647179][/doublepost]Some interesting news, I asked a friend who has the same monitor as I do (Dell U2515H, capable of outputting 1440p resolution), and he is using the monitor at max resolution and at 60Hz through HDMI. So I guess for this model, you won't need a minidisplayport adapter. However he has a gaming laptop, so I don't know if this will work with a MBP.
Why is all this stuff so confusing...
 
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So it works with my DVI-D cable (to my windows machine), but doesnt work with my dvi-d to hdmi cable. So its fair to assume it wouldnt work with a dvi-d to hdmi adapter either? Ill need a display port to hdmi?
 
Hyloba said:
I would love to use that cable, but 45€ is a little steep for a single cable with one use.
Click to expand...

Depends on how bad you want to see that monitor, used most likely every day, have a display on it. Now just having the proper ports on the machine to begin with to forgo this foolishness is another story...
 
I ordered the usb-c to displayport cable for a cool $70 AUD :confused: ill let you guys know how it goes when it arrives
 
UPDATE: The usb-c to displayport cable came today and the external display is being shown at 1440p native res under the displays window... but its black lol. Its functioning in every way except nothing is being shown on the monitor. Ive tried resetting NVRAM, SMC and trying different ports but no luck. Anything else?
 
Pyali said:
UPDATE: The usb-c to displayport cable came today and the external display is being shown at 1440p native res under the displays window... but its black lol. Its functioning in every way except nothing is being shown on the monitor. Ive tried resetting NVRAM, SMC and trying different ports but no luck. Anything else?
Click to expand...

What brand is the cable, as I'm guessing the cable may be bad.
 
"STARTECH USB-C to DisplayPort Adapter Cable - 1m (3 ft.) - 4K at 60 Hz" found here
 
Looks like it ticks all the boxes for compatibility. Even this diagram shows a cable like that should work, so I would try to exchange the cable.
 

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Pencilnink said:
Looks like it ticks all the boxes for compatibility. Even this diagram shows a cable like that should work, so I would try to exchange the cable.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the help, I guess I'll get a refund and order a replacement :'( got half a mind to yolo and get a 5k lol
 
I'm having the same issue with my Dell U2711 on my 2016 Macbook Pro. I did not know that HDMI will not work above 1080p. I'm disappointed because the graphics and texts on its native resolution is razor sharp compared to 1080p scaling and I paid good money 5 years ago to get this monitor.

I've tried this with 2 dongles to get HDMI: Dodocool USB-C hub with VGA and HDMI, and the famous Hyperdrive Thunderbolt 3 USB-C dongle for Macbook Pro. Both of them capable of displaying 4K at 30Hz. Both of them were unable to push Dell U2711 past 1080p.

When I purchased the startech USB-C to DisplayPort cable and plugged it into my hyperdrive's Thunderbolt 3 port, native resolution was achieved!

The only problem now is that I lose the ability to charge my laptop when I plug it in as Dell U2711 is not a USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 monitor.

I guess I will have to stick with HDMI until my next monitor :(

If anyone has an alternative suggestion, please let me know. Thanks in advance.
 
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