HT202856: Using 4K displays and Ultra HD TVs with your Mac

Learn about Using 4K displays and Ultra HD TVs with your Mac
expntly
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Q: 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:

Screen Shot 2015-04-25 at 11.52.08 PM.png

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:

Screen Shot 2015-04-25 at 11.56.36 PM.png

 

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

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  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Apr 26, 2015 4:14 AM in response to expntly
    Level 9 (52,172 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 26, 2015 4:14 AM in response to expntly

    This are the latest Apple support specifications:

     

    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202856

     

    Ciao.

  • by Lanny,

    Lanny Lanny Apr 26, 2015 6:51 AM in response to expntly
    Level 5 (7,900 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 26, 2015 6:51 AM in response to expntly
    I'm not sure if it's because of the MacBook,

    It's because the MacBook is not capable of it, per its specifications. Return it for a MacBook pro.

  • by Joy615,

    Joy615 Joy615 Apr 26, 2015 9:47 AM in response to expntly
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 26, 2015 9:47 AM in response to expntly

    I got exactly the same MacBook/Google type-c to displayport/p2415q,AND the same problem...

    the spec of 5y51 got ability to output 4k/60hz.

    so,Apple,please help us to figure it out...

  • by expntly,

    expntly expntly Apr 26, 2015 10:35 AM in response to Lanny
    Level 1 (0 points)
    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"

  • by expntly,

    expntly expntly Apr 26, 2015 10:38 AM in response to Joy615
    Level 1 (0 points)
    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.

  • by Lanny,

    Lanny Lanny Apr 26, 2015 10:41 AM in response to expntly
    Level 5 (7,900 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 26, 2015 10:41 AM in response to expntly

    As previously provided: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202856

  • by expntly,

    expntly expntly Apr 26, 2015 8:20 PM in response to Lanny
    Level 1 (0 points)
    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.

  • by Joy615,

    Joy615 Joy615 Apr 27, 2015 9:30 AM in response to Lanny
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 27, 2015 9:30 AM in response to Lanny

    Hi,according the info as below from apple website:

    image.jpg

     

    and this from VESA.org

    image.jpg

    i can't tell why the retina MacBook can't output 4k 60hz...

  • by expntly,

    expntly expntly Apr 27, 2015 1:34 PM in response to Joy615
    Level 1 (0 points)
    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.

  • by Lanny,

    Lanny Lanny Apr 27, 2015 3:48 PM in response to Joy615
    Level 5 (7,900 points)
    Desktops
    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.

  • by Joy615,

    Joy615 Joy615 Apr 27, 2015 8:55 PM in response to expntly
    Level 1 (0 points)
    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~

  • by expntly,

    expntly expntly May 1, 2015 2:32 PM in response to expntly
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 1, 2015 2:32 PM in response to expntly

    Just to confirm I just received the new MBP 13", it works like a charm.  Heck I even plugged another Apple Cinema Display in the second miniDP port and it works just fine.

  • by Lanny,

    Lanny Lanny May 1, 2015 3:15 PM in response to expntly
    Level 5 (7,900 points)
    Desktops
    May 1, 2015 3:15 PM in response to expntly

    This posting area is for MacBooks, not MacBook Pros. Why wouldn't a MacBook Pro work, that is what it is designed to do? Emphasis on the "Pro" portion of the name.

  • by michaelfromsandpoint,

    michaelfromsandpoint michaelfromsandpoint May 1, 2015 9:47 PM in response to Lanny
    Level 1 (0 points)
    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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