I was not aware this was possible through eGPU until I tried 10.15.4 Beta [19E224g]. My Samsung CHG90 doesn't have high pixel density so it looks terrible. At least we see again .4 release in macOS brings major features. If you have an HDR monitor, give it a try and let us know if you have this "Prefer HDR Mode" in System Preferences > Display.
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2019 13" MacBook Pro [8th,4C,U] + RX 6600 @ 32Gbps-TB3 (CM MasterCase EG200) + macOS 12.1 & Win11 [build link]
I was testing out Usb-C to displayport 1.4 adapters a week ago, partly for a dongle to take in my work bag, but also to see how HDR behaved on an external display connected directly to the Radeon 5500M in my MBPro16. In MacOS 10.15.3, behavior was the same as using the Radeon VII, always starts in SDR mode, occasionally randomly switches to HDR mode if I change the resolution or refresh rate.Â
I was having problems with artifacting on my CRG9, so I borrowed a 2018 iPad Pro, and used the same adapter to see if the artifacting was caused by my mac or the adapter. Had the same artifacting problems, but the display consistently initialized in HDR mode. I went into the settings app and under display, there was an external display setting that let you specify turning HDR or not, so looks like this functionality is being ported to MacOS. I probably won't be installing the beta just for this but looking forward to this feature in the release version. Curious to see if the TV app in 10.15.4 can output iTunes movies/TV Shows in HDR now.
If anyone cares the adapter that had issues with the CRG9 was:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F17ZHJY/
I replaced it, had the same issues with the replacement, spoke to Cable Matters support who were friendly and had me send it back to them for testing.
I ended up buying this one which works perfectly:
2019 16 Macbook Pro + Core v2 + Radeon VII MacOS 10.15.1
Core X Chroma + RTX 2080 Windows 10 1909
Asrock X570 Phantom Gaming ITX/TB3, Ryzen 5 3400G + Core v2 + Radeon VII Win10 1909
2020 13" Razer Blade Stealth (GTX1650Ti) [11th,4C,G] + RTX 2080 @ 32Gbps-TB4 (Razer Core X Chroma) + Win10 20H2 // inc Radeon VII & 4xGPU concurrent benchmarks [build link]
@ningauble77, Â That says a lot about Apple's priorities these days. I checked with the 2019 13-in MacBook Pro Intel Iris Plus Graphics 655 iGPU and it has HDR support too with compatible monitors.
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2019 13" MacBook Pro [8th,4C,U] + RX 6600 @ 32Gbps-TB3 (CM MasterCase EG200) + macOS 12.1 & Win11 [build link]
Am looking forward to this
What version of HDR is supported?
Mac Mini 2018 3.2 Ghz 6 cores
Razer Core X enclosure with Sapphire Vega 64 Nitro
Benq PD2720U
I updated to 10.15.4. Beta 3 [] today and the HDR option has a small revision in System Preferences.
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@itsage, this looks really exciting!
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Does the monitor recognises it and how does it look?
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If we are lucky next week we have the final as typically there is no beta 4
Â
Mac Mini 2018 3.2 Ghz 6 cores
Razer Core X enclosure with Sapphire Vega 64 Nitro
Benq PD2720U
@massimo_franzese, Yes it seems more polished. Output quality would depend on the panels themselves. My Samsung CHG90 looks washed out in HDR mode while the Acer Predator XB3 looks amazing. Not to ignore your earlier question about HDR version but I'm not sure how to check for that besides the manufacturer specs.Â
Â
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• external graphics card builds
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2019 13" MacBook Pro [8th,4C,U] + RX 6600 @ 32Gbps-TB3 (CM MasterCase EG200) + macOS 12.1 & Win11 [build link]
If it shows as HDR it recognises HLG otherwise only HDR-10
Mac Mini 2018 3.2 Ghz 6 cores
Razer Core X enclosure with Sapphire Vega 64 Nitro
Benq PD2720U
@itsage, The HDR option is only available if the display is HDR? My HP Z31x is not HDR but has a magnificent IPS Pro panel, the same of the Eizo CG319x. It would surely profit from some increased dynamic range, but it has no HDR certification per se.
Â
Mac Mini 2018 i7 16 GB 512 GB SSD, Mac Book Pro 2016, HP Z31x, Sonnet Breakaway Box 550 W, Nitro+ RX5700 XT, KFA2 SNPR 1060 6GB eGPU,...
@massimo_franzese, Yes it seems more polished. Output quality would depend on the panels themselves. My Samsung CHG90 looks washed out in HDR mode while the Acer Predator XB3 looks amazing. Not to ignore your earlier question about HDR version but I'm not sure how to check for that besides the manufacturer specs.Â
Â
No experience yet with HDR support in MacOS, but my CRG9 has similar issues in Windows with HDR content. Â Some games look great/normal (No Man's Sky, Forza Horizon 4), others look washed out (Hellblade Senua's Sacrifice). Â Can't make Netflix work in HDR mode, but youtube HDR content looks great in windows. Â People have been complaining about this to Samsung since the CRG9 first came out but no real answers have been forthcoming. Â When I plugged an iPad Pro into it, everything was washed out. Â
2019 16 Macbook Pro + Core v2 + Radeon VII MacOS 10.15.1
Core X Chroma + RTX 2080 Windows 10 1909
Asrock X570 Phantom Gaming ITX/TB3, Ryzen 5 3400G + Core v2 + Radeon VII Win10 1909
2020 13" Razer Blade Stealth (GTX1650Ti) [11th,4C,G] + RTX 2080 @ 32Gbps-TB4 (Razer Core X Chroma) + Win10 20H2 // inc Radeon VII & 4xGPU concurrent benchmarks [build link]