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LG UltraFine 5K - Owners Thread
- Thread starter iBrooker
- Start date
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Has anyone had an issue connecting their 15' Macbook Pro 2016 to the 5k display? I received mine today and when I plug it in, it keeps blinking a few before eventually going black. I tried it on my brothers new 13' Macbook pro and it works just fine...
Why would you do that? I've been using laptops exclusively for over a decade too and I've always wanted to use external monitors. Just use it in clamshell mode if you keep returning to that relatively tiny screen. Or at least make it the main display.
Odd, I couldn't get any 4k video working in safari. Will try that video later. I also need to revise my video statement slightly as full screen 1080p (scaled) plays without any frame drop with local video on mpv, my experience of frame drop was in the HTML5 player of Plex which is more likely showing the limitations of Safari decode than the cpu/gpu. Although my CPU is 200mhz slower than yours turbo boost, the gpu is same clock so would expect near identical performance.
Apart from that I've experienced the various sleep/wake bugs on the machine after unplugging cable. Have reset machine pram which may have helped a bit, need more time to see.
I did find this review:
http://www.colincornaby.me/2016/12/lg-ultrafine-5k-review/
Intersting:
"The display looked too good to be 2560×1440, but I also knew the display couldn’t be rendering at 5k. A quick test app written in Xcode also revealed that the display was rendering at 2x Retina scale. So what was going on?
I downloaded SwitchResX which revealed something very interesting about how Apple handles the LG Ultrafine on older Macs. Apple is rendering the screen at 5k, but then downsampling it to 4k and sending it to the display. So my computer acts as if it is attached to a 5k display, even though it can push a 4k image. That’s a really clever enhancement that almost makes this display worth it for older Mac owners. Even with only 4k output, it could be a great drop in replacement for an Apple Thunderbolt Display, with a noticeable increase in image quality and P3 support (with a bit of help from SwitchResX.) Apple has clearly thought about the Apple Thunderbolt Display sized hole that is being left in their lineup for Macs that haven’t rolled over from Thunderbolt 2 yet."
http://www.colincornaby.me/2016/12/lg-ultrafine-5k-review/
Intersting:
"The display looked too good to be 2560×1440, but I also knew the display couldn’t be rendering at 5k. A quick test app written in Xcode also revealed that the display was rendering at 2x Retina scale. So what was going on?
I downloaded SwitchResX which revealed something very interesting about how Apple handles the LG Ultrafine on older Macs. Apple is rendering the screen at 5k, but then downsampling it to 4k and sending it to the display. So my computer acts as if it is attached to a 5k display, even though it can push a 4k image. That’s a really clever enhancement that almost makes this display worth it for older Mac owners. Even with only 4k output, it could be a great drop in replacement for an Apple Thunderbolt Display, with a noticeable increase in image quality and P3 support (with a bit of help from SwitchResX.) Apple has clearly thought about the Apple Thunderbolt Display sized hole that is being left in their lineup for Macs that haven’t rolled over from Thunderbolt 2 yet."
I know quite a few people here weren't able to play 4K in Safari but I'm not sure why this is working fine on mine. Even if I just search "4K" video in YouTube, a bunch of videos appear, which I can play @ 4K.
I agree that my slightly faster CPU shouldn't make much of a difference. In fact, CPU is not getting hammered at all while playing videos on YouTube so no way the turbo boost is kicking in.
I am running the latest Sierra beta (w/ updated video drivers).
It seems to depend on the video. That Trainspotting video inmotionnow linked plays in 4k for me, but other 4k videos do not, but do in Chrome.
Lots of discussion on the issue in this thread.
no, they are data downstream only, does not carry video signal. I tried that with my 27UD88 just to see, does not work.
There are about 6, 7 data points in this thread, you'll have to go and read them all to check. My impression is that on average there is some slight stutter, but livable. Some find it unlivable, some find it smooth like butter. You'll have to check for yourself.
There are very mixed reports. A few members had a lot issues and I believe swapping to the 15" resolved everything for them. Consensus seems to be that running in clamshell/extended mode is key to performance (vs. mirrored).
Before receiving the screen, I was preparing myself to have to return my 13" for the 15" but my experience with a maxed out TB 13" has been great (in both clamshell and extended, I never use mirror when connected to an external display). If you can afford it, best bet would be to buy it and try it. If it doesn't work out, you can always return the display to Apple.
Cable is quite short. You probably won't be able to use your MBP below the monitor in the centre if this is connected to the left side TB3 since the TB3 port on the back of the monitor is on the right hand side. I could have my 13" MBP in clamshell mode connected to left side TB3 by having the machine closed and 'facing' the screen (i.e. where trackpad would be, away from me) - not sure if this makes sense in writing lol.
The included TB3 cable by LG is super long and at least for me, I couldn't find any performance difference between that and the Belkin. Iv'e decided to just use the stock cable for the time being. If you have issues with the stock cable, it's probably defective and Apple or LG should be able to replace this.
Hope this helps.
With my monitor at is lowest position, the distance from the cable to the desktop is just under nine inches. So that would leave you a little over ten inches to come across the front of the monitor to the left side of the MacBook. Just measuring across my desk surface, it would be close, but I don't think it would reach. Or if it did, it would be pulling on the cable.
Now if you wanted to run in clamshell mode with the MacBook on the right side of the monitor, the Belkin cable could easily do that.
Belkin does have a 2m long TB3 cable but I don't think it supports USB 3.1 @10Gbps like the 0.5 m one does: http://www.belkin.com/us/p/P-F2CD083/ (vs. http://www.belkin.com/us/p/P-F2CD082/)
Pains of being an early adopter my friend. From what I can tell, TB3 cables are really hard to manufacturer and length of the cable has a direct impact on speed (depending on whether if it's an active or passive cable). StarTech has a good write up here: https://blog.startech.com/post/thunderbolt-3-the-basics/
"Is there a maximum cable length for Thunderbolt 3 technology?
Thunderbolt 3 passive cables have maximum lengths. We currently have the following passive Thunderbolt 3 copper cables:
- 0.5m (1.65ft) TB 3 (40Gbps) USB-C Cable – Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C Compatible
- 1m (3.3ft) TB 3 (20Gbps) USB-C Cable – Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C Compatible
- 2m (6.6ft) TB 3 (20Gbps) USB-C Cable – Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C Compatible
Thanks for the feedback about the 5K screen with the 13" TB MBP, much appreciated.
You don't experience any lag? For example in multitasking, scrolling in websites, ...?
In my day-to-day usage, no complaints.
As an example, yesterday night , I had 2 Safari windows open (and a few other apps like Spark, Evernote, Outlook, Word, iTunes, Keynote, but for the sake of this response, I was mostly actively using Safari). In one of the window, I had a picture-in-picture video playing (YT), and a few other tabs open. In the second window I had a hockey game playing (Gamecenter Live). I was watching both videos (hockey was more so in the background), navigating through my tabs, scrolling through sites. I'm sure people have different opinion on how to define lag but let me put it this way, I can easily become frustrated when technology doesn't work (i.e. before swapping my old mid 2010 MBP HDD with a SSD, I was ready to throw that machine against the wall) and not once was I annoyed last night with my set up.
PS: Keep in mind I'm not a hardcore pro doing stuff like rendiner 4K+ videos etc... so can't speak for what that experience would be like.
Mine's coming Monday! Any creative solutions you guys have found for cable management? My OCD will not let the power and TB3 cables just hang visibly behind the display.
Has anyone with a 2013 mac pro been able to test the 5K with a TB3-Tb2 adapter? Apple support page says it's compatible albeit in 3840x1260 mode. Would like to know how that looks and if it's blurry or not.