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Does the new Macbook Pro 15" (late 2013) supports 4K via Thunderbolt/Displayport?

I understand that the new Macbook Pro 15" (late 2013 with Nvidia) supports 4K screen resolutions via HDMI at low hertz. But does it support 4K via Thunderbolt/Displayport? I read on Intel's web that the NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M with 2GB memory in theory can support it. Would be important as a range of new 4K 32" monitors will come out over the next year. Would be great for photo, video editing etc.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Oct 24, 2013 2:48 AM

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Posted on Oct 26, 2013 10:30 AM

I also am very confused by this because per apple's support page it only supports 4K via HDMI at 30Hz but SHOULD support 60Hz via a mini display port 1.2 specification built into thunderbolt 2.


However, I think it does include 60Hz support (although not mentioned on apple's website). My evidence of this is that on the ifixit teardown they found a an Intel DSL 5520 Thunderbolt 2 controller which according to Intel's and Wikipedia's website is falcon ridge which means it should support Display port 1.2 natively. Plus, on apple's thunderbolt page they specifically mention connecting a 4K display to a macbook pro through the thunderbolt port (not which is suggested by the support page listed above):


"Now with Thunderbolt 2 built into the new Mac Pro and MacBook Pro with Retina display, you can connect the latest 4K desktop displays and get double the bandwidth for your peripherals. And the two generations of Thunderbolt technology are compatible with each other."



Also, the Apple mini displayport support page has not been updated since 2012 but I believe it is just showing old information


The BIG piece of evidence against the new macbook pro's supporting 4K through the thunderbolt port is that on apple's tech specs page they specifically mention 4K under the HDMI section but make no mention of it under the thunderbolt 2 section.

312 replies

Sep 24, 2014 1:52 AM in response to samdale67

Yes, my comment was based on late/October 13-inch rMBP with Iris 5100, which most likely also applies mid-2014 13' rMBPs as they also have Iris 5100'.


Nonetheless, the problem of outputting only 30Hz on 4K might be applicable to all late 2013 and mid-2014 rMBPs running Yosemite Betas and/or Developer Previews, hence comments from people on 4k 60Hz outputting capability who own any rMBP of the said iterations and a 4K 60Hz monitor and run Yosemite Betas and/or Developer Previews would be greatly appreciated.

Oct 16, 2014 5:42 PM in response to rayGcon

I'm assuming all that we've learned in this discussion would also apply to the just announced (2014) new Mac Mini -> it seems to support 30 Hz 4K, but since it only has Iris graphics, I assume there's no chance of 60 Hz 4K output through a Thunderbolt 2 adapter? (Despite the TB2 having sufficient BW, I'm assuming the graphics card can't handle it.)

Oct 18, 2014 3:53 AM in response to MacPlus87

So what's the final verdict? Does the low-end Macbook Pro retina 2013 15' (with only integrated iris Pro) really support one 4K-display @60 Hz, as per http://support.apple.com/kb/ht6008 ? I really want to make sure there is no mistake in that article and that there is no need to go for the high-end discrete Nvidia just to drive one 4k-display @60Hz. Thanks!

Jan 24, 2015 2:46 PM in response to MacPlus87

I own the late 2013 15" rMBP with Iris Graphics, running Yosemite 10.10.1


I just bought a Dell P2715Q 4K (3840x2160) monitor and I am running in on DP/TB port and getting 60Hz.


I already owned an LG 34UM95 34" widescreen running at 3440x1440 and it is also running at 60Hz on DP/TB port.


I have attached a pic I took today from System Report which shows the monitors, their resolution and their refresh rate. This is a gorgeous setup and it's working great for me. Highly recommended, if you have ~$1,400 to throw at two monitors.


User uploaded file

Feb 2, 2015 8:34 AM in response to rayGcon

As rayGcon pointed out the support of 4k / 60Hz on external display is not down to Intel graphics (within a certain generation) but rather the processor and hence TDP or maximum power consumption. Here's a link that sums it up nicely, it also includes info on Broadwell models. Just scroll down to Maximum display resolution section.

https://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/quick-reference-guide-to-intel-process or-graphics

Feb 2, 2015 9:11 AM in response to larrysing

larrysing,do you use scaled resolution on your Dell P2715Q 4K and does it affect the graphical performance in any way?

The way I understand OSX does scaling is that display is handled off-screen at twice the resolution. Say if you're using 2560 x 1440 scaled resolution on a 27" inch 4k display (e.g. Dell P2715Q) then the off-screen resolution is 5120 x 2880 (a lot of pixels). That might affect performance as Mac OSX and anandtech article point out http://www.anandtech.com/show/8023/apple-releases-osx-10-9-3-improved-4k-display


The reason I ask is that I'm undecided whether to pick MBP 15 with discrete or just the integrated graphics (due to the lack of support of switchable graphics in bootcamp versus iris pro performance and handling 4k scaled resolutions). Btw, how is iris pro driver support in bootcamp, if you've used it?

Feb 2, 2015 9:48 AM in response to n1k1ta

I don't think I'm using scaling in that way. I use SwitchResX and I have run the monitor at 3840x2160 HiDPI and 2560x1440 HiDPI and the performance seems to me to be fairly equal in each.


I do not use bootcamp.


My thoughts on your dilemma with discrete GPU or not is that I wish I had chosen the discrete GPU instead of the model with the "Iris Pro only" graphics. At the time I decided to purchase, I was intending to only drive ONE external monitor at 1920x1200, and had no idea that within a year, I would be driving BOTH a 3840x2160 monitor AND ALSO a 3440x1440 monitor. Had I know, I would have DEFINITELY got the model with the GT 750M. The idea there being "it's better to HAVE discrete GPUs and not need them, than to NEED them without having them!!!"


If I had it to do over, I would definitely gone with the higher video horsepower.

Jun 10, 2015 4:46 AM in response to johnniecache

The upcoming variant of OSX El Capitan introduces performance improvements, especially on graphics performance by virtue of Metal engine. Indeed Apple claims 10x performance improvement in graphics. This may make possible for Apple to develop a software/driver update that would enable 4k 60Hz output on OSX El Capitan via DP1.2 as it may no more be very taxing on the system.


Please kindly provide your opinions. Actual results from people owning Haswell (late 2013 or mid-2014) 13'' rMBP and a 4k 60Hz monitor would be greatly appreciated.

Does the new Macbook Pro 15" (late 2013) supports 4K via Thunderbolt/Displayport?

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