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Amethyst1

macrumors G3
Oct 28, 2015
9,787
12,187
I’m planning to get the LG 21.5 4K monitor to use VESA-mounted in portrait mode with my 1st-gen 2014 iMac 5K, which only has Thunderbolt 2/MiniDP.
I use the Wacom Link Plus with my 21.5” 4K. It has a MiniDisplayPort input and comes with all necessary cables, so no additional adapters will be necessary. It’s not a one-cable solution though.
 

OoklaTheMok

macrumors newbie
Mar 31, 2011
8
2
I use the Wacom Link Plus with my 21.5” 4K. It has a MiniDisplayPort input and comes with all necessary cables, so no additional adapters will be necessary. It’s not a one-cable solution though.
I do understand that works, from the first post in this thread. It’s $70, and I just need a temporary solution until the big Apple Silicon iMac comes out, currently rumored for March. Since I only care about brightness control (not sound or USB ports) and I can do that using Lunar, then a $10–$20 cable could work. I have the recommended Amazon Basics cable in my shopping cart but am wondering if there’s a recommended adaptor for it, or a MiniDP-USB-C cable anyone has gotten to work.
 
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joevt

macrumors 604
Jun 21, 2012
6,938
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if there’s a recommended adaptor for it, or a MiniDP-USB-C cable anyone has gotten to work.
Any adapter that claims DisplayPort 1.2 compatibility should work. It just needs to do HBR2 link rate but would be nice to get something that claims DisplayPort 1.4 or HBR3 link rate compatibility (although some DisplayPort 1.2 cables can handle DisplayPort 1.4 link rates fine).
 
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OoklaTheMok

macrumors newbie
Mar 31, 2011
8
2
Thanks. I’ll look for one of those. [EDIT: I just bought the ULT-WIIQ Mini DP Male to DP 1.4 Female Converter. Hope it works.]

I’ve looked and looked, and I’m now satisfied that not only is there no recommended bidirectional MiniDP/USB-C cable for this monitor, apparently ALL the bidirectional cables are for full-size DisplayPort, and bidirectional MiniDP/USB-C cables simply do not exist.
 
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OoklaTheMok

macrumors newbie
Mar 31, 2011
8
2
The monitor finally arrived this weekend. I tested it first on my home iMac with USB-C to make sure it was working with no adapter, and it was. Then I brought it in to work and hooked it up to my 2014 iMac 5K with the two adapter cables I specified above, and it works great. It took me a while to calibrate the brightness controls via Lunar, but now I have everything set up and working perfectly.

I should note that when the Amazon Basics bidirectional cable arrived, it had a sticker on the box that said it was refurbished. And the listing did not say anything about that. (I see today that the cable is out of stock on Amazon.) It looks totally new and it functions as expected, so I'm not sure if I will complain about it.
 

myAppleMac

macrumors newbie
Feb 1, 2022
13
2
I would like to connect the two Macbook Pro (2016, 2019 model) with the LG UltraFine 5K monitor (27MD5KL) by the KVM.

Is this setup workable?
I desperately need your help!

Thank you in advance.

- Two Macbook Pro.
- KVM: TESMart USB-C KVM Switch 3 in 1 Out, for 3 Computers and 1 Monitors, 4k@60 Hz, Supply Power to The Laptop Connected to Port 1, Type-C KVM
- HDMI to Display Port Converter
- Display Port to Mini Display Port Cable
- Wacom Link Plus
- 27MD5KL Monitor USB-C Cable

The configuration is as follows.

Macbook Pro → KVM → HDMI to Display Port Converter → Display Port to Mini Display Port Cable → Wacom Link Plus → LG UltraFine 5K(27MD5KL)
 

joevt

macrumors 604
Jun 21, 2012
6,938
4,241
I would like to connect the two Macbook Pro (2016, 2019 model) with the LG UltraFine 5K monitor (27MD5KL) by the KVM.

Is this setup workable?
I desperately need your help!

Thank you in advance.

- Two Macbook Pro.
- KVM: TESMart USB-C KVM Switch 3 in 1 Out, for 3 Computers and 1 Monitors, 4k@60 Hz, Supply Power to The Laptop Connected to Port 1, Type-C KVM
- HDMI to Display Port Converter
- Display Port to Mini Display Port Cable
- Wacom Link Plus
- 27MD5KL Monitor USB-C Cable

The configuration is as follows.

Macbook Pro → KVM → HDMI to Display Port Converter → Display Port to Mini Display Port Cable → Wacom Link Plus → LG UltraFine 5K(27MD5KL)
Replace the HDMI to DisplayPort converter, DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort cable, and Wacom Link Plus with a Club-3d CAC-1332 which includes a USB 2.0 input that you can connect to the KVM.
If it works, then the display would only work at 4K60. Maybe you can also try 5K39 custom timing.
I think the LG requires RGB input - you'll get weird colors if the HDMI output does YCbCr instead of RGB.

I don't think there are any HDMI to DisplayPort converters yet that can do > 4096 width so the 5K39 idea probably won't work.
https://insights.club-3d.com/thread/hdmi-2-1-to-usb-c-displayport-1-4-alt-mode/
In that case you need a DisplayPort KVM if you want to try 5K39.

It seems to me that the proper way to do KVM with a Thunderbolt display like the LG UltraFine 5K is to create software like Thunderbolt Target Display Mode (used in old 27 inch iMacs that had Thunderbolt 1 or Thunderbolt 2 ports and a 2560x1440 display). You connect two Macs via Thunderbolt 3. The LG UltraFine 5K is connected to one of the Macs. Then the software can alter the tunnelled DisplayPort path between the host Mac and the other Mac. I wonder if the tunnelled PCI path can also be changed? - then you could have the USB features of the display switch between Macs also (but I wouldn't use any storage devices connected to the the LG UltraFine 5K in that case).
 

Amethyst1

macrumors G3
Oct 28, 2015
9,787
12,187
Replace the HDMI to DisplayPort converter, DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort cable, and Wacom Link Plus with a Club-3d CAC-1332 which includes a USB 2.0 input that you can connect to the KVM.
If it works, then the display would only work at 4K60. Maybe you can also try 5K39 custom timing.
This is pure speculation... but what about using a KVM that can handle two 4K60 monitors, running two DisplayPort inputs from each MBP into it, and running two DisplayPort outputs from the KVM into a GC-ALPINE RIDGE or GC-TITAN RIDGE to re-encapsulate the streams into Thunderbolt 3 for (theoretically) achieving 5K60 — but without any PCIe tunneling...
 
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myAppleMac

macrumors newbie
Feb 1, 2022
13
2
Replace the HDMI to DisplayPort converter, DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort cable, and Wacom Link Plus with a Club-3d CAC-1332 which includes a USB 2.0 input that you can connect to the KVM.
If it works, then the display would only work at 4K60. Maybe you can also try 5K39 custom timing.
I think the LG requires RGB input - you'll get weird colors if the HDMI output does YCbCr instead of RGB.

I don't think there are any HDMI to DisplayPort converters yet that can do > 4096 width so the 5K39 idea probably won't work.
https://insights.club-3d.com/thread/hdmi-2-1-to-usb-c-displayport-1-4-alt-mode/
In that case you need a DisplayPort KVM if you want to try 5K39.

It seems to me that the proper way to do KVM with a Thunderbolt display like the LG UltraFine 5K is to create software like Thunderbolt Target Display Mode (used in old 27 inch iMacs that had Thunderbolt 1 or Thunderbolt 2 ports and a 2560x1440 display). You connect two Macs via Thunderbolt 3. The LG UltraFine 5K is connected to one of the Macs. Then the software can alter the tunnelled DisplayPort path between the host Mac and the other Mac. I wonder if the tunnelled PCI path can also be changed? - then you could have the USB features of the display switch between Macs also (but I wouldn't use any storage devices connected to the the LG UltraFine 5K in that case).
Thank you so much for your quick and kind reply.

There aren't many places where the product you mentioned is in stock. I found out that there is a product in Germany and placed an order. I'll let you know after I get the product and see if it works.

I wish I could control it with software, but I think this is the best thing I can do now. Once again, Thank you very much!
 

myAppleMac

macrumors newbie
Feb 1, 2022
13
2

myAppleMac

macrumors newbie
Feb 1, 2022
13
2
The SIIG product seems to be available from amazon. Just search for the SKU CB-H21711-S1
Thank you for the information. It says
  • LG Ultra Fine monitors are NOT compatible with this adapter.
will it work without any problems?
 

Amethyst1

macrumors G3
Oct 28, 2015
9,787
12,187
SIIG website says the adapter is not compatible with the 27" UltraFine... maybe because the first-gen 27" requires Thunderbolt 3 video input and/or the adapter won't do 5K rez.
 
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myAppleMac

macrumors newbie
Feb 1, 2022
13
2
SIIG website says the adapter is not compatible with the 27" UltraFine... maybe because the first-gen 27" requires Thunderbolt 3 video input and/or the adapter won't do 5K rez.
Thank you for your reply. I'll buy it and apply it. I will share the results later.
 
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chris snell

macrumors newbie
Dec 25, 2010
7
2
I have a new system built on a Gigabyte Z690 AORUS XTREME and the 27MD5KL, fresh from B&H. I assembled the PC today and hooked the monitor to the motherboard's built-in Thunderbolt 4 USB-C connector and attempted to boot but the screen never turns on. The screen works just fine with my new MBP but the Gigabyte motherboard never turns it on. I have no idea what the "default" display for this motherboard is. There is no DisplayPort, HDMI, etc. on this motherboard. Only USB, USB-C, and USB-C Thunderbolt 4. The mobo manual doesn't make any mention of the default display configuration, either.

Anyone tried this yet? Worried that this new monitor might be "only Mac" or might require a discrete GPU.
 

Amethyst1

macrumors G3
Oct 28, 2015
9,787
12,187
I have a new system built on a Gigabyte Z690 AORUS XTREME and the 27MD5KL, fresh from B&H. I assembled the PC today and hooked the monitor to the motherboard's built-in Thunderbolt 4 USB-C connector and attempted to boot but the screen never turns on.
Do you also have a “normal” USB-C cable (not a Thunderbolt cable)? Try hooking up the monitor using that to see if you can get it to turn on via USB-C DisplayPort Alternate Mode at 4K60 (the 27MD5KL supports this).
 
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chris snell

macrumors newbie
Dec 25, 2010
7
2
Do you also have a “normal” USB-C cable (not a Thunderbolt cable)? Try hooking up the monitor using that to see if you can get it to turn on via USB-C DisplayPort Alternate Mode at 4K60 (the 27MD5KL supports this).

Good idea. Gave that a shot, but, nothing. I noticed that the Gigabyte mobo has a 2-character LED error code debugging display on the motherboard that would normally show various codes throughout the boot process and throw errors if something is wrong. This display is, alas, also blank. I'm thinking I have a bad board. Reading reviews for this thing on Amazon and Newegg, it looks like I'm not the only one. Lots of issues reported with DDR5 RAM, too, although I couldn't even get a post with the RAM removed. Time to return it to Amazon and go a different route, I think.
 

joevt

macrumors 604
Jun 21, 2012
6,938
4,241
I have a new system built on a Gigabyte Z690 AORUS XTREME and the 27MD5KL, fresh from B&H. I assembled the PC today and hooked the monitor to the motherboard's built-in Thunderbolt 4 USB-C connector and attempted to boot but the screen never turns on. The screen works just fine with my new MBP but the Gigabyte motherboard never turns it on. I have no idea what the "default" display for this motherboard is. There is no DisplayPort, HDMI, etc. on this motherboard. Only USB, USB-C, and USB-C Thunderbolt 4. The mobo manual doesn't make any mention of the default display configuration, either.

Anyone tried this yet? Worried that this new monitor might be "only Mac" or might require a discrete GPU.
Did you try booting with other displays or a TV? Maybe you need to setup BIOS first to get full Thunderbolt support.
Do you have a discrete GPU? Maybe you need to set the iGFX as the default GPU.
 
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itsed

macrumors newbie
Feb 11, 2022
1
0
Hello All!

I have 2 older versions of the LG Ultrafine monitors (27MD5KA) I use with my macbook and I want to use them on my gaming PC. I have tried 2 different USB-C to Displayport adapters and I get no signal on my PC. Does anyone know if I am able to use this on my PC with the older model Ultrafines? Should the Wacom work or would buying a Thunderbolt PCIe card on my PC work? I have a EVGA 3070 on my PC for the graphics card.
 

joevt

macrumors 604
Jun 21, 2012
6,938
4,241
Hello All!

I have 2 older versions of the LG Ultrafine monitors (27MD5KA) I use with my macbook and I want to use them on my gaming PC. I have tried 2 different USB-C to Displayport adapters and I get no signal on my PC. Does anyone know if I am able to use this on my PC with the older model Ultrafines? Should the Wacom work or would buying a Thunderbolt PCIe card on my PC work? I have a EVGA 3070 on my PC for the graphics card.
27MD5KA requires Thunderbolt.
27MD5KA and 27MD5KL require Thunderbolt for 5K60.
27MD5KL can work without Thunderbolt at 4K60 or maybe 5K39 with a custom timing.

The Wacom Link Plus will work with the 27MD5KL but not the 27MD5KA.

For the 27MD5KA, you need a Thunderbolt 3 add-in card (a Thunderbolt 4 add-in card could also work).
 
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