LG UltraFine 5K - Owners Thread

[iAustralian]

It would be great to get a practical perspective on how the display quality is with older MacBook Pro's. Does anyone with this display have an old MacBook Pro lying around that they could test with the thunderbolt 2 to 3 dongle?

Unfortunately, I don't have an old MacBook Pro lying around. However, when I connect both the 5K and my 30 inch Apple Cinema Display via a the Thunderbolt 2 to 3 dongle and a Belkin tb2 dock, both into the right hand ports, the LG does limit itself to scaled up 4K. It looked okay. Much like a scaled resolution mode, but not nearly as clear as native 5K.
This was resolved when I connected the displays to opposite ports. This suggests I was overloading the right thunderbolt controller.
I made some calculations, the LG 5K consumes 31.85 Gbps of the bandwidth, the old 30 inch Cinema Display only 7.37 Gbps, which must be enough to limit the resolution when you add in the Belkin thunderbolt dock I have to connect my Cinema Display through to convert to Mini DisplayPort, and add in the three USB 3.1 ports and mic/speaker/camera all running down that single cable to the LG.

What exactly does this do for you on the LG 5K? Is it useful at all on the LG 5K, and if so, how does it work with it?

The LG utility isn't particularly useful, it offers a way of splitting screens between the displays, offers some links to the Apple system preference panes, and it is the port to update the monitor through firmware update files. The display works fine without it.
There is an annoying delay in changing the brightness on the LG with an external keyboard.

 

[starsaffron]

Unfortunately, I don't have an old MacBook Pro lying around. However, when I connect both the 5K and my 30 inch Apple Cinema Display via a the Thunderbolt 2 to 3 dongle and a Belkin tb2 dock, both into the right hand ports, the LG does limit itself to scaled up 4K. It looked okay. Much like a scaled resolution mode, but not nearly as clear as native 5K.
This was resolved when I connected the displays to opposite ports. This suggests I was overloading the right thunderbolt controller.
I made some calculations, the LG 5K consumes 31.85 Gbps of the bandwidth, the old 30 inch Cinema Display only 7.37 Gbps, which must be enough to limit the resolution when you add in the Belkin thunderbolt dock I have to connect my Cinema Display through to convert to Mini DisplayPort, and add in the three USB 3.1 ports and mic/speaker/camera all running down that single cable to the LG.


The LG utility isn't particularly useful, it offers a way of splitting screens between the displays, offers some links to the Apple system preference panes, and it is the port to update the monitor through firmware update files. The display works fine without it.
There is an annoying delay in changing the brightness on the LG with an external keyboard.

Thanks, was text still crisp in scaled 4k mode or was there some blurriness? I wonder how running this monitor in scaled 4k mode compares to running a 27" 4k monitor at native 4k.

 

[iAustralian]

Thanks, was text still crisp in scaled 4k mode or was there some blurriness? I wonder how running this monitor in scaled 4k mode compares to running a 27" 4k monitor at native 4k.

There was definitely blurriness in the text. So what I was getting was a 3840 x 2160 signal being fed from the Mac and then scaled up by the display itself to fill 5K pixels. A crude operation.
A better option might be letterboxing with black all around and crystal clear text? This was my scaling experience when overloading the tb bus and might be different when using a tb2 Mac.

 

[slaWter]

Unfortunately, I don't have an old MacBook Pro lying around. However, when I connect both the 5K and my 30 inch Apple Cinema Display via a the Thunderbolt 2 to 3 dongle and a Belkin tb2 dock, both into the right hand ports, the LG does limit itself to scaled up 4K. It looked okay. Much like a scaled resolution mode, but not nearly as clear as native 5K.
This was resolved when I connected the displays to opposite ports. This suggests I was overloading the right thunderbolt controller.
I made some calculations, the LG 5K consumes 31.85 Gbps of the bandwidth, the old 30 inch Cinema Display only 7.37 Gbps, which must be enough to limit the resolution when you add in the Belkin thunderbolt dock I have to connect my Cinema Display through to convert to Mini DisplayPort, and add in the three USB 3.1 ports and mic/speaker/camera all running down that single cable to the LG.

Interesting results. Do you think it is related to the TB Dock? Maybe it also applies to the scenario some of us asked about earlier: Dual 5K displays, internal MBP display plus an additional 4K/Ultrawide DP screen connected to either side of the MBP. Can't wait to try a third external screen (although lower res) however the 5Ks are still removed from the Swiss stores

 

[iBrooker]

In case anyone's wondering, this monitor does not have an 'off' switch, although I think it goes into some sort of sleep mode after some time of activity.

 

[kinster]

In case anyone's wondering, this monitor does not have an 'off' switch, although I think it goes into some sort of sleep mode after some time of activity.

Same as the Thunderbolt display

 

[iBrooker]

Another quick thing you guys might find interesting... the 'LG Ultrafine' colour profile seems to be exactly the same as the 'colour LCD' profile which is for the inbuilt display - you can switch between then on either the monitor or the inbuilt display and they look indistinguishable. Apple weren't joking when they said they made this display for the new MBPs!

 

[Weaselboy]

the 'LG Ultrafine' colour profile

Did you have to install that or something... or was it already there in Sierra.

Mine is supposed to be here by Wednesday, and I really appreciate all the info you have provided here.

 

[Mike Delta]

In case anyone's wondering, this monitor does not have an 'off' switch, although I think it goes into some sort of sleep mode after some time of activity.

What that just weird.

 

[iBrooker]

Did you have to install that or something... or was it already there in Sierra.

Mine is supposed to be here by Wednesday, and I really appreciate all the info you have provided here.

Everything already in Sierra

Apparently there's something you can download from the LG website that offers additional modes and the ability to upgrade firmware. I haven't downloaded it yet.

Good luck for Wednesday and you're welcome

 

[DarwinOSX]

I'm actually got the 512GB one. I really am fine with that as i've put together a couple of USB-C 3.1 external enclosures with fast SSDs. Should comfortably get over 550Mb/s read and writes. Plenty good enough for my iPhoto and iTunes libraries. Really those are the main space gobblers I have to deal with. I plan on hanging a couple of these drives off the back of the displays.

What enclosures did you use?
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Thats horrifyingly slow
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Its pretty average. This isn't a gaming display.
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The LG utility isn't particularly useful, it offers a way of splitting screens between the displays, offers some links to the Apple system preference panes, and it is the port to update the monitor through firmware update files. The display works fine without it.

The ability to update the firmware sounds incredibly useful.
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1920 x 1080 is fine for moat people, that's the kind of monitor we need. 5K is a spec 99 percent of people don't need or would even notice, other than to say "hey, I have a 5K monitor". Specs wins out over practicality.

It's not for you is what you mean. I love getting a 5k display. Always odd to me that some people think their opinion applies to everyone.
There are plenty of 1920 X 1080 monitors, hundreds of them.
If you think most people won't notice the dramatic increase in sharpness and color I suggest you get your eyes checked.

 

[spinstorm]

I find it really interesting that Apple's delivery dates have not changed at all since the initial date slippage on the first day it went on sale.

It is still 2-4 weeks; and in store pickup shows exactly 4 weeks from the day you check it.

This suggests to me that once they have stock it will be very easy to get hold of; my question is will it be closer to 2 weeks or 4...

 

[dwdrummer959]

Mine just shipped. Should arrive weds.

 

[Brookzy]

Apparently there's something you can download from the LG website that offers additional modes and the ability to upgrade firmware. I haven't downloaded it yet.

I wouldn't download it until you know you need it (e.g. to update the firmware). Tried it with my UltraFine 4K and it's a horrendous application that requests Accessibility Access so it can control your screen on your behalf for some useless Windows-style snap-to-fit thing it has. Total abuse of accessibility features that I'm amazed Apple endorsed.

And uninstalling it is a pain, I found traces of it all over the place even after removing it.

 

[iBrooker]

Mine just shipped. Should arrive weds.

Nice! Let us know how you get on

I wouldn't download it until you know you need it (e.g. to update the firmware). Tried it with my UltraFine 4K and it's a horrendous application that requests Accessibility Access so it can control your screen on your behalf for some useless Windows-style snap-to-fit thing it has. Total abuse of accessibility features that I'm amazed Apple endorsed.

And uninstalling it is a pain, I found traces of it all over the place even after removing it.

Thanks for the heads-up! I wasn't intending on installing it, but definitely won't now, haha.

 

[Brookzy]

In case anyone's wondering, this monitor does not have an 'off' switch, although I think it goes into some sort of sleep mode after some time of activity.

What that just weird.

To be honest, a good display like this shouldn't have an off switch. While most displays go into some awful 'no signal' mode when the host machine powers off...



[I mean, what engineer ever thought that was useful to anyone?!]

...these LG screens are intelligent enough to just turn off.

Similarly, when an input signal returns, they turn on.

(The UltraFines also have other features that would be somewhat incompatible with a 'proper' off button: the USB-C ports on the rear are constantly powered at 7.5W per port whether or not a host is connected, making it very useful for recharging devices.)

 

[iBrooker]

To be honest, a good display like this shouldn't have an off switch. While most displays go into some awful 'no signal' mode when the host machine powers off...

I wonder how long it is before it powers down. I currently have two USB 'tweeters' connected as well as an external HD - would be nice to know when they actually switch off. I might time it one day! lol

 

[Brookzy]

I wonder how long it is before it powers down. I currently have two USB 'tweeters' connected as well as an external HD - would be nice to know when they actually switch off. I might time it one day! lol

As in, how long until it totally powers off? The panel is off as soon as your Mac sleeps or shuts down. You can tell because there is no image on the screen at all (rather than a dim black image for example). But the USB-C ports stay powered for as long as the display is connected to power from what I can tell.

 

[iBrooker]

But the USB-C ports stay powered for as long as the display is connected to power from what I can tell.

That's not good then :/ I don't want my drive and speakers and anything else connected to stay on after I've 'switched off'...

 

[iAustralian]

I noticed today that the specs on the LG website list the Colour Depth as: "10bit (8bit + A-FRC)".
From what I have researched this means the 5K isn't a true 30-bit display as I thought (10 channels of depth per R, G and B - 16.7 million colours), but rather a 24-bit display which plays some tricks through A-FRC Advanced Frame Rate Control by jiggling the colour of pixels and adjacent pixels to simulate 10 bits of colour and achieve billions of colours.
Does anyone else know any more about this?

 

[garyleecn]

Mine just shipped. Should arrive weds.

when was your original ETA? did yours get shipped early?
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That's not good then :/ I don't want my drive and speakers and anything else connected to stay on after I've 'switched off'...

I think this feature is meant for charging usb devices. and if there's no data, your drive should power off itself. just like plugging the drive into a usb wall charger, it won't keep spinning.

 

[dwdrummer959]

Ordered on 12/20 with an ETA of 12/27 or 12/28.

 

[hollandog]

Ordered on 12/20 with an ETA of 12/27 or 12/28.

mine had ETA of 12/27 or 12/28 by next day air. now it's pushed to 12/29 because they shipped by ground...

 

[Fireball Dragon]

I ordered on 23rd Dec with a delivery estimate window starting 13th Jan.

Really hope it comes sooner. Made a huge mistake to opt for the 21"....

 

[slaWter]

Still not possible to order in Switzerland

I noticed today that the specs on the LG website list the Colour Depth as: "10bit (8bit + A-FRC)".
From what I have researched this means the 5K isn't a true 30-bit display as I thought (10 channels of depth per R, G and B - 16.7 million colours), but rather a 24-bit display which plays some tricks through A-FRC Advanced Frame Rate Control by jiggling the colour of pixels and adjacent pixels to simulate 10 bits of colour and achieve billions of colours.
Does anyone else know any more about this?

iBrooker what does it say for the 5K in the System Report under Pixel Depth (ARGBxxxx)?