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

Zorast

macrumors 6502a
Jan 29, 2021
625
212
I have the 16” M2 Max and received this USB4 hub today with HDMI 2.1.


I have a 120Hz 4K display but when I connect it through the hub it only shows 4K 30Hz.

I had a power input, webcam and Ethernet connected at the same time.

Shame as I was wanting to go for a one cable solution when in clamshell mode.
That's insane what apple did ! It's really a Shame !! Its a USB 4 Hub and it has to be work!
 
Last edited:

Zorast

macrumors 6502a
Jan 29, 2021
625
212
USB-C hubs (not Thunderbolt) that support USB 3.x only have 2 lanes of DisplayPort. 2 lanes is not enough for 4K60 HDMI unless DSC is supported. Apple Silicon Macs should support DSC, but Apple...

2 lanes of HBR3 without DSC can do 4K30 HDMI 12bpc or 4K60 CVT-RB 8bpc.
2 lanes of HBR3 with DSC@12bpp can do 4K60 HDMI, 4K120 CVT-RB2, 8K30 CVT-RB. 8K60 is impossible unless you can do DSC and 4:2:0 at the same time to somehow get DSC@6bpp.
But this is an USB 4 Hub with 40 Gbps! It has to work !!
 

joevt

macrumors 604
Jun 21, 2012
6,970
4,262
But this is an USB 4 Hub with 40 Gbps! It has to work !!
Sorry, can't believe I didn't see that. If it's USB4 then it should allow full DisplayPort bandwidth.
If you connect it to an Intel Mac and run AllRez, then you can discover what kind of DisplayPort to HDMI 2.1 adapter it uses. It will also show if it can accept 4 lanes of HBR3 DisplayPort signal. There is no reason it shouldn't be able to do 4K120 except Apple.

If you do try connecting it to an Intel Mac, verify that it has a Thunderbolt connection. I'm not sure if all USB4 hubs/docks support being connected to a Thunderbolt 3 host. If it doesn't connect as Thunderbolt, then it will connect as USB-C with DisplayPort Alt Mode, and then be limited to 2 lanes of HBR3 DisplayPort.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Amethyst1

joevt

macrumors 604
Jun 21, 2012
6,970
4,262
Makes sense thanks. I will plug directly into the laptop to get 4K120Hz and use the hub for everything else.
Please try the hub again, and check System Profiler in the Thunderbolt/USB4 tab to see if it is connecting correctly as a USB4 device. Check the PCIe tab to see if it has any PCI devices. Check the USB tab to see what USB devices it has (it should have a hub or two). The ethernet is either a USB device or a PCI device.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SpitUK

Zorast

macrumors 6502a
Jan 29, 2021
625
212
Sorry, can't believe I didn't see that. If it's USB4 then it should allow full DisplayPort bandwidth.
If you connect it to an Intel Mac and run AllRez, then you can discover what kind of DisplayPort to HDMI 2.1 adapter it uses. It will also show if it can accept 4 lanes of HBR3 DisplayPort signal. There is no reason it shouldn't be able to do 4K120 except Apple.

If you do try connecting it to an Intel Mac, verify that it has a Thunderbolt connection. I'm not sure if all USB4 hubs/docks support being connected to a Thunderbolt 3 host. If it doesn't connect as Thunderbolt, then it will connect as USB-C with DisplayPort Alt Mode, and then be limited to 2 lanes of HBR3 DisplayPort.
I have an USB Dock also which it show in Devices as USB4/TB Connection with 40Gbps, but iam on M1 MAX:
 

Attachments

  • Bildschirm­foto 2022-12-09 um 12.05.02.jpeg
    Bildschirm­foto 2022-12-09 um 12.05.02.jpeg
    145.6 KB · Views: 90

SpitUK

macrumors 6502a
Mar 5, 2010
896
818
East Yorkshire, UK
Sorry I missed it as well! I don't have an Intel Mac anymore, here is the screenshot of the hub connected...

CleanShot 2023-02-01 at 09.49.13.png


I have ethernet connected via the hub....

CleanShot 2023-02-01 at 09.50.58.png


Nothing in PCI...

CleanShot 2023-02-01 at 09.51.48.png


I am connected directly to the MAC via the HDMI 2.1 port and its showing this just for reference...

CleanShot 2023-02-01 at 09.51.37.png
 

Zorast

macrumors 6502a
Jan 29, 2021
625
212
It looks fine the USB Port is connected with USB 4, the HDMI has 2.1 so it has to be work !! 100% Apple limit this.. Did u try BetterDisplay ?
 

joevt

macrumors 604
Jun 21, 2012
6,970
4,262
It looks fine the USB Port is connected with USB 4, the HDMI has 2.1 so it has to be work !! 100% Apple limit this.. Did u try BetterDisplay ?
The Ethernet is a USB 5 Gbps device which is good enough for 2.5 GbE. I need to get an Apple Silicon Mac and find a way to update AllRez to get DisplayPort info on Apple Silicon Macs.
 

Zorast

macrumors 6502a
Jan 29, 2021
625
212
Looks like the Hub does not support more than 30hz. this is not normal. The M1 MAX does support 4k@60hz. Can u write to satechi and send them these informations ? Whe have to wait what waydabber(BetterDisplay) say about that. I send him these informations.

Can u show the EDID inkl. technical information which BetterDisplay shows u ?
 

Attachments

  • Bildschirm­foto 2023-02-01 um 13.35.07.png
    Bildschirm­foto 2023-02-01 um 13.35.07.png
    177.8 KB · Views: 70
Last edited:

Zorast

macrumors 6502a
Jan 29, 2021
625
212
Did u contact Satechi ? I use this which have the really good chipset with native USB 4 40Gbps and HDMI 2.1:


cheaper:

 
Last edited:

mayankjariya

macrumors newbie
Feb 2, 2023
1
0
As of my knowledge cut-off in 2021, HDMI 2.1 is not supported on Macs. Mac computers have Thunderbolt ports that support DisplayPort 1.4 and can be used with an adapter to connect to an HDMI 2.1 monitor. However, this adapter may have limitations in terms of refresh rate and resolution. It's always best to check the specifications of the specific Mac model and adapter to confirm compatibility. Additionally, it's worth noting that HDMI 2.1 is a relatively new technology, and Macs may begin to support it in the future with hardware updates or new models.
 

SpitUK

macrumors 6502a
Mar 5, 2010
896
818
East Yorkshire, UK
As of my knowledge cut-off in 2021, HDMI 2.1 is not supported on Macs. Mac computers have Thunderbolt ports that support DisplayPort 1.4 and can be used with an adapter to connect to an HDMI 2.1 monitor. However, this adapter may have limitations in terms of refresh rate and resolution. It's always best to check the specifications of the specific Mac model and adapter to confirm compatibility. Additionally, it's worth noting that HDMI 2.1 is a relatively new technology, and Macs may begin to support it in the future with hardware updates or new models.
The new MacBook Pros have HDMI 2.1 built in now.
 

dmccloud

macrumors 68040
Sep 7, 2009
3,155
1,911
Anchorage, AK
The new MacBook Pros have HDMI 2.1 built in now.
This is something that has been mentioned as a new feature with the 2023 14" & 16" MBPs (alongside Bluetooth 5.3 and WiFi 6E), so they may be the first products in the lineup to support HDMI 2.1.
 

waydabber

macrumors 6502
May 27, 2010
366
277
Hi guys, check this out to get 4K@120Hz on the M1 over HDMI.

#760

The method is to download the display's EDID via BetterDisplay, alter the EDID's video interface to DisplayPort (if set to nothing or set to HDMI originally - you might need to upgrade the EDID format to v1.4 for that) and then apply the EDID override (which is now possible on Apple Silicon with the latest BetterDisplay app version).
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.