DIY 5k Monitor - success :-)

[sadontsev]

Update on the IR support by the JRY: does not seem to be supported.

A couple of sellers in China confirmed to me that the software of the board does not support the IR controls.
Even though the pins are present on the board.

Eventually no luck here

 

[Edge]

Update on the IR support by the JRY: does not seem to be supported.

A couple of sellers in China confirmed to me that the software of the board does not support the IR controls.
Even though the pins are present on the board.

Eventually no luck here

That's a shame, thanks for asking the question.

The Lunar app (lunar.fyi) has an unusual function called Network Control, that allows you to use a Raspberry Pi (such as the $10 Pi Zero W) connected to an HDMI port on the same monitor. When the device is running running DDC Server software on the same wifi network it sends DDC/CI signals via the HDMI port. This might be a possible workaround, I will attempt to test it here.

There is also functionality in Lunar to take advantage of a built-in ambient light sensor (such as on Macbooks, or using an external ESP32 sensor for the more technical types.)

 

[sadontsev]

That's a shame, thanks for asking the question.

The Lunar app (lunar.fyi) has an unusual function that allows you to use a Raspberry Pi (such as the $10 Pi Zero W) connected to the HDMI port on a DisplayLink monitor (which does not support pass-through DDC/CI) running DDC Server on the same wifi network. This might be a possible workaround.

There is also functionality to take advantage of a built-in ambient light sensor (such as on Macbooks, or using an external ESP32 sensor for the more technical.)

Wow, option!
Yes, it goes a bit too far but hey, DYI

I've got a few spare W's at home. I'll give it a try and will share how it goes.
The Pi can potentially be powered by the JRY board internally so it could be a fairly sleek update.

 

[sadontsev]

That's a shame, thanks for asking the question.

The Lunar app (lunar.fyi) has an unusual function called Network Control, that allows you to use a Raspberry Pi (such as the $10 Pi Zero W) connected to an HDMI port on the same monitor. When the device is running running DDC Server software on the same wifi network it sends DDC/CI signals via the HDMI port. This might be a possible workaround, I will attempt to test it here.

There is also functionality in Lunar to take advantage of a built-in ambient light sensor (such as on Macbooks, or using an external ESP32 sensor for the more technical types.)

Many hours later and with great help from the Lunar app developer it's a failure, unfortunately.

Main question: does anyone know whether it's possible to control the JRY via DDC using HDMI at all?

After all, using a simple util ddcutil on the Pi connected to the JRY via HDMI I'm unable to control the brightness:

pi@rpi-ddc-8915:~ $ ddcutil detect
Display 1
I2C bus: /dev/i2c-2
EDID synopsis:
Mfg id: JRY
Model: HDMI
Product code: 9984
Serial number: 0000000000000
Binary serial number: 1 (0x00000001)
Manufacture year: 2024, Week: 3
VCP version: Detection failed

pi@rpi-ddc-8915:~ $ ddcutil getvcp 10 --bus=2
VCP (aka MCCS) version for display is undetected or less than 2.0. Output may not be accurate.
VCP code 0x10 (Brightness ): Invalid response. status code=-3011, Display_Handle[i2c: fd=3, busno=2 @0x558ea90700]
pi@rpi-ddc-8915:~ $ ddcutil setvcp 0x10 100
VCP (aka MCCS) version for display is undetected or less than 2.0. Output may not be accurate.
Setting value failed for feature 10, rc=DDCRC_ALL_RESPONSES_NULL(-3011): all tries returned DDC Null Message

If that could be sorted out, the Pi solution could work out.
It recognises the display and associates it with the display on the Lunar when it's connected to the Mac via USB (didn't try DP).

But the brightness is only being controlled via software, unfortunately.

And yeah, I guess the Pi Zero 2W would love a fan inside of the iMac, as it gets fairly warm.

On the bright side - an idea was born that a Pi inside could turn a display into a “smart display” / AirPlay received to play the content wirelessly 😄

 

[Edge]

Main question: does anyone know whether it's possible to control the JRY via DDC using HDMI at all?

I can control brightness via HDMI using Lunar/Better Display.

The JRY hardware menu Brightness level reflects whatever changes are made via the app (including the keyboard F1/F2 brightness controls.)

However the app does not show the correct brightness level when changed via the JRY control board hardware buttons.

I haven't tested with a RPi yet.

On the bright side - an idea was born that a Pi inside could turn a display into a “smart display” / AirPlay received to play the content wirelessly

Ha. I had wondered about using the 12V to run an AppleTV 4K inside. Most of the bulk inside an AppleTV is the power supply. (You can see the teardown here https://www.macstories.net/stories/apple-tv-go-ipados-workstation/)

 

[sadontsev]

I can control brightness via HDMI using Lunar/Better Display.

The JRY hardware menu Brightness level reflects whatever changes are made via the app (including the keyboard F1/F2 brightness controls.)

However the app does not show the correct brightness level when changed via the JRY control board hardware buttons.

I believe I made a step forward in understanding the situation.

The Pi can control the brightness. However, it can't be done if the PI (HDMI) is not an active source. Meaning, you cannot use it to adjust the brightness while the display is used by the Mac.
It can even report back the correct brightness level back to Lunar.

Unfortunately, this solution is pretty unusable, as the control buttons will still be required to switch the source.

I was thinking maybe a simple script could solve that by calling ddcutil on the Pi to switch the source to HDMI and then back. However, I did not have a success in switching the inputs from/to HDMI using ddcutil.
It always stays as HDMI.

 

[PaulD-UK]

Earlier in this thread there was an attempt to use ddcutil with a R1811 board.
This also proved problematic switching to the HDMI port.

 

[sadontsev]

Earlier in this thread there was an attempt to use ddcutil with a R1811 board.
This also proved problematic switching to the HDMI port.

Thanks for the reference, Paul!
I was actually on the edge of buying the R1811 due to the limitations. Glad I decided to take a break 😄

Not anymore

 

[PaulD-UK]

The R1811 is two+ generations on with firmware since page 5 of this thread, so things may? be different with current firmware.
Or not…

 

[sadontsev]

The R1811 is two+ generations on with firmware since page 5 of this thread, so things may? be different with current firmware.
Or not…

I asked the manufacturer about that, will let you know.
They promised to get back tomorrow on that

 

[sadontsev]

The R1811 is two+ generations on with firmware since page 5 of this thread, so things may? be different with current firmware.
Or not…

I've been told that the R1811 supports brightness control using DDC only via DP port (?) and only via some "complicate software".
The active input port control is still not supported.

Well, not much progress then since the last test.

 

[Aiwi]

I've been told that the R1811 supports brightness control using DDC only via DP port (?) and only via some "complicate software".
The active input port control is still not supported.

Well, not much progress then since the last test.

The R1811 can control brightness using DDC via the DisplayPort and USB-C ports. (I have not tried the HDMI, it could work?)

In Windows this is supported out-of-the-box. In macOS you'll need some kind of software to enable this. e.g. Monitor Control.

My R1811 will switch to the source that has a signal. But if two signals are present it won't switch automatically. You'll have to choose source.

 

[sadontsev]

The R1811 can control brightness using DDC via the DisplayPort and USB-C ports. (I have not tried the HDMI, it could work?)

In Windows this is supported out-of-the-box. In macOS you'll need some kind of software to enable this. e.g. Monitor Control.

My R1811 will switch to the source that has a signal. But if two signals are present it won't switch automatically. You'll have to choose source.

Ah, cool!
Is it the hardware brightness control, not software?

Ie the adjusted brightness is reflected on the monitor (board) settings?

Re- the inputs, whenever you can, can you please check if you face the board to switch to another input using on a connected device like the ddcutil? Paul linked above a post with the command example.

 

[sadontsev]

For me and the JRY board, Lunar turned to be a great alternative to the MonitorControl.

The software brightness control that it does is much better in a sense that on the screenshots people on Zoom via screen sharing don’t see the brightness adjustment unlike with the latter.
I decided to stay with this option.

 

[Macdude2010]

Has anyone actually gotten 60hz to work on the JRY board? I bought one to resurrect an LG ultrafine, but even though the OSD is reporting out 5K60, it definitely is refreshing at 30hz. Same thing with 4K, the display won’t go above 30hz. I’ve tried using the USB C output and HDMI. I’ve tried messing with the settings with no luck.

 

[Edge]

Has anyone actually gotten 60hz to work on the JRY board? I bought one to resurrect an LG ultrafine, but even though the OSD is reporting out 5K60, it definitely is refreshing at 30hz. Same thing with 4K, the display won’t go above 30hz. I’ve tried using the USB C output and HDMI. I’ve tried messing with the settings with no luck.

Which GPU is driving it?

@Regulus67 mentioned this site on the previous page of this thread.
https://www.testufo.com/

Mine seems OK with the various 60Hz tests, but I'm no expert.

Also found this test interesting, not sure if useful.
https://www.testufo.com/frameskipping
Use a camera (even a phone camera) to capture the screen. It should tell you whether the display is actually outputting at 60Hz.

 

[Macdude2010]

Which GPU is driving it?

@Regulus67 mentioned this site on the previous page of this thread.
https://www.testufo.com/

Mine seems OK with the various 60Hz tests, but I'm no expert.

Also found this test interesting, not sure if useful.
https://www.testufo.com/frameskipping
Use a camera (even a phone camera) to capture the screen. It should tell you whether the display is actually outputting at 60Hz.

I’ve tried an M1 MacBook Air, M4 iPad Pro and an intel Xe laptop. It’s weird because the OSD and computer reports that it’s running at 60hz, but I was able to confirm it was skipping frames using the test ufo website.

 

[stefan786]

What I realised is that the MonitorControl controls the brightness on a software level. That, funnily enough, dims taken screenshots as well. And there are also bright flashes while I swipe between the open full screen apps.

Weird, my JRY connected via USB-C screens can be adjusted just fine using the macOS brightness controls, it's not software, or at least doesn't dim screenshots.

EDIT: false alert, I had MonitorControl installed (forgot all about it). No brightness control without MonitorControl running. (Btw, I don't use the JRY control strip at all, haven't even connected it.)

 

[baggiero]

Hi All,
Really hugely appreciate all the great contributions here - it's been inspirational and I now eagerly await the arrival of a T19 Haijing board to insert into my (already opened and part-gutted) mid/late 2015 (SD)(A2) 5K iMac.
Question to the collective: I haven't totally figured out what I'm going to cabling-wise but wondered if anyone else has tried (and succeeded!?) with the "flat ribbon" (internal-only) style DP1.4 and HDMI 2.1 cable extenders that one can get from AliExpress (ADT-LINK seem to be the main mfr)? I was thinking ideally to ream out a couple of the existing USB2 socket openings and somehow mount "DP IN" and "HDMI IN" there for maximum neatness - or maybe compromise and mount them through the RAM hatch.

I've ordered the pre-made crossover units to reuse the internal speakers, and intend to sort out a molex to barrel connector to reuse the iMac PSU so it ought to be fairly "tidy"!

Regards and thanks again to all!

 

[PaulD-UK]

Hi, yours will be the first T19 build we've heard about in this thread.

A lot of the ADT-type flexible extenders were first available for sale several years ago - so are NOT 5K compatible, being DP 1.2 or HDMI 2.0. I would check with the vendor and test them before you begin a bespoke build to avoid wasting your time.

Good luck, report back...

 

[baggiero]

Hi, yours will be the first T19 build we've heard about in this thread.

A lot of the ADT-type flexible extenders were first available for sale several years ago - so are NOT 5K compatible, being DP 1.2 or HDMI 2.0. I would check with the vendor and test them before you begin a bespoke build to avoid wasting your time.
Good luck, report back...

Thanks. They declare themselves to be available in DP1.4 and HDMI 2.1 variants, so "should" work (and aren't super-expensive TBH). Was figuring the P8Q/P5A version of https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005288538301.html was what ought to work.. It claims 4K@144Hz (without stating colour depth, but even at 8bit per channel, that I think is 31Gbps, so "proper" DP 1.4 and I doubt the cable is aware of DSC, right?).
You're right though, I won't start up the Dremel until I've established they can actually do it ...
Looking forward to planting the first flag on documented-T19-land, albeit slightly concerned that no-one else has ...
What I don't have easily to hand is an HDMI 5k60@30bit to try it with!

 

[Macdude2010]

I’ve tried an M1 MacBook Air, M4 iPad Pro and an intel Xe laptop. It’s weird because the OSD and computer reports that it’s running at 60hz, but I was able to confirm it was skipping frames using the test ufo website.

I went ahead and made a video of it skipping the frames, does anyone else have this issue? You can see it refreshes every other frame, causing it to skip boxes. The Aliexpress vendor is saying nothing is wrong with it.

 

[sebko200]

I went ahead and made a video of it skipping the frames, does anyone else have this issue? You can see it refreshes every other frame, causing it to skip boxes. The Aliexpress vendor is saying nothing is wrong with it.

View attachment 2390737 View attachment 2390739

I would guess that the browser is struggling with 5k resolution. I have R1811 Board and I also see skip boxes in full screen. In a small window of browser 1/4 of screen size it is near zero losses.

This test is limited by browser rendering performance and not the monitor.

Try this at 720p - that should not be limited by rendering performance. Her I don't see any skipped lines.

regards
Seb

 

[sebko200]

Has anyone actually gotten 60hz to work on the JRY board? I bought one to resurrect an LG ultrafine, but even though the OSD is reporting out 5K60, it definitely is refreshing at 30hz. Same thing with 4K, the display won’t go above 30hz. I’ve tried using the USB C output and HDMI. I’ve tried messing with the settings with no luck.

How are you connecting your display?
Are you using adapter or docking station?

Can you try another monitor / TV with same cable?

 

[Macdude2010]

I would guess that the browser is struggling with 5k resolution. I have R1811 Board and I also see skip boxes in full screen. In a small window of browser 1/4 of screen size it is near zero losses.

This test is limited by browser rendering performance and not the monitor.

Try this at 720p - that should not be limited by rendering performance. Her I don't see any skipped lines.

regards
Seb

Just tried this out.
Still seeing it skip every other frame.

How are you connecting your display?
Are you using adapter or docking station?

Can you try another monitor / TV with same cable?

I am connecting this Display using a USB-C cable with DisplayPort Passthrough, it works fine on other monitors. I also tried a pure DisplayPort cable and that didn’t change the results.