5120 x 1440 on a 2019 Macbook Pro 13'' .... How to achieve? Possible?

[broski7]

I've got a 2019 Macbook Pro 13'' and have it plugged into a 49" CRG9 Dual QHD Curved QLED Gaming Monitor (model number LC49RG90SSNXZA). I am using the one and only cable that Apple sells on its own website by Moshi that is capable of 5K resolution.

My Macbook Pro can only get the display to 3840 x 1080. I don't get an option for its native resolution of 5120 x 1440.

Apple's website states that the 2019 Macbook Pro 13'' can achieve one display with 5120‑by‑2880 resolution at 60Hz. I am unable to achieve anywhere near that and max out at 3840 x 1080.

The monitor can achieve its full resolution with no issues on a Macbook Pro 16'' and a windows machine. I have confirmed both by plugging it in and using the same cable I use on my 13'' Macbook Pro 2019.

Does anyone know if this is achievable and/or possible? Is Apple's spec sheet lying about its capabilities? I've tried those override apps for selecting custom resolutions and all that does is scale to the resolution and makes everything look horrible.

Have anyone else had luck with this? Any suggestions?

 

[Lifeisabeach]

This likely has to do with the unconventional dimensions of that monitor. It's basically a pair of conventional widescreen displays merged as one double-wide. There's a discussion on Reddit where someone pointed out that the MacBook "only supports up to that 5k res as long as you only have ONE MONITOR PLUGGED IN."
5120 x 1440 on a 2019 Macbook Pro 13'''''' .... How to achieve? : applehelp

There's another discussion on MacRumors about it.
How Do I Get 5120x1440 Resolution on Macbook Pro? | MacRumors Forums

 

[broski7]

This likely has to do with the unconventional dimensions of that monitor. It's basically a pair of conventional widescreen displays merged as one double-wide. There's a discussion on Reddit where someone pointed out that the MacBook "only supports up to that 5k res as long as you only have ONE MONITOR PLUGGED IN."
5120 x 1440 on a 2019 Macbook Pro 13'''''' .... How to achieve? : applehelp

There's another discussion on MacRumors about it.
How Do I Get 5120x1440 Resolution on Macbook Pro? | MacRumors Forums

Neither of these links help me. I'm not sure if it having 'unconventional dimensions' is the issue. It works fine on a 16'' Macbook Pro and a windows machine.

 

[Lifeisabeach]

Neither of these links help me. I'm not sure if it having 'unconventional dimensions' is the issue. It works fine on a 16'' Macbook Pro and a windows machine.

They aren't supposed to help you, but point out that this isn't an isolated problem. But let's analyze it further. Here's what EveryMac has to say about the 13" 2019 MBP:
*In addition to simultaneous support of the internal display, this model supports a single external display up to 5120x2880 at 60Hz at over a billion color, up to two displays up to 4096x2304 at 60Hz at millions of colors, or up to two displays up to 3840x2160 at 60Hz at over a billion colors via Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C).

And the 16" MBP:
*In addition to simultaneous support of the internal display, this model supports a maximum resolution up to 6016x3384 at 60 Hz at over a billion colors on up to two external displays or up to 4096x2304 resolution at 60 Hz at over a billion colors on up to four external displays via Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C).

See the difference? The 13" can drive 2 external displays at a reduced resolution while the 16" can drive 2 displays at 6k each. So it's no small wonder the 16" MBP can handle that monitor. That monitor is effectively 2 displays and the 13" MBP is driving it as best as it is capable of.

 

[broski7]

So here's what EveryMac has to say about the 13" 2019 MBP:
*In addition to simultaneous support of the internal display, this model supports a single external display up to 5120x2880 at 60Hz at over a billion color, up to two displays up to 4096x2304 at 60Hz at millions of colors, or up to two displays up to 3840x2160 at 60Hz at over a billion colors via Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C).

And the 16" MBP:
*In addition to simultaneous support of the internal display, this model supports a maximum resolution up to 6016x3384 at 60 Hz at over a billion colors on up to two external displays or up to 4096x2304 resolution at 60 Hz at over a billion colors on up to four external displays via Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C).

See the difference? The 13" can drive 2 external displays at a reduced resolution while the 16" can drive 2 displays at 6k each. So it's no small wonder the 16" MBP can handle that monitor. That monitor is effectively 2 displays and the 13" MBP is driving it as best as it is capable of.

I'm not sure we're on the same page. It's one monitor. The resolution of the monitor is 5120x1440. The 13" Macbook Pro 2019 can support 5120x2880. 5120x2880 is bigger than 5120x1440. My Macbook Pro cannot achieve 5120x1440 even though it's spec sheet indicates it can support up to 5120x2880. I don't think this is a situation of 'the monitor appearing as two monitors' because, it's one monitor. A monitor that has a lower resolution than the max resolution output.

What gives?

 

[Lifeisabeach]

I'm not sure we're on the same page. It's one monitor. The resolution of the monitor is 5120x1440. The 13" Macbook Pro 2019 can support 5120x2880. 5120x2880 is bigger than 5120x1440. My Macbook Pro cannot achieve 5120x1440 even though it's spec sheet indicates it can support up to 5120x2880. I don't think this is a situation of 'the monitor appearing as two monitors' because, it's one monitor. A monitor that has a lower resolution than the max resolution output.

What gives?

The specs may be slightly simplified and failing to elaborate that a specific aspect ratio is required to meet that resolution support. Or, in order for that monitor to work with those dimensions, perhaps the internal hardware has the workings of 2 monitors but doing some technical magic to make it display as if one. I don't know enough about the inner workings to explain it, but I guarantee you it's not as simplistic as you see it. It doesn't work for you. It doesn't work for others. Debating about the specifics isn't going to make it start working. If you feel Apple is misleading you about what your MBP is supposed to support, then feel free to call and ask them, then let us know what they have to say.

 

[Lifeisabeach]

One last note.... even Samsung refers to it as a "Dual QHD Display". It's a dual monitor, even though it looks like one.
49 inch CRG9 Dual QHD Curved QLED Gaming Monitor Monitors - LC49RG90SSNXZA | Samsung US

Look at the product photos further down the page. It can literally be used as 2 separate monitors.

 

[Slydude]

This is just a guess but I think you're right LB. Even though we see the monitor as one screen, the computer seems to see it as two different monitors.

 

[Lifeisabeach]

This is just a guess but I think you're right LB. Even though we see the monitor as one screen, the computer seems to see it as two different monitors.

Yeah, once I found that product photo that I linked to, there's no question to it. It has inputs so that two different devices can each use one "half" of the display. It's definitely 2 monitors posing as one. I gotta be honest... I kinda want one now.

 

[ferrarr]

I'm not sure we're on the same page. It's one monitor. The resolution of the monitor is 5120x1440. The 13" Macbook Pro 2019 can support 5120x2880. 5120x2880 is bigger than 5120x1440. My Macbook Pro cannot achieve 5120x1440 even though it's spec sheet indicates it can support up to 5120x2880. I don't think this is a situation of 'the monitor appearing as two monitors' because, it's one monitor. A monitor that has a lower resolution than the max resolution output.

What gives?

I believe the Mac, will only operate at the smallest "common" dimension. Since the MacBook will support the 5120x2880, but the monitor will not support the 2880, it stands to reason, the 1440 is the max the MBP will support, for that monitor.

 

[Slydude]

Yeah, once I found that product photo that I linked to, there's no question to it. It has inputs so that two different devices can each use one "half" of the display. It's definitely 2 monitors posing as one. I gotta be honest... I kinda want one now.

Put one in your cart for me. You can consider it my early birthday / Christmas present.