LG UltraFine 5K - Owners Thread

[HeavyMantra]

Experiences with using this with a Mac mini without an eGPU? 32gb ram

I'm not expecting flawless performance but I want it to work OK. Might get an eGPU in a few years also.

 

[joevt]

Ah sorry, you're right! I mixed them up... But why would you choose a lower resolution over two cables?

I dunno. awu97 wants to use two from a single cable. It is possible if you have a Thunderbolt 3 dock with a USB-C port that supports DisplayPort alt mode. Both displays will run at 4K. One will be connected using the Thunderbolt 3 port of the dock. The other will be connected from the USB-C port (and therefore needs to be the later version of the UltraFine 5K that supports USB-C non Thunderbolt input).

Experiences with using this with a Mac mini without an eGPU? 32gb ram

I'm not expecting flawless performance but I want it to work OK. Might get an eGPU in a few years also.

It should work fine at 5K from a Mac mini 2018. You can connect a second display to the HDMI 2.0 port.

 

[awu97]

Ah sorry, you're right! I mixed them up... But why would you choose a lower resolution over two cables?

Personally, I don't mind the difference between 4K and 5K. I received these displays from work so it's not like I forked over the extra money, and I'm not a creative so there isn't a huge difference practically for me. However, I have disabilities that make plugging in cables a hassle for me, so the less I have to do that the better.

 

[Ener Ji]

Hi all, relatively recent owner of the newer (27MD5KL-B) model. I've noticed that the panel color / temperature appears to be much warmer than that of my 16" MBP. Does anyone know if that's normal? Or possibly related to True Tone?

 

[1369281]

Hi all, relatively recent owner of the newer (27MD5KL-B) model. I've noticed that the panel color / temperature appears to be much warmer than that of my 16" MBP. Does anyone know if that's normal? Or possibly related to True Tone?

Congratulations on owning the best consumer monitor available, for starters.

Many factors in play in regard to your question regarding color temperature (panel variation, perceived color), but ultimately, I would recommend that you use a colorimeter and calibrate your displays. It’s really nice to have both screens look identical in that regard.

 

[weathermood]

Hi all, relatively recent owner of the newer (27MD5KL-B) model. I've noticed that the panel color / temperature appears to be much warmer than that of my 16" MBP. Does anyone know if that's normal? Or possibly related to True Tone?

Same here.

In my case though its having whites & mid-greys showing outright miscalibration despite claims it would work in hand with Mac's True Tone. Being on Night Shift only without True Tone does make it somewhat bearable, but still a disappointment.

 

[gadgetfreak98]

Experiences with using this with a Mac mini without an eGPU? 32gb ram

I'm not expecting flawless performance but I want it to work OK. Might get an eGPU in a few years also.

I had one connected to a TB3 port on a 2018 i7 / 32 GB. I separately had a Core X Radeon 580 eGPU (but couldn't connect the LG to it, of course). With this setup (and another TB3 drive enclosure also connected), I had choppy UI experiences on the LG. For instance, opening the downloads folder from the dock was a non-smooth experience. And I went to pains to try to "preference eGPU" at every possible turn, as well as having the LG alone on its TB3 bus (e.g., in port 1, nothing in port 2, and my other devices on 3 and 4).

I ultimately got a decent deal on a Blackmagic eGPU and went with that, repurposing the Radeon 580 card I had into another computer. Since then, the UI has been quite smooth and enjoyable.

 

[Ener Ji]

Congratulations on owning the best consumer monitor available, for starters.

Many factors in play in regard to your question regarding color temperature (panel variation, perceived color), but ultimately, I would recommend that you use a colorimeter and calibrate your displays. It’s really nice to have both screens look identical in that regard.

Thank you. Is that a standalone device? I don't require perfect color, but I wouldn't mind having my new monitor appear a bit less "orange" compared to my MBP 16. Do you have any suggestions on an easy way to calibrate (very rough is fine by me) that doesn't require additional software or hardware? I know macOS has some built-in calibration tools but I've never had to use them.

Same here.

In my case though its having whites & mid-greys showing outright miscalibration despite claims it would work in hand with Mac's True Tone. Being on Night Shift only without True Tone does make it somewhat bearable, but still a disappointment.

That's disappointing for sure. Have you attempted any sort of calibration? As per my reply just above, I have no experience with calibrating displays and not quite sure where to start. All I know is that my monitor has a bit of an orange tinge when compared next to my MBP 16. It probably wouldn't bother me if I used my MBP in clamshell mode, but as I do use the two displays simultaneously it is a little distracting.

Edit: I decided to install the LG Screen Manager to check my monitor's firmware. The app claims the monitor has the latest firmware installed, as per below:

 

[Successful Sorcerer]

If you just want to make your monitor look a bit cooler (less orange): When the display is attached go to System Preferences > Displays > Night Shift. Make sure the drop-down for schedule is off. Then go to Colour and click calibrate to get some options to calibrate.

 

[Ener Ji]

If you just want to make your monitor look a bit cooler (less orange): When the display is attached go to System Preferences > Displays > Night Shift. Make sure the drop-down for schedule is off. Then go to Colour and click calibrate to get some options to calibrate.

Thanks, I did that, and set my default white point temperature to 7,500. (Default was 6,500.) That made the monitor much whiter and more similar to the MBP. Will need to live with it for a few days (including seeing how it looks with night shift on at night) to see if I got it right.

 

[Successful Sorcerer]

Thanks, I did that, and set my default white point temperature to 7,500. (Default was 6,500.) That made the monitor much whiter and more similar to the MBP. Will need to live with it for a few days (including seeing how it looks with night shift on at night) to see if I got it right.

I never used night shift with an external monitor but I can imagine the LG and macbook might react slightly different to the automated settings.

Panels can always differ a little bit which is really annoying but unavoidable when using multiple factories and sometimes multiple brands. Just look at the iPhone section complaints where there are different screen temperatures within a single model. If you really want to get it right maybe you can find somebody with a calibration tool... Maybe you know a professional photographer or designer with one.

 

[1369281]

I recommend the X-Rite ColorMunki Display colorimeter. It’s about $148 on Amazon, but definitely worth it. You just install the software, plug it into a USB port, then follow some simple on screen instructions and let the program do all the work. After it’s done, you will literally have perfect color. 6500K (D65) color temperature and brightness of 120 cd/m2 is what I recommend.

 

[weathermood]

I recommend the X-Rite ColorMunki Display colorimeter. It’s about $148 on Amazon, but definitely worth it. You just install the software, plug it into a USB port, then follow some simple on screen instructions and let the program do all the work. After it’s done, you will literally have perfect color. 6500K (D65) color temperature and brightness of 120 cd/m2 is what I recommend.

Could you please share the .icc calibrated color profile you ended up with? Would worth a try for everyone here without a colorimeter yet.

 

[1369281]

Could you please share the .icc calibrated color profile you ended up with? Would worth a try for everyone here without a colorimeter yet.

Attached, but disclaimer: This profile will likely NOT be accurate for your display. Panel variation can be significant. This profile was calibrated for the original, first revision LG UltraFine 5K monitor, using X-Rite's ColorMunki Display colorimeter.

Instructions: Unzip and put the .icc file in ~/Library/ColorSync/Profiles and go to System Preferences -> Displays -> Color.

If you try it, let me know the results.

 

[PoppaKap]

I'm sure I've missed it. Is there a way to link the ultrafine monitor with the old 27" Thunderbolt display? Or would you have to plug each in separately to a new MBP?

 

[joevt]

I'm sure I've missed it. Is there a way to link the ultrafine monitor with the old 27" Thunderbolt display? Or would you have to plug each in separately to a new MBP?

No. The LG UltraFine 5K only has one Thunderbolt 3 port because it uses both DisplayPort signals from the Thunderbolt controller of the MBP so you cannot connect a 27" Thunderbolt Display to the LG UltraFine 5K.

You might be able to connect the LG UltraFine 5K to the 27" Thunderbolt Display with a Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter, but the LG would be limited to 2560x1600 (I don't know if that is a support resolution) because the 27" Thunderbolt display is only Thunderbolt 1.

 

[jimthing]

PSA: on the Mac App Store, their is a new update to the "LG Screen Manager (LG Monitor)" app.

- version: 2.79.
- updated: 13 Mar 2019.

After updating to 2.79...

Mac Mini 2018 (10.14.6, Mojave) shows this: "3.04,1.13, 5237,3.04,0.1e".

MBP 2016 (10.13.6, High Sierra) shows this: "(none!)".

^ i.e. the MBP refuses to show what version I'm on?? Gee thanks LG, well worth upgrading to (not)!

 

[saulinpa]

Thanks for the heads up. LG Screen Manager in App Store shows as 2.79

Under version history:

LG Screen Manager - Multi monitor
When 1 or more (max 4) connected monitors, you can update monitor firmware.

But when I installed it while connected to my two monitors the app still shows doesn't work completely:

 

[jimthing]

Thanks for the heads up. LG Screen Manager in App Store shows as 2.79

Under version history:

But when I installed it while connected to my two monitors the app still shows doesn't work completely:

NB: macOS version+machine?
...so it doesn't work at all or properly. Now there's a surprise.

I suppose I could muck around doing a restart, setting everything I have running up again afterwards, just to see if this little crappy app suddenly works properly. Let me think...mmm, no!

 

[satcomer]

Experiences with using this with a Mac mini without an eGPU? 32gb ram

I'm not expecting flawless performance but I want it to work OK. Might get an eGPU in a few years also.

Yep I saw this earlier this year:

 

[DeanL]

Hello everyone. See this post! I have been able to make the Ultrafine work via Display Port with a Windows laptop! https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...nnect-it-to-windows-computers-via-dp.2227756/

 

[BlueseaApple]

Hello everyone. See this post! I have been able to make the Ultrafine work via Display Port with a Windows laptop! https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...nnect-it-to-windows-computers-via-dp.2227756/

Under COVID, dished out for a LG 5k with concerns in a mixed eco system...
But MacBook pro works perfectly with it and so does my Thinkpad T480s using Thunderbolt 3: webcam, speakers, all work and with a little extra freeware software one can control screen brightness too.
2 days in and its is a "think again" for those who thought this was just a Mac monitor.

 

[DeanL]

Under COVID, dished out for a LG 5k with concerns in a mixed eco system...
But MacBook pro works perfectly with it and so does my Thinkpad T480s using Thunderbolt 3: webcam, speakers, all work and with a little extra freeware software one can control screen brightness too.
2 days in and its is a "think again" for those who thought this was just a Mac monitor.

To be honest, it is still mostly a Mac monitor. Full support of brigtness controls depend on third party software that could stop working anytime.
The other problem, at least in my case, is that I cannot install those third-party software on my government-issued laptop, and I'm sure it's the case for many people trying to make the UltraFine work with their corporate laptop. Also most corporate laptops are not yet USB-C, let alone Thunderbolt 3.
Therefore using the UltraFine with my work laptop is really a convenience workaround.

 

[1369281]

If I were buying a new monitor today, I would still get the LG 27-inch UltraFine 5K.

There is just nothing else that comes close right now in terms of pixel density and color accuracy.

 

[cheezeit]

To be honest, it is still mostly a Mac monitor. Full support of brigtness controls depend on third party software that could stop working anytime.
The other problem, at least in my case, is that I cannot install those third-party software on my government-issued laptop, and I'm sure it's the case for many people trying to make the UltraFine work with their corporate laptop. Also most corporate laptops are not yet USB-C, let alone Thunderbolt 3.
Therefore using the UltraFine with my work laptop is really a convenience workaround.

This is my issue with ultrafines. I still have 2 21” ultrafines boxed up that can’t be used due to my corporate laptop working with it. Had to get a more universal monitor setup unfortunately