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

Learn about Using 4K displays and Ultra HD TVs with your Mac
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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 SLidzen,

    SLidzen SLidzen Jan 14, 2016 1:44 AM in response to Deviant Tofu
    Level 1 (0 points)
    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).

     

    Screen Shot 2016-01-14 at 10.40.40 AM.png

  • by iAPX,

    iAPX iAPX Mar 2, 2016 12:16 PM in response to SLidzen
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 2, 2016 12:16 PM in response to SLidzen

    I am using a 2015 MacBook 12-inch (1.2Ghz version), with Apple Digital AV adapter (USB-C -> HDMI), and an UltraHD/4K display (Asus PB287Q), both in 3840x2160 @ 30Hz (native resolution when working close to it, for web dev), and 1920x1080 retina @ 30Hz (for photo editing in LR5).

     

    It works perfectly in both case, the retina mode 1920x1080 is a pleasure to use to surf the web, and I am using this setup right now to write this answer.

     

    Notice that I found out that my 2011 MacBook Pro 17-inch (Radeon HD 6750M) also handle the native resolution (3840x2160 @ 30Hz) gracefully, not offering the retina option, with an active mini-DisplayPort -> HDMI adapter.

     

    Another point is that you may not need 60Hz to be happy, because there are many UltraHD/4K displays that have slow to very slow LCD, thus creating artefact when moving things on screen, scrolling, etc. But at 30Hz with my MacBook 12-inch, scrollings are just perfect!

  • by freedomtrooper,

    freedomtrooper freedomtrooper Apr 15, 2016 10:57 AM in response to Ken Purczynski
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Apr 15, 2016 10:57 AM in response to Ken Purczynski

    i just confirm Ken's statement, it works fine with HDMI connection. The 3840x2160 resolution works with no lag only has tiny font.

  • by chao.sg,

    chao.sg chao.sg Apr 22, 2016 8:05 PM in response to expntly
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apr 22, 2016 8:05 PM in response to expntly

    Does anyone know whether the google usb type c to displayport work well with apple type-c to vga/usb adaptor?

     

    i have an apple to vga/usb adaptor and want to use google cable to connect dell u2715h, but still using the apple adaptor for USB upstreaming.

    will it work?

  • by malcolmhall,

    malcolmhall malcolmhall Apr 23, 2016 5:09 PM in response to expntly
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apr 23, 2016 5:09 PM in response to expntly

    So because the 2015 MacBook only has USB 3.1 gen 1 which is limited to 5Gbps means it cannot support 4k at 60Hz. Why doesn't Apple put that in its support document?

  • by Lanny,

    Lanny Lanny Apr 23, 2016 5:31 PM in response to malcolmhall
    Level 5 (7,900 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 23, 2016 5:31 PM in response to malcolmhall

    It has been in Apple's tech specs from the very beginning, and still is: http://www.apple.com/macbook/specs/

  • by malcolmhall,

    malcolmhall malcolmhall Apr 24, 2016 2:59 AM in response to Lanny
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apr 24, 2016 2:59 AM in response to Lanny

    Well I think they should clarify although it is Display Port 1.2 which does feature 4k at 60Hz, since they chose USB-C 3.1 gen 1 you do not get that feature. I agree all the information is in the tech specs but it requires an expert to tie it all together to understand why.

  • by DarrenS,

    DarrenS DarrenS May 28, 2016 5:37 PM in response to malcolmhall
    Level 1 (19 points)
    May 28, 2016 5:37 PM in response to malcolmhall

    If I read everything correctly, shouldn't the 12" MacBook be able to support 1920x1080 @ 60hz?  It looks like that is supported within the 5Gps speed on the previous chart (of course this is not Apple's chart).  When I choose that setting it only allows 30hz, which is choppy.  I can select 1080p which runs at 60hz, but then everything gets a little fuzzy around the edges on screen?  One, is there really a difference between 1920x1080 and 1080P?  Then, why is 30hz sharper than 60hz if they are the same or very similar resolutions?

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