Macpro (late 2013) compatible monitors

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Level 1

8 points

Macpro (late 2013) compatible monitors

Hello,

I've purchased this new Macpro (late 2013 model) and a LG ultrafine 4K 21 inches in october 2018 at apple store (dadeland mall, florida), the monitor model was suggested by the apple specialist at the store. We've sent those items to our country (Venezuela). After many attempts (thunderbolt adapter, hdmi, etc) , we've discovered incompatibilities between macpro and this 4K monitor, apple store must have sold me a 5K LG instead. Big mistake!

Does anyone have a clue which monitor works with macpro? Unfortunately I will have to buy a new monitor online due to the distance. Thanks in advance!

Posted on Jul 25, 2019 10:09 AM

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Answer 1

Jul 25, 2019 10:40 AM in response to angelodag

What connector(s) are available on the display you have now?, or what is its make&model?

The Mac Pro 2013 specs say it supports up to three displays at 5120 by 2880 using ThunderBolt-2 DIRECTLY.

The Apple ThunderBolt-3 to ThunderBolt 2 adapter (which is reversible) only provides a direct ThunderBolt connection, it does NOT allow the separate use of any additional display adapters. So the use of a Mini DisplayPort or HDMI adapter WITH the thunderbolt adapter will not work.

according to AppleSpec:

Display Support

- - Connect up to:
  - Three dual-cable 5K displays
  - Six Thunderbolt displays

[...]

Connections and Expansion

- - 4 USB 3
  - 6 Thunderbolt 2
  - Dual Gigabit Ethernet
  - HDMI 1.4 Ultra HD

according to Wikipedia:

HDMI 1.4 was released on May 28, 2009, and first came to market after Q2 of 2009.[62][98] HDMI 1.4 added support for 4096 × 2160 at 24 Hz, 3840 × 2160 at 24, 25, and 30 Hz, and 1920 × 1080 at 120 Hz.[99](§6.3.2)

so the HDMI port on the Mac is too old to help you.

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Answer 2

Jul 26, 2019 10:53 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Hi Grant,

I have a Mac Pro late 2013 running High Sierra. I bought it refurb'd almost 4 years ago. I hooked up my older 20" Apple Cinema Display using an HDMI adaptor. I have been having many issues since then, one problem is attached! Could it be the display is not compatible? I don't have another monitor to check my theory.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Sue

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Answer 3

Jul 26, 2019 11:50 AM in response to KerrinGraphics

You have background raster (the screen is not empty and black) and a fully-detailed Icon is displayed. That screen is working.

Some of your fonts may be messed up.

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Answer 4

angelodag Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 25, 2019 10:39 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thanks Grant,

So apple sold me a new (Old) computer and a incompatible monitor...

Dell suggest me this monitor https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/accessories/apd/210-arcy?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=210-ARCY

Do you think it will work? Thanks for taking your time

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Answer 5

Jul 25, 2019 11:29 AM in response to angelodag

According to that description, this is a genuine Thunderbolt-3 Display (similar LG display sold outside the Mac App Store is only a USB display).

USB-C is the name of the connector, ONLY. It does not describe any function of the cable.

To be effective, the cable should have the ThunderBolt symbol on each end, not a USB symbol. I would expect this display to work ONLY with the Apple Thunderbolt-3 to Thunderbolt-2 adapter used with a cable that carries the Thunderbolt symbol on each end. No others, such as the Apple MacBook Charging cable (which is useless for anything but charging) will work.

But be sure to do a Restart or sleep-and-wake your Mac to be certain the display is recognized (if possible). If that does not work, then they have indeed sold you stuff that will not work with your Mac.

-----

Best results for other displays are provided by displays with modern DisplayPort family interfaces. These display drop the "heartbeat" refresh required for CRT displays and send only the changed data. The lower data rate means everything runs cooler. A screen buffer in the display itself keeps refresh rates as high as possible. The Dell you mentioned has a [Full Size] DisplayPort interface, accessible with a cheap Mini DisplayPort (plugs directly into ThunderBolt-2 ports on your Mac Pro 2013) to [Full Size] DisplayPort adapter cable.

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Answer 6

angelodag Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 26, 2019 9:14 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Hello Grant,

Sorry for the delayed response.

Yes, I've connected them using Apple Thunderbolt-3 to Thunderbolt-2 adapter, no success. I did all the steps you've mentioned. As I said before, apple sold me the wrong display for MacPro. Now, I have to buy a new display outside apple store in order to get the work done.

Thanks again for your time.

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Answer 7

Jul 26, 2019 10:05 AM in response to angelodag

The temptation with the ThunderBolt-3 to ThunderBolt-2 adapter is to assume you can plug in a mini DisplayPort cable or Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter and get it to work. ONLY the original port directly on the computer can provide ANY display support (except possibly ThunderBolt, NOT USB, and that is not guaranteed).

To put it another way: to use anything except genuine ThunderBolt, you must make the adaptation from computer port to display input in at most ONE adapter.

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Answer 8

Jul 30, 2019 11:19 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

The problem is back. AND fonts I have been using for a while are suddenly not available (NOT the ones I removed from my user/Library/Fonts folder)!

I have been using Macs for at least 20 years and they get more complicated with each new OS!! If I didn't hate Windows 10 so much I just might switch!!!

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