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LG UltraFine 5K - Owners Thread

jimthing said:
I can't remember, but didn't we ascertain further up the thread that v3.06 adds absolutely no functionality (nor fixes the few annoyances), anyway. So I doubt it's worth anyone bothering with.
Click to expand...

You can't determine that from the naming convention displayed by the app. Sure, the naming convention differs by 3.06 from 3.04 but there's really no way to know unless you have the internal changelog from LG or have a means to check each individual firmware file *.bin from both software packages. So, it may/may not add any bug fixes. I doubt that the naming scheme would change for no reason though. So, the change in the naming could be software changes which only apply to a specific hardware change which didn't warrant applying for a completely new hardware license and would not apply to older displays. For example, changing the USB hub controller chip to a different manufacturer/model, among other similar revisions.
[doublepost=1556913334][/doublepost]
Squuiid said:
The last batch of monitors I bought came with 3.06 but can’t find this firmware available publicly anywhere.
Click to expand...

If you don't mind, then it could you copy paste the output from the text file, LG.txt, which would be created in your home directory.

Code: 
/Applications/LG\ Screen\ Manager.app/Contents/MacOS/./LG\ Screen\ Manager > ~/LG.txt 2>&1

I would like to compare the hardware enumeration for your LG 5K with the 3.06 firmware. I've posted the output for mine in another post which has the 3.04 firmware. Thanks.
 
whoisyourdaddy said:
You can't determine that from the naming convention displayed by the app. Sure, the naming convention differs by 3.06 from 3.04 but there's really no way to know unless you have the internal changelog from LG or have a means to check each individual firmware file *.bin from both software packages. So, it may/may not add any bug fixes. I doubt that the naming scheme would change for no reason though. So, the change in the naming could be software changes which only apply to a specific hardware change which didn't warrant applying for a completely new hardware license and would not apply to older displays. For example, changing the USB hub controller chip to a different manufacturer/model, among other similar revisions.
[doublepost=1556913334][/doublepost]

If you don't mind, then it could you copy paste the output from the text file, LG.txt, which would be created in your home directory.

Code: 
/Applications/LG\ Screen\ Manager.app/Contents/MacOS/./LG\ Screen\ Manager > ~/LG.txt 2>&1

I would like to compare the hardware enumeration for your LG 5K with the 3.06 firmware. I've posted the output for mine in another post which has the 3.04 firmware. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Command runs and creates LG.txt file but has no content.
 
Hey guys, just got my 5K monitor yesterday!

Just had a question about resolution. The native resolution is obviously 5120 x 2880 (which with default Retina scaling ratio of 2.0 gives you a UI that looks like 2560 x 1440).

However I like everything to be smaller, so ideally I'd like to reduce the Retina ratio so I get more real estate but loose obviously some of the retina crispness.

So my ideal scaled resolution on this screen is so that the UI looks like 3200 x 1800 (a 1.6 ratio).

However when I select this scaled resolution, System Reporter reports the following,

LG UltraFine:
Resolution: 6400 x 3600
UI Looks like: 3200 x 1800


Why is that? I would expect it to say,

LG UltraFine:
Resolution: 5120 x 2880
UI Looks like: 3200 x 1800


Is this a OS X bug and it is actually outputting 5120 x 2880?

Or is the laptop really outputting 6400 x 3600 and then the monitor scales it down to its native 5120 x 2880?
 
Fredde87 said:
Is this a OS X bug and it is actually outputting 5120 x 2880?

Or is the laptop really outputting 6400 x 3600 and then the monitor scales it down to its native 5120 x 2880?
Click to expand...

I would call it a bug as OS X is not reporting everything going on. It is doing the Retina thing by doubling the visible resolution in its hardware buffers (which is what it is reporting) but when sending out to the monitor it scales it down to what the monitor will accept (does not report).
 
saulinpa said:
I would call it a bug as OS X is not reporting everything going on. It is doing the Retina thing by doubling the visible resolution in its hardware buffers (which is what it is reporting) but when sending out to the monitor it scales it down to what the monitor will accept (does not report).
Click to expand...
I would call it missing information. The Resolution 6400 x 2600 is the size of the frame buffer in memory. The "UI looks like 3200 x 1800" statement means that things are being drawn four times larger than on a non-retina display - fonts are smoother because there's 4 times as many pixels to use. The "Framebuffer Depth" is the format of the pixels in the frame buffer.

The part that is missing is the output resolution and timing and color depth 5120 x 2880 60 Hz (933 MHz) 30-Bit Color (ARGB2101010). The GPU scales the frame buffer down to the output resolution 5120 x 2880 60Hz. Note that it is possible for the frame buffer to have a different color depth than what the GPU transmits to the display (this is like another scaling). The color depth affects the bandwidth just like the output resolution.

Maybe use bugreporter.apple.com to tell Apple to add this missing information, so people are not confused when they think their display is running at 5K but it is actually running at 4K for example. It might also be nice to know DisplayPort speed and lanes as well (in the case of the LG 5K, it would be Dual Link DisplayPort 1.2, four lanes each). USB-C docks are limited to two lanes of DisplayPort. This is similar to the link speed and link width numbers that Apple shows for PCIe and Thunderbolt devices.

A display can scale up resolutions. For example, I have an Apple 30" Cinema Display (2560x1600). There are two ways to output 1280x800. I can use a scaled 1280x800 resolution that the GPU will output as 2560x1600, or I can use a 1280x800 timing, which the display scales up to 2560x1600. The two methods have a different appearance. When scaled by the GPU, the pixels are blurrier - smoothed out by the GPU in the scaling process. When scaled by the display, the image is blocky, a single pixel is scaled up to four pixels with the exact same color.

I also have the option of using a 1280x800 HiDPI mode which uses a 2560x1600 frame buffer, draws everything 4 times bigger (fonts are smoother because there are more pixels to use) and outputs using the 2560x1600 timing.

SwitchResX can be used to show the timing information for different resolutions and will show which are scaled or not scaled, and which are HiDPI (Retina) or not HiDPI. You create timings and resolutions. Then the OS creates HiDPI resolutions for each that are larger than a certain size.
 
From System Information:
LG UltraFine:
Resolution: 5120 x 2880 (5K/UHD+ - Ultra High Definition Plus)
UI Looks like: 2560 x 1440
Framebuffer Depth: 30-Bit Color (ARGB2101010)

From SwitchResX:
sresx.png
 
saulinpa said:
From System Information:
LG UltraFine:
Resolution: 5120 x 2880 (5K/UHD+ - Ultra High Definition Plus)
UI Looks like: 2560 x 1440
Framebuffer Depth: 30-Bit Color (ARGB2101010)

From SwitchResX:
Click to expand...
If that is a UltraFine 5K, then your 5K is being given a 4K signal. The pixels will be clearer when you run at 5K.
 
there are some refurbished Ultrafines for around 1000CAD. I am quite intrigued. (now that the new $$$ screen has been announced)

i really like a 5k screen (used a 5k imac before) and i do like my thunderbolt display's camera & speaker (use them regularly). Hence, I am quite interested in the ultrafine.

wondering if anyone has any thoughts on purchasing these monitors now.
any comments appreciated.

thanks.
 
I was lucky enough to get one off of woot in Nov to go along with a 2018 mini.

Image retention aside everything works like new.

One small problem though is that they sent me one with a bent back panel cover and then proceeded to refund me 150USD bringing the total to 500$

Hopefully Apple release a new 5k version which can easily daisy chain another 5k. I for one, love the retro design and would pay basically full price if I had to now, especially since the new 'Pro' model displays are far out of reach.
 
Been well priced out of the new XDR display. I really want a Retina display soon to replace my Thunderbolt Display, is this still the best option? I really don’t want to give up Thunderbolt, built-in webcam or speakers.

Only thing stopping me is every time I’ve tried one at the Apple Store, it shakes like crazy if there’s any movement on the table. Seems like such a downgrade build quality-wise.

How hard would it be for Apple to just rip the guts out of a 27” iMac and sell it as a standalone display... I’d even consider buying a whole iMac if Target Display Mode was still a thing!!
 
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turbineseaplane said:
I have to think there might be one more model yet to come in the fall alongside the new 16" laptop.

The XDR display is complete and utter overkill for anyone with a laptop just looking for a nice Apple monitor.
Click to expand...
The new display doesn't match any laptop. Adding to it the new LG 24" 4K without true retina makes things even more of a mess.
 
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best source/price to buy this LG 5K monitor right now?
or is better wait see a new refresh or an apple 27 monitor version?
the new 6K 32 is too big for me and I can't pay that price.
 
So, I just got my refurbished ultrafine. hooked it up to my mac mini 2018. works just like my thunderbolt. colours are more vibrant i find, and the speakers are louder. the setup was super easy and everything works exactly like how an apple product should.
1 difference about this LG made screen is that plastics don't have the same build quality as aluminum (?). other than that, im quite happy with this purchase so far.
 
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turbineseaplane said:
I have to think there might be one more model yet to come in the fall alongside the new 16" laptop.

The XDR display is complete and utter overkill for anyone with a laptop just looking for a nice Apple monitor.
Click to expand...
This is highly unlikely, as Apple would be cutting off their nose to spite their face. Think about it, if they suddenly released a 5K display around the time or after the MP release, many MP buyers who didn't need or want to pay the price for the 6K display would simply go for the (likely much cheaper) 5K model instead. Thus cutting into their 6K display sales.

The fact is that Apple must seemingly like that the LG 5Kx3K UF exists in it's current non-Apple-aluminium form, as it bumps many users onto their iMac range instead, for those who have an issue with the look of the LG 5K UF or who insist on the display being Apple only.

It's all about Apple and their marketing BS, I'm afraid: they want to sell 5K iMacs to the average user who wants a big screen machine (and preferably custom ones with higher specs too), as they can make more money doing that than selling re-badged 5K displays from LG or whoever.

I bet the 5K panels in these iMacs are being sourced in bulk for a relatively low price, and the computer bit is fairly cheap too (as they virtually never use 'bleeding edge' CPU's etc.), so the margin they make on them is decent over any vanilla 5K they could offer at any price that would be feasible to actually sell in volume to enough people. Geeks may pay $2.5K for an Apple-branded 5K, but the average joe's typically wouldn't. That's the economics of the situation for you.

But you can dream. ;-)
 
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Hi,
I have ordered a LG Ultrafine 5K in december 2016, so my monitor is one of the first. Since April, i have an issue, the monitor doesn't work. I have a black screen, but it seems to be slightly illuminated, but no image of my MacBook Pro. The screen of my laptop is blocked. i have never updated the firmware. I try to update firmware but now it's impossible with the laptop. Is there a possibility to upgrade firmware of a LG Ultrafine 5K without a MacBook Pro ?
Thanks.
 
helio500 said:
Hi,
I have ordered a LG Ultrafine 5K in december 2016, so my monitor is one of the first. Since April, i have an issue, the monitor doesn't work. I have a black screen, but it seems to be slightly illuminated, but no image of my MacBook Pro. The screen of my laptop is blocked. i have never updated the firmware. I try to update firmware but now it's impossible with the laptop. Is there a possibility to upgrade firmware of a LG Ultrafine 5K without a MacBook Pro ?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
I think you'll find that's thread jacking.

Start a new thread for your issue.
 
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