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LG UltraFine 4K and 5K: Yes you can connect it to Windows computers via DP!!!
- Thread starter DeanL
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I'd like to echo thanks to joevt and the OP for this fantastic thread. My setup and future plans are a slight twist on others mentioned so I was hoping to be able to get some advice?
My current setup is a 2017 MacBook Pro and two daisy-chained LG 4K Ultrafine displays (24MD4KL model). Love it for working from home, works perfectly.
However, I'm thinking of buying a high end gaming PC such as an Alienware with an Nvidia RTX 20x0 graphics card (e.g. this one), as I'd like to be able to play FlightSim and also attach an Oculus Rift, or Oculus Quest via Link cable.
In an IDEAL world, I'd like to find a solution that allows me to connect the new PC via thunderbolt (while not losing the RTX 20x0 performance) to the spare thunderbolt port on my second display. In theory this should allow me to have both the PC and the Mac wired to both screens without me unplugging cables all the time (I don't mind having only one system powered up at a time). Is this going to be possible with just an add-on card for the PC, and do the add-on cards permit the multi-screen setup I've described with sound and everything else?
If the above is impossible, what is my best option using the Nvidia's two DisplayPort outputs? Ideally I'd like to keep the graphics card's USB-C connector free for the Oculus Link if possible. I could live with only one monitor on the PC if using both is not plausible.
And finally, should I be concerned that LG told me the display only works at 30Hz in its max resolution of 3840x2160 or is 3360x1890 at 60Hz perfectly respectable for what I need it to do?
I should also mention that I'm not wedded to the Alienware if there's a better option for thunderbolt. I'm just trying to get something close to the "ideal" spec for FlightSim as per the system requirements table in this article.
Many thanks in advance for any advice.
My current setup is a 2017 MacBook Pro and two daisy-chained LG 4K Ultrafine displays (24MD4KL model). Love it for working from home, works perfectly.
However, I'm thinking of buying a high end gaming PC such as an Alienware with an Nvidia RTX 20x0 graphics card (e.g. this one), as I'd like to be able to play FlightSim and also attach an Oculus Rift, or Oculus Quest via Link cable.
In an IDEAL world, I'd like to find a solution that allows me to connect the new PC via thunderbolt (while not losing the RTX 20x0 performance) to the spare thunderbolt port on my second display. In theory this should allow me to have both the PC and the Mac wired to both screens without me unplugging cables all the time (I don't mind having only one system powered up at a time). Is this going to be possible with just an add-on card for the PC, and do the add-on cards permit the multi-screen setup I've described with sound and everything else?
If the above is impossible, what is my best option using the Nvidia's two DisplayPort outputs? Ideally I'd like to keep the graphics card's USB-C connector free for the Oculus Link if possible. I could live with only one monitor on the PC if using both is not plausible.
And finally, should I be concerned that LG told me the display only works at 30Hz in its max resolution of 3840x2160 or is 3360x1890 at 60Hz perfectly respectable for what I need it to do?
I should also mention that I'm not wedded to the Alienware if there's a better option for thunderbolt. I'm just trying to get something close to the "ideal" spec for FlightSim as per the system requirements table in this article.
Many thanks in advance for any advice.
Don’t know the answer to the above. But the Wacom audio issue seems to be a power draw thing. There is a second usb c port that uses power when plugged into my computers usbA it reduces the cracks to almost non existent. I’m going to try a wall adapter and see if that removes it completely.
Update: when reconnecting everything the cracking seemed to go away without the extra power. There are still some minor cracks here or there but seems to be nearly fully functioning. I may try the belkin charge syncs cable and update then.
Update: when reconnecting everything the cracking seemed to go away without the extra power. There are still some minor cracks here or there but seems to be nearly fully functioning. I may try the belkin charge syncs cable and update then.
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Update 2: Wacom Link working fine from windows desktop Ryzen 5600X Radon 5600XT. I replaced the USB cable that came with it with a better cable and audio and brightness work fine now. This is for the 24” LG ultra fine 4K.
Can you find a gaming PC that supports a Thunderbolt 3 add-in card that has 2 DisplayPort inputs such as the GC-ALPINE RIDGE or GC-TITAN RIDGE?
Otherwise the solutions are the Wacom Link Plus or Belkin Charge and Sync Cable or Sunix UPD2018 or whatever.
https://egpu.io/forums/gpu-monitor-...sb-c-to-displayport-cable/paged/4/#post-79127
I think Mac <-> LG <-> LG <-> PC could work like below but I'm not sure (I could test with my PC but it's in pieces at the moment)
1) The Mac is controlling the displays and the PC is off.
2) Turn off the Mac
3) Turn on the PC
4) Now the PC is controlling the displays and the Mac.
I bought the no-name cable from eBay and waiting for it to arrive. I'm hoping to use my PS4 Pro with my LG Ultrafine 5K. Am I correct in thinking I will able to get 4K output from the PS4, but audio will not work?
Audio isn't a massive issue as I usually play with a headset, just looking to consolidate from two monitors down to one.
Audio isn't a massive issue as I usually play with a headset, just looking to consolidate from two monitors down to one.
A response from Club3D Support: "The CAC-1332 does not utilize the USB for data of the USB C. Only Video for Display."
I think PS4 supports USB audio.
I don't think the PS4 supports 4K unless it's the PS4 Pro?
PlayStation 4 - Wikipedia
The wikipedia page says the PS4 supports 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p
The LG UltraFine 5K supports 1440p, 3200x1800, 4K, 5K.
There's no overlap so maybe it doesn't work? Has anyone tested the 5K with a 1080p timing (not a scaled mode)? It may possible need to be a 1080p HDMI timing.
I have a PS4 Pro which supports 4K - thanks for that video. Oh well I guess whatever happens, I'll try it when the cable arrives and report back!I think PS4 supports USB audio.
I don't think the PS4 supports 4K unless it's the PS4 Pro?
PlayStation 4 - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
The wikipedia page says the PS4 supports 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p
The LG UltraFine 5K supports 1440p, 3200x1800, 4K, 5K.
There's no overlap so maybe it doesn't work? Has anyone tested the 5K with a 1080p timing (not a scaled mode)? It may possible need to be a 1080p HDMI timing.
I've seen a few folks asking about using the new generations of gaming consoles (PS5 and Xbox Series S|X) with the LG UltraFine displays.
Has anyone found an elegant solution yet?
www.siig.com
www.club-3d.com
I found these two cables, the Club 3D one is impossible to find anywhere, but the SIIG one is at least available on NewEgg/WalMart/their own site. Has anyone tried these setups? I'm looking for a single adapter solution to make it easy and cheaper.
Update:
I bought the SIIG cable to use with my Xbox Series X... It works! I started a new thread specifically for next gen systems to explain that yes you can use UltraFine/USB-C displays with the new systems.
forums.macrumors.com
Has anyone found an elegant solution yet?
HDMI to USB-C Port 4K 60Hz Converter Adapter
HDMI to USB-C Port 4K 60Hz Converter Adapter
www.siig.com
Club 3D | HDMI to USB C 4K60Hz Active Adapter M/F
The Club 3D CAC-1332 is an HDMI™ to USB C Active adapter which allows you to transmit an HDMI™ Signal into a USB C DisplayPort supported Display.This product supports resolutions of up to 4096x2160@60Hz. This adapter is Uni-Directional it only works from an HDMI™ Source device to an USB C...
I found these two cables, the Club 3D one is impossible to find anywhere, but the SIIG one is at least available on NewEgg/WalMart/their own site. Has anyone tried these setups? I'm looking for a single adapter solution to make it easy and cheaper.
Update:
I bought the SIIG cable to use with my Xbox Series X... It works! I started a new thread specifically for next gen systems to explain that yes you can use UltraFine/USB-C displays with the new systems.
Use Xbox Series S|X & PS5 with LG UltraFine 4K and 5K / XDR Display
I tried tracking down an easy yes/no answer within various forums and threads only to be found with the answer of "maybe" and complicated setups. Upon my research in threads, they have led me to these three options...
forums.macrumors.com
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My cable from eBay arrived. Not particularly impressed - it worked for a few minutes and now I can't get the LG 5K to come on 
Not sure why. PS4 works on another HDMI display and the LG 5K works with my Mac so has to be the cable.
Not sure why. PS4 works on another HDMI display and the LG 5K works with my Mac so has to be the cable.So my Club3D CAC-1332 (HDMI 2.0 > USB-C DP 1.2 alt mode) arrived today...
If I plug it* into a 2020 Mac Mini (M1) it gives me:
- 3840 x 2160 (4K) @ 60Hz
- audio works?! (over USB)**
- webcam works?!
- brightness doesn't work
So Club3D was wrong when they told me it doesn't transmit data over USB-C (#207). Naturally, if I plug the USB-A to micro USB adapter power cable into a wall outlet instead of the Mac mini, audio / webcam is gone.
(*Plugged into LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL-B via USB-C-to-USB-C (USB 3.1) cable included with monitor.)
(**To my ears the quality sounds worse than I'm used to over Thunderbolt 3, maybe lower bitrate?)
I don't have a PC to test with.
Unfortunately it doesn't work so well for what I bought it for:
Plugged into a Nintendo Switch dock, Switch only offers 480p or 720p output to the monitor. And no audio. Still trying to diagnose this but no leads so far. Makes me wonder if @laurienicholas got 1080p or just 720p onto their UltraFine 4K from the Switch using the Foinnex cable (#156)?
cc/ @x2max @mynamebrody
If USB is working, then brightness control should work in the Displays preferences panel. Use the AGDCDiagnose command from an Intel Mac to get the EDID of the display with and without the CAC-1332 (when doing without, do you have a non-Thunderbolt method such as a bi-directional USB-C to DisplayPort cable?). Can SwitchResX get the EDID from an M1 Mac? The EDID should have an identifier that macOS can use to match the display with the USB interface controls. The adapter should not remove the identifier from the EDID. I wonder if brightness control won't work while the display is connected via the HDMI port even if the EDID is unchanged?
About audio, there have been complaints on macrumors.com of crackling USB audio to LG displays in some situations. This may be corrected with different cables maybe.
The ebay one NOW have a upgraded adapter which it work perfect on 4k and it support TB3 and HDR now.
It support TB3 cable now.
Because of the aging of your HDMI output device insufficient power supply for the chip in the cable. You only need to plug that USB-A into the USB port with a 5V usb power output will be fine. I also had this problem at the beginning，But my colleagues do not have the same problem it just usb-c plug and play. I try the SIIG a and other similar adapter long time ago it do not support 4K and sound. It is design for VR display I guess.My cable from eBay arrived. Not particularly impressed - it worked for a few minutes and now I can't get the LG 5K to come on
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No, it can't. The Ebay cable converts HDMI 2.0 to DisplayPort. It does not convert to Thunderbolt.
No,It's not to displayport it's HDMI TO USB-C, I mean the new version cable adapter support both Usb-C cable and TB3 cable now, it comes with a USB-C cable 3.1 gen2 cable which seller said it only support 3.1 gen2 or higher and TB3 cable, I think maybe it support USB-C to DP cable as well. the convert just came out two days ago not the old cable one they are not upload to ebay yet need contact seller by email to get one.
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The input signal is HDMI 2.0. There is a converter chip that converts HDMI 2.0 to DisplayPort (1.2? or 1.4?). The output signal is DisplayPort. The output connector is USB-C. It's the result of using USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode.
You can connect USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode to some new Thunderbolt 3 displays that use the Titan Ridge Thunderbolt controller like the new LG UltraFine 5K but it is limited to 4K. It won't work with the old LG UltraFine 5K that uses Alpine Ridge Thunderbolt controller and requires Thunderbolt signal.
Is there a link to more pictures of that new adapter and it's cables and ports and connectors? It's different than the ebay cable which is all one piece. The new adapter appears to be 3 pieces like the Club-3D CAC-1332 - the HDMI converter, USB 2.0 cable, USB-C cable. The CAC-1332 doesn't say anything about HDR though.
Well, I might have made an expressive mistake again,sorry. Yes my 5k LG it's only have 4K with thisconverter.
Club-3D do not support 4K and HDR from game console it's same VR converter like GOOVIS one I tryed，I think they are same thing just different shells which I tried a few and got the same result.
This new converter I brought they updated the specific details on this link it's easy to carry,look like a shell made of some kind heat-dissipating material.And there is no need for WACOM to transit.I changed to UGREEN’s TB3 2.0m cable which have longer space flexibility.It's the best option right now I guess.
I have two LG monitor home and office both work OK.
PS4 pro HDMI--> LG Ultrafine 4k 23 TB3 port = 4k OK
PS4 pro HDMI--> LG 5K 34WK95U TB3 port transmit = 4k HDR
Laptop Dell G3 HDMI--> LG 5K 34WK95U TB3 port = 4k OK
Laptop Dell G3 HDMI--> LG Ultrafine 4k 23 TB3 port = 4k
Club-3D do not support 4K and HDR from game console it's same VR converter like GOOVIS one I tryed，I think they are same thing just different shells which I tried a few and got the same result.
This new converter I brought they updated the specific details on this link it's easy to carry,look like a shell made of some kind heat-dissipating material.And there is no need for WACOM to transit.I changed to UGREEN’s TB3 2.0m cable which have longer space flexibility.It's the best option right now I guess.
I have two LG monitor home and office both work OK.
PS4 pro HDMI--> LG Ultrafine 4k 23 TB3 port = 4k OK
PS4 pro HDMI--> LG 5K 34WK95U TB3 port transmit = 4k HDR
Laptop Dell G3 HDMI--> LG 5K 34WK95U TB3 port = 4k OK
Laptop Dell G3 HDMI--> LG Ultrafine 4k 23 TB3 port = 4k
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Thanks. FWIW the eBay seller is very responsive and customer service is great. Have a refund for my faulty original cable and sent it back, and the new version of the adapter should be delivered to me this week.
I'm just setting up my Ultrafine 5k. Works perfectly with my MBP M1.
I'm also connecting it to Lenovo T480... it works but at 3860 x 2160. I know that 5K is just physically impossible with that laptop but it does supposedly support 4096 x 2304 over USB-C according to Lenovo spec. That would be quite an improvement in PPI actually. Does anybody know if it can be done?
I'm also connecting it to Lenovo T480... it works but at 3860 x 2160. I know that 5K is just physically impossible with that laptop but it does supposedly support 4096 x 2304 over USB-C according to Lenovo spec. That would be quite an improvement in PPI actually. Does anybody know if it can be done?
The old LG UltraFine 5K (27MD5KA) has the timing in the EDID (in the DisplayID extension block):
4096x2304@59.999Hz 142.198kHz 593.82MHz h(8 32 40 +) v(1 8 57 -) 16:9
It also has this timing:
3200x1800@59.999Hz 111.119kHz 364.47MHz h(8 32 40 +) v(1 8 43 -) 16:9
And the usual timings:
2560x1440@60.000Hz 88.860kHz 234.59MHz h(8 32 40 +) v(1 8 32 -)
3840x2160@59.999Hz 133.319kHz 522.61MHz h(8 32 40 +) v(1 8 53 -)
The new LG UltraFine 5K (27MD5KL) has the same timings except it replaces the 4096x2304 timing with a copy of the 3840x2160 timing.
Maybe 4096x2304 doesn't work or you can try using CRU to make an EDID override where the DisplayID copy of the 3840x2160 timing is replaced with the 4096x2304 timing.
Thanks! It worked!
Since you seem to know really a lot about those: how come there are no tile display setups specified in EDID? Or a least it seems so according to CRU. I guess it cannot be just Mac-only as people report 5K working with Windows. Is it some special non-EDID Thunderbolt DP streams negotiation?
Are you saying CRU doesn't show the tiled info for the LG UltraFine 5K?
The left side tile EDID is like this:
Code:
0) EDID 1.4
Vendor ID: GSM 7789 = 0x1e6d
Product ID: 23412 = 0x5b74
Serial Number: 342979
Made in week 6 of 2019
RGB 4:4:4; 10 bpc
Display is non-continuous frequency
Color characteristics: R(0.680,0.320) G(0.265,0.690) B(0.150,0.060) W(0.313,0.329)
Established timings: 2000
Descriptors:
54) Detailed timing: 25cc0050f0703e800820180058542100001a = 3840x2160@59.999Hz 133.319kHz 522.61MHz h(8 32 40 +) v(1 8 53 -)
72) Detailed timing: a35b0050a0a029500820180058542100001a = 2560x1440@60.000Hz 88.860kHz 234.59MHz h(8 32 40 +) v(1 8 32 -)
90) Serial number: 000000ff003930364e54435a41323937390a
108) Monitor name: 000000fc004c4720556c74726146696e650a
128) DisplayID extension block: version 1.2, type 3
133) Display parameters: 01000c3e17160d0014400b50784e99
148) ContainerID data: 290010b4e35e8fdfa04360ba543a6dfeea02d5
167) Type 1 detailed timing: 03002824cc0084ff0e4f0007801f006f083d00000007005e8e00047f0c4f0007801f000707330000000700
170) 24cc0084ff0e4f0007801f006f083d0000000700 = 3840x2160@59.999Hz 133.319kHz 522.61MHz h(8 32 40 +) v(1 8 53 -) 16:9 preferred
190) 5e8e00047f0c4f0007801f000707330000000700 = 3200x1800@59.999Hz 111.119kHz 364.47MHz h(8 32 40 +) v(1 8 43 -) 16:9
210)
256) DisplayID extension block: version 1.2, type 3
261) Tiled display topology: 12001682100000ff093f0b000000000047534d745b01010101 = 2560x2880 @ (0,0) of (2x1) vendor:GSM product:0x5b74 serial:16843009 enclosure:single some:undescribed one:scaled
286) Type 1 detailed timing: 030014d0bc0008ff099f0007801f003f0b510000000700 = 2560x2880@59.996Hz 177.710kHz 483.37MHz h(8 32 120 +) v(1 8 73 -) aspect:undefined
309)
384) EndAnd the right side tile EDID is like this:
Code:
0) EDID 1.4
Vendor ID: GSM 7789 = 0x1e6d
Product ID: 23412 = 0x5b74
Serial Number: 342979
Made in week 6 of 2019
RGB 4:4:4; 10 bpc
Display is non-continuous frequency
Color characteristics: R(0.680,0.320) G(0.265,0.690) B(0.150,0.060) W(0.313,0.329)
Descriptors:
54) Dummy block
72) Dummy block
90) Serial number: 000000ff003930364e54435a41323937390a
108) Monitor name: 000000fc004c4720556c74726146696e650a
128) DisplayID extension block: version 1.2, type 3
133) Display parameters: 01000c3e17160d0014400b50784e99
148) ContainerID data: 290010b4e35e8fdfa04360ba543a6dfeea02d5
167) Tiled display topology: 12001680101000ff093f0b000000000047534d745b01010101 = 2560x2880 @ (1,0) of (2x1) vendor:GSM product:0x5b74 serial:16843009 enclosure:single some:undescribed one:undescribed
192) Type 1 detailed timing: 030014d0bc0008ff099f0007801f003f0b510000000700 = 2560x2880@59.996Hz 177.710kHz 483.37MHz h(8 32 120 +) v(1 8 73 -) aspect:undefined
215)
256) EndStill, that doesn't explain why you're not seeing the tile info. Does the LG UltraFine 5K have a third EDID for when it only has one DisplayPort connection?
1. Yeah, I believe T480s Thunderbolt 3 supports one DP connection. You cannot even connect 1 display to USB-C port and the other to Thunderbolt 3 port, only one will work. The only way to connect 2 display port monitors is to use Lenovo Thunderbolt 3 Dock which I think does it through MST... which as far as I understand doesn't work with Ultrafine's tiling.
2. That said, it's connected via TB3 cable to TB3 port and it is recognized as TB3 device. Only one EDID in CRU and there's no tiling information in it! In fact, there's nothing in Extensions Blocks (I've added 4096x2304 it).
I guess there's a third EDID then after all. Manufacturing date for this one is 2020/3.
In any case, thanks for timing setup for 4096x2304. Not sure if this is not my head playing with me trying to justify this purchase ("also with Windows laptop you get a bit better resolution than other 4K 27") but it seems to me that it's actually slightly sharper in Windows with 4096x2304 at 160% vs 3840x2160 at 150%.