LG UltraFine 4K and 5K: Yes you can connect it to Windows computers via DP!!!

[joevt]

I'm looking at either the Wacom Link Plus or the Belkin cable. Are there any pro's or cons for using one over the other to split USB-C into DP and USB lane?

The Belkin Charge and Sync cable requires two USB type A connections. It's a super long cable. It's all one construction.

The Wacom Link Plus has one connection for USB type A and one for Mini DisplayPort and I think one more for power. That's four different pieces. The Wacom Link Plus also has a HDMI 1.4 input but that's limited to 4K30 and is kind of flaky in my experience - you'll want a HDMI 2.0 to USB-C adapter if converting from HDMI is your goal.

Both options are limited to HBR2 link rate and USB 2.0. I'm not 100% sure about the ability of the Wacom to pass DSC to an XDR 6K display (there's probably a post the discusses this), but you don't need that for 4K.

I'm using a Wacom Link Plus with my original 21.5" 4K and it's been working flawlessly. I don’t know if it works equally well with the newer 23.7” though.

The 24" supports both Thunderbolt input (DisplayPort 1.2 and PCIe for USB 3.0 functions) and USB-C input (DisplayPort 1.2 and USB 2.0 for USB functions). Wacom has USB-C output (DisplayPort 1.2 and USB 2.0) so it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[petardosh]

The Belkin Charge and Sync cable requires two USB type A connections. It's a super long cable. It's all one construction.

The Wacom Link Plus has one connection for USB type A and one for Mini DisplayPort and I think one more for power. That's four different pieces. The Wacom Link Plus also has a HDMI 1.4 input but that's limited to 4K30 and is kind of flaky in my experience - you'll want a HDMI 2.0 to USB-C adapter if converting from HDMI is your goal.

Both options are limited to HBR2 link rate and USB 2.0. I'm not 100% sure about the ability of the Wacom to pass DSC to an XDR 6K display (there's probably a post the discusses this), but you don't need that for 4K.

I'm looking to use it to connect a XDR to KVM using DP and USB and then KVM to Macbook via USB-C. I thought the Wacom has a USB-C output not input, if that's case then it won't work unless its bi-directional.

 

[Amethyst1]

I thought the Wacom has a USB-C output not input, if that's case then it won't work unless its bi-directional.

It has a USB-C output that goes to the display and an USB-C input that’s only used for additional power but is not mandatory - mine works fine without it. So it may work for your use case if it passes through HBR2+DSC properly.

 

[Ma3n-87]

Hi everyone, sorry I couldn't read through the whole thread. Maybe someone can chime in if they've had to do this.

I have two of the 5K ultrafine monitors (27 inch) and would like to run them from a Lenovo P1 Gen 2 which has two thunderbolt 3 ports and an HDMI port. I also have a thunderbolt 3 Lenovo dock.

The laptop is running one monitor fine (and a regular Lenovo 4k monitor), but is unable to connect to both LG 5k monitors (the second screen stays black), This is whether I connect both monitors to thunderbolt 3 directly, or I connect one monitor to the laptop and the other through the dock.

So far I tried this delock adapter without success

DeLOCK DisplayPort Adapter for a USB Type-C Monitor 4K 60 Hz

Description This adapter by Delock is suitable for connecting a USB-C monitor to a computer with DisplayPort interface. The adapter must be connected to the computer with an existing DisplayPort cable. The signals are transmitted via DisplayPort Alternate Mode. Technical data connections: 1 x Dis...

www.amazon.com

Does anyone have any suggestions? also, running a solo monitor works fine with the audio and brightness control (through the LG app), but the camera flickers in zoom (and the mic doesn't work well). Both monitors work just fine on Mac so it's a software issue.

appreciate everyone's help

 

[Amethyst1]

The laptop is running one monitor fine (and a regular Lenovo 4k monitor), but is unable to connect to both LG 5k monitors (the second screen stays black),

You probably have just one Thunderbolt 3 bus, capable of driving one UltraFine 5K (since they count as two 2560×2880 monitors and it's two monitors per bus). You need two Thunderbolt 3 buses for two 5Ks.

So far I tried this delock adapter without success

This adapter can only work with the second-generation model (27MD5KL) of the UltraFine 5K which also accepts USB-C DisplayPort Alternate Mode input up to 4K at 60 Hz or 5K at 39 Hz. If your model is the first-generation (27MD5KA) you're out of luck because that only accepts Thunderbolt 3 input.

 

[Ma3n-87]

You probably have just one Thunderbolt 3 bus, capable of driving one UltraFine 5K (since they count as two 2560×2880 monitors and it's two monitors per bus). You need two Thunderbolt 3 buses for two 5Ks.

So I guess my only option is to get one of the newer generation models (27MD5KL) and run it through an HDMI to USB-C or DP to USB-C adapter? and I can keep the other older generation monitor connected through the thunderbolt 3 connector?

Is there a way to identify which model monitor I have? (in windows or mac?) don't have the box or documentation anymore

Thank you very much

 

[Amethyst1]

Is there a way to identify which model monitor I have? (in windows or mac?)

Look at the EDID (using e.g. AGDCDiagnose in macOS or MonInfo in Windows) - it contains a product ID that allows identifying the model.

So I guess my only option is to get one of the newer generation models (27MD5KL) and run it through an HDMI to USB-C or DP to USB-C adapter?

If you’re keen on two UltraFine 5Ks, with one of them running at 5K, yes AFAICS.

I can keep the other older generation monitor connected through the thunderbolt 3 connector?

Yes - the second 5K would replace the Lenovo 4K you have connected right now (how BTW?).

 

[Ma3n-87]

Yes - the second 5K would replace the Lenovo 4K you have connected right now (how BTW?).

ok thanks a lot

The second 4k lenovo monitor works with either HDMI to HDMI or using the second TB3 port to USB-C cable (the monitor has DP, USBC, and HDMI ports)

By the way, If i use the regular lenovo USB-C cable to connect from the TB3 port to the LG ultrafine, it works?! but allows only 4k rather than 5k output which is fine. Should that mean anything or make a difference?

 

[Amethyst1]

By the way, If i use the regular lenovo USB-C cable to connect from the TB3 port to the LG ultrafine, it works?! but allows only 4k rather than 5k output which is fine.

That means you do have the second-gen UltraFine 5K. So do you have both 5Ks (one at 5K, one at 4K) working from the laptop now?

 

[Ma3n-87]

That means you do have the second-gen UltraFine 5K. So do you have both 5Ks (one at 5K, one at 4K) working from the laptop now?

Nope I meant that running a single monitor ultrafine 5k still worked with a regular USB C cord (that came with the lenovo 4k monitor), so it doesn't necessarily require the thunderbolt pro cord that comes with the monitor (and sold by apple)

Here's the output I have from the asset manager, can't see which

Model name............... LG UltraFine
Manufacturer............. LGE
Plug and Play ID......... GSM5B11
Serial number............ 903NTLEDY680-474680
Manufacture date......... 2019, ISO week 3
Filter driver............ None
-------------------------
EDID revision............ 1.4
Input signal type........ Digital (DisplayPort)
Color bit depth.......... 10 bits per primary color
Color encoding formats... RGB 4:4:4
Screen size.............. 600 x 340 mm (27.2 in)
Power management......... Standby
Extension blocs.......... 2

 

[Amethyst1]

Plug and Play ID......... GSM5B11

That’s the first-generation UltraFine 5K which requires Thunderbolt 3 input. It won’t work with a DisplayPort or HDMI to USB-C adapter. (I forgot that some USB-C cables apparently can work for Thunderbolt 3. Sorry for the confusion.)

 

[Ma3n-87]

That’s the first-generation UltraFine 5K which requires Thunderbolt 3 input. It won’t work with a DisplayPort or HDMI to USB-C adapter. (I forgot that some USB-C cables apparently can work for Thunderbolt 3. Sorry for the confusion.)

Thanks a lot, and the fact that the two thunderbolt 3 ports on the laptop can run one 5K ultrafine and one 4k lenovo monitor doesn't change the issue with running two 5k ultrafines, correct? (because the 5k displays effectively uses two ports through one cable? somehow TB and USB C created more confusion ...

 

[Amethyst1]

Thanks a lot, and the fact that the two thunderbolt 3 ports on the laptop can run one 5K ultrafine and one 4k lenovo monitor doesn't change the issue with running two 5k ultrafines, correct?

When you connect a “normal” USB-C monitor like your Lenovo 4K to a TB3 port, it behaves like a “normal” USB-C port including DisplayPort Alternate Mode. The issue is that the ThinkPad P1 Gen2 has only one Titan Ridge TB3 controller AFAICS, but two controllers (with two DisplayPort streams routed to each of them, i.e. four DisplayPort streams in total) are necessary to run two UltraFine 5Ks at 5K.

 

[Amethyst1]

Thanks a lot, and the fact that the two thunderbolt 3 ports on the laptop can run one 5K ultrafine and one 4k lenovo monitor doesn't change the issue with running two 5k ultrafines, correct?

A workaround would be to get e.g. a Thunderbolt 3 PCIe add-in card such as the GC-TITAN RIDGE, put it in a powered PCIe riser or Thunderbolt PCIe expansion box/enclosure (that doesn't really matter, you just need to supply power to the card) and run a USB-C to DisplayPort cable from the laptop to one of the card's DisplayPort inputs. Then, connect the first UltraFine 5K to one of the laptop's Thunderbolt 3 ports as usual and the second UltraFine 5K to one of the GC-TITAN RIDGE card's Thunderbolt 3 ports. This gets DisplayPort to Thunderbolt conversion going and may be enough for the second 5K to turn on and run at 4K. However, you'll not have PCIe tunneling and thus lose the ability to control the second 5K's brightness (except via DDC) or use its speakers, USB hub, webcam etc.

Edit: I wonder if you can run two UltraFine 5Ks (at 4K) from the laptop’s two Thunderbolt 3 ports if you connect both using a standard USB-C cable…

 

[Ma3n-87]

I wonder if you can run two UltraFine 5Ks (at 4K) from the laptop’s two Thunderbolt 3 ports if you connect both using a standard USB-C cable…

I'll try and report back (the problem is I don't have two cables).

Would any dock potentially solve this?

 

[Ma3n-87]

I'll try and report back (the problem is I don't have two cables).

Would any dock potentially solve this?

like a dock with a built in solution like the one you described above?

 

[Amethyst1]

like a dock with a built in solution like the one you described above?

There’s no dock with built-in DisplayPort to Thunderbolt conversion (AFAIK), if that’s what you mean. You’d have to build it yourself using a Thunderbolt 3 PCIe card and a PCIe enclosure/riser (which just supplies power to the card, so doesn't have to be anything fancy or expensive).

 

[joevt]

Nope I meant that running a single monitor ultrafine 5k still worked with a regular USB C cord (that came with the lenovo 4k monitor), so it doesn't necessarily require the thunderbolt pro cord that comes with the monitor (and sold by apple)

Here's the output I have from the asset manager, can't see which

  Model name............... LG UltraFine
  Manufacturer............. LGE
  Plug and Play ID......... GSM5B11
  Serial number............ 903NTLEDY680-474680
  Manufacture date......... 2019, ISO week 3
  Filter driver............ None
  -------------------------
  EDID revision............ 1.4
  Input signal type........ Digital (DisplayPort)
  Color bit depth.......... 10 bits per primary color
  Color encoding formats... RGB 4:4:4
  Screen size.............. 600 x 340 mm (27.2 in)
  Power management......... Standby
  Extension blocs.......... 2

Your LG UltraFine 5K is Thunderbolt only (product ID 5B11; 5B74 is the one that includes support for USB-C non-Thunderbolt connection). It is connecting via Thunderbolt. It requires a Thunderbolt 40 Gbps connection (Thunderbolt 3 speed) to do 5K60.

If you use a regular USB-C cable, the LG connects at only 20 Gbps (Thunderbolt 2 speed) so it can only support 4K (or maybe 5K39 if you want to try a custom resolution using CRU https://www.monitortests.com/forum/Thread-Custom-Resolution-Utility-CRU ). This allows you to connect a second display to the Lenovo P1 Gen 2 laptop.

So if you use a regular USB-C cable for both LG displays then maybe they can both work at 5K39?

 

[Artem1989]

Audio requires a USB connection. Use a Belkin Charge and Sync cable. With the USB connection, brightness control should be able to work with the Boot Camp drivers. https://github.com/timsutton/brigadier
The Boot Camp control panel should have the LG brightness setting.

I connected the monitor to the computer with a Belkin USB C -> USB A cable, there is no sound.

Tell me how to make sound on the monitor?

 

[Amethyst1]

Tell me how to make sound on the monitor?

Does the computer “see” the LG UltraFine USB audio device? If so, try setting it as the device to use for audio output.

 

[joevt]

I connected the monitor to the computer with a Belkin USB C -> USB A cable, there is no sound.

Tell me how to make sound on the monitor?

I meant this cable:
https://www.giztop.com/belkin-charge-and-sync-cable-for-huawei-vr-glass.html?sscid=a1k5_11sh4j

Here's more info:
https://egpu.io/forums/gpu-monitor-...sb-c-to-displayport-cable/paged/4/#post-79127

 

[Ma3n-87]

Your LG UltraFine 5K is Thunderbolt only (product ID 5B11; 5B74 is the one that includes support for USB-C non-Thunderbolt connection). It is connecting via Thunderbolt. It requires a Thunderbolt 40 Gbps connection (Thunderbolt 3 speed) to do 5K60.

If you use a regular USB-C cable, the LG connects at only 20 Gbps (Thunderbolt 2 speed) so it can only support 4K (or maybe 5K39 if you want to try a custom resolution using CRU https://www.monitortests.com/forum/Thread-Custom-Resolution-Utility-CRU ). This allows you to connect a second display to the Lenovo P1 Gen 2 laptop.

So if you use a regular USB-C cable for both LG displays then maybe they can both work at 5K39?

which cables should I get ? I presume it should be a USB C to USB C cable WITHOUT thunderbolt 3 support?!

 

[Amethyst1]

which cables should I get ? I presume it should be a USB C to USB C cable WITHOUT thunderbolt 3 support?!

Correct.

 

[Ma3n-87]

Correct.

Unfortunately no luck with using 2 regular usb c cables connected to each TB 3 ports to the dual LG 5k monitor. As before, the system recognizes that a peripheral was connected and flashes the screens but one will remain black and I get the error that “your device was not recognized etc).

If I disconnect the cable from the screen that’s running, the other one that’s black will turn on so it’s not either of the monitors or connections that’s not working. I tried lower resolutions without success

Is there a point in digging through the system with 3rd party software or is it only the above solutions?

 

[joevt]

Unfortunately no luck with using 2 regular usb c cables connected to each TB 3 ports to the dual LG 5k monitor. As before, the system recognizes that a peripheral was connected and flashes the screens but one will remain black and I get the error that “your device was not recognized etc).

If I disconnect the cable from the screen that’s running, the other one that’s black will turn on so it’s not either of the monitors or connections that’s not working. I tried lower resolutions without success

Is there a point in digging through the system with 3rd party software or is it only the above solutions?

You tested both cables - and each one works with a single LG 5K?
If you connect two then only the first connected LG 5K will work?

Maybe your Thunderbolt ports don't support two displays? Do you have two normal displays that you can try to connect to the Thunderbolt ports?

Do you know if the LG 5K works at 5K resolution with a Thunderbolt cable?
If you use a normal USB-C cable, does it work at only 4K? Did you try creating a 5K39 timing using CRU?