For all those with camera issues, USB disconnects, and devices disappearing: update monitor firmware to revision M2T103, this addresses these issues.
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Dell 6K U3224KB Monitor
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LOL, indeed! Thanks for pointing that out. I guess it I missed it because that's in a footnote of all places and they don't mention it elsewhere I think. I was really expecting to find it in the connectivity block on page 16, where they list the best that DP and HDMI can do but then only list TB4 without saying the max video signal it can do. In any case, as I said in response to USB3foriMac reporting that TB4 works fine on Windows, I do now agree with everyone here that this problem is the fault of Apple.
This would be nice, but I'm not holding my breath either! I will however submit a note about this problem via Apple's feedback submission system. Perhaps if enough of us do that it will help materialize a fix from Apple.I think this is a macOS software issue that could get fixed in the future. (I'm not holding my breath)
EDIT: I just submitted a bug report about this Thunderbolt limitation to Apple's macOS team via this form. For those who care, I encourage you to do the same!
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I also submitted feedback. But if I were to bet money, I will have replaced my Mac Studio (or this monitor) before Apple fixes this bug in software.
ViewSonic have now-upped Dell, with a 32” 8K display announced, for roughly $2400 USD: https://tftcentral.co.uk/news/viewsonic-vg3281-with-31-5-ips-panel-and-8k-resolution-launched
Only 300cd/m brightness, which is a bit average, and not mini-LED, but a good alternative nonetheless.
Makes me wonder how much of a life 6K displays have in them.
Only 300cd/m brightness, which is a bit average, and not mini-LED, but a good alternative nonetheless.
Makes me wonder how much of a life 6K displays have in them.
Considering the target audience it is clear that this monitor is going to spend its lifetime at 80-120 nits for graphic design, photography and printed media.
Do any Macs prior to the current generation support 8K displays?
I don't believe my M1M Studio could drive this monitor.
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Is an adapter cable with HDMI2.1 or DP1.4 an option?
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Is that right? BD allows for brightness control on the Dell? I hope that's correct. I am seriously contemplating pulling the trigger on one.
Yes. I have BetterDisplay installed and it allows both the brightness and speaker volume to be changed by the Apple function keys on a Magic Keyboard. I haven't tested with my Macbook Pro but I assume it works there too.
EDIT: Just tested with an M1 Pro Macbook Pro connected via TB4 and BetterDisplay works perfectly for controlling the volume and brightness of the Dell from the laptop's function keys. The brightness keys change the brightness of whichever display the mouse cursor is on.
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Thank you. I ordered the monitor and installed BD in preparation.
I will be running on TB4. To enable HDR is it as simple as setting BD to 6016x3384 and HDR will enable or are there other steps? Will that resolution be one of the settings on the slide bar?
(Thanks for your help - I want to get this to work!)
With TB4, here are the steps after getting BetterDisplay installed:
- In the settings panel of BetterDisplay (the gear icon at the bottom of the drop menu), under Displays, enable "Configuration override" and change the native panel resolution to 6016x3384. I've also changed the default resolution to the same resolution but I don't think that's required. Note that these settings are specific for each connection on the monitor, and so it doesn't affect the setup when connected via HDMI (unless you change those settings too while connected via HDMI).
- In the Dell OSD, change
Display -> Smart HDR -> Off(its default) toDisplay -> Smart HDR -> Desktop[EDIT: or one of the other three HDR modes in the Dell OSD, as you prefer]. (I haven't yet experimented much with the other options [EDIT: but see this subsequent comment for a quick impression].) - In macOS, you can now turn HDR on or off via System Settings. I don't use HDR for normal desktop work, and actually I haven't had time to test it out yet for fun stuff like HDR video, etc.
- By default, the Dell will stretch the 6016x3384 signal to take up all of the 6144x3456 panel. If you instead prefer 1:1 scaling (and don't mind the slight black borders), in the Dell OSD, set
Display -> Aspect Ratio -> 1:1.
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Happy to help and sounds like a good plan since once you've used it a bit, you'll definitely know whether or not it's for you. ;-)
I'm optimistic - but I go in to most stuff that way. . . I wanted to buy this monitor as soon as it was announced but then I got nervous. Now's the time to take a shot.
I will reach out if I get stuck.
This is awesome, thanks for posting. I'm twitching to buy one, just one more question:
The u3224kb spec sheet lists just 450 nits of brightness, which is not enough for my bright office. Does using BetterDisplay and HDR allow me to crank up the brightness to the 600 nits of HDR mode, while using the regular desktop (safari+xcode)?
Thanks a lot @Thyme
So the math is complicated, but basically the perception of brightness operates according to a power law. This means that 600 nits is not 50% higher than 450 nits, but instead is roughly only 5% more.
And that’s only in ideal conditions, in brighter rooms our perception of brightness craters. If your room really is that bright, you won’t be able to perceive meaningful differences. The only monitor that would truly offer you a perceivable difference in bright light is the Pro Display XDR.
This article explains it, and has the formula for doing the math: https://jeheonpark93.medium.com/luminance-brightness-and-lightness-2dd9daa35948
(Oh, and if you’re currently using a 27” or smaller monitor, the larger 32” will appear brighter even at fewer nits because perceived brightness is increased by the size of the light source. So if you’re coming from a 27” iMac or something the Dell will likely appear brighter despite its lower rating.)
This was exactly my own experience coming from the iMac Pro, which has a 500 nits 27" display. As I reported in the middle of this reply to someone else some time back, the 32" Dell is uncomfortably bright for me at its max brightness, while I could use the iMac Pro at its max brightness without issue. I would say my work space is lit to average levels for an indoor space and gets some outside light from some windows but not direct sunlight. It's hard for me to imagine an office so bright that it would overpower the monitor. Maybe an atrium or some glass-box, glass-ceiling Apple stores. ;-)
To try to answer @hendrik42's question, I don't know of any way to somehow coax out more brightness using BetterDisplay, HDR, or otherwise. Maybe others can comment on that. In fact, for plain desktop work, turning on HDR makes the display look less bright to me and really changes the colors. HDR is not something I'd recommend for general desktop work. If you are having trouble with brightness in your workspace, I'd suggest using light mode instead of dark mode in macOS, various apps, webpages, etc. That will make a big difference in actual and perceived brightness. But maybe you are already doing that.
EDIT: My impression above about enabling HDR for normal desktop use might be because so far, I've only really tested HDR briefly using the
Display -> Smart HDR -> Desktop option in the Dell OSD, which seemed like a reasonable choice based on its name. But the monitor provides 5 options: Desktop, Movie HDR, Game HDR, DisplayHDR 600, and Off. I just experimented with them a bit and Movie HDR and DisplayHDR 600 seem like much better choices than the Desktop mode if one wants a more vivid desktop experience. I still don't plan to use HDR for normal work, but I am very interested to hear what others report about what they think works best and how it compares to other things like the ASD, etc.
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I should be receiving the monitor today. I'll be putting it right next to an ASD. I'll compare the brightness and post what I find. The ASD maxes at 600 nits and is VERY bright. I only use full brightness if I am streaming video like Netflix or something. Generally I run them somewhere around 55% with the blinds closed and maybe 70% when all open for desktop work.
I'm also curious about coaxing more brightness given it's HDR capability. I use Vivid on my MBP (and when I had an XDR). It is able to "trick" the Apple stuff in to allowing full brightness - and it's super bright. It's nice on the MBP if one happens to be using outside in full sun (but it burns battery crazy fast). Of course to use Vivid with the Dell you would need to have a Mac w/ HDMI 2.1 in order to get HDR enabled w/o the BD workaround. Also - Vivid might not work on the Dell (hit or miss for any monitor other than MBP and XDR).
FYI - I received the monitor and can confirm that BD can exceed 100% brightness if HDR is enabled in the Mac OS settings. I was easily able to apply the "hacks" to allow this w/ TB4. (Thanks again @Thyme )
(I'll give a more complete write-up on my thoughts on the monitor in the AM)