Macbook Pro Mid 2015 4K monitor compatibility

[Damstas]

Hi!

I'm purchasing the 15'' Macbook Pro Mid 2015 model with the Intel Iris Pro graphics. The exact model number is MJLQ2KS/A. It's the basic 15'' Retina Model and not the more expensive one, with more storage etc.

I'm wondering whether this machine will drive a external 4K 3840 x 2160 res monitor with 60hz refresh rate. Preferably the Dell or LG 27 inch IPS models.

It doesn't have the secondary internal Radeon graphics. Will it still do the task with single stream transport?

Thanks!

 

[whitedragon101]

Hi!

I'm purchasing the 15'' Macbook Pro Mid 2015 model with the Intel Iris Pro graphics. The exact model number is MJLQ2KS/A. It's the basic 15'' Retina Model and not the more expensive one, with more storage etc.

I'm wondering whether this machine will drive a external 4K 3840 x 2160 res monitor with 60hz refresh rate. Preferably the Dell or LG 27 inch IPS models.

It doesn't have the secondary internal Radeon graphics. Will it still do the task with single stream transport?

Thanks!

I can say on the monitor front the Dell P2715Q beats the stuffing out of the current LG 4K models. I really couldn't decide between them so I bought both and compared side by side. Cost me a few quid to return the LG but at least I know I made the right choice.

FYI both models required calibration with a Spyder Pro to get the best out of them. They say factory calibrated but it didn't seem like it from how far out they were.

Also I think the Dell 4K monitors now use the new LED backlight from the 5K model (which makes sense for economies of scale). So although the 4K monitors are specified to be 350cd/m2 at max mine tests at nearly 500cd/m2 right inline with the brightness of the 5K screen. Super handy because my monitor is near a big window.

 

[Damstas]

I can say on the monitor front the Dell P2715Q beats the stuffing out of the current LG 4K models. I really couldn't decide between them so I bought both and compared side by side. Cost me a few quid to return the LG but at least I know I made the right choice.

FYI both models required calibration with a Spyder Pro to get the best out of them. They say factory calibrated but it didn't seem like it from how far out they were.

Also I think the Dell 4K monitors now use the new LED backlight from the 5K model (which makes sense for economies of scale). So although the 4K monitors are specified to be 350cd/m2 at max mine tests at nearly 500cd/m2 right inline with the brightness of the 5K screen. Super handy because my monitor is near a big window.

Thanks for the input on the monitors. Dell seems to the better choice then. Did you try one of these models of the LG 27UD68-W, 27UD68-P or 27UD88-W?

 

[whitedragon101]

Thanks for the input on the monitors. Dell seems to the better choice then. Did you try one of these models of the LG 27UD68-W, 27UD68-P or 27UD88-W?

Yep the LG27UD68-P . All 3 use the same panel so the visuals are the same.

The -W model is the same as the P but in white/silver colours. The 88 model uses the same panel but with extra things like USB-C connectivity that also powers your laptop, also a better stand.

 

[Damstas]

Yep the LG27UD68-P . All 3 use the same panel so the visuals are the same.

The -W model is the same as the P but in white/silver colours. The 88 model uses the same panel but with extra things like USB-C connectivity that also powers your laptop, also a better stand.

Thanks. I was considering one of those. Now the only thing to know is whether the machine supports 3840 x 2160 at 60hz SST.

 

[whitedragon101]

Thanks. I was considering one of those. Now the only thing to know is whether the machine supports 3840 x 2160 at 60hz SST.

Apples support page says yes

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT206587

"
With OS X Yosemite v10.10.3 and later, most single-stream 4K (3840x2160) displays are supported at 60Hz operation on the following Mac computers:

• MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015)
• MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014)
• Mac Pro (Late 2013)
• iMac (27-inch, Late 2013) and later
• MacBook Air (Early 2015)"

 

[Damstas]

Apples support page says yes

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT206587

"
With OS X Yosemite v10.10.3 and later, most single-stream 4K (3840x2160) displays are supported at 60Hz operation on the following Mac computers:

• MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015)
• MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014)
• Mac Pro (Late 2013)
• iMac (27-inch, Late 2013) and later
• MacBook Air (Early 2015)"

I looked at that site too, but couldn't figure out whether it meant the basic 15'' model or all of the models included, such as the model with integrated radeon graphics.

 

[whitedragon101]

I looked at that site too, but couldn't figure out whether it meant the basic 15'' model or all of the models included, such as the model with integrated radeon graphics.

If you want to double check I would call the Apple store but after a little googling there seem to be a fair few people running late 2013 Iris Pro macbook pro 15" running 4K displays.

 

[Mrsaxomaphone]

Hi All,
I too am struggling to get a straight answer to the question. I have a
MacBookPro11,5 with AMD Radeon R9 M370X 2 GB Intel Iris Pro 1536 MB
and recently purchased a LG Ultra High Def 4k Display. How the heck do I get it to have a resolution of 3840x2160 at 60hz? I am connecting at the moment through HDMI from a Belkin Express Dock connected through thunderbolt but it doesn't matter if I connect through the MBP's HDMIE

 

[Samuelsan2001]

Hi All,
I too am struggling to get a straight answer to the question. I have a
MacBookPro11,5 with AMD Radeon R9 M370X 2 GB Intel Iris Pro 1536 MB
and recently purchased a LG Ultra High Def 4k Display. How the heck do I get it to have a resolution of 3840x2160 at 60hz? I am connecting at the moment through HDMI from a Belkin Express Dock connected through thunderbolt but it doesn't matter if I connect through the MBP's HDMIE

Use display port cables wherever possible it just works much better you may have to change a settting to “super hd” or similar on the monitor as well.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_s...p&sprefix=Mini+do+,aps,137&crid=3O3VTRPDDKGUC

 

[Fishrrman]

I don't think you'll have a problem getting 4k @ 60hz from that display.

As Samuelsan says -- use displayport rather than HDMI.

You need a minidisplayport (Mac end) to displayport/minidisplayport (monitor end).
What size connector (regular or "mini") depends on what the display has available.

 

[mj_]

I have a MacBookPro11,5 with AMD Radeon R9 M370X 2 GB Intel Iris Pro 1536 MB and recently purchased a LG Ultra High Def 4k Display. How the heck do I get it to have a resolution of 3840x2160 at 60hz? I am connecting at the moment through HDMI from a Belkin Express Dock connected through thunderbolt but it doesn't matter if I connect through the MBP's HDMIE

I have that exact setup - MacBook Pro 11,5 with AMD Radeon R9 M370X and LG 4K display, and it works perfectly fine with 4K@60Hz. Your problem is the HDMI cable: the 2015 MBP does not support HDMI 2.0 yet, only 1.4. And HDMI 1.4 only supports 3840x2160 at up to 30Hz, no more. What you need is a MiniDisplayPort to DisplayPort cable and it'll work just fine.

 

[cakebytheocean]

If I daisy chain two P2715Q together will my mid 2015 MacBook Pro 15 inch with Radeon card drive them?

 

[Kontikonsumi]

Hello, I would like to know whether someone entered into any problems with the Macbook Pro 15" Mid 2015 Model with one 4K Display (3840 x 2160) and alternatively two 4K Displays (3840 x 2160) during a long time usage. Thank you!