Mac version of Super Ultra Wide technology
Mac version of Super Ultra Wide technology
Hey guys. I treated myself to a Samsung CRG9 which should be able to do 10bit colour with a resolution of 5120x1440 at 100hz. I have run into (it seems a common) problem where I can do everything but go over 60hz. Since Apple rated my MacBook to be 5k@60hz & 10bit capable, it should be possible. If I lower the resolution to 1080p@32:9 I can go up to 120hz but at 1/4 of the resolution I am stuck again at 60hz. This is a sign for me that it has to be a software issue. I already tried cscreen with no result... Does anyone have any tips? I am running a 2019 13 inch MBP (the one with retina & touch-bar but only 2 usb c/thunderbolt 3 ports) and use a Thunderbolt 3 to DP 1.4 cable to connect. If anyone has any ideas or tips I would love to hear from you Have a great weekend my fellow tech nerds!
I might buy the dock later on because the one cable solution sounds pretty nice. Cable wise I should be ready to go, here is one picture of the item description of my cable: If it works for the new M1 Mac I don't see any reason it should not work on mine. I tried out running in clamshell mode to see if a decreased GPU load would help to no avail... The HDMI adapter sadly won't work since 5120x1440@120hz is like 5k@60hz. On the Apple forums I read a lot about running the monitor in DP 1.2 mode instead of 1.4 but with a 1.4 cable, sadly this also did not work. I also find it super weird that at 1/4 resolution I also can't go beyond 60hz but on the higher 1080p in 32:9 format it is possible to select 120hz. It seems like some kind of mode is not activated that would allow for a "natural" resolution to go up to the full refresh rate capabilities. Thank you for your shared experience though, this give me hope that somehow this is fixable!
Reviewing the product details, the monitor's HDMI port is only version 2.0, while the display port supports 1.4. This makes the HDMI output quite limited. The display port can handle either 4k at 120hz or 5k at 60hz. The cable shown seems to support up to 32.4gbps. However, according to a bandwidth calculator, 5120 x 1440 at 120hz would need around 26.54Gbps—technically feasible but challenging. macOS doesn’t offer many choices for resolutions and refresh rates. Some apps in the App Store let you set custom values, which might require some adjustments but could be worth experimenting with. Good luck!
I tried using a terminal utility to attempt 100hz or 120hz settings, but neither worked. On macOS, I can adjust the resolution via Control while selecting the scale, though it doesn’t unlock other frame rates. From Apple forum chats it looks like a software issue, possibly related to internal GPU driver handling. I’m interested in testing an eGPU but don’t have one or a compatible GPU. I’d also like to check a 5k external display at 60hz to verify the GPU’s capability.
Definitely frustrating. Once it’s fixed, make sure to update this thread so others can see the problem. Fingers crossed they resolve it quickly and you can use your new monitor without issues.
Thanks! Once you fix the problem, you can share it here or I can suggest a guide if needed.