I just took the plunge and got the Asus PQ321Q, in large part because Apple has certified that it is capable of 60 hz on the Mac Pro (Late 2013) when using this display. See Apple's support page. People have been repeating this all over the internet.
Apple says: "Mac Pro (Late 2013) also support 60 Hz displays using multi-stream transport (MST). These displays need to be manually configured to use MST. Follow the steps below to use the display's built-in controls to enable this feature.
ASUS PQ321Q: Choose OSD menu > Setup > DisplayPort Stream
Your Mac will automatically detect an MST-enabled display."
Well, I got the display and set it up on my nMP with dual D500s. Its connected to my nMP using a display port to minidisplayport cable. (This one.)
As soon as I turn on MST, the screen goes black. I have to turn off MST to get it working. I finally talked to Asus support. The support rep made me wait while he talked to a supervisor, and then he swore that it simply isn't possible.
Here is part of our discussion:
Shahid Haque-Hausrath Fri, 7/11/2014 05:07:18 pm
Can you tell me what kind of cable I can use to connect a Mac Pro (newest model, only has mini display port) to the monitor, and get 60hz? Because this is absolutely supposed to be possible.
Cordell S. Fri, 7/11/2014 05:07:47 pm
you will not be able to get 60hz when using that mac as the output on the mac is mini display port. it would have to be coming from a full display port connection that your mac does not have.
and who told you that?
Shahid Haque-Hausrath Fri, 7/11/2014 05:08:11 pm
Apple. http://support.apple.com/kb/ht6008
I don't get how what Apple says can jive with what you said about mini display port not working. The Mac Pro only has mini display port. I'm trying to research which cable I need to make this work, as many have attested that they have 60hz on the new Mac Pro. I just need to know how -- if the cable is the problem then what do I need to do instead.
[Going back and forth.]
Shahid Haque-Hausrath Fri, 7/11/2014 05:26:14 pm
Then how does it work with the Mac Pro late 2013 model? Or are you saying that Apple is wrong?
Cordell S. Fri, 7/11/2014 05:27:18 pm
coming from a mini display port, no it will not be able to get 60hz. and sounds like it to me. you can get 60 hz from this monitor using 2 hdmi cables or a displayport to displayport connection
Shahid Haque-Hausrath Fri, 7/11/2014 05:27:55 pm
Yet, none of those are possible on a new Mac Pro. It has only one HDMI port and mini displayport. And they advertise that its possible.
Cordell S. Fri, 7/11/2014 05:28:11 pm
no, they are not. apple may, but we do not.
we do not state anywhere that you will get 60hz from our monitor using minidisplayport to displayport
-----
I'm thinking that Asus is wrong that its simply not possible, but perhaps the cable I am using is the problem. Would this one work since it is DisplayPort 1.2 compatible?
Thanks for any advice. I don't want to go up to 4k at the expense of 60 Hz. That is exactly why I blew so much money on this display, which is supposed to work.
Apple says: "Mac Pro (Late 2013) also support 60 Hz displays using multi-stream transport (MST). These displays need to be manually configured to use MST. Follow the steps below to use the display's built-in controls to enable this feature.
ASUS PQ321Q: Choose OSD menu > Setup > DisplayPort Stream
Your Mac will automatically detect an MST-enabled display."
Well, I got the display and set it up on my nMP with dual D500s. Its connected to my nMP using a display port to minidisplayport cable. (This one.)
As soon as I turn on MST, the screen goes black. I have to turn off MST to get it working. I finally talked to Asus support. The support rep made me wait while he talked to a supervisor, and then he swore that it simply isn't possible.
Here is part of our discussion:
Shahid Haque-Hausrath Fri, 7/11/2014 05:07:18 pm
Can you tell me what kind of cable I can use to connect a Mac Pro (newest model, only has mini display port) to the monitor, and get 60hz? Because this is absolutely supposed to be possible.
Cordell S. Fri, 7/11/2014 05:07:47 pm
you will not be able to get 60hz when using that mac as the output on the mac is mini display port. it would have to be coming from a full display port connection that your mac does not have.
and who told you that?
Shahid Haque-Hausrath Fri, 7/11/2014 05:08:11 pm
Apple. http://support.apple.com/kb/ht6008
I don't get how what Apple says can jive with what you said about mini display port not working. The Mac Pro only has mini display port. I'm trying to research which cable I need to make this work, as many have attested that they have 60hz on the new Mac Pro. I just need to know how -- if the cable is the problem then what do I need to do instead.
[Going back and forth.]
Shahid Haque-Hausrath Fri, 7/11/2014 05:26:14 pm
Then how does it work with the Mac Pro late 2013 model? Or are you saying that Apple is wrong?
Cordell S. Fri, 7/11/2014 05:27:18 pm
coming from a mini display port, no it will not be able to get 60hz. and sounds like it to me. you can get 60 hz from this monitor using 2 hdmi cables or a displayport to displayport connection
Shahid Haque-Hausrath Fri, 7/11/2014 05:27:55 pm
Yet, none of those are possible on a new Mac Pro. It has only one HDMI port and mini displayport. And they advertise that its possible.
Cordell S. Fri, 7/11/2014 05:28:11 pm
no, they are not. apple may, but we do not.
we do not state anywhere that you will get 60hz from our monitor using minidisplayport to displayport
-----
I'm thinking that Asus is wrong that its simply not possible, but perhaps the cable I am using is the problem. Would this one work since it is DisplayPort 1.2 compatible?
Thanks for any advice. I don't want to go up to 4k at the expense of 60 Hz. That is exactly why I blew so much money on this display, which is supposed to work.