19 ms·

DisplayPort and 4K

150 points by ecliptik 7y ago

pyr0hu 7y ago
Met this issue on my 2015 MacBook Pro, tried to connect a 4k display with HDMI only to find out that it can only display 4k at 30hz. I thought it was only a configuration issue, but seems like MBP can only do 4k@30hz when connecting with HDMI (it uses HDMI 1.2 IIRC). Works properly with a DisplayPort cable though.
- sebastianconcpt 7y ago
  My scenario. I'm about to buy 2 4K monitors but with Thunderbolt-DisplayPort adapters for that very reason.
sgt 7y ago
HDMI and 4K/60Hz is problematic on other platforms than just Linux, in my experience. It just doesn't work well enough yet for most people and most computers/screen combos. Using 4K and 30Hz is like using your desktop through a VNC session, it's absolutely horrendous.
egdod 7y ago
Having just dealt with the HDMI cable 4K refresh rate debacle, I can say that it is indeed a mess. The only way to make it worse would be to incorporate USB-C somehow.
- jeswin 7y ago
  > The only way to make it worse would be to incorporate USB-C somehow. Why? I run DisplayPort over USB Type-C port on my Linux Laptop and it works quite well for 4K at 60Hz. DisplayPort over Type-C is a pretty common configuration on laptops. https://www.displayport.org/displayport-over-usb-c/ https://www.displayport.org/displayport-over-usb-c/
  - bdcravens 7y ago
    I have the same setup on my Macbook Pro. Works great.
  - egdod 7y ago
    I was mostly joking. USB-C is fine if you get the right cables. But that can be a big “if.” It’s a far cry from the trivial “just plug anything into anything with any cable and it’ll work” that we were promised.
    - izacus 7y ago
      > It’s a far cry from the trivial “just plug anything into anything with any cable and it’ll work” that we were promised. It pretty much works exactly like that except for very edge cases near end of protocol capability. Things like 100W power supply and 4k/60Hz. (Also I don't know who exactly promised you that any cable will work for high performance protocols.)
  - Nition 7y ago
    I suspect that the parent comment was making a joke based on the fact that the USB-C spec is complex and confusing, maybe not realizing that in fact reality is already one step ahead.
  - oever 7y ago
    My laptop (Thinkpad L390) shows 4K@60Hz via USB-C on a LG 27UK850 while running linux. It is charged at the same time via the same cable. It's convenient: no need for a docking station.
- dkmar 7y ago
  Agreed. I've been trying to get my 2018 MBP to do 4k 60hz through my AVR and TV via a USB-C to HDMI cable with no luck so far. The AVR, TV, and cable are each individually HDMI 2.0a or greater, but my MBP refuses to believe that more than 1080p 60hz is possible. And it actually worked at 4k 60hz the first time I plugged everything together, just not since then. Irritating to say the least.
proverbialbunny 7y ago
I'm an early adopter of 4k60. If you write code and you're not on 4k, you don't know what you're missing. 4k is great. Back then display port ran at 60fps, and hdmi ran at 30fps. My hardware has changed and moved on, but I still default to using a display port cable. It's rare to not find a graphics card without display port, and it's rare to find a monitor without one, so I've never had a reason to try HDMI. As far as I can tell it's a stubborn format that continue to fight to live on. Frankly, I don't really get why we still have HDMI today.
- JeremyNT 7y ago
  > I'm an early adopter of 4k60. If you write code and you're not on 4k, you don't know what you're missing. 4k is great. Important caveat: the display needs to actually be big enough for this to matter. I've got the 4k Dell XPS 13, but I run at a lower resolution, since I simply cannot perceive any difference.
- zenlot 7y ago
  > If you write code and you're not on 4k, you don't know what you're missing. 4k is great. I am on 4k60 on 43". I spend most of my day in terminal (ubuntu, i3-regolith) - it's nice, but don't think I would be missing out much without it.
  - seanmcdirmid 7y ago
    4K on a 43” is a pretty low PPI. If you had something worse than that for a screen of the same size, you would be missing out.
    - jfim 7y ago
      It gives a ridiculously large amount of screen real estate, though. For example, on one of those, one can have a side-by-side diff with 120+ character lines and still have half of the screen width remaining for documentation or terminals.
      - 7y ago
pwython 7y ago
I tested a bunch of different HDMI cables when I needed to record 10-bit 4K 4:2:2 @ 60fps from my camera, and found that the most reliable cables were Monoprice brand, starting at just under $4. https://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=102&cp_id=10240&cs_id=1024021&p_id=24182&seq=1&format=2 https://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=102&cp_id=10240&cs_id...
dangus 7y ago
This article does contain useful information especially since a lot of this is way less obvious than it should be to a non-technical end user. My crappy Apple USB-C Multiport adapter simply refuses 60Hz 4K on an HDMI cable that works out of the box with Windows 10 on a GTX 1060. This is despite the fact that the product page says that this configuration with my particular Mac is supported (edit: it’s actually because I have an old adapter). Then I use a cheap $8 USB-C to HDMI cable and it works fine on two MacBook Pro 15/16” computers (be careful here as a 2016 USB-C MacBook Pro 15” doesn’t support 4K 60Hz over HDMI but the identical-looking 2017 model and newer do). Frustratingly, Apple doesn’t make a similar USB/power/video adapter for DisplayPort, just for HDMI. Nobody else seems to make one either unless you get into the world of expensive hubs. For our older 2015 MacBook Pro, Thunderbolt 2/mini displayport to DisplayPort is the option. What I’m getting at in a poorly organized fashion is that the world of single cable charge and display and device hub is definitely not here. There’s one display on the market that supports USB-C charging above 85W and it only works with newer Macs. You can get basically the same display for $1000 less with an LG 27” 4K display and just use DisplayPort and HDMI with adapters. Saving yourself from plugging in a second thing isn’t worth $1000. I can’t for the life of me figure out why the people who make displays with built in power supplies for USB-C charging didn’t just default it on the 100W maximum that the spec allows. What short-sighted design! In any event, I think I don’t mind keeping that piece of hardware separate from my display, not just for reliability but for weight and bulk as well. I can easily hide a power brick under the table.
- vardump 7y ago
  > Frustratingly, Apple doesn’t make a similar USB/power/video adapter for DisplayPort... I use just a cheap USB-C - DP cable for this. Works fine. Of course no USB ports and can't charge with that, but not a huge issue since there are more ports.
  - dangus 7y ago
    Yeah that’s what I ended up doing as well, although mine is a USB-C to HDMI adapter. My display has two HDMI and one DisplayPort, so I’ve allocated one HDMI for USB-C Macs, one HDMI for the desktop Windows PC, and one DisplayPort for Mini DisplayPort devices (2015 MacBook Pro). In my opinion, buying a two-port MacBook Pro of any kind is a mistake for this very reason, although I guess more adapters can solve that problem...
altmind 7y ago
GT630 seems to only support hdmi 1.4, not 2. i miss the point of this article.
djsumdog 7y ago
I was searching for the date thinking this had to be old, but it's not. It's very recent, but the author does seem to be using some older hardware. I did have a problem with 4K-DCI and KVM switches at one time: https://battlepenguin.com/tech/4k-uhd-kvm-switches-the-startech-sv231mdpu2-and-the-iogear-GCS62DP/ https://battlepenguin.com/tech/4k-uhd-kvm-switches-the-start... Since then I've switch to a UDH monitor and a TESmart HDMI KVM switch. It can do 60Hz with HDR on my Windows and PS4 and 60Hz/non-HDR on Linux with the amdgpu (open source) Radeon drivers. I had no issues at all with the full resolution an refresh rate, either directly connected or with that KVM.
sebastianconcpt 7y ago
Interestingly this week I was planning to upgrade my setup buying 2 Samsung monitors 4K for the MBP. And from what I've investigated I concur that HDMI is a no-no. All is pointing to Thunderbolt<->DisplayPort adapters as the way to achieve 60Hz in 4K
- Kirby64 7y ago
  HDMI is fine for 4k 60hz if it supports HDMI2. Depends on the adapter. If you have an old-school MBP that still has an HDMI port, that port definitely can't do 4k 60hz. Both Thunderbolt 2 and Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) would be fine for supporting 4k 60hz. Whether it's over HDMI or DisplayPort ultimately doesn't matter, it's the adapter that'll matter more.
  - sebastianconcpt 7y ago
    Yes. And to add something to this, you might be able to find a cable instead of an adapter. One like this: Monitor <-- male DisplayPort* ---- male mini DisplayPort --> MacBook Pro *I has to be DisplayPort 1.2 or newer (they are backward compatible)
gfrff 7y ago
Does anyone know how I would find a graphics card or set of graphics cards for Ubuntu which supported 5 monitors well, one being 4k? I also don't want NVidia proprietary drivers due to bugs. They confuse something with monitors versus screens which breaks a lot of things. Nouveau works fine. Haven't tried AMD but I assume it's fine too.
- masklinn 7y ago
  AMD used to have special "Eyefinity" series cards which supported up to 6 displays (as in a single card / GPU would have up to 6 display controllers). Though I don't know if that's still a thing, or whether they were well supported on linux, or how well they deal / dealt displays of different resolution. Also I'm pretty sure it only worked over native DisplayPort, so you'd need active adapters to plug in non-DP displays.
- deckar01 7y ago
  You might be better off taking advantage of Display Port Multistream. Some monitors have input and output display ports so they can be daisy chained. You can also get display port hubs. You can run one 4K display with a single display port or four 1080p displays with a single display port. https://www.displayport.org/cables/driving-multiple-displays-from-a-single-displayport-output/ https://www.displayport.org/cables/driving-multiple-displays...
- phonon 7y ago
  Something like https://www.newegg.com/asrock-radeon-rx-5700-xt-rx-5700-xt-taichi-x-8g-oc/p/N82E16814930022 https://www.newegg.com/asrock-radeon-rx-5700-xt-rx-5700-xt-t... ?
- proverbialbunny 7y ago
  I'm not sure how easy it is in Linux to run different monitors at different DPI, so I'd keep that in mind.
elchief 7y ago
I just got a 32" 4k monitor. Works nicely on my Asus Zenbook UX430UA running Ubuntu 18 The sales guy kept trying to sell me an HDMI cable, but I knew I could only do 30 Hz. Had to ask several times for USB type C to displayport My next system will have thunderbolt and I'd like to run a 27" monitor at 5k
choeger 7y ago
Wait a second. You can watch 4k content from Netflix under Linux nowadays?
- buster 7y ago
  Amazon Prime and Netflix work in the browser nowadays. Quite well on Linux, too. I suppose it's some DRM that made it into firefox in the past? Anyway, it's working quite well.
  - KingMachiavelli 7y ago
    At least Netflix is limited to 720p if you are not using the Windows 10 store app or (apparently) using some firefox extension that tricks it. But yes the DRM/widevine has been working for quite some time now.
caymanjim 7y ago
I use a Dell P2715Q with a GeForce GTX 1050 Ti and an HDMI cable and it's at 60Hz. Works fine in Linux and looks great. And this is some pretty old hardware. I believe I had to do something on the monitor to make 60Hz work, but I can't remember for sure.
- tmandry 7y ago
  Only models sold after a certain date support this, and you have to go through a menu sequence to enable HDMI 2. It’s documented on their website.
- prpl 7y ago
  I have one of these at home and U2718q at work. At work, I use the Macbook USB-C multiport adapter (new one - you have to double check if you have an old one) and at home I got a uni USB-C-> HDMI 2.0 adapter ($18 on amazon) Both systems work good. Both monitors also worked with mini displayport on my 2015 Macbook at 60hz, which was kind of embarrassing when going to the newer macbook, because it was expensive for the apple adapter and I had to look around before I tried the uni adapter.
chx 7y ago
The real "fun" starts with HDR. See, HDR on one hand requires ten bits of color per channel. So bandwidth wise 4K @ 60Hz 10 bit fits DisplayPort 1.2 but not even HDMI 2.0 has enough. See the calculator https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/729232-guide-to-display-cables-adapters-v2/?section=calc&H=3840&V=2160&F=60&bpc=10&timing=cvtrb&calculations=show&formulas=show https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/729232-guide-to-display... But! HDR is more and some video standards have the necessary extensions but it can also be done from software but then only compatible software will be HDR. Check https://superuser.com/a/1335410/41259 https://superuser.com/a/1335410/41259 > The HDR mode will automatically activate if the monitor receives a compatible signal, but the device only relies on a software-based implementation. When active, the HDR representation adds a nice touch of extra color pop and a seemingly deeper contrast range, although the monitor’s limitations will come into play here. And this extra has been added to HDMI 2.0b (compared to HDMI 2.0a) and for this reason it is said HDMI 2.0b support 4k @ 60Hz HDR when it can't because it doesn't have enough bandwidth (well, it does for 4:2:0) and DisplayPort 1.2 is said to not support it when it does have enough bandwidth. Oh joy.
- ksec 7y ago
  How does 120 or 240 or even 360Hz Monitor works? Because at 4K, 10BPC, 240Hz is already ~70Gbps, pushing close to the DisplayPort 2.0 limit. I know there is DSC compression, but seriously who want a compress link especially when it is not true lossless.
  - phonypc 7y ago
    AFAIK there are no consumer monitors that do 4k at >144Hz. 200Hz+ are all 1080p.
    - wincy 7y ago
      The state of the art, at least at consumer levels, uses an FPGA to do image processing, and has a fan to cool it (that many people complain about), is here[0]. 144hz over displayport. I also don't think it can do full HDR 4:4:4 at that refresh rate. [0] https://www.amazon.com/Swift-PG27UQ-G-SYNC-Gaming-Monitor/dp/B07F1VGGLK https://www.amazon.com/Swift-PG27UQ-G-SYNC-Gaming-Monitor/dp...
trollied 7y ago
On a Mac the other way to sort this is with an egpu. I have a 13” 2017 MBP & use a Razor Core X Chroma with an AMD Vega 64. It makes an awesome 1 cable docking station - I have mouse, keyboard & external disks plugged into it, as well as the monitors and a Behringer external sound card (for midi and studio speakers). Just 1 Thunderbolt cable into the MBP, which also provides power to it. Makes for a nice tidy desk too! https://egpu.io https://egpu.io has all the info you’d ever need on such setups (no affiliation BTW).
- pram 7y ago
  I have a similar setup but I found the USB ports on the Chroma to be ridiculously unreliable, and that seems to be very common. They work without issue for you?
Kirby64 7y ago
It's unclear why the author posits that the graphics cards (s)he has on hand only support HDMI 1.1. Just because they only support 1080p output doesn't really mean anything about the HDMI revision they support. PCI-e should have nothing to do with that either. Also, I'm not sure what spare parts bin the OP has, but if you don't have something that supports anything higher than FullHD/1080p, you've got some ANCIENT graphics cards. For reference, here's one of the oldest graphics cards I could find on Newegg, the GTS 450. First released in Sept 2010... according to Nvidia it still supports an output resolution max of 2560x1600: https://www.nvidia.com/object/product-geforce-gts-450-oem-us https://www.nvidia.com/object/product-geforce-gts-450-oem-us
- taspeotis 7y ago
  The article says: > Apparently some video cards that I currently run for 4K (which were all bought new within the last 2 years) are somewhere between a 2010 and 2013 level of technology. Which I find unhelpful, because I can buy a new GeForce GT 710 circa 2014 from the local computer store today. (Dirt cheap, passively cooled, I assume that's the niche.) Buying new doesn't mean it's contemporary. A cursory Google suggests my old GeForce 960 (which first came out in 2015; also I'd consider it mid-range at best) supports HDMI 2.0. Elsewhere it mentions a GT 630 which is ... from 2012. So yeah the 2012 era GPU bought two years ago is "somewhere between a 2010 and 2013 level of technology."
derefr 7y ago
Do variable-refresh-rate (FreeSync, G-SYNC, etc.) monitors support being driven at 24/25Hz? If so, can we just do that and watch movies in 4K@24 (which would fit perfectly fine down an HDMI1.4 cable), rather than needing this whole ridiculous chain of 3:2 pull-down + frame doubling + bandwidth increases to get there?
- amarshall 7y ago
  Not necessarily any reason to have FreeSync or G-Sync. Just set the output refresh rate to the desired fixed value. Some media playback software can even be set to do this automatically. You’ll get a flash during the refresh rate switch, though.
remmargorp64 7y ago
For whatever it's worth, I recently attempted to run a 4K 60hz HDMI connection from my gaming PC to my 4K LG OLED TV in the living room. I ended up trying out probably 4 different cables before I found one that was actually able to transmit the signal correctly over 25-30 feet. The cable that ended up working for me was a KableDirekt cable that I bought off Amazon. The beast of a cable is THICK. I also had a lot of luck with AmazonBasics HDMI cables for shorter runs. The most important thing for 4K HDMI cables seems to be that they need to be well insulated and thick.
bluedino 7y ago
Related question: why did DVI become popular first? DP is smaller and "better", was it the fact that DVI could carry analog as well?
- Qiasfah 7y ago
  DVI Predates DP by ~7 years https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Visual_Interface https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Visual_Interface https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DisplayPort https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DisplayPort
- detaro 7y ago
  DVI existed 8 years earlier.
- sebazzz 7y ago
  And when digital became a thing, it turned out HDMI is mostly compatible with DVI. Only now is DVI on its way out.
m463 7y ago
Related, I had an interesting experience with an older 4k monitor and ultrahd bluray. I had a dell UP3214Q monitor, and I got the bright idea to get a bluray player. The model I bought happened to support 4k ultrahd, so I hooked it up. It looked pretty good... except ... wait, it was downscaling ultrahd to 1080p over HDMI. So I tried making sure I had the right HDMI cables. Still 1080p. Long story short -- nobody will tell you this straight out -- ultrahd bluray players require hdcp 2.2. strangely 1080p non-ultrahd disks upscaled to 4k. hollywood sucks. I tried a U3219Q (HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2) and everything worked. (except the monitor is not as high quality with a little less viewing angle and some LED bleed at the lower edges)
- proverbialbunny 7y ago
  If it says anything, most 4k movies out right now have cgi rendered in 1080p and then upscaled. Also, most cameraing, even if recorded in 4k, is not focused to 4k, but focused for 1080, so it's often fuzzy. Then some shots are more focused than others which is just annoying. Avengers: End Game is the first movie to render for 4k and recorded with 4k in mind, and I am uncertain if any movies have come after it meeting that spec yet, so atm 4k bluray is sadly a gimmick anyways.
  - m463 7y ago
    I watched Gemini Man 4k/60hz/HDR and it was really weird to watch. It felt more like reality tv than a cinematic movie, and I'm uncertain if it was the HDR or the 60hz.
nihonium 7y ago
To anyone has a slightly older Mac and thinking about getting a 4k screen: DON'T. 4k is not supported on many older models. Check your official specs. Most Macs has max 1440p@60hz output. 4k is only supported @ 30hz, which is no good for daily usage. And the main problem is, if you get a 4k monitor( to future proof your setup), and try to use it at 1440p, everything will be blurry and pixels will shift and distort. Just get a native 1440p monitor. If you have a never Mac, getting a 4k 27" monitor may still be a bad idea. Since 4k is too much for a 27" screen, you will need to use scaling in Mac options, and ideally set it to "looks like 1440p" But this will cause your mac to do 1.5 scaling and create a burden in your GPU and CPU. It will render everything doubled at 5k and try to scale it to 4k. If you're using a Macbook, your fans will never stop even on idle. This is even worse performance than getting a 5k monitor and using it native 2x scaled, which is easy on GPU. One side note; there is no USB-C Hub that offer 4k@60hz output, technically not possible. You have to get a separate hdmi or dp adapter, or an expensive Thunderbolt 3 dock. But there are some usb-c to hdmi or dp adapters which also offers Power Delivery. I've already wasted money and time figuring this out, so you don't have to :)
- crooked-v 7y ago
  > If you're using a Macbook, your fans will never stop even on idle. I have a 2017 MacBook Pro that runs 4K-at-looks-like-1440p fine with no fan noise and without even turning on the dedicated GPU for normal web browser / code editor / document stuff.
  - nihonium 7y ago
    Macbooks always turns on dedicated GPU when connected to an external monitor. Maybe you're using it in clamshell mode?
    - crooked-v 7y ago
      Huh, I guess I was incorrect on the GPU, then, but I've definitely never heard any fan noise for anything less than a game with 3D rendering spinning up.
- 7y ago
finneganscat 7y ago
Trying hard to get 4K 60Hz on my Mac Mini late 2014. Anybody have a solution for this?
annoyingnoob 7y ago
If you need a long cable length, like more than 20 feet it gets even more interesting. Yay for 'Standards', maybe.
- Benji_San 7y ago
  I'm currently using a 10m (~33ft) HMDI cable to connect my desktop PC to my TV @ 4k/60hz. It works well without HDR but does cut out from time to time with HDR enabled so I mostly leave it turned off @4k. I spent quite a long time researching what cable to get as the standard does not really cover cables longer than around 5 meters, and most "legit" cables explicitly states that they can't provide 4k/60hz at lengths longer than 5 meters so you mainly have to go on customer reviews. The price does not necessarily indicate what the cable is actually capable of so getting something that works requires a lot of research... (+ YMMV)
ratsimihah 7y ago
I've let go of HDMI for a while now. They work terrible on macs as they tend to render at 1x instead of 2x at 60hz, or you can run 2x at 30hz, which is super laggy. Not a lot of people seem to be aware of that, yet it's like not wearing glasses when you actually need some.
elif 7y ago
>my testing has shown that a cheap “High Speed HDMI Cable” can work at 60Hz with 4K resolution with the right combination of video card, monitor, and drivers. My testing was completely contrary to this. I bought around 10 cables that claimed to support various dp and HDMI specs, trying to achieve 4k@60 on my MacPro.. in the end only one cable actually succeeded, and the longer version of the same cable from the same manufacturer would not work, and even the "good" cable would flicker if the ambient temperature was too low.
Stratoscope 7y ago
For me the sweet spot is a triple monitor setup with all three monitors in the neighborhood of 200 DPI, and running at 200% scaling in either Windows or Linux (Cinnamon). One monitor is my ThinkPad's 14" WQHD display. The other two are 24" 4K displays. One of those displays is horizontal, immediately above the ThinkPad display. The other is vertical, to the left, with the bottom of the monitor close to my standing desk. (Of course it could be on the right if that suits you better.) Because I'm old enough that my eyes can not adjust their focus like a younger person's eyes, I make sure that all three monitors are at the same distance from my eyes. And I have a pair of single vision prescription glasses adjusted for that distance. Since I also use the ThinkPad on its own, that determines the focus distance: about 20 inches. The external monitors are also at that distance from my eyes. Each of the three monitors is tilted at the appropriate angle so that the plane of the monitor is perpendicular to the view from my eye position. In other words, the "normal" at the center of each monitor points directly to my eyes. I can't use big monitors like a 32", regardless of the resolution. The focus distance changes too much between the center of the monitor and its edges. But 24" is small enough that the entire monitor is in focus with my single vision glasses. Did I mention single vision glasses?! Unless you are young enough that your eyes can easily refocus, do yourself a favor and get these. Not a "reading" prescription - that is typically 16", much too close for typical computer use. Bring your laptop to your optometrist and get single vision lenses for that distance. It will probably be about 20". Then when you use external monitors, make sure they are also at that same distance. Do not under any circumstances use progressive lenses for computer work! I have seen far too many people tilt their head back and lower their gaze into the bottom part of their progressives. This is a recipe for neck and eye strain. You will be amazed at the improvement that a good pair of single vision lenses give you.
- hbarka 7y ago
  I agree wholeheartedly. My optometrist created an extra pair of single vision glasses that were backed off by about one diopter from my true distance prescription (YMMV) and it is much much more comfortable for computer work than reading glasses.
- RHSeeger 7y ago
  I actually use a pair of progressive glasses, with the top 60% set for a distance of <my monitor> and the bottom for reading. It works pretty well for me. Of course, the most recent eye doctor I'm going to can't get the distance right for the computer glasses, so I can't use the new glasses without leaning in. I even have my old pair for reference and I explained it (I thought) well and showed the distance... and they've tried 3 times and can't get it right. Super frustrating.
jsntrmn 7y ago
I work from home 1 or 2 days a week and am extremely comfortable with a 2019 MacBook Pro (15 in) and two Dell P2415Q monitors (24 in / 4K). I wish I had gone with the 27 in model but had limited space in my office. My personal laptop is a mid-2015 MacBook Pro. For connectivity, I use both DisplayPort (DP) and mini-DisplayPort (mDP). DP goes to the 2019 MBP and mDP goes to the mid-2015 MBP. I run everything from the latest MacOS to Windows 7 and 10 to multiple flavors of Linux via an unRAID box that pulls double duty as a media server. I've had very limited issues with driver support. Very affordable and reliable solution.
mncharity 7y ago
"A roomy 5K desktop, on a bus."[1] is a recent silly tweet of mine. The system as demoed is variously unusable: an inappropriate camera lens is terribly blurring passthru; the underlying desktop capture is scaled, losing pixel crispness; and the scaling and config are making head motion too sensitive. But the motivating idea... Nreal glasses have a crisp 1080p stereo display, at 2 meters, with a laptop-like 50deg (5 held-out fists) field-of-view (vs this demo's 90-ish). Used as a viewport into a larger (and shallow 3D) desktop... I'm very much looking forward to trying that. One downside is that's still only 1080p visible without head motion... but the motion mapping can be variously aphysical. [1] https://twitter.com/mncharity/status/1225091755667853318 https://twitter.com/mncharity/status/1225091755667853318
shmerl 7y ago
Always prefer DisplayPort over HDMI. There should be no reason to ever use the later, unless you are stuck with hardware that can't work with anything else. It's only being pushed around by HDMI creators who still like to collect fees for its patents.
dzink 7y ago
I am able to run Windows 10 in 4k at 100fps with display port using the Alienware curved 34in monitor (it supports 100+ fps) . The hardware behind it is described in this unfinished blog post (https://blog.dianazink.com/constructing-a-deep-learning-desktop-in-2020 https://blog.dianazink.com/constructing-a-deep-learning-desk...). I built this rig for machine learning and I spend a lot of hours coding every day. Any other setup gives me headaches and eye exhaustion, including Apple’s otherwise excellent Thunderbolt display (60fps). The high fps on the Alienware is the number one criteria i now use for buying a monitor or TV. It has made me more productive by far (feels like two monitors in one by real estate).
- Kirby64 7y ago
  You sure you don't mean the UltraWide 3440x1440 120Hz (or 100Hz, overclockable to 120Hz for the old version) Alienware monitor? I'm not aware of any curved monitor they make that is also 4k. At 3440x1440x120Hz, you're only pushing ~14.5Gbit/s. DP1.2 or HDMI2.0 supports it fine, but that's it. It's even worse than a 4k 60hz monitor. You literally cannot use anything besides HDMI2 or DP1.2 to drive the display.
nullc 7y ago
If you think 4K 60Hz is a PITA, try getting 8k working in Linux. It's a super PITA. Then try relocating the computer 50 ft away to put it in another room for noise reasons. Super super PITA. But: it's possible.
nullifidian 7y ago
Speaking of 4k, one question bothers me -- will we see HDMI 2.1 or DisplayPort 2.0 in the 2020 GPUs? Because if not, it would be another 1-2 years wait for a solution capable of doing 4k HDR(10bpc) at 120 fps, or even just 4k 10bpc 4:4:4 in case of HDMI. Frankly, don't want to buy a GPU that will be outdated in a year, simply due to its connectivity.
JosephRedfern 7y ago
I'm a bit late to the game here, but why would Chroma subsampling give you a poor experience when reading text?

150 points by ecliptik 7y ago

Met this issue on my 2015 MacBook Pro, tried to connect a 4k display with HDMI only to find out that it can only display 4k at 30hz. I thought it was only a configuration issue, but seems like MBP can only do 4k@30hz when connecting with HDMI (it uses HDMI 1.2 IIRC). Works properly with a DisplayPort cable though.

sebastianconcpt 7y ago
My scenario. I'm about to buy 2 4K monitors but with Thunderbolt-DisplayPort adapters for that very reason.

sgt 7y ago

HDMI and 4K/60Hz is problematic on other platforms than just Linux, in my experience. It just doesn't work well enough yet for most people and most computers/screen combos. Using 4K and 30Hz is like using your desktop through a VNC session, it's absolutely horrendous.

egdod 7y ago

Having just dealt with the HDMI cable 4K refresh rate debacle, I can say that it is indeed a mess. The only way to make it worse would be to incorporate USB-C somehow.

jeswin 7y ago
> The only way to make it worse would be to incorporate USB-C somehow. Why? I run DisplayPort over USB Type-C port on my Linux Laptop and it works quite well for 4K at 60Hz. DisplayPort over Type-C is a pretty common configuration on laptops. https://www.displayport.org/displayport-over-usb-c/ https://www.displayport.org/displayport-over-usb-c/
- bdcravens 7y ago
  I have the same setup on my Macbook Pro. Works great.
- egdod 7y ago
  I was mostly joking. USB-C is fine if you get the right cables. But that can be a big “if.” It’s a far cry from the trivial “just plug anything into anything with any cable and it’ll work” that we were promised.
  - izacus 7y ago
    > It’s a far cry from the trivial “just plug anything into anything with any cable and it’ll work” that we were promised. It pretty much works exactly like that except for very edge cases near end of protocol capability. Things like 100W power supply and 4k/60Hz. (Also I don't know who exactly promised you that any cable will work for high performance protocols.)
- Nition 7y ago
  I suspect that the parent comment was making a joke based on the fact that the USB-C spec is complex and confusing, maybe not realizing that in fact reality is already one step ahead.
- oever 7y ago
  My laptop (Thinkpad L390) shows 4K@60Hz via USB-C on a LG 27UK850 while running linux. It is charged at the same time via the same cable. It's convenient: no need for a docking station.
dkmar 7y ago
Agreed. I've been trying to get my 2018 MBP to do 4k 60hz through my AVR and TV via a USB-C to HDMI cable with no luck so far. The AVR, TV, and cable are each individually HDMI 2.0a or greater, but my MBP refuses to believe that more than 1080p 60hz is possible. And it actually worked at 4k 60hz the first time I plugged everything together, just not since then. Irritating to say the least.

proverbialbunny 7y ago

I'm an early adopter of 4k60. If you write code and you're not on 4k, you don't know what you're missing. 4k is great. Back then display port ran at 60fps, and hdmi ran at 30fps. My hardware has changed and moved on, but I still default to using a display port cable. It's rare to not find a graphics card without display port, and it's rare to find a monitor without one, so I've never had a reason to try HDMI. As far as I can tell it's a stubborn format that continue to fight to live on. Frankly, I don't really get why we still have HDMI today.

JeremyNT 7y ago
> I'm an early adopter of 4k60. If you write code and you're not on 4k, you don't know what you're missing. 4k is great. Important caveat: the display needs to actually be big enough for this to matter. I've got the 4k Dell XPS 13, but I run at a lower resolution, since I simply cannot perceive any difference.
zenlot 7y ago
> If you write code and you're not on 4k, you don't know what you're missing. 4k is great. I am on 4k60 on 43". I spend most of my day in terminal (ubuntu, i3-regolith) - it's nice, but don't think I would be missing out much without it.
- seanmcdirmid 7y ago
  4K on a 43” is a pretty low PPI. If you had something worse than that for a screen of the same size, you would be missing out.
  - jfim 7y ago
    It gives a ridiculously large amount of screen real estate, though. For example, on one of those, one can have a side-by-side diff with 120+ character lines and still have half of the screen width remaining for documentation or terminals.
    - 7y ago

pwython 7y ago

I tested a bunch of different HDMI cables when I needed to record 10-bit 4K 4:2:2 @ 60fps from my camera, and found that the most reliable cables were Monoprice brand, starting at just under $4. https://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=102&cp_id=10240&cs_id=1024021&p_id=24182&seq=1&format=2 https://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=102&cp_id=10240&cs_id...

dangus 7y ago

This article does contain useful information especially since a lot of this is way less obvious than it should be to a non-technical end user. My crappy Apple USB-C Multiport adapter simply refuses 60Hz 4K on an HDMI cable that works out of the box with Windows 10 on a GTX 1060. This is despite the fact that the product page says that this configuration with my particular Mac is supported (edit: it’s actually because I have an old adapter). Then I use a cheap $8 USB-C to HDMI cable and it works fine on two MacBook Pro 15/16” computers (be careful here as a 2016 USB-C MacBook Pro 15” doesn’t support 4K 60Hz over HDMI but the identical-looking 2017 model and newer do). Frustratingly, Apple doesn’t make a similar USB/power/video adapter for DisplayPort, just for HDMI. Nobody else seems to make one either unless you get into the world of expensive hubs. For our older 2015 MacBook Pro, Thunderbolt 2/mini displayport to DisplayPort is the option. What I’m getting at in a poorly organized fashion is that the world of single cable charge and display and device hub is definitely not here. There’s one display on the market that supports USB-C charging above 85W and it only works with newer Macs. You can get basically the same display for $1000 less with an LG 27” 4K display and just use DisplayPort and HDMI with adapters. Saving yourself from plugging in a second thing isn’t worth $1000. I can’t for the life of me figure out why the people who make displays with built in power supplies for USB-C charging didn’t just default it on the 100W maximum that the spec allows. What short-sighted design! In any event, I think I don’t mind keeping that piece of hardware separate from my display, not just for reliability but for weight and bulk as well. I can easily hide a power brick under the table.

vardump 7y ago
> Frustratingly, Apple doesn’t make a similar USB/power/video adapter for DisplayPort... I use just a cheap USB-C - DP cable for this. Works fine. Of course no USB ports and can't charge with that, but not a huge issue since there are more ports.
- dangus 7y ago
  Yeah that’s what I ended up doing as well, although mine is a USB-C to HDMI adapter. My display has two HDMI and one DisplayPort, so I’ve allocated one HDMI for USB-C Macs, one HDMI for the desktop Windows PC, and one DisplayPort for Mini DisplayPort devices (2015 MacBook Pro). In my opinion, buying a two-port MacBook Pro of any kind is a mistake for this very reason, although I guess more adapters can solve that problem...

altmind 7y ago

GT630 seems to only support hdmi 1.4, not 2. i miss the point of this article.

djsumdog 7y ago

I was searching for the date thinking this had to be old, but it's not. It's very recent, but the author does seem to be using some older hardware. I did have a problem with 4K-DCI and KVM switches at one time: https://battlepenguin.com/tech/4k-uhd-kvm-switches-the-startech-sv231mdpu2-and-the-iogear-GCS62DP/ https://battlepenguin.com/tech/4k-uhd-kvm-switches-the-start... Since then I've switch to a UDH monitor and a TESmart HDMI KVM switch. It can do 60Hz with HDR on my Windows and PS4 and 60Hz/non-HDR on Linux with the amdgpu (open source) Radeon drivers. I had no issues at all with the full resolution an refresh rate, either directly connected or with that KVM.

sebastianconcpt 7y ago

Interestingly this week I was planning to upgrade my setup buying 2 Samsung monitors 4K for the MBP. And from what I've investigated I concur that HDMI is a no-no. All is pointing to Thunderbolt<->DisplayPort adapters as the way to achieve 60Hz in 4K

Kirby64 7y ago
HDMI is fine for 4k 60hz if it supports HDMI2. Depends on the adapter. If you have an old-school MBP that still has an HDMI port, that port definitely can't do 4k 60hz. Both Thunderbolt 2 and Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) would be fine for supporting 4k 60hz. Whether it's over HDMI or DisplayPort ultimately doesn't matter, it's the adapter that'll matter more.
- sebastianconcpt 7y ago
  Yes. And to add something to this, you might be able to find a cable instead of an adapter. One like this: Monitor <-- male DisplayPort* ---- male mini DisplayPort --> MacBook Pro *I has to be DisplayPort 1.2 or newer (they are backward compatible)

gfrff 7y ago

Does anyone know how I would find a graphics card or set of graphics cards for Ubuntu which supported 5 monitors well, one being 4k? I also don't want NVidia proprietary drivers due to bugs. They confuse something with monitors versus screens which breaks a lot of things. Nouveau works fine. Haven't tried AMD but I assume it's fine too.

masklinn 7y ago
AMD used to have special "Eyefinity" series cards which supported up to 6 displays (as in a single card / GPU would have up to 6 display controllers). Though I don't know if that's still a thing, or whether they were well supported on linux, or how well they deal / dealt displays of different resolution. Also I'm pretty sure it only worked over native DisplayPort, so you'd need active adapters to plug in non-DP displays.
deckar01 7y ago
You might be better off taking advantage of Display Port Multistream. Some monitors have input and output display ports so they can be daisy chained. You can also get display port hubs. You can run one 4K display with a single display port or four 1080p displays with a single display port. https://www.displayport.org/cables/driving-multiple-displays-from-a-single-displayport-output/ https://www.displayport.org/cables/driving-multiple-displays...
phonon 7y ago
Something like https://www.newegg.com/asrock-radeon-rx-5700-xt-rx-5700-xt-taichi-x-8g-oc/p/N82E16814930022 https://www.newegg.com/asrock-radeon-rx-5700-xt-rx-5700-xt-t... ?
proverbialbunny 7y ago
I'm not sure how easy it is in Linux to run different monitors at different DPI, so I'd keep that in mind.

elchief 7y ago

I just got a 32" 4k monitor. Works nicely on my Asus Zenbook UX430UA running Ubuntu 18 The sales guy kept trying to sell me an HDMI cable, but I knew I could only do 30 Hz. Had to ask several times for USB type C to displayport My next system will have thunderbolt and I'd like to run a 27" monitor at 5k

choeger 7y ago

Wait a second. You can watch 4k content from Netflix under Linux nowadays?

buster 7y ago
Amazon Prime and Netflix work in the browser nowadays. Quite well on Linux, too. I suppose it's some DRM that made it into firefox in the past? Anyway, it's working quite well.
- KingMachiavelli 7y ago
  At least Netflix is limited to 720p if you are not using the Windows 10 store app or (apparently) using some firefox extension that tricks it. But yes the DRM/widevine has been working for quite some time now.

caymanjim 7y ago

I use a Dell P2715Q with a GeForce GTX 1050 Ti and an HDMI cable and it's at 60Hz. Works fine in Linux and looks great. And this is some pretty old hardware. I believe I had to do something on the monitor to make 60Hz work, but I can't remember for sure.

tmandry 7y ago
Only models sold after a certain date support this, and you have to go through a menu sequence to enable HDMI 2. It’s documented on their website.
prpl 7y ago
I have one of these at home and U2718q at work. At work, I use the Macbook USB-C multiport adapter (new one - you have to double check if you have an old one) and at home I got a uni USB-C-> HDMI 2.0 adapter ($18 on amazon) Both systems work good. Both monitors also worked with mini displayport on my 2015 Macbook at 60hz, which was kind of embarrassing when going to the newer macbook, because it was expensive for the apple adapter and I had to look around before I tried the uni adapter.

chx 7y ago

The real "fun" starts with HDR. See, HDR on one hand requires ten bits of color per channel. So bandwidth wise 4K @ 60Hz 10 bit fits DisplayPort 1.2 but not even HDMI 2.0 has enough. See the calculator https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/729232-guide-to-display-cables-adapters-v2/?section=calc&H=3840&V=2160&F=60&bpc=10&timing=cvtrb&calculations=show&formulas=show https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/729232-guide-to-display... But! HDR is more and some video standards have the necessary extensions but it can also be done from software but then only compatible software will be HDR. Check https://superuser.com/a/1335410/41259 https://superuser.com/a/1335410/41259 > The HDR mode will automatically activate if the monitor receives a compatible signal, but the device only relies on a software-based implementation. When active, the HDR representation adds a nice touch of extra color pop and a seemingly deeper contrast range, although the monitor’s limitations will come into play here. And this extra has been added to HDMI 2.0b (compared to HDMI 2.0a) and for this reason it is said HDMI 2.0b support 4k @ 60Hz HDR when it can't because it doesn't have enough bandwidth (well, it does for 4:2:0) and DisplayPort 1.2 is said to not support it when it does have enough bandwidth. Oh joy.

ksec 7y ago
How does 120 or 240 or even 360Hz Monitor works? Because at 4K, 10BPC, 240Hz is already ~70Gbps, pushing close to the DisplayPort 2.0 limit. I know there is DSC compression, but seriously who want a compress link especially when it is not true lossless.
- phonypc 7y ago
  AFAIK there are no consumer monitors that do 4k at >144Hz. 200Hz+ are all 1080p.
  - wincy 7y ago
    The state of the art, at least at consumer levels, uses an FPGA to do image processing, and has a fan to cool it (that many people complain about), is here[0]. 144hz over displayport. I also don't think it can do full HDR 4:4:4 at that refresh rate. [0] https://www.amazon.com/Swift-PG27UQ-G-SYNC-Gaming-Monitor/dp/B07F1VGGLK https://www.amazon.com/Swift-PG27UQ-G-SYNC-Gaming-Monitor/dp...

trollied 7y ago

On a Mac the other way to sort this is with an egpu. I have a 13” 2017 MBP & use a Razor Core X Chroma with an AMD Vega 64. It makes an awesome 1 cable docking station - I have mouse, keyboard & external disks plugged into it, as well as the monitors and a Behringer external sound card (for midi and studio speakers). Just 1 Thunderbolt cable into the MBP, which also provides power to it. Makes for a nice tidy desk too! https://egpu.io https://egpu.io has all the info you’d ever need on such setups (no affiliation BTW).

pram 7y ago
I have a similar setup but I found the USB ports on the Chroma to be ridiculously unreliable, and that seems to be very common. They work without issue for you?

Kirby64 7y ago

It's unclear why the author posits that the graphics cards (s)he has on hand only support HDMI 1.1. Just because they only support 1080p output doesn't really mean anything about the HDMI revision they support. PCI-e should have nothing to do with that either. Also, I'm not sure what spare parts bin the OP has, but if you don't have something that supports anything higher than FullHD/1080p, you've got some ANCIENT graphics cards. For reference, here's one of the oldest graphics cards I could find on Newegg, the GTS 450. First released in Sept 2010... according to Nvidia it still supports an output resolution max of 2560x1600: https://www.nvidia.com/object/product-geforce-gts-450-oem-us https://www.nvidia.com/object/product-geforce-gts-450-oem-us

taspeotis 7y ago
The article says: > Apparently some video cards that I currently run for 4K (which were all bought new within the last 2 years) are somewhere between a 2010 and 2013 level of technology. Which I find unhelpful, because I can buy a new GeForce GT 710 circa 2014 from the local computer store today. (Dirt cheap, passively cooled, I assume that's the niche.) Buying new doesn't mean it's contemporary. A cursory Google suggests my old GeForce 960 (which first came out in 2015; also I'd consider it mid-range at best) supports HDMI 2.0. Elsewhere it mentions a GT 630 which is ... from 2012. So yeah the 2012 era GPU bought two years ago is "somewhere between a 2010 and 2013 level of technology."

derefr 7y ago

Do variable-refresh-rate (FreeSync, G-SYNC, etc.) monitors support being driven at 24/25Hz? If so, can we just do that and watch movies in 4K@24 (which would fit perfectly fine down an HDMI1.4 cable), rather than needing this whole ridiculous chain of 3:2 pull-down + frame doubling + bandwidth increases to get there?

amarshall 7y ago
Not necessarily any reason to have FreeSync or G-Sync. Just set the output refresh rate to the desired fixed value. Some media playback software can even be set to do this automatically. You’ll get a flash during the refresh rate switch, though.

remmargorp64 7y ago

For whatever it's worth, I recently attempted to run a 4K 60hz HDMI connection from my gaming PC to my 4K LG OLED TV in the living room. I ended up trying out probably 4 different cables before I found one that was actually able to transmit the signal correctly over 25-30 feet. The cable that ended up working for me was a KableDirekt cable that I bought off Amazon. The beast of a cable is THICK. I also had a lot of luck with AmazonBasics HDMI cables for shorter runs. The most important thing for 4K HDMI cables seems to be that they need to be well insulated and thick.

bluedino 7y ago

Related question: why did DVI become popular first? DP is smaller and "better", was it the fact that DVI could carry analog as well?

Qiasfah 7y ago
DVI Predates DP by ~7 years https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Visual_Interface https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Visual_Interface https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DisplayPort https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DisplayPort
detaro 7y ago
DVI existed 8 years earlier.
sebazzz 7y ago
And when digital became a thing, it turned out HDMI is mostly compatible with DVI. Only now is DVI on its way out.

m463 7y ago

Related, I had an interesting experience with an older 4k monitor and ultrahd bluray. I had a dell UP3214Q monitor, and I got the bright idea to get a bluray player. The model I bought happened to support 4k ultrahd, so I hooked it up. It looked pretty good... except ... wait, it was downscaling ultrahd to 1080p over HDMI. So I tried making sure I had the right HDMI cables. Still 1080p. Long story short -- nobody will tell you this straight out -- ultrahd bluray players require hdcp 2.2. strangely 1080p non-ultrahd disks upscaled to 4k. hollywood sucks. I tried a U3219Q (HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2) and everything worked. (except the monitor is not as high quality with a little less viewing angle and some LED bleed at the lower edges)

proverbialbunny 7y ago
If it says anything, most 4k movies out right now have cgi rendered in 1080p and then upscaled. Also, most cameraing, even if recorded in 4k, is not focused to 4k, but focused for 1080, so it's often fuzzy. Then some shots are more focused than others which is just annoying. Avengers: End Game is the first movie to render for 4k and recorded with 4k in mind, and I am uncertain if any movies have come after it meeting that spec yet, so atm 4k bluray is sadly a gimmick anyways.
- m463 7y ago
  I watched Gemini Man 4k/60hz/HDR and it was really weird to watch. It felt more like reality tv than a cinematic movie, and I'm uncertain if it was the HDR or the 60hz.

nihonium 7y ago

To anyone has a slightly older Mac and thinking about getting a 4k screen: DON'T. 4k is not supported on many older models. Check your official specs. Most Macs has max 1440p@60hz output. 4k is only supported @ 30hz, which is no good for daily usage. And the main problem is, if you get a 4k monitor( to future proof your setup), and try to use it at 1440p, everything will be blurry and pixels will shift and distort. Just get a native 1440p monitor. If you have a never Mac, getting a 4k 27" monitor may still be a bad idea. Since 4k is too much for a 27" screen, you will need to use scaling in Mac options, and ideally set it to "looks like 1440p" But this will cause your mac to do 1.5 scaling and create a burden in your GPU and CPU. It will render everything doubled at 5k and try to scale it to 4k. If you're using a Macbook, your fans will never stop even on idle. This is even worse performance than getting a 5k monitor and using it native 2x scaled, which is easy on GPU. One side note; there is no USB-C Hub that offer 4k@60hz output, technically not possible. You have to get a separate hdmi or dp adapter, or an expensive Thunderbolt 3 dock. But there are some usb-c to hdmi or dp adapters which also offers Power Delivery. I've already wasted money and time figuring this out, so you don't have to :)

crooked-v 7y ago
> If you're using a Macbook, your fans will never stop even on idle. I have a 2017 MacBook Pro that runs 4K-at-looks-like-1440p fine with no fan noise and without even turning on the dedicated GPU for normal web browser / code editor / document stuff.
- nihonium 7y ago
  Macbooks always turns on dedicated GPU when connected to an external monitor. Maybe you're using it in clamshell mode?
  - crooked-v 7y ago
    Huh, I guess I was incorrect on the GPU, then, but I've definitely never heard any fan noise for anything less than a game with 3D rendering spinning up.
7y ago

finneganscat 7y ago

Trying hard to get 4K 60Hz on my Mac Mini late 2014. Anybody have a solution for this?

annoyingnoob 7y ago

If you need a long cable length, like more than 20 feet it gets even more interesting. Yay for 'Standards', maybe.

Benji_San 7y ago
I'm currently using a 10m (~33ft) HMDI cable to connect my desktop PC to my TV @ 4k/60hz. It works well without HDR but does cut out from time to time with HDR enabled so I mostly leave it turned off @4k. I spent quite a long time researching what cable to get as the standard does not really cover cables longer than around 5 meters, and most "legit" cables explicitly states that they can't provide 4k/60hz at lengths longer than 5 meters so you mainly have to go on customer reviews. The price does not necessarily indicate what the cable is actually capable of so getting something that works requires a lot of research... (+ YMMV)

ratsimihah 7y ago

I've let go of HDMI for a while now. They work terrible on macs as they tend to render at 1x instead of 2x at 60hz, or you can run 2x at 30hz, which is super laggy. Not a lot of people seem to be aware of that, yet it's like not wearing glasses when you actually need some.

elif 7y ago

>my testing has shown that a cheap “High Speed HDMI Cable” can work at 60Hz with 4K resolution with the right combination of video card, monitor, and drivers. My testing was completely contrary to this. I bought around 10 cables that claimed to support various dp and HDMI specs, trying to achieve 4k@60 on my MacPro.. in the end only one cable actually succeeded, and the longer version of the same cable from the same manufacturer would not work, and even the "good" cable would flicker if the ambient temperature was too low.

Stratoscope 7y ago

For me the sweet spot is a triple monitor setup with all three monitors in the neighborhood of 200 DPI, and running at 200% scaling in either Windows or Linux (Cinnamon). One monitor is my ThinkPad's 14" WQHD display. The other two are 24" 4K displays. One of those displays is horizontal, immediately above the ThinkPad display. The other is vertical, to the left, with the bottom of the monitor close to my standing desk. (Of course it could be on the right if that suits you better.) Because I'm old enough that my eyes can not adjust their focus like a younger person's eyes, I make sure that all three monitors are at the same distance from my eyes. And I have a pair of single vision prescription glasses adjusted for that distance. Since I also use the ThinkPad on its own, that determines the focus distance: about 20 inches. The external monitors are also at that distance from my eyes. Each of the three monitors is tilted at the appropriate angle so that the plane of the monitor is perpendicular to the view from my eye position. In other words, the "normal" at the center of each monitor points directly to my eyes. I can't use big monitors like a 32", regardless of the resolution. The focus distance changes too much between the center of the monitor and its edges. But 24" is small enough that the entire monitor is in focus with my single vision glasses. Did I mention single vision glasses?! Unless you are young enough that your eyes can easily refocus, do yourself a favor and get these. Not a "reading" prescription - that is typically 16", much too close for typical computer use. Bring your laptop to your optometrist and get single vision lenses for that distance. It will probably be about 20". Then when you use external monitors, make sure they are also at that same distance. Do not under any circumstances use progressive lenses for computer work! I have seen far too many people tilt their head back and lower their gaze into the bottom part of their progressives. This is a recipe for neck and eye strain. You will be amazed at the improvement that a good pair of single vision lenses give you.

hbarka 7y ago
I agree wholeheartedly. My optometrist created an extra pair of single vision glasses that were backed off by about one diopter from my true distance prescription (YMMV) and it is much much more comfortable for computer work than reading glasses.
RHSeeger 7y ago
I actually use a pair of progressive glasses, with the top 60% set for a distance of <my monitor> and the bottom for reading. It works pretty well for me. Of course, the most recent eye doctor I'm going to can't get the distance right for the computer glasses, so I can't use the new glasses without leaning in. I even have my old pair for reference and I explained it (I thought) well and showed the distance... and they've tried 3 times and can't get it right. Super frustrating.

jsntrmn 7y ago

I work from home 1 or 2 days a week and am extremely comfortable with a 2019 MacBook Pro (15 in) and two Dell P2415Q monitors (24 in / 4K). I wish I had gone with the 27 in model but had limited space in my office. My personal laptop is a mid-2015 MacBook Pro. For connectivity, I use both DisplayPort (DP) and mini-DisplayPort (mDP). DP goes to the 2019 MBP and mDP goes to the mid-2015 MBP. I run everything from the latest MacOS to Windows 7 and 10 to multiple flavors of Linux via an unRAID box that pulls double duty as a media server. I've had very limited issues with driver support. Very affordable and reliable solution.

mncharity 7y ago

"A roomy 5K desktop, on a bus."[1] is a recent silly tweet of mine. The system as demoed is variously unusable: an inappropriate camera lens is terribly blurring passthru; the underlying desktop capture is scaled, losing pixel crispness; and the scaling and config are making head motion too sensitive. But the motivating idea... Nreal glasses have a crisp 1080p stereo display, at 2 meters, with a laptop-like 50deg (5 held-out fists) field-of-view (vs this demo's 90-ish). Used as a viewport into a larger (and shallow 3D) desktop... I'm very much looking forward to trying that. One downside is that's still only 1080p visible without head motion... but the motion mapping can be variously aphysical. [1] https://twitter.com/mncharity/status/1225091755667853318 https://twitter.com/mncharity/status/1225091755667853318

shmerl 7y ago

Always prefer DisplayPort over HDMI. There should be no reason to ever use the later, unless you are stuck with hardware that can't work with anything else. It's only being pushed around by HDMI creators who still like to collect fees for its patents.

dzink 7y ago

I am able to run Windows 10 in 4k at 100fps with display port using the Alienware curved 34in monitor (it supports 100+ fps) . The hardware behind it is described in this unfinished blog post (https://blog.dianazink.com/constructing-a-deep-learning-desktop-in-2020 https://blog.dianazink.com/constructing-a-deep-learning-desk...). I built this rig for machine learning and I spend a lot of hours coding every day. Any other setup gives me headaches and eye exhaustion, including Apple’s otherwise excellent Thunderbolt display (60fps). The high fps on the Alienware is the number one criteria i now use for buying a monitor or TV. It has made me more productive by far (feels like two monitors in one by real estate).

Kirby64 7y ago
You sure you don't mean the UltraWide 3440x1440 120Hz (or 100Hz, overclockable to 120Hz for the old version) Alienware monitor? I'm not aware of any curved monitor they make that is also 4k. At 3440x1440x120Hz, you're only pushing ~14.5Gbit/s. DP1.2 or HDMI2.0 supports it fine, but that's it. It's even worse than a 4k 60hz monitor. You literally cannot use anything besides HDMI2 or DP1.2 to drive the display.

nullc 7y ago

If you think 4K 60Hz is a PITA, try getting 8k working in Linux. It's a super PITA. Then try relocating the computer 50 ft away to put it in another room for noise reasons. Super super PITA. But: it's possible.

nullifidian 7y ago

Speaking of 4k, one question bothers me -- will we see HDMI 2.1 or DisplayPort 2.0 in the 2020 GPUs? Because if not, it would be another 1-2 years wait for a solution capable of doing 4k HDR(10bpc) at 120 fps, or even just 4k 10bpc 4:4:4 in case of HDMI. Frankly, don't want to buy a GPU that will be outdated in a year, simply due to its connectivity.

JosephRedfern 7y ago

I'm a bit late to the game here, but why would Chroma subsampling give you a poor experience when reading text?