LG UltraFine 5K - Owners Thread

[_themilkman]

I know this might be a little of topic, but it's more of insight people might find useful...

I've got the 13inch Touchbar MacBook Pro, and I'm waiting on the delivery of the LG Ultrafine 5k... a few folk have expressed some concern about the 13inch performance in terms of powering the 5k, and I've been a little worried about it.

I had the chance to borrow the 4k version of the screen from a mate earlier today, and connected up to the 13 MBP running my usual set of apps, performance is pretty poor. Mission control animations stutters and is slow the first time you open it (they are fine after the first animation completes, until you go back to using apps again, at which point the problem occurs again), and trying to run a 4k Youtube video in chrome whilst doing anything on the MacBook screen (even scrolling this forum), turns the video into a stuttering mess. iStat menus show memory usage at about 6.5gb but the CPU is being absolutely hammered.

Overall, I'm not impressed, and it does nothing to inspire me that the 13 MBP will do anything but be worse considering the extra load of the 5k display.

Now it might just be my setup is too much for it (web design/development setup, so photoshop, sketch, coda, chrome, Firefox, MAMP, git etc), but considering my 2013 15inch MBP + Thunderbolt Display handled all this like a dream, I am a little disappointed. Hell it might be USBC can't handle as much as Thunderbolt 3?! I'm not sure.

It might be something an OS update can fix, but if anybody with a 13inch is deciding whether or not to buy the 5k, I thought this might be useful.

 

[inmotionnow]

I know this might be a little of topic, but it's more of insight people might find useful...

I've got the 13inch Touchbar MacBook Pro, and I'm waiting on the delivery of the LG Ultrafine 5k... a few folk have expressed some concern about the 13inch performance in terms of powering the 5k, and I've been a little worried about it.

I had the chance to borrow the 4k version of the screen from a mate earlier today, and connected up to the 13 MBP running my usual set of apps, performance is pretty poor. Mission control animations stutters and is slow the first time you open it (they are fine after the first animation completes, until you go back to using apps again, at which point the problem occurs again), and trying to run a 4k Youtube video in chrome whilst doing anything on the MacBook screen (even scrolling this forum), turns the video into a stuttering mess. iStat menus show memory usage at about 6.5gb but the CPU is being absolutely hammered.

Overall, I'm not impressed, and it does nothing to inspire me that the 13 MBP will do anything but be worse considering the extra load of the 5k display.

Now it might just be my setup is too much for it (web design/development setup, so photoshop, sketch, coda, chrome, Firefox, MAMP, git etc), but considering my 2013 15inch MBP + Thunderbolt Display handled all this like a dream, I am a little disappointed. Hell it might be USBC can't handle as much as Thunderbolt 3?! I'm not sure.

It might be something an OS update can fix, but if anybody with a 13inch is deciding whether or not to buy the 5k, I thought this might be useful.

Interesting and disappointing to hear. I know some other members complained about the LG TB cable being faulty so I wonder if the USB-C cable on the 4K monitor has quality issues too. Another member here is also using a 13" with the 5K and reported no major issues. I myself have already purchased the Belkin TB3 cable as back up while I wait for my 5K. Did you also make sure you used the port on the left hand side?

I'm in the Jan 6-20 window and my order is still "Processing" as of 8:50AM EST.

 

[_themilkman]

Interesting and disappointing to hear. I know some other members complained about the LG TB cable being faulty so I wonder if the USB-C cable on the 4K monitor has quality issues too. Another member here is also using a 13" with the 5K and reported no major issues. I myself have already purchased the Belkin TB3 cable as back up while I wait for my 5K. Did you also make sure you used the port on the left hand side?

I'm in the Jan 6-20 window and my order is still "Processing" as of 8:50AM EST.

Yeah my first thought was "is this a cable issue", so I tried the Belkin USBC cable I got from apple.com a week or so ago as well, no improvement, the CPU was still going through the roof, and simply switching a tab on safari back on the MacBook screen would cause the video to stutter. This was also plugged into the left hand side of the MacBook.

I also tried closing everything down other than safari running this forum in a tab, and then chrome running the video not the 4k display, performance of mission control/animations etc was perfect with nothing running, but the video still stuttered If I clicked a link or scrolled on safari.

Like I say, it could be something unique to me, or that my app combination pushes the machine too much, but I can't help being a little disappointed, and my finger is hovering over the cancel order button for the 5k.

 

[inmotionnow]

Even with your usage, the 13" MBP should fully support both 4K and 5K monitor according to Apple's specs so I totally get the disappointment.

I'm still going to keep my order and at worst, return it to Apple (and raise a stink!) if performance is an issue. I actually cancelled a previous 4K order as the USB 2.0 speeds on the back of the monitor basically made it useless as a 'dock'.

 

[_themilkman]

Even with your usage, the 13" MBP should fully support both 4K and 5K monitor according to Apple's specs so I totally get the disappointment.

I'm still going to keep my order and at worst, return it to Apple (and raise a stink!) if performance is an issue. I actually cancelled a previous 4K order as the USB 2.0 speeds on the back of the monitor basically made it useless as a 'dock'.

Don't get me wrong, it's usable, but the point of having this high spec gear for me is to be able to use it to it's full potential. If I want to watch a 4k video on one screen whilst using photoshop on the other, I was under the impression a £2k laptop would be able to handle that, and like you say, Apple make out it fully supports it, not "it supports it but try not to do anything too demanding on it".

I went for the 13inch for the portability and admittedly, the price, hoping I've not made a bad decision!

 

[inmotionnow]

FTW - "it supports it but try not to do anything too demanding on it".

 

[Outrigger]

Don't get me wrong, it's usable, but the point of having this high spec gear for me is to be able to use it to it's full potential. If I want to watch a 4k video on one screen whilst using photoshop on the other, I was under the impression a £2k laptop would be able to handle that, and like you say, Apple make out it fully supports it, not "it supports it but try not to do anything too demanding on it".

I went for the 13inch for the portability and admittedly, the price, hoping I've not made a bad decision!

that makes no sense. there's not a whole lot of difference between the ultrafine 4k and the 27UD88 which I also have and use it with my 2016 MB which is much less powerful than the 13mbp and I have zero issues with 4k videos or any animations. both are just 4k with usb c as the single cable. the only difference as far as I can tell is the screen size.

 

[pookitoo]

I know this might be a little of topic, but it's more of insight people might find useful...

I've got the 13inch Touchbar MacBook Pro, and I'm waiting on the delivery of the LG Ultrafine 5k... a few folk have expressed some concern about the 13inch performance in terms of powering the 5k, and I've been a little worried about it.

I had the chance to borrow the 4k version of the screen from a mate earlier today, and connected up to the 13 MBP running my usual set of apps, performance is pretty poor. Mission control animations stutters and is slow the first time you open it (they are fine after the first animation completes, until you go back to using apps again, at which point the problem occurs again), and trying to run a 4k Youtube video in chrome whilst doing anything on the MacBook screen (even scrolling this forum), turns the video into a stuttering mess. iStat menus show memory usage at about 6.5gb but the CPU is being absolutely hammered.

Overall, I'm not impressed, and it does nothing to inspire me that the 13 MBP will do anything but be worse considering the extra load of the 5k display.

Now it might just be my setup is too much for it (web design/development setup, so photoshop, sketch, coda, chrome, Firefox, MAMP, git etc), but considering my 2013 15inch MBP + Thunderbolt Display handled all this like a dream, I am a little disappointed. Hell it might be USBC can't handle as much as Thunderbolt 3?! I'm not sure.

It might be something an OS update can fix, but if anybody with a 13inch is deciding whether or not to buy the 5k, I thought this might be useful.

Very interesting ! I'm in the same boat as you ! Approximately the same app, web designer too, love the portability of the 13", without external display all is fine, but love the 5K iMac display, and on my desk I want this display ;( I've made a post in the MacBook Pro section and everybody say to me to go for the 15 " ;(

 

[_themilkman]

that makes no sense. there's not a whole lot of difference between the ultrafine 4k and the 27UD88 which I also have and use it with my 2016 MB which is much less powerful than the 13mbp and I have zero issues with 4k videos or any animations. both are just 4k with usb c as the single cable. the only difference as far as I can tell is the screen size.

Completely agree it makes no sense, as the 13inch is meant to be able to power two 4k screens, and mine is struggling with one.

I'm very conscious that the definition of performance and issues is very subjective, and that the apps I use with work day to day might be very different to what someone else uses, so this might only be an issue in the way I use my MacBook and the things I consider performance problems.

I guess the point of me raising it, is if you have a 13inch and your worried about how it performs with the 5k, it might be worth waiting until a lot more people have their hands on this screen and there can be a lot more in depth analysis of what it can and can't handle. The discount is still valid for another 3 months or so, and considering app updates + OSX updates will probably make this machine have to work a little harder over the next 3/5 years, I'm worried about dropping just under a grand on something that could run like crap now, and maybe worse in the future...

As always, take everyone else's experience with a pinch of salt, as it might be vastly different to your own

 

[Dukat]

Mine should be here in the next few hours. I'm hoping for the best but all these reviews have me worried.

Don't see any good alternatives for this monitor yet.
This (https://www.overclock3d.net/news/gp...og_swift_pg27uq_4k_144hz_g-sync_hdr_monitor/1) has impressive specs, including 144hz and HDR but it's display port only.

I'll post a review and photos of light bleed and uniformity today.

 

[sidewinder]

Hell it might be USBC can't handle as much as Thunderbolt 3?! I'm not sure.

USB-C is a physical connection standard. Thunderbolt 3 uses USB-C and is able to transmit data at 40 Gbit/s (5 GB/s).

 

[Zaratustra]

What is the name of arms? I would like to buy 2 of them, waiting for my 2 5Ks

Thanks.

Picked up my displays from the Apple Store on Thursday and just got them hooked up on two monitor mounts in my office. Haven't had a chance to really use them so can't comment on how responsive it is yet.

One thing I don't like is that I have to use both sides of the MacBook to connect the displays -- would have so much cleaner to just have everything connected on 1 side.

I'm running a BTO MBP with 2.6 GHz / 460 Graphics / 512GB SSD.

 

[iBrooker]

Just as a quick update, I have requested a replacement for the monitor. I am finding the backlight to be uneven, where the top half of the monitor has more of a pink-ish hue, and the bottom half more of a blue/green hue (noticeable when viewing an all-white or almost all white screen). I'll let you know how the replacement fairs..

 

[Dukat]

Got the 5k setup with the 2016 13" i5.

Initial impressions (see updates below)...
(Resolution set to "Best for LG Ultrafine" which appears to be the same as the middle scaling option)

- DPI is amazing, makes all my other monitors look terrible.
- Black levels are very nice in videos, better than my IPS gaming monitors, although their calibration may be poor.
- Sound is decent, no complaints other than sound levels are way off. Going from 10-30% is a huge change in volume going from quiet to very loud, by 40% there's crackling.
- Mission control animation very smooth with 2 apps open. With 8 apps it's not terrible but there is noticeable choppyness
- Swiping through spaces when 2 apps in a space and 8 in another is quite choppy the first time, much better after you swiped though each space
- Launchpad animation very choppy all the time
- Animations (products sliding in) on Apple.com isn't as smooth as the laptop display but very close
- Resizing Safari window lags, but in a smooth way

- Light bleed sample: http://i.imgur.com/3TvZK5g.jpg

**Update**
These tests were run with the laptop displaying along with the monitor. I foolishly forgot that could be a performance hit. I will re-run the same tests in clamshell mode and update.

**Update 2**
Re-ran all the above tests in clamshell mode.
I am very happy to say performance skyrocketed!

- Launchpad animation is now very smooth
- Resizing Safari window is now at near normal speed
- Mission control animation with 10 open apps is very smooth
- Everything feels much more responsive, almost as good as using the laptop direct

**Update 3**
Running the laptop open with the monitor NOT using mirror mode seems to run well.
Lauchpad is smooth as is Mission Control with 8 open apps. Initial animation a tiny bit choppy, smooth afterwards.

It looks like mirror mode gives terrible performance. Clamshell mode and non-mirror mode with monitor+laptop runs well.

I'm still surprised how hot the laptop gets when running videos. Does anyone know if it's possible to shut the laptop display off without closing it? I'd like to run monitor only but leave laptop open for better cooling.

I'll be back in a few hours. Let me know if you'd like me to run any tests or record videos.
Videos will be handheld iphone quality.

 

[econ]

Got the 5k setup with the 2016 13" i5.
Happy with the monitor itself, but not blown away by the performance with the 13".
My biggest concern is when playing a video on the laptop, the metal above the touch bar gets to 101F.
When playing the same video with the monitor connected, that same piece of metal gets to 114F.

Jeebus, that is terrible. This to me seems like the "best-case" data point so far and based on it this monitor seems a bad bet for those with 13" tMBP.


Unfortunately I'm not a huge fan of clamshell because of the touchbar + keyboard + screen real estate, but I'm gonna keep my eyes peeled.

 

[Dukat]

Unfortunately I'm not a huge fan of clamshell because of the touchbar + keyboard + screen real estate, but I'm gonna keep my eyes peeled.

I don't like loosing the touchbar, hopefully Apple releases a touchbar + touchID wireless keyboard soon.
If it's going to happen I'd think they'll do it when they update the iMac's.

 

[macmee]

This displays will have image retention I guarantee it

 

[econ]

Got the 5k setup with the 2016 13" i5.

**Update 3**
Running the laptop open with the monitor NOT using mirror mode seems to run well.
Lauchpad is smooth as is Mission Control with 8 open apps. Initial animation a tiny bit choppy, smooth afterwards.

It looks like mirror mode gives terrible performance. Clamshell mode and non-mirror mode with monitor+laptop runs well.

I'm still surprised how hot the laptop gets when running videos. Does anyone know if it's possible to shut the laptop display off without closing it? I'd like to run monitor only but leave laptop open for better cooling.

I'll be back in a few hours. Let me know if you'd like me to run any tests or record videos.
Videos will be handheld iphone quality.

Quick question - does the MBP still run super hot when in non-mirror?

Thanks!

 

[Shakko]

What is the name of arms? I would like to buy 2 of them, waiting for my 2 5Ks

Thanks.

The arms are the Humanscale M8. A little pricy but worth it.

Got the 5k setup with the 2016 13" i5.

Initial impressions (see updates below)...
(Resolution set to "Best for LG Ultrafine" which appears to be the same as the middle scaling option)

- DPI is amazing, makes all my other monitors look terrible.
- Black levels are very nice in videos, better than my IPS gaming monitors, although their calibration may be poor.
- Sound is decent, no complaints other than sound levels are way off. Going from 10-30% is a huge change in volume going from quiet to very loud, by 40% there's crackling.
- Mission control animation very smooth with 2 apps open. With 8 apps it's not terrible but there is noticeable choppyness
- Swiping through spaces when 2 apps in a space and 8 in another is quite choppy the first time, much better after you swiped though each space
- Launchpad animation very choppy all the time
- Animations (products sliding in) on Apple.com isn't as smooth as the laptop display but very close
- Resizing Safari window lags, but in a smooth way

- Light bleed sample: http://i.imgur.com/3TvZK5g.jpg

**Update**
These tests were run with the laptop displaying along with the monitor. I foolishly forgot that could be a performance hit. I will re-run the same tests in clamshell mode and update.

**Update 2**
Re-ran all the above tests in clamshell mode.
I am very happy to say performance skyrocketed!

- Launchpad animation is now very smooth
- Resizing Safari window is now at near normal speed
- Mission control animation with 10 open apps is very smooth
- Everything feels much more responsive, almost as good as using the laptop direct

**Update 3**
Running the laptop open with the monitor NOT using mirror mode seems to run well.
Lauchpad is smooth as is Mission Control with 8 open apps. Initial animation a tiny bit choppy, smooth afterwards.

It looks like mirror mode gives terrible performance. Clamshell mode and non-mirror mode with monitor+laptop runs well.

I'm still surprised how hot the laptop gets when running videos. Does anyone know if it's possible to shut the laptop display off without closing it? I'd like to run monitor only but leave laptop open for better cooling.

I'll be back in a few hours. Let me know if you'd like me to run any tests or record videos.
Videos will be handheld iphone quality.

Could you please take a picture at maximum brightness with a white background. Want to see if you noticed any tinting / hue issues. Thanks!

 

[Dukat]

Quick question - does the MBP still run super hot when in non-mirror?

Thanks!

Normal desktop use no, when playing video yes. I played a 4k Youtube video for 5 minutes and I'm shocked how hot it gets.

I tried playing a video without the monitor connected and the laptop still gets hot, so I don't think it's a monitor issue. Can't believe a youtube video makes the fan come on.

Question for those with the 15" with 455 or 460.. when playing videos does your laptop get hot too? Does your fan turn on?

 

[econ]

Normal desktop use no, when playing video yes. I played a 4k Youtube video for 5 minutes and I'm shocked how hot it gets.

I tried playing a video without the monitor connected and the laptop still gets hot, so I don't think it's a monitor issue. Can't believe a youtube video makes the fan come on.

Question for those with the 15" with 455 or 460.. when playing videos does your laptop get hot too? Does your fan turn on?

Do you mind sending me the video? I'll play it on mine to see if it gets hot. I haven't had this issue so it may be a thing with your MBP rather than the LG.

 

[Dukat]

Do you mind sending me the video? I'll play it on mine to see if it gets hot. I haven't had this issue so it may be a thing with your MBP rather than the LG.

It was this video, set to 4k (

) although I've tried running local MKV's and AVI's and the laptop gets very hot as well. Normal things like IM, email, Excel runs fairly cool.

 

[hollandog]

Normal desktop use no, when playing video yes. I played a 4k Youtube video for 5 minutes and I'm shocked how hot it gets.

I tried playing a video without the monitor connected and the laptop still gets hot, so I don't think it's a monitor issue. Can't believe a youtube video makes the fan come on.

Question for those with the 15" with 455 or 460.. when playing videos does your laptop get hot too? Does your fan turn on?

Just played some 4k youtube videos for 10 minutes on the LG 5K.
It gets warm above the touchbar but not hot. I didn't hear the fan get activated.

 

[jimthing]

Got the 5k setup with the 2016 13" i5.

I'll be back in a few hours. Let me know if you'd like me to run any tests or record videos.
Videos will be handheld iphone quality.

Nice info. I now wonder how my maxed-out 15" will handle two of the displays I have ordered, though!

re. the Tbolt 3 cable...
It would be useful if a current owner of the LG 5K could test the cable it comes with, to see if it offers USB 3 speeds with USB 3 devices (using a USB-A adapter if needed) – whether that's 5 or 10Gbps.

It'd sure help shine some light on this cable's (and potentially future active cables) functionality.

 

[sidewinder]

Does anyone know if it's possible to shut the laptop display off without closing it? I'd like to run monitor only but leave laptop open for better cooling.

There are two options I have found.

The first is a System Preferences pane called "SwitchResX" that will do what you want to do:

http://www.madrau.com/index.html

You can use SwitchResX to disable the MacBook's display. To get it to go black, it seems you need to tell SwitchResX to "Set the brightness to minimum" as well. The keyboard, track pad, and touch bar still work normally. I got the trial version to work just fine on my system.

This second one is free and seems to work too:

https://github.com/Eun/DisableMonitor

To quit the app once it is running you have to go to about and right click on it in the dock.

DisableMonitor is the app I kept and it works fine most of the time. Sometimes you have to disable the monitor multiple times to get the display to go off after it is disabled. The SwitchRes site talks about the reason for this.