Q: macbook pro 4k TV UHDTV

Actually I just purchased the Seiki 4K 32in in from Amazon for $405. It does work just fine with the 15 in macbook Pro retina at 3840x2160 at 30Hz, but only through the thunderbolt port wiht an active minidsp to HDMI adapter. Apple apparently blocks the HDMI conector at 24Hz for that kind of resolution.

To the above, you do not need the active adapter after upgrading to Mavericks.

I am using a late 2012 Retina 15" w/ the Seiki supplied HDMI cable. After upgrading to Mavericks, I get 3840x2160 at 30Hz if I select "best for this display".

How is it to read on as a monitor compared to reading on the Retina display on the MBP?

What we want to know is can rMBPs with TB2 drive a 4K display at at least 60Hz. Since the Seiki is limited to 30Hz, that is only a partial test.

And, if TB2 can drive a 60hz 4K display, what is the performace like, especially in dual monitor mode with rMPB display.

I've got the rMBP 13" late 2012. I cannot get Mavericks to see the seiki 39" 4k TV as capable of anything above 1080p.

I even have this active display port to HDMI 1.4 adapter.

Accell (B086B-008B-2) UltraAV Mini DisplayPort 1.1 to HDMI 1.4 Active Adapter - AMD Eyefinity Certified

http://amzn.com/B00DOZHL82

I visited my local Sears where they had the 50" Seiki 4k and I brought my 2012 15" rMBP running OS X 10.9. Using an HDMI cable from the HDMI port on the laptop to the Seiki, we were able to get 4k resolution right away. I opened up Lightroom 5.0 and was able to use the Seiki as a second monitor...pretty spectacular. It definitely takes longer to refresh the screen or zoom in...sometimes it was as fast as HD, other times it felt like it was lagging. I think for use as a second monitor for displaying an image, it should work pretty well assuming it can be adjusted to match colors on the laptop. No chance for gaming or anything requiring fast refresh rate...it's locked at 30hz. If you're using it as a monitor to show the Finder, prepare to have it really close to your face because even at 50", desktop icons are tiny due to the crazy high resolution.

Using a Thunderbolt to HDMI cable, the MacBook Pro would not output in 4k, only 1920x1080 as a max. Perhaps Neptune2000's note above is pertinent here -- that maybe Apple doesn't allow 30hz through the Thunderbolt port. Only 24, 50 and 60hz were options.

As to tecsi12 question on the 60hz, I think the limitation is with the Seiki monitor, not necessarily the Mac. Reading reviews of the monitor on Amazon, it sounds like HDMI 2.0 would be required to run any 4k resolution above 30hz and since that hadn't been finalized when the TV was introduced, it doesn't have the standard so it's running HDMI 1.4 and therefore can't handle higher refresh rates. Just a price of bleeding edge technology in this case. (and a pretty low price too considering the Seiki 50" 4k is $699 at Sears right now!)

Thanks for the update Tim. I think you hit are correct that HDMI 1.4 is limited in its refresh rate to 24/30Hz @4K. We would need to fine a monitor that supports DisplayPort 1.2 and then use a TB2 to DP1.2 cable.

How are you hooked up to your Sony - through the HDMI or the Thunderbolt port? Oh, and what port on the Sony itself? Thanks.

Please ignore this post. I was responding to a much earlier posting and ended up here - where I see my answer.

Update on my issue, it seems that the Intel 4000 HD isn't 4k capable. I will be returning the tv to sears this weekend.

Tom,

I think your issue is that your 2012  rMBP doesn't have Thunderbolt 2 which is required for UHD.

Here is the answer we have been waiting for.

http://9to5mac.com/2013/12/23/new-retina-macbook-pros-can-drive-4k-displays-at-6 0hz-when-running-windows-mac-os-needs-new-drivers/

Article doesn't indicate what performance was like however.

I have a 55 inch Sony 4K TV and I bought the 15" rMBP (late 2013) with the Nvidia 750 ($2600 base config).

I have been able to achieve 4K resolutions via HDMI however I am limited to a depressing 30hz refresh rate.

4K video has quite a lag to it, moving the mouse accross the screen inccurs a very noticable lag, even with graphics switching turned off.

So NO this is not the most ideal 4K solution.

As far as displaying 4K or 8 megapixel still images though its great. Pictures off the iPhone 5S look real nice.

If you want to do 4K movie playback or editing I recommend going with a Mac Pro.

I highly recomend the sony XBR-55X850A for viewing 4K content ($2999) Affordable compared to just a year ago.

Sony pretty much brought the industry 4K and was the first to really push 4K tech to the consumer market.

I stongly believe Apple will be releasing its own 4K monitors in the coming year (possiblly an apple TV too).

Thanks for this data point. It seems that at least one person was able to get 4k @60Hz through Thunderbolt 2, but ONLY while running Bootcamp/Windows 8.1.

We know HDMI on rMBP is only HDMI 1.4, so will only support 30Hz. And most TVs (vs. Monitors) only support HDMI, not DisplayPort 1.2, so they cannot connect to Thunderbolt anyway.

Any idea whether the lag was due to the 30Hz limitation vs. the rMBP video performance?

January 6, 2014

CES, Las Vegas

                                              UHD is Topical/The Need for Test Demo content

Gearing up for UHD, the story widens, and our temporary UHD content scarcity needs a solution. This UHD traction requires quickly available UHD content, NOT from  SONY,  for testing new UHD TVs.  Consumers need more video content for comparisons.  Here’s a solution.

Scarce-to-find, Ultra High Definition, easily downloadable art demo reels, are FREE, in the form of 3-minute 3840x2160p 4K documentary art animation clips.    There are eleven UHD video clips available at vimeo.com/visualambrosia pages. Among attendees at CES, the most popular video clip is https://vimeo.com/52892170.   The video demo clips are useful for testing/comparing UHD TVs.   That UHD video clip has been downloaded-to-desktop for play, 960 times, from the vimeo.com/visualambrosia pages.

FYI, for MacPro enthusiasts like our animation studio, the new MacPro will be a blessing compressing the UHD feature movies underway.  For example, a master video file for a two hour feature movie, in original uncompressed state, is 10.6 TB, before compression.  We need more processing power.  Hooray, MacPro.

If anyone wishes to drive the same movie file in 720, 1080, 2K, AND UHD VERSIONs, LET US KNOW.

Michael

mnharris@rcn.com

This is great news for my 2012 MBP, but aside from the slow mouse movements as posted, does anyone notice flickering at 30Hz? I get really dizzy when refresh rate is too low on those old monitors.

My primary use is photography and I never play games so would the 30Hz limitation be noticeable? Maybe I'll have no choice but to have to upgrade to either Mac Pro or MBP 2013 but this is a lot of money just to be able to use a 4K monitor?!