PC to LG Ultrafine adapter?

Question

PC to LG Ultrafine adapter?

I am looking for an adapter to plug a legacy computer into my new 5K LG Ultrafine display.

My computer video card has several connectors: DisplayPort, DVI, and even HDMI.

The LG Ultrafine screen only has an USB-C input socket, with a Thunderbolt logo. It's Thunderbolt 3 I suppose.

It seems to me the DisplayPort output would be the closest to the USB-C input of the LG Ultrafine. Looking for DiplayPort to USB-C adapters, I got many hits, but for the reverse adapter: USB-C to DisplayPort, meant to connect a new MacBook Pro to a legacy screen.

Technically I could plug that in the input socket of the LG monitor. Would that work?

I am ready to lose on the screen resolution front. I hope I can get 4K though. My video card is a NVIDIA GTX 980 TI (which supports 5K at 60Hz using two DisplayPort 1.2 outputs, but I am not even hoping to get that).

Thanks

Posted on Apr 12, 2017 1:47 AM

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Answer 1

Aegisnir

Level 1

4 points

Oct 4, 2017 1:09 PM in response to Jean-Denis Muys

You can accomplish this using an Asus Thunderbolt EX3 but you will be limited to 4k, not 5k as it will only let you route 1 video output into the Thunderbolt 3 connecting. 5k requires 2 video outputs which essentially merge into 1 data stream and allow resolutions higher than 4k@60Hz

ThunderboltEX 3 | Motherboard Accessories | ASUS USA

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Answer 2

Oct 8, 2017 5:12 PM in response to Aegisnir

Not meant for just any old PC either:

Upgrade your motherboard in just three simple steps!

Easy upgrade: Slide ASUS ThunderboltEX 3 into PCI-Express 3.0 x4 slot

Compatible with ASUS motherboards: Connect the card to the onboard Thunderbolt header with the supplied system-link cable

DisplayPort 1.2 support: Attach the supplied DisplayPort cable to the card and the onboard DisplayPort connector

Most PCs do not have the onboard ThunderBolt header mentioned, so this card does not work for them.

As I have said repeatedly, this accessory card is for specific ASUS systems that are ThunderBolt READY, but the card is depopulated as a cost savings.

The card will not work in other PCs, and certainly not in other Macs -- and it is not just a question of Drivers. There is no port to plug into on other PCs or Macs.

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Answer 3

Oct 4, 2017 7:02 PM in response to Aegisnir

As I said, that ASUS board is simply de-populated on an otherwise Fully-ThunderBolt-capable computer. It does NOT work on models that are not fully-ThunderBolt-capable, and most certainly cannot be retrofit into other systems.

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Answer 4

Johnb-one

Level 6

9,180 points

Oct 8, 2017 6:55 AM in response to Aegisnir

Great! Are you sure it works on Mac, though? Maybe someone else has written a driver for it, or you’re doing it thru bootcamp/parallels/VMware fusion?.checked asus’ Website and got nothing..

Hmmm... just sayin’

Jb

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Answer 5

Aegisnir

Level 1

4 points

Oct 8, 2017 11:17 AM in response to Johnb-one

Not meant for a Mac. The opening question says PC which usually implies a Windows PC :). As long as your PC has a PCI-e lane available, it should work

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Answer 6

Klaus1

Level 9

52,879 points

Apr 12, 2017 3:29 AM in response to Jean-Denis Muys

As you obviously do not have a PPC PowerMac as covered by this forum, what Mac do you have?

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Answer 7

Apr 12, 2017 3:37 AM in response to Klaus1

Sorry, I didn't notice I was in the wrong forum. I apologise.

Anyhow, the computer I have right now is a MacPro5,1. That being said my question is a bit more general. I also have a PC that I built (no brand), and I would be happy to use it with the said screen too.

Anyhow, I guess I'd better repost my question on a better forum.

Thanks.

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Answer 8

Apr 13, 2017 1:45 AM in response to Jean-Denis Muys

That display, like other thunderbolt-only displays before it, responds only to a ThunderBolt signal, and will not cooperate with any other input signals.

To generate a ThunderBolt signal, a computer must have left the factory with a ThunderBolt port, or in the case of one ASUS system, be fully ThunderBolt-capable with slot reserved for the system-specific ThunderBolt card to be added later.

Sorry. There are no options for driving that display from a non-ThunderBolt computer.

As long as Intel controls the chips required, and the certification process, there will not be any forthcoming. They have let it be known they oppose an aftermarket solution, and will NOT build the chips for it or certify any device with less than full ThunderBolt capability.

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Answer 9

Apr 13, 2017 1:49 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thank you very much for this very precise, though very disappointing, answer.

If I read you correctly, it means that neither Nvidia, nor AMD, nor any video card manufacturer can ever build a video card that could use an LG Ultrafine monitor as a display?

Similarly, my hope to use the Apple Thunderbolt 2 to Thunderbolt 3 adapter using its Thunderbolt 2 as a mini-displayport is doomed to fail?

Very disappointing indeed, but thanks.

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Answer 10

Aegisnir

Level 1

4 points

Oct 8, 2017 11:20 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

This is simply not true. On a PC with a PCI-e slot open, this will Give you thunderbolt capabilities. That is the point of the card. Not sure what you mean by retrofitting it since this is a standard used in all modern PCs since AGP stopped being used. If you are trying to use thing on something like an iMac or Mac Pro, of course it won’t work because there are no slots for internal Expansion but that has nothing to do with OP

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Answer 11

Klaus1

Level 9

52,879 points

Apr 12, 2017 4:04 AM in response to Jean-Denis Muys

I will get this thread moved to the MacPro forum! 🙂

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