M1 Pro external display support. Refresh rate at 165 Hz through DisplayPort?

[diaidiemex]

I’ve been trying to use an M1 Pro Macbook Pro 16” with an HP Omen 27” monitor through a DisplayPort 1.4 to USB C cable. The monitor defaults to a refresh rate of 165 Hz. Whenever I plug it in and the setup is at this refresh rate I see vertical pink and green bars on the image. Sharing a few images below. The bars appear to actually affect the performance of the computer since the software windows appear to be chopped or shrunk as I move them through the bars on the monitor. However, if I lower the refresh rate to 144 Hz the problem seems to go away 80% of the times. Sometimes I see faint green lines. HDMI (which defaults to 144 Hz) doesn’t seem to show any issues.

I’ve tried two separate cables and see the same results. This is the only high refresh rate monitor I have so I haven’t been able to test a different monitor. I also have an M1 Macbook Air available which doesn’t show any problems with the same setup.

Does anyone have any experience or input on this? I am trying to figure out what the problem might be or if this is just a limitation of the hardware.

Photos:
120 Hz:

https://imgur.com/ENWaAo0

165 Hz:

https://imgur.com/rxSwObe

 

[omnimax]

Limitation of the MBP. Macs don't support beyond 120hz officially so all bets are off if you go beyond that.

 

[Einz]

I was worried about how high a refresh my M1 Mac mini will support. It seems to support 4K @144 Hz fine. I have no issue so far. 166 Hz might be pushing it? I think the new Macbook Pros have better graphics support.

 

[Einz]

I’ve been trying to use an M1 Pro Macbook Pro 16” with an HP Omen 27” monitor through a DisplayPort 1.4 to USB C cable. The monitor defaults to a refresh rate of 165 Hz. Whenever I plug it in and the setup is at this refresh rate I see vertical pink and green bars on the image. Sharing a few images below. The bars appear to actually affect the performance of the computer since the software windows appear to be chopped or shrunk as I move them through the bars on the monitor. However, if I lower the refresh rate to 144 Hz the problem seems to go away 80% of the times. Sometimes I see faint green lines. HDMI (which defaults to 144 Hz) doesn’t seem to show any issues.

I’ve tried two separate cables and see the same results. This is the only high refresh rate monitor I have so I haven’t been able to test a different monitor. I also have an M1 Macbook Air available which doesn’t show any problems with the same setup.

Does anyone have any experience or input on this? I am trying to figure out what the problem might be or if this is just a limitation of the hardware.

Photos:
120 Hz:

https://imgur.com/ENWaAo0

165 Hz:

https://imgur.com/rxSwObe

Turn Free-sync on and see if it will give you a variable refresh rate.

 

[Landing]

I have the Razer Raptor 1440p 144hz and VRR works perfectly fine (usb-c to usb-c) with my MBP m1 max. I game a bit also and BG3 works also really great with VRR (1440p at 144hz and ultra settings). I am surprised how well BG3 is optimised for Apple silicon. It even support FSR from Amd.

Edit: i tried also with a usb-c to DP cable and it works also.

 

[omnimax]

I was worried about how high a refresh my M1 Mac mini will support. It seems to support 4K @144 Hz fine. I have no issue so far. 166 Hz might be pushing it? I think the new Macbook Pros have better graphics support.

If it works then go for it. As I mentioned, all bets are off if you go beyond 120hz. It pulls the info from the EDID and tries to run it but if weirdness occurs like in the UI or such, you're on your own. Given how well the GPUs have been performing, it should work and in the new MBPs, it may work even better.

 

[Einz]

If only M1 and Latest OS support Pro-Motion on external monitors. Setting refresh rate higher than 60 doesn't make scrolling any smoother.