MacPro 5,1 & Lenovo 27" screen max resolution issue

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Biggnik Author

Level 1

5 points

MacPro 5,1 & Lenovo 27" screen max resolution issue

Hi,

Tried many options before writing here, I don't have a solution

I have a Mac Pro 5,1 - 12-core 3.33 GHz - 20 GB Ram - SSD & Sata drives - ATI Radeon HD 5770 1024MB - running Sierra

Computer is fine, used daily for pro audio work, not a glitch.

I just bought a Lenovo 27" screen, LEN L27q-10, with a max resolution of 2560 x 1440 QHD.

Before buying I made sure my, now older Mac, would be compatible with screens of such resolution.

Some info :

- The screen has only HDMI or Displayport connection

- a single ATI Radeon HD will allow up to 4K according specifications (with Minidisplay port only)

- DVI will allow up to 2560 x 1440

I cannot get the max resolution, only up to 1080p, I tried several cables and adapters, and I always have to choose "scaled" option from the Display Preferences Menu, default for display does not offer full resolution :

- Mini Displayport to Displayport (on both ports behind Mac) : screen does not power on at all

- Mini Displayport to HDMI (only the second port powers the screen) : max resolution of 1080p for clear image or 1600 x 900 (not really what I need), 2560 x 1440 not even showing up in choices

- DVI to HDMI : 2560 x 1440 available but extremely pixelated, almost unreadable : max resolution 1080p

...I am out of ideas

The cables used are brand new, not the cheapest models either.

How can I make this work, what could be wrong, anybody tried this screen?

Is it just this very screen that might be incompatible with ATI Radeon HD 5770? Opened up an account at Lenovo, but after one hour did not succeed in getting in touch with somebody, so not an immediate solution there.

If anyone has a make and model that works with Nehalem Mac Pro's at 2560 x 1440, am very interested

Any help appreciated,

Best regards

Nico

Posted on Mar 12, 2018 7:55 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Grant Bennet-Alder

Level 10

126,979 points

Mar 12, 2018 10:07 AM in response to Biggnik

Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort cable connection should provide the best results. This cable should be dirt cheap because it is only a re-wire of [Mini] to [Full size] DisplayPort. Make sure you are not using a ThunderBolt cable (lightning bolt icon at the computer end). That cable will fit but will not work. Make sure the cable is fully seated into the computer port, until essentially ALL of the metal-end of the cable disappears inside the jack.

make certain mirroring is OFF.

 menu > about this Mac > (system report) > graphics&displays ...

... needs to show all displays (by name) attached, or you go nowhere.

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Answer 2

Biggnik Author

Level 1

5 points

Mar 12, 2018 10:11 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Dear Grant,

Thanks for your reply - I bought a decent quality cable for about 20$ - but it is not working on both ports.

Or perhaps I was sold a Thunderbolt to Displayport (on invoice and product sheet says mini displayport....)

Mirroring is off

Here is a screenshot of Graphics and Display

I will try another mini-displayport to DisplayPort cable then

If anybody has another clue, experience with this monitor, or better working ones with Mac Pro 5,1 Nehalem and 2560 x 1440 screens, much appreciated

Best regards

Nico

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Answer 3

Mar 12, 2018 10:21 AM in response to Biggnik

Thunderbolt cables tend to cost more than US$40.

That shows the display detected, which should send a signal to the display. But the resolution is set lower than the maximum. I would expect the display to show something, even if it were awful.

You can try using:

system preferences > Displays > [hold Option key]+Detect Displays to see settings for both displays.

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Answer 4

Biggnik Author

Level 1

5 points

Mar 12, 2018 12:15 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thanks Grant,

Sorry, mixed up things, to clarify :

- the screenshot is from the mini display cable to HDMI (that is working with the second mini display Port) and working at max 1080, no higher option in the menu

- the mini display-to-displayport cable is not working at all on both Ports

- the DVI-to-HDMI lets me choose 2560 x 1440 but it looks pixelated and wrong

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Answer 5

Biggnik Author

Level 1

5 points

Mar 12, 2018 1:45 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Dear Grant,

this is the cable I bought that does not work with either mini display ports on the mac : DeLOCK 83479 5m Mini DisplayPort DisplayPort

it seems to be a decent brand.

any possibility the cable is faulty? Or do I need a better cable?

any opinions and experiences still welcome

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Answer 6

Biggnik Author

Level 1

5 points

Mar 13, 2018 5:39 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thank you Grant, your first reply solved it!

It turns out I had to force the cable a bit into the MiniDisplay Port, which I didn't do right away, thinking I might break it

Those Delock Cables are heavy duty and pretty tight, they need some though handling to be fully connected, but it works

Case closed,

Best regards

Nico

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MacPro 5,1 & Lenovo 27" screen max resolution issue

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