LG UltraFine 5K Build

[nickv2002]

I'm interested in building a Hackintosh to support the new LG UltraFine 5K display. It's on the November Buyers Guide too.

It uses Thunderbolt 3 over a USB C style connection to drive the display over 1 cable along with a USB C Hub, speakers, and a web camera.

What's the recommended CustoMac Pro build that would be needed to use this thing? I'd obviously like to be able to use the speakers/hub/camera too, not just the display.

I realize the right hardware might not be out yet, and the display isn't shipping yet either, but if you have guesses and/or once hardware is shipping, let's try to keep list of compatible hardware here.

Thanks!

 

[LostVector]

Nobody knows. To drive the monitor at 5k, you would need to passthrough 5k from two display ports (whether or not the Alpine Ridge card from Gigabyte can do this is unclear and honestly unlikely) or use the integrated graphics on the off chance they support 5k over dual DisplayPort streams, which they probably don't. Then there's the issue of Thunderbolt 3 not being able to hot swap at all on hack builds. And then there's the fact that 5k is pretty hosed under Sierra on hackintosh's independent of Thunderbolt at all.

In short, probably best to set your sights a little lower.

 

[Fl0r!an]

+1 on this.

It's quite unlikely that any current desktop machine is able to drive the display. It's clearly meant for MacBooks, as the LG lacks any common video inputs (2x DP1.2 or 1x DP1.3).

Personally I wouldn't consider buying this display unless you also get a MBP 2016. The connection options are outdated before this thing even ships.

 

[gts_215i]

+1.

Been trying to do a little research and it appears the Gigabyte Thunderbolt PCIe card is capable of the providing the required 5k output on thunderbolt 3 (not sure of the frequency though).

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=5906&dl=#ov

Two display port 1.2 inputs

 

[LostVector]

+1.

Been trying to do a little research and it appears the Gigabyte Thunderbolt PCIe card is capable of the providing the required 5k output on thunderbolt 3 (not sure of the frequency though).

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=5906&dl=#ov

Two display port 1.2 inputs

The possibility exists but whether or not it works is completely unknown. How do we route both 4k inputs to one TB3 port? Is there a configuration utility? Is there a permanent setting for it? Nobody seems to know how this works.

 

[tonymacx86]

I want to test this! I have the TH3 ports on my build.

The reason we put it in the Buyer's Guide is because it's the first made for Mac display since https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Thunderbolt_Display

 

[nickv2002]

Thanks for all the responses.

Would love to see some tests of the 4K and 5K LG displays once they ship out. I'm patient enough to wait for new hardware to drive them. Hope we can get everything working in the long run.

 

[tonymacx86]

Don't know if you saw, but 9to5Mac posted an unboxing video by MKBHD

https://9to5mac.com/2016/11/23/lg-ultrafine-5k-display-unboxing/

 

[stealmy]

Absolute hot topic - thunderbolt 3 - 5K LG Display.
Mac Pro Build 2017.

 

[Stork]

Drooling...