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Studio Display XDR Impressions

Autismus said:
I know it's said that it can't run 120hz on non apple chips. But why is that so? What if you have the most powerful Intel chip on a Linux PC?
Click to expand...

It’s the GPU that matters, not the CPU. I get 5K@120Hz with my 4090 in Windows 11, but only if I’m not using other displays at the same time. When using other displays, it’s limited to 5K@60Hz or 4K@120Hz. Also, this requires an older Nvidia driver (591.86). The most recent driver limits me to 640x480@60Hz for some reason.

Edit: It looks like I can't get 120Hz@5K on my 4090 after all - Windows was automatically switching the resolution to 4K without telling me when I selected the 120Hz option, even though that option only appeared when it was the sole display attached to my PC (it was limited to 60Hz when other displays were attached as well).
 
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Whats interesting is that the only review I read/saw that actually properly looked at the XDR was from the Verge. They actually used a spectroradiometer. Every other review just looks at it and says something useless like "nice but small". I even dare to say there is not even any other proper "review" out there. I'm curious what rtings has to say about it, they started their lab tests today.
 
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aMunster said:
  1. Old gaming PC w/ 3090 and DisplayPort 2.1 to USB-C cable = Yes. It works at 5k 60hz. No webcam / speakers / mic, of course.
  2. Surface Laptop 6 = only runs at 1080p. (The webcam / speakers / mic work fine.) No improvement using display firmware 26.4. There are a couple threads on Reddit about this. HP, Lenovo and Dell laptops are impacted as well. The common denominator is Intel graphics. The Surface Laptop 6 ran the Studio Display non-XDR at 5k 60hz just fine.
  3. Also, the screen crashed for the first time after I installed 26.4 on my Macbook Pro M4 Pro and Studio Display XDR. I think it was WindowServer. The failure seemed similar to the half-screen kernel panics that others have reported.
Click to expand...
which cable would be required to get 5k 120HZ?
 
Chrisjmv said:
which cable would be required to get 5k 120HZ?
Click to expand...
On which device?
  1. 3090 - I cannot give you an authoritative answer. The bandwidth requirement is 57 gbps, or less with DSC. Although I bought a Cable Matters bidirectional USB-C to DisplayPort 2.1 cable, it only supports 40gbps. If I upgraded my motherboard to one with Thunderbolt 4, I expect I could drive the screen at 5k 120hz from the 3090. DP-in from 3090 to motherboard or Thunderbolt card, then Thunderbolt connection to the screen.
  2. Surface Laptop 6 - this laptop comes with a Thunderbolt 4 port which supports DisplayPort 2.1. Thus, I think the Intel graphics driver needs an update.
  3. Macbook Pro M4 Pro - the Thunderbolt 5 cable included in the box is sufficient.
 
I wanna use the display with a 5090, so that 5k 120HZ works, would be also good to get camera/speakers to work, but don't know how to

is there any Video out on YT etc, that shows how to use the new Studio Display XDR with windows?
 
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LoopsOfFury said:
It’s the GPU that matters, not the CPU. I get 5K@120Hz with my 4090 in Windows 11, but only if I’m not using other displays at the same time. When using other displays, it’s limited to 5K@60Hz or 4K@120Hz. Also, this requires an older Nvidia driver (591.86). The most recent driver limits me to 640x480@60Hz for some reason.
Click to expand...
How are you getting 5k@120hz?

I have 4090 and W11, Jan drivers, there is no 120hz option for 5k resolution.

Only one monitor is connected.

Which cable?
 
Chrisjmv said:
I wanna use the display with a 5090, so that 5k 120HZ works, would be also good to get camera/speakers to work, but don't know how to

is there any Video out on YT etc, that shows how to use the new Studio Display XDR with windows?
Click to expand...
Your motherboard must support Thunderbolt and have a DisplayPort-in port. For example, the Asus ProArt Z890-Creator. Another option is to use a Thunderbolt card with DP-in. From my research the best option is Asus ThunderboltEX5. Be careful, it requires a compatible Asus motherboard. The DisplayPort cable goes from the graphics card to the motherboard or Thunderbolt card, then you connect to the display with a Thunderbolt cable. This should work at 5k 120hz.
 
ascender said:
I’ve got an open support ticket with Apple Engineering as my M5 MacBook Pro won’t run two XDRs at any refresh rate. But the specs say it should be capable of it.

M4 Air page says:
  • Up to two external displays with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz
Presumably that’s in clamshell mode?
Click to expand...
I did a deep dive on these the other day. Yes, that description includes the common 5K @60Hz. For the models I looked at, apple support said opening and closing the lid should have no effect on what could be connected how.
 
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MikhailT said:
How are you getting 5k@120hz?

I have 4090 and W11, Jan drivers, there is no 120hz option for 5k resolution.

Only one monitor is connected.

Which cable?
Click to expand...

I'm using this cable, which I bought several years ago:

[edit] Scratch that - I didn't realize Windows was automatically downgrading the resolution to 4K without telling me when I changed the refresh rate to 120Hz.
 
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Has anyone been able to connect to 3 Studio Display XDRs? I have a MacBook Pro with M5 Max and 3 Studio Display XDRs, but I can only get the laptop to output to 2 displays at a time. I've installed firmware updates for all 3 displays, updated Mac OS, and tried both daisy-chaining and individual direct connections using the included TB5 cables. I've also tried reducing all 3 monitors to 60Hz.

I'm not sure if M5 Max supports 3x 5K 120Hz displays, but this page on Apple's website indicates it should at least support 2x 5K 60Hz displays and 1x 5K 120Hz display:

  • Two displays up to a native resolution of 6K (6144 x 3456) at 60Hz or 4K (3840 x 2160) at 144Hz, and one display up to a native resolution of 8K (7680 x 4320) at 60Hz, 5K (5120 x 2880) at 120Hz or 4K (3840 x 2160) at 240Hz over Thunderbolt or HDMI
Click to expand...
 
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ColdestOfStones said:
Has anyone been able to connect to 3 Studio Display XDRs? I have a MacBook Pro with M5 Max and 3 Studio Display XDRs, but I can only get the laptop to output to 2 displays at a time. I've installed firmware updates for all 3 displays, updated Mac OS, and tried both daisy-chaining and individual direct connections using the included TB5 cables. I've also tried reducing all 3 monitors to 60Hz.

I'm not sure if M5 Max supports 3x 5K 120Hz displays, but this page on Apple's website indicates it should at least support 2x 5K 60Hz displays and 1x 5K 120Hz display:
Click to expand...
Four displays up to a native resolution of 6K (6144 x 3456) at 60Hz

Going off that it can do 4 external 5k Studio XDR displays.
 
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Apple actually allows M1 Max to have 86hz refresh rate. This is the maximum bandwidth of thunderbolt 3. Forcing 87hz will fallback to previous settings.
1774502578606.png
 
What cables is everyone using and is USB-A required, I have tried this plugged directly into my RTX 5090 and the display isnt recognised or detected at all, USBC-USBC same thing. I feel like I am doing something wrong with what everyone else has posted.

www.officeworks.com.au

Comsol USB-C to DisplayPort 8K Cable 1.5m

Officeworks won't be beaten on Comsol USB-C to DisplayPort 8K Cable 1.5m prices with our Price Beat Guarantee, 2-hour Click & Collect, and fast delivery options.
www.officeworks.com.au www.officeworks.com.au

Works fine on my M4 PRO.
 
ColdestOfStones said:
That was my interpretation, but can't get 3 external 5k Studio XDR displays to work at 60Hz. All 3 appear in System Information>Thunderbolt/USB4, but only 2 show up under Displays and have an image visible.
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Since bandwidth-wise, the ability to output for 6k60 should entail 5k60, judging by the wording of the "Three external displays" bit in that doc, I'd expect 1st XDR at 5k120, then 2nd and 3rd XDR at 5k60.

But the above is strictly thinking in bandwidth. If we read the text word by word, whenever 5k is not mentioned, it can be interpreted as no 5k image at all, which is what the behaviour of your current set up is, only letting 2 5k120 to show.
 
ColdestOfStones said:
That was my interpretation, but can't get 3 external 5k Studio XDR displays to work at 60Hz. All 3 appear in System Information>Thunderbolt/USB4, but only 2 show up under Displays and have an image visible.
Click to expand...
So this sounds like the exact same issue I'm having but a "step down"... My case with Apple Engineering is looking into why a MacBook Pro M5 (not Pro or Max) chip can't support two of these at 60Hz.

The symptoms are identical to what you're seeing with three.

We did another set of testing this morning and sent capture data in - I'm due an update on Sunday.

This all looks like its something which should be fixed in an update, but for the time being I'm going to have to order a new laptop and then sell this one as I need 2 screens working and I am past the point of being able to return one.
 
I own an original Studio Display (glossy) and have just got a Studio Display XDR (nano-texture).

My impressions:

(with MacBook Pro M1 Pro, Tahoe)
Using original cables that come with both displays, I can daisy chain them and have both working fine at 5k 60Hz. The M1 gen doesn't support 120Hz anyway.

(with Mac Studio M4 Max, Sequoia: my workhorse which I refuse to downgrade to that Tahoe crap)
I can also daisy chain the two displays, but it's finicky. I have to plug/unplug the two displays a few times before both are turned on.

The XDR under Sequoia:
- shows up as "Studio Display XD" in display settings but as "Studio Display XDR" in sound settings;
- camera is treated as a generic camera, no center stage, portrait mode, etc.;
- doesn't have 120Hz, only 60Hz or Adaptive Sync up to 60Hz;
- seems to be recognised as a generic HDR display by the system. I can turn on HDR, but no display "Presets" to choose from; instead we get "colour profiles" like with other third party displays.

In both setups, in the same lighting conditions, in SDR, with auto brightness turned off and brightness set to maximum, the XDR is noticeably dimmer than the original Studio Display. I get the same perceived brightness if I turn down the original by 10-15%. This is the biggest disappointment, because both displays are supposed to have a maximum of 600 nits in regular SDR conditions. I wonder if it's because of the nano-texture, or some bizarre bugs.
 
lgsoltek said:
In both setups, in the same lighting conditions, in SDR, with auto brightness turned off and brightness set to maximum, the XDR is noticeably dimmer than the original Studio Display. I get the same perceived brightness if I turn down the original by 10-15%. This is the biggest disappointment, because both displays are supposed to have a maximum of 600 nits in regular SDR conditions. I wonder if it's because of the nano-texture, or some bizarre bugs.
Click to expand...
I am thinking the Mac needs Tahoe to have installed necessary "drivers" or system settings related updates to properly access the correct tonal curve of the SDR mode. Since what you are describing is similar to what would happen when plugging a 3rd party HDR display to a (Sequoia) Mac, when HDR toggle is engaged, SDR content reduces its brightness proportionally to the max HDR peak brightness. What Apple's XDR screen does is different, they employ a method called EDR, where it automatically detects if only SDR content is on screen or when HDR content is present, to adjust on the fly the peak displayed brightness of the screen element.
 
ColdestOfStones said:
That was my interpretation, but can't get 3 external 5k Studio XDR displays to work at 60Hz. All 3 appear in System Information>Thunderbolt/USB4, but only 2 show up under Displays and have an image visible.
Click to expand...
You sir have quite a ticket on your hands.

Just wanted that based on my reading as well, you should be capable of all three of your 5K @120Hz studio displays up and going maxxed out the way God intended.

You're the first person here with the finances to load up on three with a capable mac, and possibly one of several cases worldwide. You're special! And you owe us follow-ups but yeah whatever's wrong is on Apple's end.
 
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ascender said:
So this sounds like the exact same issue I'm having but a "step down"... My case with Apple Engineering is looking into why a MacBook Pro M5 (not Pro or Max) chip can't support two of these at 60Hz.

The symptoms are identical to what you're seeing with three.

We did another set of testing this morning and sent capture data in - I'm due an update on Sunday.

This all looks like its something which should be fixed in an update, but for the time being I'm going to have to order a new laptop and then sell this one as I need 2 screens working and I am past the point of being able to return one.
Click to expand...
Did they confirm yours should support it though? The doc lists m4 and m5 (non pro) and it sounds like both should be able to support running 2 displays.

Same issue/behavior in my case with the M4 mba
 
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LoopsOfFury said:
It’s the GPU that matters, not the CPU. I get 5K@120Hz with my 4090 in Windows 11, but only if I’m not using other displays at the same time. When using other displays, it’s limited to 5K@60Hz or 4K@120Hz. Also, this requires an older Nvidia driver (591.86). The most recent driver limits me to 640x480@60Hz for some reason.
Click to expand...
these are the specs of my non apple laptop
Processor and graphics card:Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 processor 155H Intel® Arc™ iGPU
1 x Thunderbolt 4 combo port with Power Delivery DC in (Type C) and Display Alt Mode (DP 2.1) support
 
phoenixbt said:
Did they confirm yours should support it though? The doc lists m4 and m5 (non pro) and it sounds like both should be able to support running 2 displays.

Same issue/behavior in my case with the M4 mba
Click to expand...
Yes.

But I've also heard of a couple of cases where the 1st line support have said its not supported because they've misunderstood the exact spec of laptop and screen.
 
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Would anyone with a Windows/Linux laptop connected over USB-C (without adapters) be able to dump the EDID that the Studio Display XDR presents? I am interested in both DP Alt Mode and native Thunderbolt connections (since the display may present different EDIDs depending on the protocol in use).

Same question to anyone who has a CAC-1335, CAC-1336 or any other common HDMI->DP adapter.

This would be extremely useful to diagnose adapter issues, since any mismatch could explain blank screens or 1080p fallbacks (and could potentially be fixed with an EDID emulator).

If you are on Windows, Custom Resolution Utility (CRU) or Monitor Asset Manager should allow you to export the EDID as a file.
 
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