Should I Buy the LG 24" 4k Thunderbolt Display?

[jdoll021]

Hello MacRumors peeps,

I've ben trying to wrap my head around the various displays, resolutions, connections etc. that are out there. I need some advice as follows:

I will be buying the latest MBP M2 Max (probably in spring when my finances will allow). I've been in the process of setting up my remote work "battle station" (or "command center," or "mission control") and so far I have picked up a LG 34" 5k2k ultrawide display and working on getting a 27" 4k display. I also have a 24" 1080p that was given to me by work but would like to replace that with a higher resolution screen. Right now, everything is setup through work's crappy docking station that my work PC plugs into, but I'll be upgrading the dock to a Caldigit TS4 once I'm ready to buy the laptop.

I know the TS4 has 2 TB ports and a DP port on the back. What I'm not clear on is if the TS4 dock can handle the ultrawide plus a 27" 4k and 24" 4k screen (the 24" LG Ultafine is what comes to mind since that's about the only 24" 4k I could find). I know Caldigit "says" the TS4 can run two 6k monitors simultaneously but I don't know if I would be able to plug in one 4k via one of the TB ports (the other would probably be occupied by the ultrawide) and the other into the DP port. Would I need to plug one of these into the laptop directly via HDMI (most likely the 27")? Or could the TS 4 handle that many inputs from 2 4k's and a 5k ultrawide?

Now here's the real kicker...will MacOS allow me to run all of this in HiDPI mode?

Is it even worth the expense of the 24" Ultrafine or should I just get a 1440p and save some money?

For clarity, the planned setup would be as follows:

Center screen: 34" LG 5k2k Ultrawide
Right screen: 27" LG 4k
Left screen: Either a 24" 4k or 24" 1440P, this will be vertical, hence the smaller size
Computers: HP laptop from work plus 16" MBP M2 Max
Both computers would take turns connecting through the TS 4 dock

PS - the work laptop has discrete graphics and I've already made certain it can handle that many high res screens. I know the MBP will be able to handle it.

Edit: I just found out that the LG 24" 4k Ultrafine does NOT rotate. But it does have a VESA adapter so I could get a VESA mount for it (but this would be even more cost now). So, this just adds more to the question: is it worth the expense or would a 24" 1440P still do the job as a vertical "reading" monitor?

 

[chrfr]

(the 24" LG Ultafine is what comes to mind since that's about the only 24" 4k I could find).

I don't have a good answer on the rest of your question, but LG has a lower cost 24" 4k that's still available: the 24UD58-b
The panel isn't as good as the Ultrafine 4k 24" but if you are just using it for general purposes, it's probably fine. The price is much lower as well.

 

[jdoll021]

Hello all. I got my 27” 4k and after playing around with my setup, the dock I got from work stopped working for anything but power delivery. I ended up plugging the 5k ultrawide, the 4k, and the 24” 1080p directly into the laptop and it works so much better now (I was limited to DP 1.2 with the dock, but now get the full native resolution on the ultrawide).

This experience and my research taught me that there are not docks that can handle the throughput of more than 2 4k monitors. So I’m thinking that I’ll get the 24” 4k Ultrafine and daisy chain that to the 27” 4k while plugging that and the ultrawide directly into the laptop. Seems like the best way to guarantee trouble free operation for all 3 monitors.

I’ll add a setup pic once I get the laptop and the 24” Ultrafine.

 

[jdoll021]

I don't have a good answer on the rest of your question, but LG has a lower cost 24" 4k that's still available: the 24UD58-b
The panel isn't as good as the Ultrafine 4k 24" but if you are just using it for general purposes, it's probably fine. The price is much lower as well.

Thanks for the input. I saw that but decided it wouldn’t fit in as well with my setup. Especially now that I’ve decided not to use a dock station, I definitely need a USB-C monitor.

 

[jdoll021]

I don't have a good answer on the rest of your question, but LG has a lower cost 24" 4k that's still available: the 24UD58-b
The panel isn't as good as the Ultrafine 4k 24" but if you are just using it for general purposes, it's probably fine. The price is much lower as well.

I actually ended up getting this monitor. You were right, for doc/email reading and web browsing, it does the job well enough. Since I ended up getting the Caldigit hub, I was able to plug it in to the hub with DisplayPort on my MBP and directly to my work pc with using hdmi (the pc is tb3 so it can’t handle two simultaneous 4k streams).

My MBP setup is the 34” 5k ultrawide directly plugged into the laptop and the 27” 4k & 24” 4k plugged in simultaneously through the hub. It actually works pretty good. Scaling is flawless and text looks great.

Scaling with windows is funky though. Every time I try to adjust the scaling on the 24” so it’s 1:1 with the other two displays, it throws the scaling on the other two displays completely out of whack.