Level 1

47 points

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

Top-ranking reply

Leo971

Level 1

9 points

Posted on Jun 12, 2019 3:37 PM

I also just got my Dell U4919 DW and having the same issues as described here.

First of all, if you are using the cables provided with the display you should absolutely be able to get the full resolution on supported Mac's (e.g. I've a 2016 MBP 13"). I validated this by installing Windows 10 in BootCamp and I was able to select the full 5120*1440. Looks like Windows somehow get the full resolution from the display channel or does have a plug & play driver in place - idk. macOS Catalina beta 1 also doesn't seem to fix the issue.

I did some analysis on that issue and probably found the root cause:

Displays communicate with the client by sending an EDID (Extended Display Identification Data). This 128 byte long data contains all informations about the display, like manufacturer, serial number, supported "standard" resolution and the native resolution.

The EDID of the U4919DW (and likely all other displays with resolutions greater than 4096 pixels ) contains 3840*1080 as the native resolution. Thats not a fault by the manufacturer but a limit of the EDID standard. The data field which contains the native resolution is 8 bytes in length for native high and width of the display. Therefore there are 4 bytes for high and 4 bytes for width which leaves us with a max value of 4096 (8^4).

Since apple already supports a variety of displays with resolutions higher than 4096, there must already be a technical solution for these displays, right?

It turns out, there is - its called "display overrides".

Display overrides are placed in /System/Library/Displays/Contents/Resources/Overrides (SIP Protected Folder)

With way over 300 display override files, Apple actively using this technology to modify EDID's to get "problematic" displays to work correctly.

Just overriding the EDID (which would be easy since those files just contains the VendorID, ProductID and the "custom" EDID) won't work in this case because the EDID data field is to small for the value.

Apple seems to have an additional technology for this case called "overlay" which are defined in .mtdd files which are also located at the path mentioned above. It looks like they even use .mtdd files for the LG 5k Ultrafine displays.

Unfortunately I was not able to find any documentation for the mtdd overlay value (seems to be 384 bytes long).

Therefore we now know the root cause and the theoretical solution.

Maybe there is someone out there which knows how the overlay value in the mtdd files is calculated?

I also did open a Radar bug report providing vendor, displayid and the EDID of my U4919DW.

As a fix might be implemented very easy, hopefully Apple will implement this soon.

View in context

682 replies

Feb 3, 2019 7:40 AM in response to gtsbr

I got lucky and worked at native resolution for me. However I am finding the font size too small. I can drop the resolution by half and it looks crisp. If I drop to 3840x it is all very blurry.

Any idea how to get the proper retina scaling like the 5k lg monitor (more space less space options)

Any help would be appreciated

Thanks

Feb 3, 2019 11:31 AM in response to kanonendk

I had the issue explained here, and used “dual monitor mode” as a solution.

Then I bought an eGPU (Razer Core X) and an AMD RX580. Right out of the box the monitor worked great as intended.

Such a strange and frustrating limitation.

yvon_k

Level 1

4 points

Feb 3, 2019 11:32 AM in response to gtsbr

Hello gtsbr

I suppose you are waiting for a solution with this screen and a mac with only a intel graphic card?

I own a Mac mini 2018 and i'm in this case.

it's a shame that it is working with windows and not with macOS....

yvon_k

Level 1

4 points

Feb 3, 2019 11:51 AM in response to gtsbr

Yes it's better to have a AMD graphic card to avoid such problems.

i'm working in audio post prod so a dedicated graphic card is not what i need. And i would not pay gor a eGPU just to have the right resolution on this display. However it seems that people who booted windows 10 in native mode get the full resolution.

So it's only a software problem (macOS) and i'm waiting for Apple to provide a solution.

Sonofsiv

Level 1

4 points

Feb 4, 2019 10:01 PM in response to kanonendk

I am seeing this same issue. Thought my eyes were going bad at first, but then realized it is only allowing max resolution of 3840x1080. Tex is slightly blurry. Super disappointed to get your dream setup and OSX can't push the pixels. Tried both an HDMI 2.0 chord as well as USB C chord. I tested on a Windows machine and it worked fine.

Feb 4, 2019 11:11 PM in response to Sonofsiv

All, same issue here. I have the monitor connected with both a USB-C and HDMI cable in order to give me the full resolution via dual display (using the PBP feature of the monitor).

I have it connected to a Mac mini (2018).

Quick question for those of you with similar setups. Does the monitor sleep correctly. I can't get it to sleep and when the Mac sleeps the monitor displays the following message:

"No USB Type-C signal from your device" and it just doesn't sleep.

Slightly off-topic but I'm guessing the people with any potential answer are readings this.

Thanks!

ryrymomo

Level 1

4 points

Feb 5, 2019 12:09 PM in response to brumsterino

After reading all of this it looks like 2018 Macbook Pro 15" with Intel HD Graphics 630 1536MB graphics connected using a single usb-c is the ONLY way to get this to work?

Am I understanding this correctly?

kanonendk Author

Level 1

47 points

Feb 8, 2019 3:39 AM in response to jkastan

I have trouble setting up PBP, as you can see in the screenshot I only get 2x 2560x1080. In SwitchResX i can only select 2560x1440 in scaled mode.

How do you guys setup to 2x 2560x1440 ?

I am also connected via USB-C and the Moshi USB-C to DP cable to the monitor.

rob582

Level 1

8 points

Feb 11, 2019 12:37 AM in response to kanonendk

I am using the bundled USB-C cable and a DP to USB-C. When I enabled the PBP it automatically gave me the highest resolution. I have it set to Default for Display, the scaled is only checked to show the resolution.

I tried to speak to Apple but they gave the usual runaround of trying to reset SMC etc. When i mentioned that the display worked just fine when using Boot camp to Windows he said check with Dell that it is not a Windows compatible display only and it works with the MAC. Sometimes they can be so inflexible.

Feb 11, 2019 11:41 PM in response to my.appledevice

I have one of the first 5K retina iMacs (not the black Pro model) and connected it to the Dell monitor with a Thunderbolt to Displayport cable. The Mac recognizes the proper native resolution, but the image on the Dell is horribly distorted. If I revert back to 3840x1080 (what everyone here is complaining about), it's fine. Perhaps your graphics card in the iMac pro is better. It really just comes down to what Graphics card people have as to whether this monitor will work natively or not. For instance I have an older MacBook Pro 15 from early 2013 and it can drive the monitor just fine. My latest MacBook Pro, Touch Bar, 13in 2018 CANNOT. Very frustrating. I actually blame Dell and ALL of the reviewers on Youtube for wasting my time with this monitor. Were they not realizing the resolution was non-native? Were they using special Macs and never noticed 80% of the Mac population would not get the goodness of this screen? Sheesh.

Feb 14, 2019 9:24 AM in response to kanonendk

Mac 15 Pro with the VEGA 20 card in it, same problem as everyone else, have to use the USBC and Moshi DP adapter simultaneously with PVP mode to get it to work at all with the proper resolution, while this isn't a huge headache...it's not what I paid $6k for...

Feb 15, 2019 8:03 AM in response to gtsbr

The Philips 499P9H 49" SuperWide Curved Monitor is now available on Amazon. Perhaps this will resolve compatibility problems. It's also cheaper than the Dell monitor at $1,300.

https://www.amazon.com/Philips-499P9H-SuperWide-Monitor-5120x1440/dp/B07MCMFRK8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1550246242&sr=8-1&keywords=499P9H

RWI

Level 1

19 points

Feb 15, 2019 8:52 AM in response to marino389

"The Philips 499P9H 49" SuperWide Curved Monitor is now available on Amazon. Perhaps this will resolve compatibility problems. It's also cheaper than the Dell monitor at $1,300.

https://www.amazon.com/Philips-499P9H-SuperWide-Monitor-5120x1440/dp/B07MCMFRK8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1550246242&sr=8-1&keywords=499P9H"

Well they say ships in 1-2 months so not exactly out yet, looks interesting but that foot looks rather ugly

ccsliinc

Level 1

4 points

Feb 20, 2019 1:35 PM in response to kanonendk

This thread is surreal. I cannot believe apple cannot get their stuff together. By their own documentation this monitor should be supported. I have an eGPU which works perfectly fine at the correct resolution, but on reboots i need to open my mac up to unlock it and disconnecting the eGPU crashes the machine sometimes. Anyone else having issues with eGPU?

yvon_k

Level 1

4 points

Feb 21, 2019 12:54 AM in response to ccsliinc

I agree this is surreal. In fact no need to buy a eGPU because under windows 10 it works without and at native resolution of the screen (5120x1440).

So it's only a software problem.....

But at Apple they prefer to develop the T2 chip for our security (ah aha ah) than correct macOS for getting the right resolution with this screens.

I'm tired to wait for Apple. i'll work with my mac mini 2018 under windows because now i can't wait that such and other problems are fixed. (pro tools comp with Mojave, audio problems with devices on USB because of T2 chip... and so many)

So yes it's surreal to boot a Apple device under windows, perhaps it's my last computer from Apple i'll spend my money elsewhere!

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Dell U4919DW / MacBook pro 5k issue