macbook pro 2010 displayport

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support

The maximum resolution your MBP supports for an external display is 2560x1600 pixels.

If you could use a 4K TV, it would only be if the TV and adapter were willing to accept a lower-resolution 1920x1080 or 2560x1440 signal, and do "digital zoom." You would not get 4K of actual resolution. It seems likely that a 4K TV would be willing to accept a 1920x1080 signal (because of all of the source material made for 1080p TVs) – but this configuration is not one that your MBP is guaranteed to support.

2nd Display Support: Dual/Mirroring 2nd Max. Resolution:2560x1600

Details: The maximum resolution supported on an external display is 2560x1600.

from Everyman.com

I agree with Servant of Cats that you will not get true 4K resolution. But In my opinion, you will get a very nice picture of AT LEAST standard HD TV resolution, and if your TV supports an intermediate resolution, possibly higher (but still short of true 4K).

The Mac does not rely on Windows-like side-loaded "Drivers" which are actually packages of resolutions and settings for a specific display. Instead, it goes straight to the immutable source -- it asks the display itself.

To get a Mac display to become active, you need the Mac to query the display, and the display to answer with its name and capabilities. Otherwise, the display will not be shown as present, and no data will be sent to the display. "No signal detected" is generated by the DISPLAY, not by the Mac.

This query is only sent at certain times:

• at startup

• at wake from sleep — so momentarily sleeping and waking your Mac may work

• at insertion of the Mac-end of the display-cable, provided everything on that cable is ready-to-go

• hold the Option key while you click on the (Detect Display) button that will appear in Displays preferences (from another display)