diegie
Level 1 (8 points)
Notebooks

Q: Macbook 12" + Ultrawide External Display

Hi, got my hands on a Macbook 12" (early 2015) and I'm trying to connect it with my LG Ultrawide display (2560x1440px - 21:9) with a USB-C > HDMI adapter + HDMI cable. But it doesn't work. When I connect it to my TV (1920x1080) it does work. Is the resoltion not supported through HDMI on that Macbook?

MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.2)

Posted on Jun 28, 2016 1:10 PM

by K Shaffer,Apple recommended
K Shaffer K Shaffer
Level 6 (14,304 points)
Desktops
A:

Is there any information here that may be helpful to adapt the display to your MacBook?

 

• Using 4K displays and Ultra HD TVs with your Mac - Apple Support

 

• USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter  -- allows the unit to charge & use external inputs.

 

You may have to check into specs of other displays should these various product or

other suitable third-party quality adapters fail to provide the needed results.

 

In any event...

Good luck & happy computing!

Posted on Jun 28, 2016 1:41 PM

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diegie

Q: Macbook 12" + Ultrawide External Display

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  • Helpful answers

  • by theratter,

    theratter theratter Jun 28, 2016 1:22 PM in response to diegie
    Level 4 (3,907 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 28, 2016 1:22 PM in response to diegie

    Here are the specs:

     

    DISPLAY

    Built-in Display12-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology
    Pixel Density226 ppi
    Resolutions2304-by-1440 (native), 1440 by 900, 1280 by 800, 1024 by 640

    GRAPHICS

    Graphics CardIntel HD Graphics 5300
    Graphics MemoryUp to 1.5 GB shared from main memory
    Display ConnectionUSB 3.1 Gen 1 digital video output
    Display ModesDual display extended, video mirroring, and AirPlay Mirroring
    External ResolutionUp to 3840 by 2160 pixels at 30Hz or up to 4096 by 2160 pixels at 24Hz
    Camera480p FaceTime

     

    I don't know what you will need to change in Displays preferences in order for it to work on your LG.

  • by diegie,

    diegie diegie Jun 28, 2016 1:25 PM in response to theratter
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Notebooks
    Jun 28, 2016 1:25 PM in response to theratter

    But the resolution of the internal screen of the Macbook has nothing to do with the resolution of an external display. My old MBP 2009 was able to use the LG Ultrawide at 2560x1080 with the displayport cable. But now with the new Macbook and HDMI it's not working.

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Jun 28, 2016 1:36 PM in response to diegie
    Level 6 (14,304 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 28, 2016 1:36 PM in response to diegie

    Note supported resolution of external displays as previously posted:

    "Up to 3840 by 2160 pixels at 30Hz or up to 4096 by 2160 pixels at 24Hz"

     

    Sometimes the Hz factor can affect the visual appearance, with a television

    as compared to a computer display. Quality suffers at times due to the factor.

     

    The MacBook Pro model has different graphics and ports; adapters such as

    the powered ones for larger sized computer displays can cost near $100.

     

    • About Apple video adapters and cables - Apple Support

     

    • Using the USB-C port and adapters on your MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) and later - Apple Support

     

    Good luck in this matter...!

  • by diegie,

    diegie diegie Jun 28, 2016 1:34 PM in response to K Shaffer
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Notebooks
    Jun 28, 2016 1:34 PM in response to K Shaffer

    Sorry, I missed that piece about "external displays". But I think the problem is probably that with HDMI the 21:9 resolution is not supported. And a USB-C hub with displayport + USB + charger doesn't exist yet, so the shortest pain it probably buying a new Display with 2560x1440 resolution (or other 16:10)...

  • by theratter,

    theratter theratter Jun 28, 2016 1:38 PM in response to diegie
    Level 4 (3,907 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 28, 2016 1:38 PM in response to diegie

    I'm afraid I can't help you with that problem, as I said. Have you reviewed the LG documentation? Did you switch its input port to the one you are using? That's about the scope of what I know about using an external monitor. I've never attempted connecting my 2015 MB to an external monitor using HDMI.

     

    Are you using a third-party adapter or the Apple adapter? I suppose if the former that may be an issue, but now I'm just guessing. Have you contacted LG tech support to see if they can help you?

  • by K Shaffer,Apple recommended

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Jun 28, 2016 1:41 PM in response to diegie
    Level 6 (14,304 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 28, 2016 1:41 PM in response to diegie

    Is there any information here that may be helpful to adapt the display to your MacBook?

     

    • Using 4K displays and Ultra HD TVs with your Mac - Apple Support

     

    • USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter  -- allows the unit to charge & use external inputs.

     

    You may have to check into specs of other displays should these various product or

    other suitable third-party quality adapters fail to provide the needed results.

     

    In any event...

    Good luck & happy computing!

  • by marinerblue,

    marinerblue marinerblue Jun 29, 2016 2:36 PM in response to diegie
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Notebooks
    Jun 29, 2016 2:36 PM in response to diegie

    I'm using the 12" MacBook with an Acer K272HUL 2560x1440 display, connected over HDMI with the Apple Digital Multiport Adapter and a Monoprice Select 3ft High-Speed HDMI cable.  Since your monitor is 2560x1080, the resolution is not too high for the MacBook.   In fact, another user is now successfully using a 2560x1080 Dell U2913HW with a 12" MacBook, so it seems a pretty sure bet that the laptop can do it.

     

    So here are my thoughts:

    1. Verify that your monitor supports 2560x1080 over HDMI - some older Dells - the U2713H for example - supported full resolution over DisplayPort, but only 1920x1080 over HDMI.  Check the user manual or contact LG's support possibly.

     

    2. Check your HDMI cable and make sure it's a high-speed HDMI cable.  Non-high speed cables only support 1920x1080.  If it's not a high-speed cable, I can recommend Monoprice's Select Metallic series, or their Commercial Series 24AWG (the heaviest-duty HDMI cable EVER).

     

    3. My experience has been that the only digital multiport adapter worth having is the Apple version.  I have tried four others (including the Monoprice and Anker) and was zero-for-four (and Anker was only $10 less than Apple).  Three of them would pass power and USB correctly, but none could keep a stable display over HDMI at any resolution.

     

    4. I have an issue with dust accumulation in my USB-C port that interferes with HDMI video output - I now blow the dust out with a Giottos rocket before plugging my MacBook in every morning to keep my video glitch-free.

  • by achim-from-germany,

    achim-from-germany achim-from-germany Jun 30, 2016 3:23 AM in response to marinerblue
    Level 1 (11 points)
    Notebooks
    Jun 30, 2016 3:23 AM in response to marinerblue

    Hi marinerblue,

     

    i am using the same monitor and the MacBook early 2016. The Acer monitor was working fine with a MacPro 2008, but with the MacBook it shows often a black screen. The screen comes back and in the next seconds it gets dark again, and so on. It is not stable. I have noticed this issue with the original Apple USB-C Multiport Adapter and also with the Minix USB-C Multiport Adapter.

    Is your solution really to dust off the USB-C port daily the only one?

     

    Greetings from Germany

  • by marinerblue,

    marinerblue marinerblue Jun 30, 2016 8:26 AM in response to achim-from-germany
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Notebooks
    Jun 30, 2016 8:26 AM in response to achim-from-germany

    Sadly, that seems to be the best thing I've come up with.  Even with the Apple multiport adapter, I seem to have an issue where I need to blow the dust out of the USB-C port to have a stable display.  I do actually think there's something wrong with the USB-C port on my MacBook, as connectors do not "click" when you plug them into the MacBook's USB-C port - the USB-C port on the MultiPort adapter, on the other hand, has a positive 'click' to retain the plug when you push a connector into it.  I'm planning to take my MacBook to the Apple Store and have the port checked out. 

  • by Lanny,

    Lanny Lanny Jun 30, 2016 10:16 AM in response to marinerblue
    Level 5 (7,900 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 30, 2016 10:16 AM in response to marinerblue
    I do actually think there's something wrong with the USB-C port on my MacBook, as connectors do not "click" when you plug them into the MacBook's USB-C port - the USB-C port on the MultiPort adapter, on the other hand, has a positive 'click' to retain the plug when you push a connector into it.

    AFAIK, there is no click feature on either.