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Using Pro Display XDR with non-USB-C devices

mlamb64150

mlamb64150

macrumors member
Original poster
Feb 27, 2012
89
48
Isle of Man
Hi folks,

Wondering if anyone here has any experiencing using the Pro display XDR with non-USB-C devices, namely Windows Laptops using HDMI/Displayport ?

At the moment I have own M1 Mac Mini setup and a dedicated HDMI monitor I'd like to replace with a Pro XDR. I also have 2 additional monitors i use for a work-from-home setup with a Windows 10 laptop running a dock that has HDMI and Displayport outputs. To cut down on the number of screens I have in use, i'd like to get rid of the 3 screens I have, and just have one small office space for my personal enjoyment, and that I can also use for my work.

Is a Hub the best bet, or are their cable adapters that convert the HDMi/Displayport output to USB-C?

Any insights would be appreciated.
 
There aren't any HDMI to USB-C adapters that can do more than 4K yet. The M1 Mac mini only support HDMI 2.0 and the XDR doesn't support chroma sub sampling and the M1 Macs don't support custom display timings so it's unlikely that a new HDMI 2.1 to DisplayPort 1.4 adapter (if or when they become available) will be usable for 5K or 6K output from HDMI 2.0 in this case. For an Intel Mac, higher resolutions with lower refresh rates can be created. Maybe you can get 4K from HDMI 2.0 port using a HDMI 2.0 to USB-C adapter (Club 3D and other manufactures makes such an adapter - includes USB 2.0 connection so you can use the USB features of the display including brightness control and presets).

6K will not be possible for PCs unless they support DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC. If they do support DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC, then a DisplayPort 1.2 + USB 2.0 cable will be sufficient (since DSC can go 6K using just HBR2 link rate). The Belkin Charge and Sync cable is one method for converting USB+DisplayPort to USB-C. A bidirectional USB-C to DisplayPort cable will work but you'll miss the USB features of the display.

I don't think the XDR supports HBR3 link rate except for when it's connected with Thunderbolt to a Mac that doesn't support DSC. In that case it uses two HBR3 connections over Thunderbolt to do 6K using some trick that PCs don't use (the trick is that Thunderbolt can't normally do two HBR3 connections but Apple makes it happen as long as there's no Thunderbolt device between the XDR and the Mac - it works because the two 3008x3384 tiles used to create the 6016x3384 image do not require the full bandwidth of HBR3 and Thunderbolt does not transmit the DisplayPort stuffing symbols used to fill up the HBR3 stream).

For Windows to use some of the USB features of the display, you need to manually install some Boot Camp drivers. Brigadier might be useful in this case?

Anyway, there are many other threads on Mac Rumors that discusses the XDR and Windows and non-Thunderbolt connections.
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...dr-with-rtx-2080-got-6k-eventually-p.2223765/
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...the-gigabyte-titan-ridge-add-in-card.2209947/
etc.
 
Thanks for the detailed response @joevt . I don't require the Pro Display XDR to perform to full resolution when using Windows, it's just desktop work I do in my day-job, so 1080p up to 4K is fine.

I'm literally just looking for the most suitable way to convert a HDMI and/or Displayport output from my Windows Laptop/Dock to convert to USB-C for use on the XDR.

Cheers.
 
Bumping for help please !

I have a laptop with HDMI (2.1) connection that I would really like to be able to connect to my Pro Display XDR.
(Laptop has no other working input options, just HDMI).

This thread mentions "There aren't any HDMI to USB-C adapters that can do more than 4K yet" - which implies such an adapter exists but is limited. I can live with only getting 4k - as I will only connect the laptop rarely (for small amounts of gaming).

My request for help is - can anyone please point me to an adaptor for HDMI -> USB-C that is confirmed to work with the Pro Display XDR ? (Positive karma/good thoughts for anyone who helps)
 
padderz said:
I have a laptop with HDMI (2.1) connection that I would really like to be able to connect to my Pro Display XDR.
(Laptop has no other working input options, just HDMI).

This thread mentions "There aren't any HDMI to USB-C adapters that can do more than 4K yet" - which implies such an adapter exists but is limited. I can live with only getting 4k - as I will only connect the laptop rarely (for small amounts of gaming).

My request for help is - can anyone please point me to an adaptor for HDMI -> USB-C that is confirmed to work with the Pro Display XDR ? (Positive karma/good thoughts for anyone who helps)
Click to expand...
I would try the The Club 3D CAC-1332 or similar
https://www.club-3d.com/en/detail/2517/hdmi_to_usb_c_4k60hz_active_adapter_m-f/

Hopefully, future HDMI 2.1 to USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode adapters will exist.
https://insights.club-3d.com/thread/hdmi-2-1-to-usb-c-displayport-1-4-alt-mode/
 
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I can confirm the Club 3D adaptor recommended by Joevt - works ! I get 4k60 alongside passthrough of other connected usb peripherals (keyboard, ethernet).

Much thanks Joevt !
 
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Thanks for the update, Padderz. I'll seek one of these out if I decide to go down the Pro Display route in the near future.
 
What is the difference between Club 3D CAC-1332 and Club 3D CAC-1333 ? I don't understand. Thanks
 
Nedge said:
What is the difference between Club 3D CAC-1332 and Club 3D CAC-1333 ? I don't understand. Thanks
Click to expand...
The CAC-1332 includes a USB 2.0 connection so you can use the USB functions of a USB-C display.
The CAC-1333 does not include USB 2.0 which is good if you don't need a USB connection to the display.
 
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I'm using a Delock 86040 Bidirectional USB-C to DisplayPort Cable to run the Pro Display XDR with 6K@60Hz from the DisplayPort of a RTX 3060 in a Windows PC and it works beautifully (but without the USB hub functionality in the display, of course).

Here's a list of some more cables that may work: https://dancharblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/10/bi-directional-usbc-dp-cables/

There's also the USB-C Combiner from Level1Techs that merges the video and data inputs (DP 1.4 and USB 3.0 Type B) into a USB-C output which, in theory, would enable both full resolution video and functional USB-C ports on the Pro Display XDR.
 
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