I want to buy a HDMI equipped monitor with resolution of 2560x1440 and connect it to my Retina MacBook Pro.
Can the HDMI port output this resolution or does it only support 1920x1080?
MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012), OS X Mountain Lion
"HDMI 1.4 increases the maximum resolution to 4K × 2K". From Wikipedia.
I know that HDMI standard is capable of this resolution. I guess my question is, which version of the HDMI standard does RMBP support.
The website doesn't mention anything about it (not that I could find anyway)
Might be limited to 1920 x1200. cant say for certain though.
The port definitely supports it, but OS X is another story. If I boot into Windows and connect it to a display capable of displaying 2560x1440 over HDMI, it just works. If I'm in OSX, it refuses to allow anything over 1920x1200. Even if I try to force the resolution with SwitchResX, it doesn't work. If I create a custom resolution with a 40Hz refresh rate instead of 60Hz, then it does actually work. 2560x1440 @ 40Hz fits within the bandwidth constraints of a single link at 165MHz. So it appears that OSX limits the port to 1.2 frequencies. I'm not realy sure why -- HDMI 1.4 should allow for frequencies upto 340MHz, and the hardware is clearly capable based on Windows.
Do keep in mind that the cable quality does matter at this resolution. In Windows, one of my cables resulted in extreme artifacts. I switched to another cable I had lying around and it worked perfectly. Weird thing was that the cable that worked was a generic one I got ages ago while the one that artifacted was billed as a high quality item with extra shielding and all that.
HDMI 1.4b Spec: http://www.paradetech.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/PS8401-Product-Brief-201104 25.pdf
From ifixit.com http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/MacBook-Pro-15-Inch-Retina-Display-Mid-2012-Teard own/9462/1
WQUXGA (3,840×2,400) - Nothing in production supporting this over hdmi at this time.
What's your point? The hardware is capable of outputting at least 2560x1440@60Hz based on my experience in Windows. It wouldn't be that hard for others to verify. The limitation in this case is OSX
Wow.. Really... i can't believe i am wasting time responding.. but.. whatever..
Identification of what the hardware is and what it is capable of for future questions.
Second.. If you know this then you could most likely use: http://www.madrau.com/indexSRX4.html to overcome.
Lastly, my frustration in the response is you do not seem to understand why what the actual chipset and spec in use would be important.. yet you ask me "What is my Point"
Hardware is capable is nice to know. What the hardware is to definitievely know = better. (Your response was helpful as well.. just adding more detail)
I just wanted to say thanks for this. I was bopping around on the internet all day and finally found your answer. Same ish, but I thought it was limited to my HDMI cable.
OH wells. I got a Dell 2713HM monitor, but I ordered a minidisplay port to regular display port cable to hit the max resolution of that monitor (2560x1440).
Again, thanks!
Also, in case anyone else is wondering, this is the cable I got for my Dell 27'' : http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004065DAC/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00
hyderali91 wrote:
The port definitely supports it, but OS X is another story. If I boot into Windows and connect it to a display capable of displaying 2560x1440 over HDMI, it just works. If I'm in OSX, it refuses to allow anything over 1920x1200. Even if I try to force the resolution with SwitchResX, it doesn't work. If I create a custom resolution with a 40Hz refresh rate instead of 60Hz, then it does actually work. 2560x1440 @ 40Hz fits within the bandwidth constraints of a single link at 165MHz. So it appears that OSX limits the port to 1.2 frequencies. I'm not realy sure why -- HDMI 1.4 should allow for frequencies upto 340MHz, and the hardware is clearly capable based on Windows.
Do keep in mind that the cable quality does matter at this resolution. In Windows, one of my cables resulted in extreme artifacts. I switched to another cable I had lying around and it worked perfectly. Weird thing was that the cable that worked was a generic one I got ages ago while the one that artifacted was billed as a high quality item with extra shielding and all that.
So is running at 40Hz a usable solution then? Or, does it cause other issues (artifacting, laggy mouse, noticeably lower refresh rate)?
Just to make sure, are you using an HDMI 1.4 compatible HDMI cable?
I got an ASUS PB278Q 2560 by 1440 resolution and I am also only getting the 1080p as the highest resolution with an HDMI cable connect to my 15in MacBook Pro Retina. How do you go about creating a custom resolution with a 40Hz refresh rate instead of 60Hz?? I would like to see if this solves my problem. Thanks for you help in advance.
You may install SwitchResX. Then, create a custom resolution with 2560x1440@40Hz for your ASUS PB278Q by using SwitchResX. This is what I have done for my Dell U2713HM. But, the cost is that your mouse will have a little lag on this display.
I actually find 40Hz to be a fine resolution. I ran my old 13" MacBook Pro's built in display at 48fps since I'm a big movie guy and noticed 0 lag, minor difference in the way movies looked (for the better 😀 ). 40Hz isn't that low IMO, unless your doing certain things like games that require a higher rate. Theoretically our rMBP's should be able to output 3840x2160 @ 60Hz if only out of the mini-display ports, with HDMI 2.0 coming out today (the wikipedia page just changed a bit too) its possible we'll get some love in the form of an adapter to output 3840x2160p60 via Mini-display port to HDMI 2.0....I know you can output 3840x2160p60 to a display but I'm not sure if their would be compatiblity issues on 4K TV's not recognizing the signal but I plan to test this at Best Buy with a friend who works their in the TV section 😀 the port on the rMBP is only HDMI 1.4b which offers up to 3840x2160p30 and with SwitchResX you can force the HDMI to output 3840x2160p24 but it won't do 25p or 30p for some reason. I'd ideally like to be able to output 4096x2160p24 for viewing edits at D-Cinema spec 4K but I don't deal with that often so no worries. Very exciting to learn that your computer has more under the hood that Apple might reveal 😀
I just got the ASUS PB278Q and am trying to get it working on my 2013 Retina Macbook Pro. So far using a Thunderbolt to DVI adapter I'm only getting 1920x1080. Same with straight HDMI to HDMI (using the provided cable that came with the monitor). Using SwitchResX I am able to set the full 2560x1440 at 60Hz using HDMI and the preset in SwitchResX BUT it looks crappy. It has all the real-estate but it looks a little blurry and weird. I can't get a 2560x1440 at 40Hz to work as a preset in SwitchResX, it keeps returning invalid. I'm likely not doing something right.
Who would have thought a monitor would be this much trouble. 😐 Gonna order a Thunderbolt to DisplayPort cable and see if I can get the native resolution working. This seems to be the proper way Apple wants you do it.
Got my Thunderbolt/Mini-DisplayPort to DisplayPort cable from Amazon for $7.99. Works great and the monitor is now running in native resolution as a second monitor for my Retina Macbook Pro. So that solutions works. I haven't tested it in Windows 8 which I'm dual-booting, but I've read that it works fine in Windows with a regular HDMI cable and that the 1080p limit with HDMI in OS X is an OS X software issue.
does Retina MacBook Pro HDMI port support 2560x1440
