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

It's a shame that Apple still does not support 60hz on 4k with the macbook pro 15 late 2013... I planning to buy the high end 15 inch, but this is a killer criteria.

I did a "feature request" on the Apple page and I would suggest you do this also.

I HATE Apple's Marketing Team!!! They will present this feature again like "Brand New Innovation" bla bla bla...

imagine apple would provide MST support now, there is another problem that i didnt even think of. Somebody wrote about it in another thread here.

The new Dell 4k 24" has a resolution of about 200ppi, which is already close to apple's retina macbooks. At this resolution, you will definitely need the "Retina Dsiplay Setting" (larger buttons, text, etc. on the GUI and Apps)

However, if the display is not recognized as a "Retina Display", the Retina Setting will not be available! So even with that driver, third party high resolution displays (>=200ppi) will not work with OS X. Only hope is a new apple branded thunderbolt 4k display.

P.S. does soembody know how displays are recognized as "Retina"? Is it EDID? Could there be an override similar to this?

johnniecache wrote:

 

imagine apple would provide MST support now, there is another problem that i didnt even think of. Somebody wrote about it in another thread here.

 

The new Dell 4k 24" has a resolution of about 200ppi, which is already close to apple's retina macbooks. At this resolution, you will definitely need the "Retina Dsiplay Setting" (larger buttons, text, etc. on the GUI and Apps)

 

However, if the display is not recognized as a "Retina Display", the Retina Setting will not be available! So even with that driver, third party high resolution displays (>=200ppi) will not work with OS X. Only hope is a new apple branded thunderbolt 4k display.

 

P.S. does soembody know how displays are recognized as "Retina"? Is it EDID? Could there be an override similar to this?

..exactly, so if you don't mind looking at microscopic text and gui etc..4K is pointless without the proper scaling.

I've completely given up on the 4K idea, but am waiting patiently for a Thunderbolt "2" Display (TD) update.

I and many of my coleagues though cannot justify spending hard earned money on hardware that has dated quite considerably.

The current iteration of the TD needs port updates (USB 3.0 & Thunderbolt 2) as well as a "full lamination" screen which Apple says has 75% less reflection.

The current iMac has USB 3.0 and a full lamination screen, I don't understand what is so difficult about shifting focusing to a product that is now three (3) years old, it's a dinosaur....it's a bit embarrassing.

Come on Apple, please! people are waiting!

PaintingStar wrote:

 

I've completely given up on the 4K idea, but am waiting patiently for a Thunderbolt "2" Display (TD) update.

Well, mission accomplished?

And no wonder the TD has not been updated, even with the iMac features it will still be a dinosaur standing next to a retina MBP.

Actually even 4k is not enough, it needs to be at least 5k to be a proper retina 27" display. So it will take time, I am guessing late 2014.

johnniecache wrote:

 

PaintingStar wrote:

 

I've completely given up on the 4K idea, but am waiting patiently for a Thunderbolt "2" Display (TD) update.

Well, mission accomplished?

 

And no wonder the TD has not been updated, even with the iMac features it will still be a dinosaur standing next to a retina MBP.

 

Actually even 4k is not enough, it needs to be at least 5k to be a proper retina 27" display. So it will take time, I am guessing late 2014.

Otherwise, I may go for something like this:

LG-29UM95

http://www.lg.com/be_fr/moniteurs/lg-29UM95-ips-monitor

samsung 4k monitor released in korea, and price just 599$

support 3840x2160x60hz when DP 1.2 connection.

Macbook Pro retina (LATE 2013) don't support this refresh rate on Mavericks.

But Same machine, Windows 8.1 support it. LOL

This is not a big deal... Look at this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyqtyVx_j_o

It is Mac Pro with Dell 4k Display. He installed a tweak or whatever and the text and GUI are quite nice!

Niklas1337 wrote:

 

It is Mac Pro with Dell 4k Display. He installed a tweak or whatever and the text and GUI are quite nice!

1920x1080 HiDPi on 31.5" is not quite nice ;-)

Apple does have the technology since 2012, you can use scaled resolutions on your macbook pro retina. unfortunately no signs of MST Support and more variable hidpi modes on latest beta 5 of 10.9.2

the "scaled resolution" is not a solution to this problem! It would be insane to buy a 4k display and run it in 1080p scaled mode.

The only possibility would be to force the "Retina Display Setting", which has a larger (not scaled!) GUI. Maybe this is possible through an EDID hack.

johnniecache wrote:

 

the "scaled resolution" is not a solution to this problem! It would be insane to buy a 4k display and run it in 1080p scaled mode.

 

The only possibility would be to force the "Retina Display Setting", which has a larger (not scaled!) GUI. Maybe this is possible through an EDID hack.

i did mean HiDPi Modes, these are also (kind of) scaled. Example:

HiDPi on 2560x1440@3860x2160  means:

rendering on 5180x2880 (@2x) and downscaling to 3860x2160

do you have some more informaion on this?

Apple says that the Retina GUI is not scaled:

Scaled resolutions do not offer the same visual quality as the Retina setting. Scaled resolutions may also impact graphics performance depending on which applications you are using.

i believe that the retina gui is simply natively twice the size of the normal gui. Also modern websites would load content like images and backgrounds @2x the size when a retina display is found (pixel-device-ratio). With the retina setting its not scaled, only on a scaled resolution setting it will be scaled down again (smaller)

johnniecache wrote:

 

i believe that the retina gui is simply natively twice the size of the normal gui. Also modern websites would load content like images and backgrounds @2x the size when a retina display is found (pixel-device-ratio). With the retina setting its not scaled, only on a scaled resolution setting it will be scaled down again (smaller)

absolutely right.

"retina" Mode is ok on a Macbook with 221ppi, or e.g. on a Dell UP2414Q

But on a 31.5" with Ultra HD you usually want to use scaled modes.

for me, (virtual) 2560x1440 HiDPi is absolutely usable on a 31.5" Ultra HD desktop monitor. That would be a pixel-device-ratio of 1.5

LG is also planning a thunderbolt 2 MU95 4K display designed for Apple products! I'm waiting to see how much...

4K will always have the dilemma of tiny text vs more desktop space and the compromise either way is not optimal. On the other hand, the newly announced ultrawide screens like the LG 29UM95 (3440x1440) seems to be a better compromise for Mac since it's not too big physically, not too small, text will not be too tiny and still you can get extended desktop space and 129 PPI (compared to 109 PPI of current Thunderbolt display), which becomes retina equivalent at 27 inches distance (an ideal distance for most people).

In fact, I think that Apple may rather release an update to the Thunderbolt display with exactly the same size and resolution as the LG29UM95.