Dual Dell UP2715K Monitors + Mac Pro = Success!!

[elliottcable]

Can you provide some more detail about how you got this working? I've got a pair of Z27q's that I'd really, really (really, really, really … given that I paid like 2.5k for these freaks) like to get working; but so far, I've only been able to achieve the following:

1. Display a “no connection” error on the screens (when Port #2 is the only one connected)
2. Display literally nothing (power-symbol lit up, but backlight obviously off: completely dark, black screen) when Port #2 is connected first, and then Port #1 connected thereafter,
3. Display a distorted / stretched 4K image, when only a single Z27q is connected, via only Port #1.

I can't even get a single Z27q to display a 5K image, much less two; and I've tried all sorts of patterns for connecting them: port-2 first, port-1 first; on the same Thunderbolt bus, on separate Thunderbolt busses; port-1 to bus-port-2 and port-2 to bus-port-1, and vice versa … oh lordie!

Please send help, I'm desperate. )'=

 

[andy89]

Which version of Mac OS are you running? I think support for the display was first added in Yosemite.

Things didn't work correctly for me until I connected everything when it was all powered off and reset the SMC. First boot after that and the display was in 5K with scaling enabled.

Edit: Support for the HP z27q was first added in El-Capitan.

 

[Killerbob]

I was waiting for an Apple refresh of their monitors, but alas. Hence I have decided to get the Dell UP2715K now. I really wanted a 5K monitor with a build-in webcam, but I guess the LG won't work with my Mac Pro 2013...

So, my setup will be; Mac Pro using a Dell UP2715K, an Apple Thunderbolt Display, and an Apple LED Cinema Display. I also have a Thunderbolt connected PCIe expansion box and a Thunderbolt LaCie SSD.

How would I connect all of that? I was thinking, but does it really matter?

TB Bus 1, port 1 - Dell UP2715K
TB Bus 1, port 3 - Apple Thunderbolt Display
TB Bus 2, port 2 - Dell UP2715K
TB Bus 2, port 4 - Apple LED Cinema Display
TB Bus 0, port 5 - Echo Express TB2
TB Bus 0, port 6 - LaCie Rugged SSD

 

[Mikael S]

I was waiting for an Apple refresh of their monitors, but alas. Hence I have decided to get the Dell UP2715K now. I really wanted a 5K monitor with a build-in webcam, but I guess the LG won't work with my Mac Pro 2013...

So, my setup will be; Mac Pro using a Dell UP2715K, an Apple Thunderbolt Display, and an Apple LED Cinema Display. I also have a Thunderbolt connected PCIe expansion box and a Thunderbolt LaCie SSD.

How would I connect all of that? I was thinking, but does it really matter?

TB Bus 1, port 1 - Dell UP2715K
TB Bus 1, port 3 - Apple Thunderbolt Display
TB Bus 2, port 2 - Dell UP2715K
TB Bus 2, port 4 - Apple LED Cinema Display
TB Bus 0, port 5 - Echo Express TB2
TB Bus 0, port 6 - LaCie Rugged SSD

I have a up2715k and for me it matters which ports I use. It works either way in principle but I get boot screen only if I connect it to the top two tb ports (one on each bus just as you suggested). Perhaps there are other ways to get boot screen but that's my unscientific conclusion so far

 

[mattspace]

Curious to hear from anyone using one of them on a cMP plugged directly into a GPU, whether the bugginess of this display is due to thunderbolt.

 

[chfilm]

How did all this end for you guys? What's the final verdict? That two 5k Displays is unusable at the current Mac Pro? I was really beginning to eye this setup for my 2013 nMP, because since I have a new retina macbook now, It became hard to stare at the apple thunderbold display...
Or are the issues fixed under sierra?
Apple should just release an updated mac Pro with Tb3

 

[elliottcable]

How did all this end for you guys? What's the final verdict? That two 5k Displays is unusable at the current Mac Pro? I was really beginning to eye this setup for my 2013 nMP, because since I have a new retina macbook now, It became hard to stare at the apple thunderbold display...
Or are the issues fixed under sierra?
Apple should just release an updated mac Pro with Tb3

It works just fine. My daily workhorse since, well, shortly after my post above:

I would say, be aware: the Mac Pro only uses *one* of its two GPUs to render out to displays; the other is intended to be exclusively for GPU-processing tasks. This setup *absolutely* taxes my single D700 to its max; once in a long while, when I boot up, I'll get some horribly-artifacted mess on one of the displays. A reboot usually solves it.

I'd really like to figure out how to dedicate one GPU to two of the screens, and another GPU to the other two; but I don't have the time at the moment to figure out how to do so.

(I strongly suggest you install Macs Fan Control and set your primary fan to run at 1900rpm (the maximum) 24/7.)

 

[Macinsquatch]

The nMP can drive 3 4K displays at 60 Hz despite Apples's documentation. I have been doing it for over a year.

 

[chfilm]

edited

 

[chfilm]

It works just fine. My daily workhorse since, well, shortly after my post above:

View attachment 681633
View attachment 681634

I would say, be aware: the Mac Pro only uses *one* of its two GPUs to render out to displays; the other is intended to be exclusively for GPU-processing tasks. This setup *absolutely* taxes my single D700 to its max; once in a long while, when I boot up, I'll get some horribly-artifacted mess on one of the displays. A reboot usually solves it.

I'd really like to figure out how to dedicate one GPU to two of the screens, and another GPU to the other two; but I don't have the time at the moment to figure out how to do so.

(I strongly suggest you install Macs Fan Control and set your primary fan to run at 1900rpm (the maximum) 24/7.)

Crazy awesome setup!
How does the mac pro handle JUST the 5k Displays, without the two 4ks? I would never wanna have more than two 5ks.
Do you run the Dells at Full Res, not at 1440 scaled, yes?

 

[Killerbob]

Hi elliottcable,

Can you tell me how the HPs are vs. the Dells for photography work? Ie. are they more matt, are the colors as vibrant, do they do pictures justice? Wondering because I never thought of the HP monitors, I always saw them as a bit dull to look at...

Thanks in advance,

 

[rkuo]

Hi elliottcable,

Can you tell me how the HPs are vs. the Dells for photography work? Ie. are they more matt, are the colors as vibrant, do they do pictures justice? Wondering because I never thought of the HP monitors, I always saw them as a bit dull to look at...

Thanks in advance,

The Dell's are better. The screen is optically bonded and has a completely clear screen like the iMac 5k. It also has very precise color calibration via Dell xRite display 1 pro utility.

The HP was my first 5k monitor and the screen is matte, which blurs the pixels ever so slightly, plus I had to go through two screen replacements as they had clear smudges. I suspect HP is using B-grade leftover 5K panels and that's why the monitor retails for so much less. Still, it is 5k and still looks amazing if you can get it working. The Dell seems to have some slightly better hardcoded support ... on my hackintosh the HP is impossible to get going in 5K mode. Both work fine on my 2013 Mac Pro tho.