LG UltraFine 5K - Owners Thread

[iBrooker]

Here are some images of the backlight.. doesn't look too bad to me on these photos (it only really affects white screens). Maybe I am being too critical...

 

[sidewinder]

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.

I have a LaCie 4TB Porsche Design external drive with a USB-C port that is bus powered. Here are some results:

1. Plugged into MacBook Pro directly using supplied cable: 124.1 MB/s read, 120.9 MB/s write
2. Plugged into LG 5K UltraFine Display USB-C port using supplied cable: 113.1 MB/s read, 114.2 MB/s write
3. Plugged into MacBook Pro directly using LG display cable: 37.4 MB/s read, 32.2 MB/s write

Test 1 is USB 3.1 Gen 1.

Test 2 is still USB 3.1 Gen 1 but with a performance hit probably due to the display using most of the Thunderbolt 3 bandwidth.

Test 3 looks like USB 2.0 speeds when using the display cable.

 

[Dukat]

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.

I ran the following test using a Samsung T3 SSD, 1TB. I don't have an app that monitors transfer speed so I'll report on transfer time.

Transferred an 80GB file from the external drive to the laptop:
- Drive connected to the laptop: 2m 54s
- Drive connected to the monitor: 3m 34s

 

[hollandog]

Yikes -- that's pretty bad about the brightness not responding correctly. It looks like a hardware issue IMO. How do you plan to get it replaced? Just return / repurchase?

And thanks for taking the shot with the whites -- it's a little hard to make out since the iPhone over exposed the screens, though -- any chance you can retake it but tone the exposure down (just tap to focus, then swipe down)?


After your calibration, were you able to get rid of all of the greens?
[doublepost=1483506853][/doublepost]I just took a moment to adjust the exposure / contrast on my original photo showing the pink tint. When i do this, I can see that theres a very obvious delineation in the screens where the two display channels are "glued" together -- the first display seems to have a yellow / pink tint, and the second a green / gray.

Just did similar test like yours.

Full brightness light bleed test:

70% brightness white background test (unedited)

70% brightness white background test (brightness/contrast adjusted)

70% brightness white background test (brightness/contrast/saturation adjusted)

My unit is calibrated with x-rite colormunki display. So far I don't see uneven tint or banding.

 

[sidewinder]

Dukat, that's not the test jimthing wanted to have done.

 

[jimthing]

I have a LaCie 4TB Porsche Design external drive with a USB-C port that is bus powered. Here are some results:

1. Plugged into MacBook Pro directly using supplied cable: 124.1 MB/s read, 120.9 MB/s write
2. Plugged into LG 5K UltraFine Display USB-C port using supplied cable: 113.1 MB/s read, 114.2 MB/s write
3. Plugged into MacBook Pro directly using LG display cable: 37.4 MB/s read, 32.2 MB/s write

Test 1 is USB 3.1 Gen 1.

Test 2 is still USB 3.1 Gen 1 but with a performance hit probably due to the display using most of the Thunderbolt 3 bandwidth.

Test 3 looks like USB 2.0 speeds when using the display cable.

I ran the following test using a Samsung T3 SSD, 1TB. I don't have an app that monitors transfer speed so I'll report on transfer time.

Transferred an 80GB file from the external drive to the laptop:
- Drive connected to the laptop: 2m 54s
- Drive connected to the monitor: 3m 34s

Thanks to both. So it looks like the Tbolt 3 cable supplied with the LG is only capable of USB 2 speeds then.
Bugger. Would've been nice to have an 'all in one' 2m cable.

Still wonder if future 2m active Tbolt 3 cables will offer USB 3.0 speeds though. It's anyone's guess when they may be available though. :-(

 

[likegadgets]

For those of you with two of the LG 5K and a MBP 15" 2016 - what is the recommended method to connect the two monitors to the MBP? Can it be done with one cable for the MBP to Monitor 1 and then Monitor 2 connected to Monitor 1?
Or must both be connected to the MBP?

 

[jimthing]

For those of you with two of the LG 5K and a MBP 15" 2016 - what is the recommended method to connect the two monitors to the MBP? Can it be done with one cable for the MBP to Monitor 1 and then Monitor 2 connected to Monitor 1?
Or must both be connected to the MBP?

Both to the MBP, one on either side as there's one controller per two ports per side.

 

[triumph71]

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

Have you tried setting your MacBookPro resolution to the 2nd of the 4 scaled options? I ask because the 13" has a 2560x1600 resolution. The 'default' retina setting is actually not a true 2:1 retina resolution (1280x800) like the 5K display, but rather a software scaled 1440x900, which takes CPU to do.

I think you will find the 5K will run much smoother with your 13" set to that 1280x800 resolution.

 

[inmotionnow]

**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.

Thanks so much for the super detailed write up, much appreciated! I know a few of us here who are waiting on the 5K display are using 13" rMBP. I'll likely be using mine mostly in clamshell or extended display so glad to know that performance shouldn't be an issue.

 

[Shakko]

Just did similar test like yours.

Full brightness light bleed test:

70% brightness white background test (unedited)

70% brightness white background test (brightness/contrast adjusted)

70% brightness white background test (brightness/contrast/saturation adjusted)

My unit is calibrated with x-rite colormunki display. So far I don't see uneven tint or banding.

Your display looks very even -- I can't notice any issues with color / tinting. How was it like before the calibration? Did you notice a a big difference?

 

[hollandog]

Your display looks very even -- I can't notice any issues with color / tinting. How was it like before the calibration? Did you notice a a big difference?

not huge difference before calibration but like I said it had a light green tint.

 

[Dukat]

Here's a photo of the setup: http://imgur.com/bHFZryl
And a short video to show animation performance with extended desktop:

I finally got around to trying some photo editing with the 13"... applying filters like denoise take really long. Would the 15" with 460 make a significant difference?

 

[inmotionnow]

Here's a photo of the setup: http://imgur.com/bHFZryl
And a short video to show animation performance with extended desktop:

I finally got around to trying some photo editing with the 13"... applying filters like denoise take really long. Would the 15" with 460 make a significant difference?

Thanks for that! Performance looks pretty good in extended mode.

In regards to photo editing, are you finding it slow in general or only when connected to the 5K screen? Also, is the CPU running much higher when using extended or clamshell mode?

Thanks again!

 

[Dukat]

Thanks for that! Performance looks pretty good in extended mode.

In regards to photo editing, are you finding it slow in general or only when connected to the 5K screen? Also, is the CPU running much higher when using extended or clamshell mode?

Thanks again!

Photo processing performance is the same with or without the monitor.

I haven't noticed any difference in CPU load, however idling on the desktop with the monitor plugged in makes the laptop quite warm on the bottom, towards the back. When not connected to the monitor doing the same idling it runs much cooler, barely any warmth.

 

[alienacis]

Argh, it was very stable for a couple of days since I posted this. Today, I had to move the monitor and removed and re-inserted the Belkin cable and shoot, the periodic flickering and sleep instability issues are back I even tried the beta of MacOS 10.12.3 but that doesn't resolve these issues.

I have printed a return label at apple.com and will give it another couple of weeks (return deadline is Jan 16) but if this continues, it is most likely going back. What a bummer, the screen is awesome but I just can't hope for LG to fix these hardware or firmware issues as there has been no acknowledgement from them or Apple and I am left holding a beta lemon product with nobody owning these issues.

I did a clean re-install of MacOS but still no luck. Folks at LG support had no clue or awareness of these issues, I can't be the only one running into them.

Definitely returning it. Hopefully, the next iMac 27in will have Target Display Mode, lesson learned: end-to-end Apple built products is the way to go.

 

[_themilkman]

Here's a photo of the setup: http://imgur.com/bHFZryl
And a short video to show animation performance with extended desktop:

I finally got around to trying some photo editing with the 13"... applying filters like denoise take really long. Would the 15" with 460 make a significant difference?

That looks a lot more solid than mine was running the 4k monitor... could you try playing a 4k Youtube video in Chrome on the 5k and then doing something else on the monitor to see if you get stutter?

Really good of you to spend some time helping folk make sure they have the right setup

 

[pookitoo]

Photo processing performance is the same with or without the monitor.

Hum, very good News ! No performances drop with the 5k + 13 tb ?! I'm curious if it's the same with little vidéo editing in Final Cut Pro

 

[Dukat]

That looks a lot more solid than mine was running the 4k monitor... could you try playing a 4k Youtube video in Chrome on the 5k and then doing something else on the monitor to see if you get stutter?

Really good of you to spend some time helping folk make sure they have the right setup

Here you go, Chrome with 4k video. Sorry the video is shaky.

It may be hard to tell in the video that the 4k video would pause time to time and it wasn't due to buffering. If you turn the volume up you can here the sound pause.

 

[_themilkman]

Here you go, Chrome with 4k video. Sorry the video is shaky.

It may be hard to tell in the video that the 4k video would pause time to time and it wasn't due to buffering. If you turn the volume up you can here the sound pause.

Thanks dude - exactly the same behaviour I was seeing on the 4k screen. I would try it in Safari, but 4k doesn't appear to be an option in Safari at the moment on my new machine.

I wonder if a lot of the performance problems I had were down to Chrome? It runs 4k videos nicely on my PC, but that has a silly powerful GFX card.

Thanks again for taking the time

 

[Outrigger]

Is anyone here running the 5k along with another 4k? I have the 27UD88 and if I connect both monitors on one side, the 5k comes on no problem but the 4k beeps as if connected and then goes dark, but if I hook them up on opposite sides of the laptop they both come on no issue. I have the 15" with pro 455 gpu. Can anyone else chime in. I would just prefer having 2 cables on the same side vs 1 on each side.

 

[_themilkman]

Is anyone here running the 5k along with another 4k? I have the 27UD88 and if I connect both monitors on one side, the 5k comes on no problem but the 4k beeps as if connected and then goes dark, but if I hook them up on opposite sides of the laptop they both come on no issue. I have the 15" with pro 455 gpu. Can anyone else chime in. I would just prefer having 2 cables on the same side vs 1 on each side.

I don't know the technical details, but I've read in this thread (or on this forum at least) about the 15inch having two Thunderbolt controllers powering each side (or something like that), so that you need to plug a display into each side to get it to work, but I got the impression that was only a limitation with the 5k display.
[doublepost=1483715847][/doublepost]This reddit thread seems to explain it better;

https://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/5loaio/psa_dual_lg_ultrafine_5k_setup/

 

[Dukat]

Thanks dude - exactly the same behaviour I was seeing on the 4k screen. I would try it in Safari, but 4k doesn't appear to be an option in Safari at the moment on my new machine.

I wonder if a lot of the performance problems I had were down to Chrome? It runs 4k videos nicely on my PC, but that has a silly powerful GFX card.

Thanks again for taking the time

No 4k option in Youtube in Safari? Strange, I had the option in Safari and think it ran better than Chrome.
I just got back from the Apple store. Returned the 13" in exchange for a 15".
I lucked out, they had a 15", space gray, with 1TB SSD and 460 GPU!

Time Machine restore will probably take 2 hours, will run the same tests I did with the 13", see if it makes a difference.

 

[jimthing]

JUST SEEN! On Apple UK...

• Order by 7:00 pm, delivers: Mon 9 Jan - Free
  Pickup: Ships to Apple Store, White City

...or any London branch, for that matter!

My two ordered on 20 Dec, are still "Preparing For Dispatch"...???
Someone please tell me I'm not gonna get them later than newbies ordering right NOW, FFS!
[doublepost=1483719430][/doublepost]...and it's gone again. WTF.

Now showing for new orders: 30 Jan for pickup / 23-30 Jan for delivery. Great computer system you have there Apple, giving misinformation continually.

 

[spinstorm]

My order for 10-23 January had gone to preparing for shipment and I have been charged.

That's obviously very efficiently hitting the target dates. This may be like the 4K monitor which took weeks for delivery if you ordered but was usually in store for pick up.

I have a feeling they may be in stores from Monday but still may be a case of 1 or 2 in stock only.

(As far as personal timing goes; I couldn't be happier I am going to return my 4K now before the returns period is over and get a full refund; no eBay required.).