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Dell U4919DW / MacBook pro 5k issue

Hi,


I have just purchased the Dell U4919DW monitor to use with my early 2018 MacBook Pro 13", but unfortunately I cannot choose full resolution 5120x1440 in the settings, max is 3840x1080. I have tried the app SwitchResX to manually set the 5k resolution without luck, only scaled.


From this link I read about my MacBook before purchasing the screen that:

"this model supports a maximum resolution up to 4096x2304 at 60 Hz at millions of colors on two external displays or a single external display at a maximum resolution up to 5120x2880 at 60 Hz at over a billion colors via Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C)."

MacBook Pro "Core i5" 3.1 13" Touch/Mid-2017 Specs (Mid-2017 13" (Touch Bar), MPXV2LL/A*, MacBookPro14,2, A1706, 3163): …


My MacBook Pro has 4 USB-C ports, I'm using the left ones which operate at full speed (right ones are reduced).


Why can't I get full 5k resolution? Is it an issue with the MacBook, the connection, the screen or perhaps an iOS issue?


Additional links with information on the screen:

https://www.dell.com/support/article/dk/da/dkdhs1/sln314416/dell-u4919dw-system- requirements-and-supported-configuration…

https://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/19/sln314339/dell-u4919dw-monitor-usa ge-and-troubleshooting-guide?lang=en#Usi…

https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-ultrasharp-49-curved-monitor-u4919dw/apd/21 0-arnw/monitors-monitor-accessories

MacBook Pro TouchBar and Touch ID, iOS 12.1

Posted on Nov 21, 2018 11:09 PM

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682 replies

Dec 28, 2018 6:57 AM in response to marino389

I don't want to distract from this thread, so I've created another thread to address another issue I'm having with the monitor. I'm having difficulty connecting USB-A devices to the monitor and having a consistent connection with the MacBook. If you're having this same problem with the Dell U4919DW, please contribute to that discussion...

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250047336?page=1

Dec 29, 2018 4:20 PM in response to kanonendk

Been fighting with this for a few days and the workaround is ok until Apple updates macOS to include this new resolution. I was having trouble with my 2014 Mini, so I bought a new Mini, but still had the problems so I've reverted to my old machine for now. I've got 2 HDMI-MiniDP 4k cables and running the display set to PBP, and set the preferences in macOS to "Screens don't have separate spaces." Looks great, have full resolution, and it's all one workspace.


I can live with this arrangement, but what's killing me is the color. I've hardware calibrated each side (since the OS thinks there's two monitors), but no matter what I do, I have a line down the middle of the screen with different colors on each half. Even using the same color profile on each side doesn't match up. Any suggestions to get them to behave?

Jan 3, 2019 2:56 PM in response to marino389

Thanks for the update. I had a similar experience where the 'senior engineer' asked me to reset the display settings....... even though what they asked me to do was for the HDMI which doesn't even support this resolution!


It's worrying that this level of 'senior engineers' either do not actually know what the **** is going on, or they are trying to stall this whole scenario for as long as possible, whilst someone else can fix it via some kind of software update.

Jan 4, 2019 6:26 AM in response to MrADeveci

It looks like LG is jumping in with their own 32:9 5K monitor. Looks like our options are increasing. So far I'm seeing three monitors that are both 49" (32:9) and 5K resolution: Dell U4919DW, Philips 499P9H, & LG 49WL95C-W. The last two are yet to be released. Does anyone know of any other models (the Samsung has the same aspect ratio but not the resolution)?


If the compatibility issue is unique to the Dell model, I don't know how much interest Apple will have in making it work (we haven't seen them show much concern as of yet). But if the compatibility issue is going to be with any 5120 x 1440 display, I'm hoping that the release of all these monitors will motivate Apple to get the display issue resolved.



Jan 6, 2019 2:22 PM in response to marc2407

So I have an answer, granted, it's not going to be an answer that anyone likes, but at least it's an answer.


I spoke with my Senior Advisor today, and he informed me that the Mac will only support resolutions up to 4096 for an SST monitor. In order to get the full 5120 resolution, the monitor needs to be MST. Unfortunately I have no idea what the difference between these two configurations are, other than a quick Google search. I even tried to do a search on SST & U4919DW and didn't get any hits, which leads me to believe that monitor manufacturers don't post that information. If anyone has some good articles on the difference, I'd love for you to post them so we can learn more.


It still leaves me wondering why the monitor is only getting up to 3840 instead of 4096. My Advisor is scheduled to call me back next week with an answer.


I also reminded him that several individuals on this forum were able to get full resolution running Windows on their Mac, which means that the SST/MST limitation is a software limitation rather than a hardware limitation. And if running Windows on your Mac solves the problem, then certainly an OS update could solve the problem as well. However, since the SST/MST problem is a known limitation (intentional?), I doubt that Apple would remove this limitation. But that's just a guess.


It would seem that the next logical step would be to return the monitor to Dell, and then to investigate on whether the other three models that are being released (499P9H, 49WL95C, CRG9) are MST monitors. If they are not, then there would not be much hope of getting them to be compatible with the Mac.


He also mentioned that I could go to Apple.com/feedback and suggest that they make the Mac compatible with an SST monitor. Granted, I'm sure that with all the requests they get, this one won't be too high on their list, but I figure that it's worth a shot. Perhaps if enough people point out the same thing, they would be interested in moving on it.


Thanks to all who have contributed to this forum, it's been helpful to me, and hopefully we can all find a solution that works for us.

Jan 7, 2019 1:19 AM in response to marino389

Your senior advisor should be demoted to junior intern. Clearly he/she just wanted to throw some terms at you and hope you would give up.


Let us look back what we have known:

1, Mac with iGPU cannot drive this monitor in macOS at 5120x1440. That is why people are discussing here.

2, Mac with iGPU can drive this monitor in Windows at 5120x1440. I tested this at page 5.

3, Macbook Pro with dedicated GPU can drive this monitor in macOS at 5120x1440. JimmyWillis at page 6.


From 1 and 2, we know it is not a Dell problem nor Apple hardware, because it works in Windows. From 3 we know it is a Mac with iGPU problem because dedicated GPU work in macOS.

Jan 7, 2019 8:58 PM in response to marino389

For those that are using the solution of disabling the separate spaces option on Mission Control and have different color variations between the middle, I finally got this display link adapter to work and and there’s no color difference. The only complaint is the top menu bar doesn’t span both monitors and the control dock isn’t centered.



https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07DX8SVBK?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_title

Dell U4919DW / MacBook pro 5k issue

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