MP 7,1 Connecting NEC Displays to new Mac Pro?

[choreo]

I keep trying to configure/order a new Mac Pro, but keep running into roadblocks!

I currently have (3) NEC Monitors connected to my 2012 Mac pro via a Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 580 card, but apparently the 580X MX base card that comes in the new Mac Pro does not have all the same ports as my current 580 card (which has 1 x DVI-D - 2 x HDMI and 2 x DisplayPort 1.4 ports)? All I see is a couple HDMI ports and the stated ability to connect additional displays via Thunderbolt ports elsewhere on the new Mac Pro? From what I have read the HDMI ports limit the resolution/refresh rate - so I guess that option is out.

Here is what I currently have:

NEC PA271 27" (Main Monitor) connected via DisplayPort 1.4 [2560x1440]
NEC PA272W 27" connected via DisplayPort 1.4 [2560x1440]
NEC LCD2690WUXi2 26" connected via DVD-I [1920x1200]

I have not ordered a Mac Pro, so I am not married to the base video card (yet). I see the new Mac Pro has a $600 option now for a Radeon Pro W5700X which appears to have (4) Thunderbolt 3 ports (and a single HDMI port) - according to https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210968

My question is what would be my best option for connecting the (3) monitors I currently have? I am not sure if I get the W5700 card if I can "reliably" connect my three monitors via Thunderbolt 3. I have read numerous articles from people having trouble connecting multiple monitors with sleep/wake issues, etc. However all my monitors are really 2K monitors and I do not see them addressed in the above referenced article. Also not sure how I would get all my monitors connected? Maybe have to buy DVI-D to Thunderbolt and DisplayPort to Thunderbolt cables (if such things exist)?

(Just found out that I will have to buy a 3rd party HUB to even connect my current sound system which uses optical TOSLINK to my current 2012 Mac Pro - by the time I get new storage devices to replace what I have this Mac Pro conversion is turning into some real money and pain - the Mac Pro price is just the beginning!)

 

[deconstruct60]

I keep trying to configure/order a new Mac Pro, but keep running into roadblocks!

I currently have (3) NEC Monitors connected to my 2012 Mac pro via a Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 580 card, but apparently the 580X MX base card that comes in the new Mac Pro does not have all the same ports as my current 580 card (which has 1 x DVI-D - 2 x HDMI and 2 x DisplayPort 1.4 ports)? All I see is a couple HDMI ports and the stated ability to connect additional displays via Thunderbolt ports elsewhere on the new Mac Pro? From what I have read the HDMI ports limit the resolution/refresh rate - so I guess that option is out.

Here is what I currently have:

NEC PA271 27" (Main Monitor) connected via DisplayPort 1.4 [2560x1440]
NEC PA272W 27" connected via DisplayPort 1.4 [2560x1440]
NEC LCD2690WUXi2 26" connected via DVD-I [1920x1200]

I have not ordered a Mac Pro, so I am not married to the base video card (yet). I see the new Mac Pro has a $600 option now for a Radeon Pro W5700X which appears to have (4) Thunderbolt 3 ports (and a single HDMI port) - according to https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210968

My question is what would be my best option for connecting the (3) monitors I currently have? I am not sure if I get the W5700 card if I can "reliably" connect my three monitors via Thunderbolt 3.

These three monitors date from 2009-2012 era in terms of specs. Display Port (DP) v1.3 (let alone 1.4) didn't come along until 2014 and GPU cards to produce 1.3 until after that. [ DPv1.4 didn't get finalized until 2016 when at least one of these monitors was already over 6 years old in tech.] These monitors don't need a v1.4 connection at all. These are at best 1.2 ( and probably 1.1 ) monitors. That makes all of the MPX GPU modules "overkill" for all these. There shouldn't be any question wither the 580X or W5700X can drive these monitors. Any issue would far more so lies in the adapters use to close the connection.

A substantive part of the "disconnect" here is that these monitors are basically a decade old. A modern PA-271Q can take 10-bit color on the HDMI connector. The "original" 271 can't because HDMI at the time of its creation was a much lower/older/limited version of the the standard ( and the monitor is stuck in the a pre 2014 time bubble.). NEC Pro monitors tend to look more "backwards" than "forward" in their port selection.


If you already have an adapter from full Size Display to "active " , dual-link DVI then can get something like this to move the adapter over to the new Mac Pro

Cable Matters 32.4Gbps USB C to DisplayPort 1.4 Adapter, 4K@240hz, 8K@60hz, and HDR Support -Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 Compatible with Oculus Rift S, iPad Pro, iPhone 16/15 Pro, MacBook Pro, XPS, Surface

Cable Matters 32.4Gbps USB C to DisplayPort 1.4 Adapter, 4K@240hz, 8K@60hz, and HDR Support -Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 Compatible with Oculus Rift S, iPad Pro, iPhone 16/15 Pro, MacBook Pro, XPS, Surface

www.amazon.com

Going from Type-C to the legacy DisplayPort ( mini or full size) formats is a not a big issue. Probably should not go with cheapest cable can find but any good-to-high quality cable should do. There is no "conversion really being done it is more so just the format of the plug.


If you have a mini-DP to DVI adapter then may want to find a direct Type-C to active , dual link DVI . ( I don't think there is a HDMI to active-dual solution that is reliable. ). But another path there is another format hop and 'gender' switch.

and I do not see them addressed in the above referenced article.

Running 2K monitors isn't addressed in part because it isn't that hard for these GPUs.

The Thunderbolt ports on the Mac Pro with a 580X install can run 4 2K displays with the 580X. The "upgrade" to a W5700X would allow to offload some (or all ) of that duty to the Module itself, but that is only necessary if have lots of other plans for most of those other Thunderbolt ports. But not particularly breaking "new" ground on running just three 2K displays. That is more just shuffling the deck chairs on that front.

To get to three 2K with the ports on the Mac Pro you'd have to run one monitor off the one of the "top" ports. Some folks are don't want to do that. The W5700X allows one to avoid that for $600.

(Just found out that I will have to buy a 3rd party HUB to even connect my current sound system which uses optical TOSLINK to my current 2012 Mac Pro - by the time I get new storage devices to replace what I have this Mac Pro conversion is turning into some real money and pain - the Mac Pro price is just the beginning!)

The Caldigt TS3-Plus has both an optical output and a fully size DisplayPort adapter on it. If have fully size DisplayPort connection now then that is a "two for" because can load one of those monitors to that DP connection.

https://www.caldigit.com/ts3-plus/

(and if don't need anything Thunderbolt "downstream" of the dock you can use the second TB port to hook up one of the other monitors. ). Two monitors and optical all hanging off of one port. And get some easy access USB sockets on your desktop ( convenient if the Mac Pro is under/beside the desk. )

A TS3-Plus plus some new cables and perhaps 1-2 adapters ( depending upon current GPU cabling) is probably less that $600.

If needed more GPU "horsepower" and/or have 3 or more Thunderbolt peripherals to attach then there are some non monitor connection requirements driving upgrading the GPU Module to something better than the 580X.

But the 580X is mostly aimed at affordable monitors from the last 4-5 years that all tend to have HDMI connections. ( not to mention a high number of the Tvs. ) with common cables available a many basic consumer stores. It has two HDMI connectors because that is what most folks commonly use. HDMI is also a relatively modern digital audio out to newer equipment.

 

[flowrider]

When I was running the stock Pro580X I used this adapter to my DP Monitor:

FOINNEX HDMI to DisplayPort Adapter, 4K@60Hz Not-Bidirectional HDMI to Display Port, Unidirectional HDMI Source to DP Display Male to Female for Computer, Monitor, PS4, NS

FOINNEX HDMI to DisplayPort Adapter, 4K@60Hz Not-Bidirectional HDMI to Display Port, Unidirectional HDMI Source to DP Display Male to Female for Computer, Monitor, PS4, NS

www.amazon.com

It worked fine,

My video card is now an Aorus RX5700XT with DP and HDMI outputs. I am now running the Apple approved 24" LG UltraFine 4K display. That monitor only has TB (USB C) inputs and I am using this cable:

Monoprice Bidirectional USB Type-C to DisplayPort Cable - 4K@60Hz, Black, 6ft - Monoprice.com

No longer will you be limited by the direction of your cable! This Bidirectional USB-C? to DisplayPort? Cable allows you to connect your legacy DisplayPort devices to your newest USB-C enabled display

www.monoprice.com

It would be my recommendation to upgrade to the ProW5700X and use three of the Monoprice cables. They are Bidirectional.

Lou

 

[choreo]

A substantive part of the "disconnect" here is that these monitors are basically a decade old. A modern PA-271Q can take 10-bit color on the HDMI connector. The "original" 271 can't because HDMI at the time of its creation was a much lower/older/limited version of the the standard ( and the monitor is stuck in the a pre 2014 time bubble.). NEC Pro monitors tend to look more "backwards" than "forward" in their port selection.

My main monitor NEC PA271Q-BK 27" 16:9 Color-Critical IPS Monitor was purchased from B&H 1/6/2019?
Specs show:

10-Bit (1.07 Billion Colors)

99% Adobe RGB
96% NTSC
100% sRGB

1 x DisplayPort
1 x Mini DisplayPort
2 x HDMI
1 x USB Type-C
3 x USB (USB 3.1 / USB 3.2 Gen 2) Input
3 x USB (USB 3.1 / USB 3.2 Gen 2) Output

I called NEC and they said they still did not offer a PA 4K alternative at that time.

Also, curious if NEC is still selling professional displays? I am not seeing much of anything online? I am sure I will be upgrading monitors to 4K over time, but wanting to use what I already have to start with as this new Mac Pro is so expensive compared to all the "pro" Macs I have had over the years. I have had real good luck using the Spectraview calibration software with them. If NEC made something in a 27" 4K that covered most of the Adobe RGB gamut, I would buy that for my primary monitor - I just use the other two monitors mainly for application pallets vs. viewing images.

 

[eflx]

Just buy the most computer you can afford ... you obviously are aware, the more you spend, the faster the components.

 

[deconstruct60]

My main monitor NEC PA271Q-BK 27" 16:9 Color-Critical IPS Monitor was purchased from B&H 1/6/2019?
Specs show:
....
2 x HDMI
1 x USB Type-C
...

The 580X has a HDMI 2.0 capable connector on the module. There is no disconnect from the HDMI input here. As the newest monitor it has the least problem. Folks having problem with older monitors hooked to the 580X module (or to some add-in card variation that is based on the RX 580 ) I doubt are relevant.

I called NEC and they said they still did not offer a PA 4K alternative at that time. [\quote]

https://www.necdisplay.com/p/displays/pa311d-bk

In a 27" format? No.

Also, curious if NEC is still selling professional displays? I am not seeing much of anything online?

The above is at Adorama and Newegg. However, it wouldn't be surprising if these very high end ones (PA series) are made in Japan and the supply logistics for the monitor are way off due to pandemic. [ High end , very low volume camera items made in Japan have been disrupted also. ]
When sites have them marked "backordered" that means still selling them; just don't have any in stock.

What NEC doesn't seem to be doing is chasing much of the HDR1000 ( HDR with max brightness) market. That is subset of pro displays.

 

[blackadde]

NEC displays are made in China, AFAIK. Eizo is the last man standing with respect to Japanese-produced displays.

They recently merged this division with Sharp: https://www.avinteractive.com/news/...ne-display-business-joint-venture-25-03-2020/

The latest and greatest is the PA311D, a 4K DCI screen with support for HLG and PQ HDR, albeit with tone mapping to a paltry 400 lumens. It’s really not meant as a HDR video reference. I have this screen, and it’s extremely good. DeltaE in SpectraView II averages 0.5.

 

[th0masp]

That NEC sonds great tbh. Would be a shame to get rid of.

I've used these in several studios and they were always really nice displays with the only caveat of having rather limited (trendy) connectivity. Just the standards and fewer ports and features than e.g. Dell. Between these and the Eizo I'm using at home I couldn't say which one I'd prefer.

OP: couldn't you simply put your existing 580 into your new computer and just run with the old cables? The Navi 1st generation cards don't sound so hot anyway (well, hot running probably, given the manufacturer ).

 

[choreo]

Just received this response from NEC:

The only testing that I have seen regarding the newer Macs with Thunderbolt 3 technology is with single displays and usb-c to DP cables. What I would recommend is to use the usb-c to dp cable from J5Create to connect the PA displays. The model of that cable is JCA141 - link below to their website. As for using the older display with just DVI connections you may want to go HDMI to DVI as the signal types are more compatible. Apple has gotten away from even converting this as they do not have a Thunderbolt 3 to DVI cable like they did with Thunderbolt 2.

https://en.j5create.com/products/jca141

 

[th0masp]

HDMI to DVI will indeed work fine for your resolution on that third monitor. In my experience you won't even need a dual link cable/adapter to run 1200p (many state only 1080p but will likely work fine regardless).

 

[choreo]

Has anyone had any experience with these StarTech cables for connecting monitors? Opinions? I need cables that are over 4-feet long:

StarTech USB Type-C to DisplayPort Cable (6')

Buy StarTech USB Type-C to DisplayPort Cable (6') featuring 1 x USB Type-C Male, 1 x DisplayPort Male, Thunderbolt 3 Compatible, Supports 4K Resolution at 60 Hz, Windows and Mac Compatible, 6' Long. Review StarTech null

www.bhphotovideo.com