DP/USB-C/Thunderbolt 3/4 to HDMI 2.1 4k@120hz RGB4:4:4 10b HDR with Apple Silicon M1/M2/M3 now possible !

[zizhengwu]

Is there any way to get VRR working? Also, I'm wondering if I should turn HDR ON on LG OLED.

 

[dansfre]

Any difference between:
(201388-GRY) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08MSWMXT4 and
(201398-BLK) https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-Foldable-Adapter-Portable/dp/B0B72B3V8L
Can both reach 4k 120Hz 10bit RGB?

 

[intellimouseftw]

I seem to have bricked my very expensive adapter with VMM7100... It's a ugreen adapter (https://www.lulian.cn/product/968-cn.html)

I flashed it on my windows laptop via a usb 3.1 port, using the USB C - HDMI VMM7100 file. But after that the adapter seems to not work anymore for video output.

Trying to open the VMM tool results in:
- Using the VMM flash tool provided, the error message is "can not find synaptics dp hub ic"
- Using the VMM tool from Microsoft store, the error message is "Spyder chip is not connected"

Hoping to get some help here as I paid quite a hefty sum for the adapter 🥲🥲🥲

 

[Stokkes]

I seem to have bricked my very expensive adapter with VMM7100... It's a ugreen adapter (https://www.lulian.cn/product/968-cn.html)

I flashed it on my windows laptop via a usb 3.1 port, using the USB C - HDMI VMM7100 file. But after that the adapter seems to not work anymore for video output.

Trying to open the VMM tool results in:
- Using the VMM flash tool provided, the error message is "can not find synaptics dp hub ic"
- Using the VMM tool from Microsoft store, the error message is "Spyder chip is not connected"

Hoping to get some help here as I paid quite a hefty sum for the adapter 🥲🥲🥲

You may very well have bricked it.. I do not see the UGREEN adapter listed on the main original post. Most adapters are single-port HDMI, straight USB-C to HDMI. The UGREEN you listed is a hub, so not exactly the same thing and who knows what that firmware did to that adapter.

Also, you said it's expensive, maybe with shipping? That unit should be at most 30$..

You probably want to stick with Cable Matters, or the Anker VMM7100 one from the original posts to ensure the process works for you.

Sorry.

 

[beesinmyhead]

Anker 518 USB-C to HDMI cable. Flashed this successfully in Windows.

Hey so, I'm about to buy the Anker one. Did you just use the firmware in the OP for VMM7100 ?

 

[tman2damax]

Doesn't Macbook 16 M2 have HDMI 2.1 port from the box? Or do you need one TB dock with all the connections?

The hdmi port is 2.1, but guessing they want a single cable solution. Still no official support over usb-c/TB unless you use this method.

 

[nephh]

Hi all,

Am I the only one having wake problems with USB-C>HDMI Cable Matters Adapter (VMM7100 chip) ?

I flashed the firmware correctly, 120Hz works fine without HDR. But my Macbook Pro 16" M1 Pro with the lid closed (Ventura 13.4.1) doesn't wake up when I press the keyboard or the mouse. I must unplug and then plug in the Cable Matters adapter, and there the display comes back. I specify that I tested several settings in BetterDisplay (including the ones in the first post) but it doesn't work :/

Thanks for your help

 

[djrobx]

Am I the only one having wake problems with USB-C>HDMI Cable Matters Adapter (VMM7100 chip) ?

Nope.

I wrote a utility that resets the adapter (reverse engineered the "Reset board" function in VMMHIDTool) so I could call with Hamerspoon. This is pretty successful in waking it up without unplugging, but I also have issues with python scripts not being able to send the commands over the network to wake the screens up really often. Sigh... not sure why simple stuff is so complicated.

 

[oscar8x]

Has anyone gotten a direct USB-C to HDMI cable working? I have a Belkin cable and was pleased to see it was detected as VMM7100. I have an M2 Air running parallels and trying to flash the .112 firmware just seemed to 'fry' my cablem it's still detected as connected, but absolutely no display. Tried on multiple different macs and a windows computer and the cable just seems dead now. Would a custom firmware need to be written for it to work properly? This is the FW info I get out of it after flashing the updated firmware:
View attachment 2225457

I had a similar issue with this cable Aliexpress USB C - HDMI 8K cable and I had no signal but my display LG 42 C2 was recognized. I flashed with this firmware from cablematters and I got signal again (but only 4K@60Hz):

Cable Matters Knowledge Base - Page not found

Knowledge Base for Cable Matters Connectivity Products

kb.cablematters.com

 

[musashino]

I seem to have bricked my very expensive adapter with VMM7100... It's a ugreen adapter (https://www.lulian.cn/product/968-cn.html)

I flashed it on my windows laptop via a usb 3.1 port, using the USB C - HDMI VMM7100 file. But after that the adapter seems to not work anymore for video output.

Trying to open the VMM tool results in:
- Using the VMM flash tool provided, the error message is "can not find synaptics dp hub ic"
- Using the VMM tool from Microsoft store, the error message is "Spyder chip is not connected"

Hoping to get some help here as I paid quite a hefty sum for the adapter 🥲🥲🥲

Man I just placed order on this adapter, hoping for a "one cable hub solution" with 4k120hz output...

 

[oscar8x]

Man I just placed order on this adapter, hoping for a "one cable hub solution" with 4k120hz output...

I don't know if it's good idea. I was struggling to get it work at 120hz and no way. I tried with 2 custom firmwares, changing EDID but I had no luck.

I asked to the seller about it's not working at 120Hz and he answer me that it doesn't work on M1 Mac and he offered 5USD refund ... After that, he modified his article warning about "no works in M1 Mac".

I had purchased 2 weeks ago because a comment from a user with same config as me Mac M1 Pro 16 + LG 42 C2. But I read today another comment that he didn't succeed at updating firmware ...

 

[musashino]

I don't know if it's good idea. I was struggling to get it work at 120hz and no way. I tried with 2 custom firmwares, changing EDID but I had no luck.

I asked to the seller about it's not working at 120Hz and he answer me that it doesn't work on M1 Mac and he offered 5USD refund ... After that, he modified his article warning about "no works in M1 Mac".

I had purchased 2 weeks ago because a comment from a user with same config as me Mac M1 Pro 16 + LG 42 C2. But I read today another comment that he didn't succeed at updating firmware ...

Thanks for the update! Just canceled my order. Will stick to the adapter list in the main original post.

 

[derpaufler]

Is this fix only for LG OLEDs? I would like to use my new Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 with the same adapter, which I flashed for my LG C1. How can I bring it to work? Thanks!

 

[uplyftsky]

Is there a thread for intel based Mac. I tried with the following setup:
Details:

• 16-inch, 2020 and 13-inch, 2020 Two Thunderbolt
• macOS Ventura 13.4.1
• Gigabyte AORUS FO48U
• HDMI cable is OK because I use the same cable for PS5 which outputs 4K@120 HDR.
• CABLEDECONN USB C USB3.1 to HDMI 8K 2.1 Cable [can confirm that its a VMM7100]

I didn't do anything firmware related, I just plugged everything.

Update: I tried flashing the firmware using Paralles + VMMHIDTOOL but the display doesn't come up afterwards. I think I bricked the adapter 😭. I did back up the original firmware by going to FLASH > SAVE TO FILE; however while writing the backup firmware to the same adapter, I get invalid signature error.

Picture of FW Status after flash:

 

[spehero]

Legends, thank you so much! This is great. Using Cablematters - USB-C to HDMI Adapter Cable (201362-A) so didn't need an additional HDMI on Mac M1. Used Parallels trial to flash it (just clicked on the download Windows 11). Delighted.

 

[uplyftsky]

.

 

[spehero]

Has anyone gotten a direct USB-C to HDMI cable working? I have a Belkin cable and was pleased to see it was detected as VMM7100. I have an M2 Air running parallels and trying to flash the .112 firmware just seemed to 'fry' my cablem it's still detected as connected, but absolutely no display. Tried on multiple different macs and a windows computer and the cable just seems dead now. Would a custom firmware need to be written for it to work properly? This is the FW info I get out of it after flashing the updated firmware:
View attachment 2225457

Yea, using Cablematters - USB-C to HDMI Adapter Cable (model: 201362-A) Cable Matters provided this firmware:

Spyder_fw_USBC_CM_7.02.112forMac (201388).zip

1 file sent via WeTransfer, the simplest way to send your files around the world

cablematters.wetransfer.com

 

[oscar8x]

Is there a thread for intel based Mac. I tried with the following setup:
Details:

• 16-inch, 2020 and 13-inch, 2020 Two Thunderbolt
• macOS Ventura 13.4.1
• Gigabyte AORUS FO48U
• HDMI cable is OK because I use the same cable for PS5 which outputs 4K@120 HDR.
• CABLEDECONN USB C USB3.1 to HDMI 8K 2.1 Cable [can confirm that its a VMM7100]

View attachment 2235295
I didn't do anything firmware related, I just plugged everything.

Update: I tried flashing the firmware using Paralles + VMMHIDTOOL but the display doesn't come up afterwards. I think I bricked the adapter 😭. I did back up the original firmware by going to FLASH > SAVE TO FILE; however while writing the backup firmware to the same adapter, I get invalid signature error.

Picture of FW Status after flash:

View attachment 2235660

Try with other firmware from cablematic (a model like your cable) and try tv connection again

 

[waydabber]

Nope.

I wrote a utility that resets the adapter (reverse engineered the "Reset board" function in VMMHIDTool) so I could call with Hamerspoon. This is pretty successful in waking it up without unplugging, but I also have issues with python scripts not being able to send the commands over the network to wake the screens up really often. Sigh... not sure why simple stuff is so complicated.

Hi there, can you share this script?

Btw I came to the conclusion that the VM7100 (running the modified firmware) has this wake problem only when it was in HDR mode when the TV was turned off... so I just use it in SDR (switch to HDR only when watching HDR content).

 

[phoenix-mac-user]

Yea, using Cablematters - USB-C to HDMI Adapter Cable (model: 201362-A) Cable Matters provided this firmware:

Spyder_fw_USBC_CM_7.02.112forMac (201388).zip

1 file sent via WeTransfer, the simplest way to send your files around the world

cablematters.wetransfer.com

So I don't know what I am doing wrong. I have a Macbook M1 Pro and a LG G2 and I applied this firmware update to this cable (201362-A) and everything looks good, the firmware version is correct in the tool, I have it set to PC in the HDMI and have HDMI Deep Color set to 4K but when I try to change to 120hz the display goes black. Cable works at 60hz.

Any ideas?

 

[phoenix-mac-user]

So I don't know what I am doing wrong. I have a Macbook M1 Pro and a LG G2 and I applied this firmware update to this cable (201362-A) and everything looks good, the firmware version is correct in the tool, I have it set to PC in the HDMI and have HDMI Deep Color set to 4K but when I try to change to 120hz the display goes black. Cable works at 60hz.

Any ideas

As an update, I think I just got a defective cable. I did sort of get it working but when I would flip between HDR and Non-HDR the TV would go black with no signal. If I turned the TV off and on it would work in the mode that I had last selected but would not flip between the 2 modes (would also flake out sometimes when I would select a new resolution).

So to help my sanity I bought a 201388-A....and it works perfectly.

I can't believe I have been living my life in 60hz over the last 6 months when this fix has been out there. Thanks to everyone who put it together. It is amazing.

 

[HWS]

I don't know if it's good idea. I was struggling to get it work at 120hz and no way. I tried with 2 custom firmwares, changing EDID but I had no luck.

I asked to the seller about it's not working at 120Hz and he answer me that it doesn't work on M1 Mac and he offered 5USD refund ... After that, he modified his article warning about "no works in M1 Mac".

I had purchased 2 weeks ago because a comment from a user with same config as me Mac M1 Pro 16 + LG 42 C2. But I read today another comment that he didn't succeed at updating firmware ...

• That's my joke ↓

After that, he modified his article warning about "no works in M1 Mac".

 

[HWS]

Flashed via Parallels in MacOS. Works! Thank you!

Macbook pro M1 16, LG C2 42"
120hz RGB 10bit

• Is that a Real Power stereo? It's beautiful

 

[Vlad123x]

I'm using lg C2 with a mac studio (Ventura Ver 13.4.1 (c) and was able to flash with cable matters VMM7100. I now have 3840x2160 120hz RGB 10bit, thank you.

BUT, has anyone encountered issues when putting mac to sleep or restarting the mac, the screen says no signal. I have to keep unplugging and plugging the cable and playing with the betterdisplay resolution settings to get it back to work. And unplugging and plugging cable doesnt always work from the first time. It's extremely annoying.

 

[djrobx]

Hi there, can you share this script?

Btw I came to the conclusion that the VM7100 (running the modified firmware) has this wake problem only when it was in HDR mode when the TV was turned off... so I just use it in SDR (switch to HDR only when watching HDR content).

Sure. In my case I have these issues regardless of whether I'm in HDR mode or not. I've attached a compiled binary of the USBResetter tool which ought to be equivalent to hitting "reset board" in the VMMHIDtool. You can find the sources to this tool here:

GitHub - djrobx/USBResetter

Contribute to djrobx/USBResetter development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

In my Hammerspoon scripts I have:

    print("Waking screens.")
    hs.execute("/usr/local/bin/USBResetter", true)
    hs.execute("sleep 1")
    os.execute("sudo /usr/local/bin/python3.11 /Users/djrobx/.hammerspoon/broadlink_cli.py --type 0x5213 --host 192.168.0.11 --mac ec0baea04a28 --send 260056000001269213121312133713121312131213111312133713371312133713371337133713371312131213371312131213121337133713371337131213371337133713111312130005370001264913000c620001264913920d05")

The broadlink command is a USB IR emitter that sends the discrete power on code to my LG C2. The "Wake on lan" method that is commonly used is not consistent in my experience.

Important note: If USBResetter is working, and you just run it while the screens are on, you'll see them go black to "No signal". This is the same behavior you will see if using VMMHIDtool in parallels. Once you reset board, it seems like Mac OSX needs some event to wake the displays back up. Changing the refresh rate or resolution on a screen will do the trick. Or, even just powering the monitors on, as you see in the above script.

I've been going a week now or so without having to unplug the adapters. Would be nice if CableMatters could fix this firmware issue, but after months of trying different things, this is the best workaround I've been able to come up with.

I would encourage people who are seeing this problem to write to CableMatters. It would be awesome to get a solidly working dongle that didn't need hacks to wake up from sleep.