User profile for user: Curt Crandall
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How to get full 5120 x 1440 resolution with a MacBook Air M1 and a USB-C/TB to USB-C/TB cable?

I've searched quite a few threads here and on other forums about getting an M1 Mac to work with 32:9/49" displays at full 5120 x 1440 resolution. In particular, I want to be able to use a USB-C/TB3 cable so I can power my MacBook Air and connect to the display.


Right now, I'm using a 2020 Samsung Odyssey G9 and with a lot of tinkering I was able to get this to work - but I have to use a USB-C to DP cable. And this monitor doesn't even have USB-C or TB3.


A friend of mine has an AOC AGON 49" display, which I briefly tried myself with a 2018 MacMini, but I wasn't able to get 5120x1440 resolution. Tried again with my MacBook Air M1 (8-core GPU) and with a USB-C/TB3 cable I can still only get 3840 x 1080.


Has anyone gotten this to work (without SwitchResX) and if so, how did you get it to work with the AOC AGON?


Anyone know why there are so many problems after so long with a lot of lower-end Macs and these 32:9 displays? These same machines can easily power the LG Ultrafine 5K, so it can't be an issue of horsepower. I've also heard it's a driver issue, but then I've seen anecdotes of people just plugging in their M1 machines into something like Dell 49" and getting full res without any tinkering.


Thanks!

MacBook Air (2020 or later)

Posted on Nov 15, 2021 7:48 PM

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User profile for user: Curt Crandall
Curt Crandall Author
User level: Level 2
286 points

Posted on Nov 21, 2021 8:19 PM

Thanks for the response, Eric. However, the issue isn't with not knowing how to connect a Mac to an external display. It looks like Apple has had a long standing issue with supporting 5120 x 1440 displays. It does not appear possible, at least with lower end machines using Intel Integrated Graphics or the M1 to get this resolution using a USB-C/TB to USB-C/TB connection.


It's kind of sad that it's been years that these displays have been out and even Windows supports them, but macOS does not. There are many people on this forum reporting the same issue and I would hope it could be addressed very soon.


In the meantime, a USB-C/TB to Display Port cable will power a Samsung Odyssey G9 at 5120 x 1440 resolution at 60Hz, Freesync disabled, Display Port set to 1.2, and HDR disabled (I think). Unfortunately, can't use a 49" 5120 x 1440 resolution screen with a USB-C/TB input which would be nice to have so someone can charge their MacBook while connected to the display using a single cable.

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User profile for user: Curt Crandall
Curt Crandall Author
User level: Level 2
286 points

Nov 21, 2021 8:19 PM in response to Eric--F

Thanks for the response, Eric. However, the issue isn't with not knowing how to connect a Mac to an external display. It looks like Apple has had a long standing issue with supporting 5120 x 1440 displays. It does not appear possible, at least with lower end machines using Intel Integrated Graphics or the M1 to get this resolution using a USB-C/TB to USB-C/TB connection.


It's kind of sad that it's been years that these displays have been out and even Windows supports them, but macOS does not. There are many people on this forum reporting the same issue and I would hope it could be addressed very soon.


In the meantime, a USB-C/TB to Display Port cable will power a Samsung Odyssey G9 at 5120 x 1440 resolution at 60Hz, Freesync disabled, Display Port set to 1.2, and HDR disabled (I think). Unfortunately, can't use a 49" 5120 x 1440 resolution screen with a USB-C/TB input which would be nice to have so someone can charge their MacBook while connected to the display using a single cable.

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How to get full 5120 x 1440 resolution with a MacBook Air M1 and a USB-C/TB to USB-C/TB cable?

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