User profile for user: expntly
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4k @ 60hz with MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) ?

I just purchased the new MacBook 12" 1.2 Ghz and I'm trying to make it work with a Dell P2715Q. I'm using a USB-C to DisplayPort cable purchased here: https://store.google.com/product/usb_type_c_to_displayport_cable


So far I have not been able to make it work at 4k (3840x2160) at 60hz, the 60hz option just isn't available in the System Preferences.


With the Dell in MST Secondary mode


Here's what I see in the settings:

User uploaded file

3840x2160 is 30hz only, which is slow -- mouse cursor lags, scrolling isn't comfortable etc. Everything "(low resolution)" means no HiDPI if I understand correctly, and so this translates to everything being blurry on the screen.


I would like to be able to use 3200x1800 at 60hz and HiDPI so it's fast and sharp.


With the Dell in MST off (SST I assume)


Settings:

User uploaded file


Everything is 60hz, but everything is blurry as well, mostly no HiDPI (according to SwitchResX). The first HiDPI starts at 1440x900 and below, which is way too big on the screen.


So overall, I'm not sure why SST seems to not be supported very well (all blurry), and why in MST I can't get to 60hz and no HiDPI resolutions just below 3840.


I checked software update and as of April 25 it says "No Updates Available", and I'm on 10.10.3 already.


Any help appreciated. If anyone has been able to make the new MacBook 12" work well with 4k @ 60hz, I'd be interested in hearing from them. I'm not sure if it's because of the MacBook, or the Dell P2715Q (or even the USB-C to DisplayPort cable; would using mDP help?).


Thanks!

MacBook, OS X Yosemite (10.10.3)

Posted on Apr 26, 2015 12:11 AM

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User profile for user: SLidzen
SLidzen
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Jan 14, 2016 1:44 AM in response to Deviant Tofu

Deviant Tofu wrote:

I'm using a Dell P2416D, which is 2560x1440. Macbook 12inch is able to run it at native resolution @60Hz.


  • Can you/anyone confirm this can be achieved using the USB C to Display Port adapter from Google?
  • Can someone also please confirm if its possible to run this setting straight from display settings or if I have to use a third party software like SwitchResX?


If all fine i will get the P2416D instead.


Side note,

I just bought an Macbook 12" and also just received my new dell P2715Q. I am able to run 1920x1080 @ 30hz and 3840x2160 @ 30hz with USB C Multi AV and HDMI cable. Strangely enough I am not able to run 2560x1440 @ 30hz. My friend connected his Macbook 15" Pro retina and was able to select this amongst range of other resolutions on the same cable. I have decided to return my display after reading this since there seems to be no one in here that has managed to make it run smoothly on 4K @ 60hz even with the USB C to Display Port cable (which i was planning to buy).


User uploaded file

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User profile for user: expntly
expntly Author
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Apr 26, 2015 10:35 AM in response to Lanny

Can you elaborate please? What is it that supports your claim?


http://www.apple.com/macbook/specs/ only says "Intel HD Graphics 5300 -- Dual display and video mirroring: Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to 3840 by 2160 pixels on an external display, both at millions of colors"


which doesn't mean it cannot do 60hz or lower resolutions HiDPI at 60hz either.


On the Graphics card itself, I found this: https://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/quick-reference-guide-to-intel-process or-graphics


which says "DisplayPort* 1.2 / eDP* -- Y-Processors: 2560 x 1600 @ 60 Hz, 3840 x 2160 @ 60 Hz capable"

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User profile for user: expntly
expntly Author
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Apr 26, 2015 10:38 AM in response to Joy615

Thanks for confirming I'm not the only one. Have you tried other displays? I was thinking of trying the Sharp PN-K321 in the hope that it would make the max resolution 3840x2160 appear a bit bigger so I could work with it. Assuming it would work at 60hz.

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User profile for user: expntly
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Apr 26, 2015 8:20 PM in response to Lanny

Thanks for providing the link once more but my original post was actually already based on that very same link -- see top of the page of the post where it's linked off automatically.


Anyway, I'm not reading that it does not support 3840 @ 60hz explicitly. It's not mentioned it does either though.


Also, that doesn't explain why the lower resolutions don't support 60hz either and why they're not HiDPI.

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User profile for user: expntly
expntly Author
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Apr 27, 2015 1:34 PM in response to Joy615

I posted here as well if you want to follow: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=21148342#post21148342


I think I'm going to go pick up the new MacBook Pro 13" as a replacement. The new MacBook 12" is just too slow/limited. I've made extensive testing over the weekend to compare it with my MacBook Air 11" 2012 and another MacBook Pro 15" 2012. Bottom line, the MacBook 12" is just behind, starting with scrolling on web pages that's super slow and flickering (on its built-in display). Plus I had some problems with the battery when I received it, it wouldn't charge more than 25%, had to perform an SMC reset.

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User profile for user: Lanny
Lanny
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Apr 27, 2015 3:48 PM in response to Joy615

Excerpt from Anantech review:

Case in point: as per the USB 3.1 standard, Apple officially classifies the MacBook as a USB 3.1 Gen 1 device. What is USB 3.1 Gen 1? The answer is that it’s really USB 3.0, with the USB 3.1 standard having adopted USB 3.0 and given it a new name. In this case Apple is using Core M’s built-in USB 3.0 controller to drive their Type-C port, and that means it has the same bandwidth capabilities as any other USB 3.0 port, meaning 5Gbps “Superspeed” capabilities.

Based on the chart you provided, you would need over 5 Gbps to handle 4k@60Hz.

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User profile for user: Joy615
Joy615
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Apr 27, 2015 8:55 PM in response to expntly

Hi,

i think the performance issue on your machine is special case.

I used macbook pro retina 15"(2013 late version).

I can't feel anything different when i surfing,mail,video,iTunes,...,even when i use Parallels Desktop 10.

the only problem that i concerned is 4k 60hz output~

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User profile for user: michaelfromsandpoint
michaelfromsandpoint
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May 1, 2015 9:47 PM in response to Lanny

Is there a way I can use the Dell P2715Q with the MacBook 12" at 60 Hz in lower resolution and it would work fine? I need to upgrade monitors and it seems to make sense to get the 4k so my next laptop can likely drive the full resolution. Will it be smooth at 2560x1440 pixels or 2k? Or would it be better to get the Dell U2715 which only goes to 2560x1440 pixels. They cost about the same. I would get the 4k if it would work fine off the macbook at 2560x1440 pixels. Thanks.




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User profile for user: Lanny
Lanny
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May 1, 2015 10:13 PM in response to michaelfromsandpoint

make sense to get the 4k so my next laptop can likely drive the full resolution.

How long do you expect to keep the MacBook? If you really want to use a 4K monitor at 60Hz, you should buy a MacBook Pro.


It's hard for me to understand why folks want to use high performance monitors with low performance computers.

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User profile for user: Milliano
Milliano
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Jun 3, 2015 8:07 AM in response to expntly

Are there other proofs out there that the Macbook (12inch, 2015) doesn't handle well a 4K screen (3840x2160) @60Hz like the Dell P2715Q via DisplayPort 1.2?

I'm interested in exactly this setting and the Apple doc nor the reviews are 100% clear...

Thanks a lot!

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User profile for user: Milliano
Milliano
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Jun 23, 2015 3:52 AM in response to TFannon

Lanny, the article you refer to is about 4K streaming, and I didn't find any info about 5Gbps being to low. Actually I don't know what is the necessary bandwidth for 4K...

TFannon, did you, or could you try through SST (Single Stream Transport)?

Thank a lot for your answer !!

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User profile for user: HFJ
HFJ
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Jun 23, 2015 11:51 AM in response to TFannon

I understand the limitations of my new 12" MacBook, but am exploring an external display, knowing that 4K is not possible. A Thunderbolt display would be fine (but not the price point) and I am at looking at this well-reviewed Dell, which claims a resolution similar to the TB (2560x1440 I think). Would this work with the Macbook? And if so, what USB-C adapter would I need? Thanks in advance

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User profile for user: DreamPiggy
DreamPiggy
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Nov 12, 2015 5:23 AM in response to Deviant Tofu

Hi, I'm going to buy the Dell P2416D which is 2K (2560*1440) resolution.


I want to confirm that can MacBook 12` run 1080P(1920*1080) HiDPI -- By SwitchResX or https://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/vi9yf/set_your_retina_macbook_pros_resol ution_to/


with 60Hz?(Which sometime need less performance than 4K natively) Thanks!

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4k @ 60hz with MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) ?

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