Q: Cannot get 2560x1080 resolution on MBP 2011 using LG Ultrawide 25UM65
Hi,
Im sorry if this is in the wrong place.
I have recently purchased an LG Ultrawide monitor 25UM65 which supports 2560x1080 resolution, but cannot get it to work for the life of me. Im on MACBOOK PRO, running OSX EL CAPITAL 10.11, which has an INTEL HD GRAPHICS 3000 384 MB graphics card.
It works with a hdmi->thunderbolt cable but I cannot get the correct resolution from system preferences.
I then downloaded SwitchResX (latest version - 4.5.2) and added a custom resolution with a configuration that I saw on a different discussion topic - to no avail. Once I save the custom resolution, it just says "Not Installed" under status and does not do anything after a restart.
I also saw a fix which is getting a DisplayPort --> Mini Displayport wire (I am using the display port wire that I got with the monitor plugged into an adapter which has a mini-displayport), which apparently is an easy fix on another discussion thread, however when I do this my monitor is not even recognised, it just says "NO SIGNAL WILL POWER DOWN IN 10 SECONDS". I upgraded to El Capitan, I did a NVRAM/SMC reboot, I tinkered with the monitors display settings as well (input was set to DisplayPort, and there is no "out" DisplayPort port, only an "in" so I do not have it wrongly plugged in). All connections have been thoroughly checked.
If anyone has any ideas because I have been on this for 6 hours straight now and I am at my wits end !!!
Thanks in advance.
Some further info:
OSX: El Capital (V 10.11)
MacBook Pro 13-inch, Early 2011
Processor: 2.3Ghz Intel Core i5
Memory: 4GB 1333 MHz DDR3
Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 3000 384 MB
Display: LG ULTRAWIDE 25UM65
MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11)
Posted on Oct 20, 2015 11:18 AM
Ok I fixed it. I don't know why this is working but at this stage I dont care.
This is exactly what happened:
I read somewhere deep in the bowels of like the third or fourth page of Google that a guy got it working by closing his macbook at the same time as using DisplayPort Wire ("DP")--> Mini DisplayPort ("Mini DP Adapter")
I was using a HDMI cable through the Mini DP Adapter. I thought, ok let me try plugging in the DisplayPort wire at the same time (the adapter has a port for both which can be used simultaneously) then closing the Macbook.
So I plugged in the DisplayPort wire, and nothing happened as I have to change the input to DisplayPort on the Monitor from HDMI. I changed the input to DisplayPort, and it said NO SIGNAL (which was my issue).
Then I closed my bleeping Macbook, and VOILA THE SCREEN BURSTS INTO LIFE FULL 2560x1080 !! So I was happy but also slightly upset that I couldn't use my new monitor with my MacBook open, but hey whatever.
Well, what if I can? So, I try opening the MacBook, AND THEY BOTH WORK PERFECTLY.
PLOT TWIST: All the while, the HDMI cable is still plugged into the Mini DP Adapter and into the Monitor. So I thought, well closing the Macbook must have refreshed something or something else or blah blah, so I can remove the HDMI cable.
I remove the HDMI cable from the Mini DP Adapter AND THE MONITOR DISPLAYS NO SIGNAL!! WHAT IS LIFE!?
SO MY MONITOR IS WORKING WITH A HDMI CABLE AND A DISPLAY PORT CABLE BOTH PLUGGED IN THROUGH A BLEEPING MINI DP ADAPTER WITH THE INPUT SET TO DISPLAYPORT.
Being a man of (reasonable in my own completely unqualified and probably wrong opinion) logic the ONLY THING I CAN THINK OF IS THAT THE MINI DP ADAPTER DRAWS POWER FROM THE MONITOR!? AND THE DISPLAY PORT CABLE WASNT PROPERLY POWERING IT!?
I don't know. At this point, I don't care. Well I do, its still bugging the **** out of me, but it works. I can't tell you why.
Posted on Oct 20, 2015 1:07 PM