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DP/USB-C/Thunderbolt to HDMI 2.1 4k@120hz RGB4:4:4 10b HDR with Apple Silicon M1-M4 now possible !

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

  • Yes

    Votes: 195 78.6%

  • No

    Votes: 22 8.9%

  • Can not get the right Adapter

    Votes: 21 8.5%

  • Yes, but Apple limit HDR/HiDPI functionality with macOS 14.1 and macOS 15

    Votes: 10 4.0%
  • Total voters
    248
awer25 said:
I haven’t had any new issues with 15.4, but had to reconfig each monitor after the first boot.
Click to expand...
Iam also had 15.4 now, nice.. works flawless for me. But this Apple Intelligence thing is a joke...
 
Tried going through the OP to see if the info is there on my issue. Didn't see anything so, let me ask this;

M4 Max Studio:

Connected to Samsung G80SD OLED, I can do native 4k, 240Hz with HDR. Can't do 1440p (5120x2880) with HDR unless I put the framerate to 60Hz.

I tried with hdmi 2.1 and with Cablematters 80Gbps usb-c to DP 2.1 adapter + Cablematers DP 2.1 cable.
 
Lads, is the USB-C to 8K HDMI Cablematers adapter (201388-A) with flashed firmware version: 7.02.112 (to get 4K 120 Hz)? Could this cause no sleep issue on the M4 Mac mini?
Just wake my Mac up and iStat menus show none for sleep. I tried to run this new firmware updater (CMIFirmwareUpdate) to see if there is an update for the firmware or something, but it failed. The VmmHIDTool runs well, but I can’t find the old download link for the custom firmware. Luckily, I saved it when I did it the first time.
 
Cappu said:
Finally getting my first ever Mac – a brand-new Mac Studio! 🎉 Went for the M4 Max (64GB RAM / 1TB SSD), plus an extra 4TB SSD in a Thunderbolt 5 enclosure. The Ultra felt like overkill for my needs.

Right now, I’m using an LG OLED 42C26LB as my monitor on my PC. Would this still be a good option, even though the PPI isn’t as sharp as something like the Apple Studio Display? Also, what’s the best way to connect the LG C2 OLED to the Mac Studio via TB5 for the highest possible image quality?
Are there any wake-up issues when using this setup with macOS? And how does volume control work on a Mac with an external OLED like this?

Would love to hear some insights!
Click to expand...
C3 here. When I had my M1 MBP, it worked well, ever since Sequoia, and if the HDR is on, you get brightness control. But I think my MBP never went to sleep due to this adapter; flashing was easy as well over Parallels.

But no, I think I have the same situation regarding no sleep on my M4 Mac mini, using the adapter for my third monitor. I will test sleep next time unplugged to see if that helps.
 
M2 mac here. I used the Cable Matters 201488 USB-C to HDMI 2.1 8k adapter (VMM7100 from Dec 2024) with 15.3, no issues with 4k@120hz. As soon as I updated to macOS 15.4= broken and locked at 30hz. I used the CMIFirmwareUpdate tool and updated the adapter firmware to the latest v7.0X release and still nothing. Cable Matters will need to update their firmware, it's broken in 15.4
 
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glovertown said:
M2 mac here. I used the Cable Matters 201488 USB-C to HDMI 2.1 8k adapter (VMM7100 from Dec 2024) with 15.3, no issues with 4k@120hz. As soon as I updated to macOS 15.4= broken and locked at 30hz. I used the CMIFirmwareUpdate tool and updated the adapter firmware to the latest v7.0X release and still nothing. Cable Matters will need to update their firmware, it's broken in 15.4
Click to expand...
For me on M1 MAX and 15.4 it works nice, but Cm write to me yesterday that there is a new firmware. U can test an report:

 
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USB pass-through sometimes works for VMs, but ultimately the HAL/hardware abstraction layer is a virtual translation layer that the hypervisor (Parallels in this case) uses to mimic hardware resources. It means the virtualized environment usually can't directly access or control the host's hardware the same way a native OS can.

Even if pass-through worked, firmware updates require stable and direct hardware access, you're taking on risk and could brick the adapter if something inadvertently changed
 
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Zorast said:
For me on M1 MAX and 15.4 it works nice, but Cm write to me yesterday that there is a new firmware. U can test an report:

Click to expand...

Hey, thanks! I decided to download this and re-flash the adapter. Latest published firmware from Cable Matters is v7.02.123. After re-flashing and removing/reattaching the adapter then bringing over to my mac, it was fine again! I am able to get 120hz on my display. Very happy, glad I saw your post and decided to give it another try :)
 
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glovertown said:
Hey, thanks! I decided to download this and re-flash the adapter. Latest published firmware from Cable Matters is v7.02.123. After re-flashing and removing/reattaching the adapter then bringing over to my mac, it was fine again! I am able to get 120hz on my display. Very happy, glad I saw your post and decided to give it another try :)
Click to expand...
Did you use a Windows machine? By the look of the version of yours, mine needs to be updated as well...my OCD can't rest :D
 
Camel993 said:
Did you use a Windows machine? By the look of the version of yours, mine needs to be updated as well...my OCD can't rest :D
Click to expand...

Definitely! As noted, for Windows firmware and direct hardware access, you should use a Windows OS on native hardware. I think anything will do for this update, so long as it has USB-C. You could potentially use a USB-A to C adapter if it's absent a C-style port
 
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glovertown said:
Definitely! As noted, for Windows firmware and direct hardware access, you should use a Windows OS on native hardware. I think anything will do for this update, so long as it has USB-C. You could potentially use a USB-A to C adapter if it's absent a C-style port
Click to expand...
Thanks, although at the moment this adapter is not running anything crazy, just a basic 1080p monitor, I do want to make sure I use the latest firmware.
I assume the programme auto-detects which devices are plugged in and does it automatically.
I'm on 7.02.112.

Shame that macOS won't support more than one display on my USB-C desktop dock, even though I have three ports or displays in it…now the mini is maxed out…but so far no issues. Other than the second screen at the dock sometimes disconnecting, but that's an OS issue I think…I can only hope that Apple gets their **** together for this year’s OS releases.
 
glovertown said:
USB pass-through sometimes works for VMs, but ultimately the HAL/hardware abstraction layer is a virtual translation layer that the hypervisor (Parallels in this case) uses to mimic hardware resources. It means the virtualized environment usually can't directly access or control the host's hardware the same way a native OS can.

Even if pass-through worked, firmware updates require stable and direct hardware access, you're taking on risk and could brick the adapter if something inadvertently changed
Click to expand...
Fact, back then I used that VmmTools, which worked over Parallels fine, but I can't see any sign that they use that anymore. Even the firmware file was just a simple WeTransfer upload.
 
UPDATE: I unplugged it again and now I have 120 Hz but still don't get why the firmware is different.

It did showed this during the update process: Spyder_fw_USBC_CM_MBP4k120

I just updated but now I only get 100Hz on my LG C3 with the previous 120..:( the CM firmware update said v7.02.123. but now checked with WmmHIDTool and it said 7.02.105..I'm confused.
 
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I just downloaded the tool from CableMatters. In the bin dir, I see these files for the USB-C>HDMI adapter:

Code: 
07/04/2023  12:51 AM         1,048,576 Spyder_fw_USBC_CM_7.02.112_MacOS 4K120Hz only.fullrom
12/27/2023  08:42 PM         1,048,576 Spyder_fw_USBC_CM_7.02.123.fullrom
03/05/2025  02:15 AM         1,048,576 Spyder_fw_USBC_CM_MBP4k120.fullrom

The "MBP4k120" file is the newest, so I tried flashing that with VMMHIDtool (because their tool doesn't seem to work). VMMHIDTool now reports this as:

Code: 
Firmware name: *BC_CM_MBP4k120
Firmware version: 7.02.116
Configuration file version: 0x040

I previously had 112, so this is newer, and still seems to work on my M1 Max. I figured I'd try it since I was getting some occasional disconnects.

I haven't tried to flash the .123 version. It's an older file, and supposedly the tool supports downgrading back to the standard more Intel/windows compatible mode.

VMMHidTool is also included with the CableMatters download, so I wouldn't worry about that not working. Not sure how Camel993 ended up with 7.02.105 though, I don't even see that firmware version in the list of files!
 
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djrobx said:
The "MBP4k120" file is the newest, so I tried flashing that with VMMHIDtool (because their tool doesn't seem to work). VMMHIDTool now reports this as:
Click to expand...
This is really confusing. That CM tool installed the same firmware to me as well, but I ended up with the 7.02.105 version :D
Mind you, I used a Windows laptop, but I use a Mac mini.
djrobx said:
I previously had 112, so this is newer, and still seems to work on my M1 Max. I figured I'd try it since I was getting some occasional disconnects.
Click to expand...
I had that one as well. I might use VMMHIDTool in Parallels myself as well again and just flash it with the latest macOS bin file to see what version I will get.

djrobx said:
03/05/2025 02:15 AM 1,048,576 Spyder_fw_USBC_CM_MBP4k120.fullrom
Click to expand...
I was looking at my bin file and I couldn't see it...then I went on the site…they updated the site like on the 9th of April, so I will use the latest as well then.
 
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djrobx said:
VMMHidTool is also included with the CableMatters download, so I wouldn't worry about that not working. Not sure how Camel993 ended up with 7.02.105 though, I don't even see that firmware version in the list of files!
Click to expand...
All clear now. I downloaded it before the 9th of April, on the 8th actually, but now I'm over:

Firmware name: *BC_CM_MBP4k120
Firmware version: 7.02.116
Configuration file version: 0x040

Thanks for the heads up. VMMTool works just fine over parallels no need for the auto updater, but looks like it's worth to keep an eye on the firmware site.
 
Are you guys removing the adapter post firmware update and then plugging it back in again straight-away to re-initialize the new firmware? Just curious, I think this is a step that they mention in the updater itself..
 
glovertown said:
Are you guys removing the adapter post firmware update and then plugging it back in again straight-away to re-initialize the new firmware? Just curious, I think this is a step that they mention in the updater itself..
Click to expand...
Yes, I did. My mistake was that I used an outdated version of this whole updater folder.
 
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