Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

TheAirBender

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 31, 2016
1
0
Hello, everybody, I have a question. I really love the thunderbolt display, but the price is insane. Does anyone know any good replicas or alternatives?
 

Meister

Suspended
Oct 10, 2013
5,456
4,310
I've tried to find one for years.

The reason apple could sell their outdated display for such a long time is that there is no display out there that is like the thunderbolt display.

People on here will recommend displays and claim that they are like the tb display but they aren't.

Just see for yourself.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Weaselboy

HBOC

macrumors 68020
Oct 14, 2008
2,497
234
SLC
do you just want thunderbolt interface, or are you wanting a monitor that is better in every which way for the same price? The LG 5K monitor is great, but for a grand, there are no less than 6 monitors out there that outperform it, if you are a graphic designer or photographer. There are some BenQ, Eizo and NEC monitors that are just as good (and come with a hood). more info is needed. 5K will make my photos look better (and stuff i design), but doesn't help me in what matters the most - final product
 

danielwsmithee

macrumors 65816
Mar 12, 2005
1,135
410
It really depends on what you need and want out your display. Monoprice just came out with a similar for WQHD display with an aluminum chassis for $280 that has good reviews. That won't get you the thunderbolt docking functionality of the the TB display though. There are a few TB docks out there though if that is what you are after.

So is it the photography/production you are after? or is the convenience of TB?
 

Daniel Reed

macrumors 6502
Sep 9, 2016
278
284
San Francisco
Thunderbolt displays were a great deal and are very nice monitors.
I still use two of them in my edit suite.

Sadly due to Apple's poor marketing and misrepresentation of hardware specs,
very few know they are actually 10-bit displays.

$1K for a 10-bit panel was a good deal, especially at the time.

Armchair experts will point to inaccurate websites as proof Thunderbolt display panels are only 8-bit.

Just plug one into a Mac Pro 6,1 and look at the system report details.
OR
Use switchresx, from ANY MBP w/ dGPU released in the last 6 years, turn ON "billions of colors", check system report details, and open a 10-bit gradient in "Photos" app.
 
Last edited:

Meister

Suspended
Oct 10, 2013
5,456
4,310
They look nothing like the tb display.
[doublepost=1483725548][/doublepost]
Thunderbolt displays were a great deal and are very nice monitors.
I still use two of them in my edit suite.

Sadly due to Apple's poor marketing and misrepresentation of hardware specs,
very few know they are actually 10-bit wide gamut displays.

$1K for a 10-bit wide gamut panel was and still is a good deal.

Armchair experts will point to inaccurate websites as proof Thunderbolt display panels are only 8-bit.

Just plug one into a Mac Pro 6,1 and look at the system report details.
OR
Use switchresx, from ANY MBP w/ dGPU released in the last 6 years, turn ON "billions of colors", and check system report details.
And that's why :apple: needs to come out with anoter display.
 

Fishrrman

macrumors Penryn
Feb 20, 2009
29,175
13,224
meister wrote:
"They look nothing like the tb display."

The image quality on many is as good, or better.
If it's "style" you're talking about... does one want "form", or "function"?

"And that's why :apple: needs to come out with anoter display"

They need to come out with more printers, too.
How long have we been waiting for them... ;)
 

Daniel Reed

macrumors 6502
Sep 9, 2016
278
284
San Francisco
I got tired of explaining to folks the Apple Thunderbolt Display was not a rip-off 8-bit monitor...

...so I made a video showing 10-bit & 8-bit gradients on a thunderbolt display!

 
  • Like
Reactions: Meister

loby

macrumors 68000
Jul 1, 2010
1,878
1,505
I got tired of explaining to folks the Apple Thunderbolt Display was not a rip-off 8-bit monitor...

...so I made a video showing 10-bit & 8-bit gradients on a thunderbolt display!


Thank you for this video. I have a thunderbolt monitor and love it. I run it on a Mac Pro 2013 and it looks great! Makes me appreciate the monitor even more. Hope apple decides to create another monitor, but it looks like they are done with monitors. Today's market cannot justify their premium sale price, especially when you can get a technically better monitor from a competitor. Form may 'suck', but screen etc. is better.

I like the form of apple monitors and would like for them to take the retina iMac and just make a screen without the insides. I do not think it would be that costly to manufacturer and apple could still make their profit on it. I would buy one.
 

Meister

Suspended
Oct 10, 2013
5,456
4,310
meister wrote:
"They look nothing like the tb display."

The image quality on many is as good, or better.
If it's "style" you're talking about... does one want "form", or "function"?

"And that's why :apple: needs to come out with anoter display"

They need to come out with more printers, too.
How long have we been waiting for them... ;)
I subjectively perceive the image quality of the tb display as superior.

I've yet to see a screen that matches it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Weaselboy

thingstoponder

macrumors 6502a
Oct 23, 2014
916
1,100
Thunderbolt displays were a great deal and are very nice monitors.
I still use two of them in my edit suite.

Sadly due to Apple's poor marketing and misrepresentation of hardware specs,
very few know they are actually 10-bit displays.

$1K for a 10-bit panel was a good deal, especially at the time.

Armchair experts will point to inaccurate websites as proof Thunderbolt display panels are only 8-bit.

Just plug one into a Mac Pro 6,1 and look at the system report details.
OR
Use switchresx, from ANY MBP w/ dGPU released in the last 6 years, turn ON "billions of colors", check system report details, and open a 10-bit gradient in "Photos" app.

Are non-retina iMacs also 10-bit? Also what about the older 27 inch Cinema display?
[doublepost=1484714931][/doublepost]
I subjectively perceive the image quality of the tb display as superior.

I've yet to see a screen that matches it.

It's the glossy display I think. Matte ones look bland in comparison.
 

Daniel Reed

macrumors 6502
Sep 9, 2016
278
284
San Francisco
Are non-retina iMacs also 10-bit? Also what about the older 27 inch Cinema display?

I've successfully tested iMacs in 10/30-bit mode as old as 2011 27" models.

What is needed for 10-bit non-MP w/ dGPU for TBD or 27" iMac:
10.11.3 or newer
SwitchResX available at http://www.madrau.com/srx_download/download.html

You DO NOT need to disable SIP to run in 10/30-bit mode.

Never tested a Cinema Display;
all MBP models tested did NOT support 10-bit on built-in LCDs,
but did support 10-bit to Thunderbolt if the laptop featured a discreet GPU.

To clarify, nothing needs to be done to get 10-bit from a thunderbolt display on a Mac Pro 6,1 except to plug it in.
 
Last edited:
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.