External Monitor for MacBook Pro?
September 8, 2020 4:50 PM
I have a 2017 Macbook Pro running High Sierra (10.13.6) with 2 Thunderbolt (USB C 3.0) ports. Can anyone suggest a decent monitor (4K, UHD, 27"+) that will actually connect this to model/OS? I test drove a used one today (HP Z27) and could not get it to work. Research seems to indicate a potential issue with High Sierra. My budget is $400-$600. Thank you!
Oh I do think with that dell I had to use a USB-C To display port cable to get to 4K resolution.
posted by bitdamaged at 5:18 PM on September 8, 2020
posted by bitdamaged at 5:18 PM on September 8, 2020
At work we use these LG UltraFine 5k monitors, and they're great. (Although, we have them hooked up to the most recent MacBook Pros)
posted by ssmith at 6:11 PM on September 8, 2020
posted by ssmith at 6:11 PM on September 8, 2020
I have a 2017 mbp with touchbar (so, similar age, but 4 usb-c ports). I use an LG 34" ultrawide curved monitor (this link is for the exact one that I have but it's a couple years old now, so you'd probably want to find more current models) connected via hdmi adaptor. This computer is currently on mojave but I used the monitor on (non-high) sierra for most of its life.
I can't quite tell though, is part of the question to find a monitor that actually works over usb-c / thunderbolt without an adaptor? Probably not worth the trouble... I'm not sure your graphics card is identical to mine but even so I'd really expect basically any monitor that's not like 8k to work over hdmi with the graphics card with this era of mbp.
I'll also mention that in my experience usb-c cable quality is extremely variable in success with my mbp, in case you were trying to test drive the monitor you mention that way. I have a presonus usb-c audio interface where the actual cable that came in the box with it won't connect to my mbp, though high-quality third party ones that I have (and the apple ones for that matter) work just fine with that device.
posted by advil at 6:18 PM on September 8, 2020
I can't quite tell though, is part of the question to find a monitor that actually works over usb-c / thunderbolt without an adaptor? Probably not worth the trouble... I'm not sure your graphics card is identical to mine but even so I'd really expect basically any monitor that's not like 8k to work over hdmi with the graphics card with this era of mbp.
I'll also mention that in my experience usb-c cable quality is extremely variable in success with my mbp, in case you were trying to test drive the monitor you mention that way. I have a presonus usb-c audio interface where the actual cable that came in the box with it won't connect to my mbp, though high-quality third party ones that I have (and the apple ones for that matter) work just fine with that device.
posted by advil at 6:18 PM on September 8, 2020
I have two of those monitors. Be wary of the cable you used. USB-C to DisplayPort is a great suggestion above.
posted by oceanjesse at 6:56 PM on September 8, 2020
posted by oceanjesse at 6:56 PM on September 8, 2020
I have a USB-C to DisplayPort cable that I use with a 2017 MBP. I have a lot of trouble connecting, and I believe it's the cheap C/DP adapter cable. When it's trying to connect, the MBP screen dims and blanks, but apparently can't sync up and the monitor gives up after a while. It often takes a minute or two of fiddling. So if you have a cheap adapter cable, make sure you've tried enough times before declaring the monitor bad.
posted by spacewrench at 8:39 PM on September 8, 2020
posted by spacewrench at 8:39 PM on September 8, 2020
If you're going for 4k @ 60 Hz (IMO you should, I find it a lot easier to work with than 4k @ 30 Hz) be sure that your adapters are specifically Thunderbolt 3 to DisplayPort, not just USB-C to Displayport-- USB-C can't handle the bandwidth on Mac hardware last I checked. Similarly, the HDMI version that most monitors have (again, last time I looked into this) can't handle the bandwidth unless they're HDMI 2.0. Wirecutter breaks some of this down.
Easiest solution (not the cheapest by a mile) is a ThunderBolt 3 monitor like the LG mentioned above. Totally workable is a TB3 to DP adapter (or TB3 dock with a DP output; I have this one that mostly works perfectly) into pretty much any 4k monitor. Relying on a USB-C monitor as a single-cable solution feels like asking for trouble. If you're ok with 4k @ 30 Hz any USB-C to HDMI or USB-C to DisplayPort adapter or dock should work.
posted by supercres at 10:54 PM on September 8, 2020
Easiest solution (not the cheapest by a mile) is a ThunderBolt 3 monitor like the LG mentioned above. Totally workable is a TB3 to DP adapter (or TB3 dock with a DP output; I have this one that mostly works perfectly) into pretty much any 4k monitor. Relying on a USB-C monitor as a single-cable solution feels like asking for trouble. If you're ok with 4k @ 30 Hz any USB-C to HDMI or USB-C to DisplayPort adapter or dock should work.
posted by supercres at 10:54 PM on September 8, 2020
A related issue which may be helpful to know is that USB-C doesn't support HDCP. So if you're wanting to watch anything protected with it, such as Netflix, you cannot use the USB-C connector on the monitor.
It works otherwise and the USB-C lead I got with my new monitor worked and seemed to have plenty of bandwidth - it was doing 4K @60Hz - but just wouldn't allow me to watch Netflix. Once I changed to using HDMI from the monitor into a hub, then into the ThunderBolt 3 port on my Mac Mini, it was fine.
HDCP also works with Display Port and DVI, just not USB-C. Any non-compliant monitor connection in the system will stop HDCP protected content from playing.
If that kind of thing isn't an issue, then USB-C into the TB3 ports on your 2017 MacBook Pro should work.
posted by mewsic at 4:36 AM on September 9, 2020
It works otherwise and the USB-C lead I got with my new monitor worked and seemed to have plenty of bandwidth - it was doing 4K @60Hz - but just wouldn't allow me to watch Netflix. Once I changed to using HDMI from the monitor into a hub, then into the ThunderBolt 3 port on my Mac Mini, it was fine.
HDCP also works with Display Port and DVI, just not USB-C. Any non-compliant monitor connection in the system will stop HDCP protected content from playing.
If that kind of thing isn't an issue, then USB-C into the TB3 ports on your 2017 MacBook Pro should work.
posted by mewsic at 4:36 AM on September 9, 2020
Seconding the LG 5K 27" display, if you can get your hands on one. The LG monitor has speakers, mic, camera, and three USB ports. Their display also responds to the volume, media control, and display buttons on an Apple keyboard.
You should be able to use one with your MBP, if you can upgrade to 10.14.6 or later.
Apple doesn't have them in stock, or doesn't have many in stock. You might find one via other vendors, but just be sure it is the Thunderbolt 3 version (27MD5KL).
The 5K is $1300. There is also an LG 4K display that is $700. It requires 10.14.5 or later.
You could also look into a Thunderbolt 3 -to- DisplayPort cable, though this connection method will not carry power or USB. So you would not be able to charge or run the laptop off the monitor's power supply, nor would you be able to use any USB ports that might be hubbed in the back of a DP-connected monitor.
If you can get a Thunderbolt 3 display that works with your setup, that's likely going to provide the best or most "Mac"-like experience.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 5:48 AM on September 9, 2020
You should be able to use one with your MBP, if you can upgrade to 10.14.6 or later.
Apple doesn't have them in stock, or doesn't have many in stock. You might find one via other vendors, but just be sure it is the Thunderbolt 3 version (27MD5KL).
The 5K is $1300. There is also an LG 4K display that is $700. It requires 10.14.5 or later.
You could also look into a Thunderbolt 3 -to- DisplayPort cable, though this connection method will not carry power or USB. So you would not be able to charge or run the laptop off the monitor's power supply, nor would you be able to use any USB ports that might be hubbed in the back of a DP-connected monitor.
If you can get a Thunderbolt 3 display that works with your setup, that's likely going to provide the best or most "Mac"-like experience.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 5:48 AM on September 9, 2020
Ah yeah I’m remembering now that USB-C itself wasn’t the issue, it was that the USB-C dock I was using had a DisplayPort output that wasn’t the generation of DisplayPort that would do 4K @ 60. I was specifically going for a single-cable solution, which it seems like you might be as well?
posted by supercres at 7:00 AM on September 9, 2020
posted by supercres at 7:00 AM on September 9, 2020
My wife is using a newer MacBook Air with an HP Z27 right now. Based on our own experiments, I can report that the cable you use does make a difference. USB-C can be a confusing mess. Supposedly USB 4 will fix everything.
posted by adamrice at 7:27 AM on September 9, 2020
posted by adamrice at 7:27 AM on September 9, 2020
This thread is closed to new comments.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XT7S2K3/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Before that I used one of these Dell's which I'm 95% sure I ran on High Sierra.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PC9HFO8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
posted by bitdamaged at 5:09 PM on September 8, 2020