MacBook Pro 15'' early 2013 & LG Ultrafine 4K = black screen

[Spail]

Hardware in question:

MacBook Pro 15'' early 2013
LG Ultrafine 24MD4KL
Apple Thunderbolt 2 cable
Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter

Apple says that LG Ultrafine 4K display should work with older macbooks with thunderbolt 3 to thunderbolt 2 adapter. And specs for my macbook say that it supports "up to 2560 by 1600 pixels on up to two external displays". So, as I understand, this display should work with lower resolutions.

However, no matter which resolution I choose, display screen remains black. I can see the display in system display settings, I can use it as a sound output device, but no image. I installed SwitchResX and played with different resolutions to no avail.

Could it be a problem with thunderbolt cable or adapter? Or is it something in the macbook specs that prevents it from being used with this display (like old thunderbolt version or something with MST/SST support)? I've seen posts about late 2013 models working with this display. This device has better video card, and Thunderbolt 2 instead of Thunderbolt 1, but I don't know what exactly could cause this problem.

 

[LFM]

I am having the exact same problem (I have a brand new Thunderbolt 2 cable and adapter) did you find a solution?

 

[Spail]

I am having the exact same problem (I have a brand new Thunderbolt 2 cable and adapter) did you find a solution?

Not yet. I just figured that this setup (TB3 to TB2 adapter + TB2 cable) doesn't work, maybe it has something to do with this macbook having only Thunderbolt 1, not Thunderbolt 2. I have also tried Mophie USB-C to miniDisplayPort cable to no avail.

There is another topic where someone managed to connect rMBP 2012 to 5K Ultrafine display: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/connect-rmbp-2012-15-inch-to-lg-ultrafine-5k.2247560

 

[kodabear]

Apple's compatibility list shows the LG monitor is not compatible with any MacBook Pros 2015 or earlier.

 

[kodabear]

However if your MacBook Pro has a HDMI port, you might try a TB to HDMI adapter. It may not work at 60hz but might at 30 hz.

 

[robvas]

That monitor is USB-C, not Thunderbolt, isn’t it?

 

[kodabear]

That monitor is USB-C, not Thunderbolt, isn’t it?

The monitor has 2 TB 3 ports and 3 USB-C ports

 

[robvas]

The monitor has 2 TB 3 ports and 3 USB-C ports

It was late - I was thinking of the previous LG 4K

 

[LFM]

Thank you, I gave up in the end and sent it back as I ideally needed it to be working at it's best for the work I do. Thanks anyway!

 

[2MacsJackson]

Using the Moffie USB-C with MDP 1.5m cable, I successfully connected outputting from a Thunderbolt 2 Mini DisplayPort (iMac Late 2014) inputting to the LG Ultrafine 4K 24-inch 24MD4KL-B as an external display. The screen controls in the iMac's Settings-Display and the Mac keyboard are limited: No brightness control, can't effectively calibrate the monitor. I am fussy about monitor quality and I'm very happy with the LG as an external display for my iMac.