Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Does this 4k@120hz tweak work for you?

  • Yes

    Votes: 189 79.4%
  • No

    Votes: 22 9.2%
  • Can not get the right Adapter

    Votes: 20 8.4%
  • Yes, but Apple limit HDR/HiDPI functionality with macOS 14.1 and macOS 15

    Votes: 7 2.9%

  • Total voters
    238
Steps:

1. BetterDisplay: Select 4k HiDPI @ 60hz in Display Mode and be sure the HiDPI button is Blue
(HDR must be disabled, because apple limit this since macOS 14.1, without HiDPI u can use HDR as well)

I tried to give this a go but HiDPI is won't stay blue when I pick 4K and 60hz. The display is forcibly refreshed back to a lower resolution when I try to enable HiDPI. Do I need to change my settings here:

1733684704817.png


And enable it for this to work?
 
Question for LG C4 42 set up owners:
Does anyone got lucky to have NightShift/True tone worked with it ?

This doesn't work for me using a C2 despite having my display set in computer mode. Tru Tone is not available when I check my settings for the C2:

Screenshot 2024-12-08 at 12.28.07 PM.png


Screenshot 2024-12-08 at 12.28.53 PM.png
 
This doesn't work for me using a C2 despite having my display set in computer mode. Tru Tone is not available when I check my settings for the C2:

True Tone is not a per display setting. You enable it for your MacBook screen and it applies to all connected monitors.
 
Is anyone else using the Dell WD19TB dock with this solution and also experiencing problems with the connection suddenly dropping? I plugged the Cable Matters adaptors into the thunderbolt port at the back of the dock. Very often the screen would suddenly go blank and I have to wake the laptop up again. This is happening more and more often now. Plugging the adaptor directly into the TB port on my MacBook resolves this issue. This is annoying as I bought the dock just so I only have to plug in one cable.
 
So, I'm looking to upgrade from M1 Max MacBook to M4 Max MacBook. One thing I noticed on my current MacBook since getting an external monitor is I can't do anything more than the following: 2304x1296 @ 120hz with HDR and HiDPI.

When trying to use BetterDisplay to increase the resolution, something has to be sacrificed, i.e HDR or refresh rate etc. My understanding is this has to do with the limitations of the thunderbolt port. I'm using direct USB-C to USB-C from MacBook to monitor.

Will my new M4 Max be able to do better than this? Could I get for example: 2304x1296 @ 144hz with HDR and HiDPI enabled all at once? Could I even accomplish that with an even higher resolution set?

Here is how my current config looks just to keep clarity:
1733862075614.png


Thanks.
 
anyone tried to get more than 2 channel audio working through the cable matters dongle with custom EDID? When I plug the display in via dongle, I get 2 channels, when I plug it in via HDMI I get 7 channels (matching what the speaker setup can do)
 
So, I'm looking to upgrade from M1 Max MacBook to M4 Max MacBook. One thing I noticed on my current MacBook since getting an external monitor is I can't do anything more than the following: 2304x1296 @ 120hz with HDR and HiDPI.

When trying to use BetterDisplay to increase the resolution, something has to be sacrificed, i.e HDR or refresh rate etc. My understanding is this has to do with the limitations of the thunderbolt port. I'm using direct USB-C to USB-C from MacBook to monitor.

Will my new M4 Max be able to do better than this? Could I get for example: 2304x1296 @ 144hz with HDR and HiDPI enabled all at once? Could I even accomplish that with an even higher resolution set?

Here is how my current config looks just to keep clarity:
View attachment 2460805

Thanks.
MacOS can be absolutely weird about HDR support. I don't know if these displays somehow report it in a way MacOS does not like, or if MacOS is just bugged here.

On my M2 Max, and the Samsung G70A 28" 4K 144 Hz IPS monitor, HDR support completely disappears if the display is set to any fractional scaling setting above 2304x1296 at 120-144 Hz. Integer scaled "looks like 1920x1080" and native 3840x2160 will show the HDR option. HDR option comes back if I use fractional scaling at 60 Hz.
 
MacOS can be absolutely weird about HDR support. I don't know if these displays somehow report it in a way MacOS does not like, or if MacOS is just bugged here.

On my M2 Max, and the Samsung G70A 28" 4K 144 Hz IPS monitor, HDR support completely disappears if the display is set to any fractional scaling setting above 2304x1296 at 120-144 Hz. Integer scaled "looks like 1920x1080" and native 3840x2160 will show the HDR option. HDR option comes back if I use fractional scaling at 60 Hz.
Yeah, native shows the full monty for me as well. It'll do full HDR, 144 hz variable, etc. But the text and whatnot is tiny on native 4k on my monitor
 
Does someone test macos 15.2, is there any key changes/limitations made from apple ?
 
Last edited:
Both my VMM7100s failed to wake this morning, after installing the 15.2 upgrade yesterday, and after working perfectly in 15.1.1 for months. Sucks if I have to go back to needing the VMM7100 reset stuff. 15.2 otherwise works fine with my 4k@120hz setup though.
 
Hello, i am able to set 3840*2160 @ 120 Hz (HiDPI only) with LG C1 on Sequoia 15.2 on Mac Studio M1 MAX. After applying setting i see left right approx 1/4 of screen. Do you have any tips? Using middle model Ugreen HDMI 2.1 cable.
 
Hello,
maybe someone can help me out.
Got this adapter yesterday https://www.amazon.de/dp/B08MSWMXT4?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title
Flashed it with parallels and use it with this cable https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B094Y2S538/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
with a Mac Book Pro M1 with 15.2 and an LG C2.
Tried with Better Display tool ( free version)
But get only 60 hz. In Better Display is no 120 hz shown.
Tried the whole day and night, gone thru the whole thread here, but no success.
Would be very thankful if someone have any idea.
 

Attachments

  • Bildschirmfoto 2024-12-18 um 03.20.13.png
    Bildschirmfoto 2024-12-18 um 03.20.13.png
    240.5 KB · Views: 46
  • Bildschirmfoto 2024-12-18 um 03.25.34.png
    Bildschirmfoto 2024-12-18 um 03.25.34.png
    275.5 KB · Views: 42
Last edited:
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
Hello,
maybe someone can help me out.
Got this adapter yesterday https://www.amazon.de/dp/B08MSWMXT4?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title
Flashed it with parallels and use it with this cable https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B094Y2S538/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
with a Mac Book Pro M1 with 15.2 and an LG C2.
Tried with Better Display tool ( free version)
But get only 60 hz. In Better Display is no 120 hz shown.
Tried the whole day and night, gone thru the whole thread here, but no success.
Would be very thankful if someone have any idea.
When u flash the firmware attached in the OP u have to disable EDID override.

Another thing u have to be aware is this, with this workaround:

Bildschirmfoto 2024-12-19 um 11.21.14.png
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
For anybody scouring this thread for clues (as I was doing a few days ago), I just received my MBP 16" M4 Max, connected to an LG C4 via a Cable Matters 201310 adapter (the one with HDMI, Ethernet, 2 USB-A and and power pass-through) and a Cable Matters 48Gpbs 2.1 HDMI cable (2m). Mac OS Sequoia 15.2.

I can confirm that before flashing the custom firmware, options in the resolution panels were severely limited. I then immediately flashed the one from the knowledge base (while the one in the OP works and I'm sure it's safe, the procedure from the official source seems safer and more streamlined), this particular model as already described requires a Windows PC with USB-C and DP Alt mode. It updated it from 07.02.100 to 07.02.105.

Everything now behaves exactly like using the internal HDMI 2.1 port. Resolutions up to 3840x2160 with HiDPI and HDR at 120hz, 4:4:4 passthrough enabled. I didn't even need any workaround from the OP (maybe it was needed for earlier M processors?) everything works straight out of the box. Can also set brightness directly with the Apple keys, and sound volume too (that's why I chose that particular adapter, to plug in a USB audio dongle which becomes the audio out interface).

I'm still baffled as @kasakka a few post earlier on how scaled resolutions are kinda funky. 1920x1080 and anything up to 2304x1296 works perfectly, but as soon as I step in 2560x1440 and beyond something needs to be sacrificed at every step, either HDR or refresh rate. At 3840x2160 everything comes back (HiDPI, HDR and 120hz). Tried messing about on BetterDisplay but ultimately decided to settle at 2560x1440 100hz.

Can anybody explain what is happening to these scaled resolutions? I thought Mac OS was still sending the same UHD signal out regardless of scaling, which happens on the Mac (like in my case rendering 2880p and then scaling down to 2160p and sending THAT to HDMI), but apparently if bandwidth plays a role the scaling process is not completely happening on the Mac?
 
  • Like
Reactions: LincolnsiPod
For anybody scouring this thread for clues (as I was doing a few days ago), I just received my MBP 16" M4 Max, connected to an LG C4 via a Cable Matters 201310 adapter (the one with HDMI, Ethernet, 2 USB-A and and power pass-through) and a Cable Matters 48Gpbs 2.1 HDMI cable (2m). Mac OS Sequoia 15.2.

I can confirm that before flashing the custom firmware, options in the resolution panels were severely limited. I then immediately flashed the one from the knowledge base (while the one in the OP works and I'm sure it's safe, the procedure from the official source seems safer and more streamlined), this particular model as already described requires a Windows PC with USB-C and DP Alt mode. It updated it from 07.02.100 to 07.02.105.

Everything now behaves exactly like using the internal HDMI 2.1 port. Resolutions up to 3840x2160 with HiDPI and HDR at 120hz, 4:4:4 passthrough enabled. I didn't even need any workaround from the OP (maybe it was needed for earlier M processors?) everything works straight out of the box. Can also set brightness directly with the Apple keys, and sound volume too (that's why I chose that particular adapter, to plug in a USB audio dongle which becomes the audio out interface).

I'm still baffled as @kasakka a few post earlier on how scaled resolutions are kinda funky. 1920x1080 and anything up to 2304x1296 works perfectly, but as soon as I step in 2560x1440 and beyond something needs to be sacrificed at every step, either HDR or refresh rate. At 3840x2160 everything comes back (HiDPI, HDR and 120hz). Tried messing about on BetterDisplay but ultimately decided to settle at 2560x1440 100hz.

Can anybody explain what is happening to these scaled resolutions? I thought Mac OS was still sending the same UHD signal out regardless of scaling, which happens on the Mac (like in my case rendering 2880p and then scaling down to 2160p and sending THAT to HDMI), but apparently if bandwidth plays a role the scaling process is not completely happening on the Mac?
It’s amazing—Apple has probably enabled HDR and HDPI with the newest macOS version 15.2 on the M4 again like on M3 devices. But still, it’s a joke that we’re stuck with a workaround using DisplayPort-Transportstream on a Thunderbolt 5 connection just because Apple limits HDMI. That’s simply ridiculous. And this on a 4000 Euro device. AND older machines M1/M2 are still limited to force u buy newer Macs !

I need some confirmations of that to update the OP with that information.. Do u have some news about M4 Macs and MacOS 15.2 @waydabber ?
 
When u flash the firmware attached in the OP u have to disable EDID override.

Another thing u have to be aware is this, with this workaround:

View attachment 2463913
Thank you for your answer. Sorry for the questions, but how do i disable EDID override ? And can i flash it again with the OP firmwire, or do i have to revert something ? maybe i have overwritten something by mistake ?
 
Last edited:
Please help! I bought this UGreen usb-c to hdmi 2.1 cable: https://amzn.eu/d/3iaI5g0. I flashed the firmware in the guide via VMMHID on parallels and it just broke! The screen is detected by the Mac, also with the 144hz option, but on the monitor it shows no signal, just a black screen. I tried resetting it with the reset file in the folder but it didn't work. How can I get it to work again, and possibly at 144hz?
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
Hey i'm just posting here with my experience, I got a AW3225QF and wanted to run my M1 Max macbook off it from HDMI, and this mac has only HDMI 2.0, so i wanted 120hz and got this adapter. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DCN798Y1?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

It works out of the box without needing to flash. 4k 120 10 bit. I do not use HDR on this, since it washes out the colors.

I am on Sonoma 14.7, looking to upgrade the OS soon, just procrastinating it because I don't wanna pay for little snitch.

Cheers.
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
OK one thing I will note about the 4K 120hz setup... the M1 Max's GPU seems to struggle in providing smooth (by which I mean nearly or always 120hz) animations when using HiDPI resolutions of 2560 and higher. This is because HiDPI resolutions double up the stated resolution and then downscale with a filter to make a nice visually pleasing picture to render into the native display, in this case 4K.

It's a bit disappointing if I'm going to be honest as i'd like a bit more real estate, but bigger text and UI should give me less eye strain anyhow.

Linux and Windows look wonderful dope AF on this thing off nvidia GPUs.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.