NUC 12 Extreme and LG/Apple 5k displays

[MMUK]

Hi there,

Just wondering if it's technically possible connect the LG UltraFine 5k Thunderbolt display to the NUC 12 Extreme at full 5k resolution (and ideally 10-bit colour too)?

I believe the LG UltraFine 5k (at least my 1st gen one) requires the Thunderbolt output on the computer to support two DisplayPort 1.2 signals (which are then "stitched together" by the display). Is this supported by the NUC 12 Extreme? (This page doesn't make clear the situation for two displays connected via a single Thunderbolt port: https://www.intel.co.uk/content/www/uk/en/support/articles/000089927/intel-nuc.html) 

Also can the NUC 12 Extreme be used with the new 5k Apple Studio display?

For both displays, perhaps it would be possible to use a PCIe Thunderbolt expansion card (see method 3 here: https://justin.searls.co/posts/connecting-a-gaming-pc-to-apple-studio-display/ ). Can such a PCIe Thunderbolt expansion card be used in a NUC 12 Extreme (and is there a suitable "open USB header")?

Interested in your thoughts.

BR,

Mark

[DeividA_Intel]

Hello MMUK,  

Thank you for posting on the Intel® communities. I understand that you have some questions about the display configuration for your NUC. 

In order to better assist you, please provide the following:  

1. What is the exact brand and model name of your NUC?

2. What is the exact brand and model name of the 2 displays that you want to use? If possible, provide links.

Regards,  

Deivid A.  

Intel Customer Support Technician

[MMUK]

Hi David,

I am in the market for a PC so am trying to understand compatibility with my existing LG UltraFine 5k display and potential upgrade to Apple Studio 5k display. I do like 27" 5k displays - they are amazing. I am looking at the NUC 12 Extreme or any Raptor Lake successor (will probably purchase later this year). But if it doesn't support 27" 5k displays like the two mentioned somehow I'll have to go another route (e.g. big box PC rather than NUC). (I also use Macs as you might have guessed and they are fully compatible with these displays.) 

Displays are:

https://www.lg.com/uk/monitors/lg-27MD5KL (was sold by Apple as well. I have 1st edition which is Thunderbolt only, no USB-C Alt Mode support)

https://www.apple.com/uk/studio-display/ (effectively Apple's replacement for the LG released recently)

BR,

Mark

[DeividA_Intel]

Hello MMUK, 

Thank you for the information provided 

I will proceed to check the issue internally and post back soon with more details.

Best regards, 

Deivid A.  

Intel Customer Support Technician 

[DeividA_Intel]

Hello MMUK, 

Thanks for your patience. Based on the investigation I would like to inform you that one Thunderbolt port can reach 8K@60Hz, if you use a Thunderbolt dock on one Thunderbolt port to connect 2 displays, it might reach 4K@60 for each monitor.

Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Regards,  

Deivid A.  

Intel Customer Support Technician  

[MMUK]

Hi David,

Thanks for this. I think what you are saying is that one of the Thunderbolt ports can support two video streams of DisplayPort 1.4/HBR2? (See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DisplayPort#Refresh_frequency_limits_for_common_resolutions )

Is this a reasonable interpretation of your comment?

I think basically I would need to find a way to test with the monitors anyway.

BR,

Mark

[DeividA_Intel]

Hello MMUK, 

Thanks for your response. Before we continue further, I would like to confirm some details. When you mentioned "can support two video streams of DisplayPort 1.4/HBR2", do you mean that when both monitors are connected to one Thunderbolt port, each monitor will support Display port 1.2 or Display Port 1.4?

Regards,  

Deivid A.  

Intel Customer Support Technician  

[MMUK]

Hi there,

Thanks for this. No I mean the LG display connects via a single Thunderbolt connection and consumes *two* DisplayPort 1.2 streams (as if it were two monitors), one for each half of the display.

This allows 5K resolution (and 10 bit colour) to be supported without compression.

BR,

Mark

[DeividA_Intel]

Hello MMUK, 

Thanks for the confirmation. Theoretically, if you connect "two" monitors using one port, it allows each monitor to run at 4K@60MHz. With that information is fair to assume that your statement is true.

If you have any further questions, just let me know.

Regards,  

Deivid A.  

Intel Customer Support Technician  

[DeividA_Intel]

Hello MMUK,  

After checking your thread, I would like to know if you need further assistance. 

If so, please let me know. 

Regards,  

Deivid A.  

Intel Customer Support Technician  

[MMUK]

Hi David,

Thanks, I think the only way to really check compatibility will be to try it. I'm also interested to see if you bring out a Raptor Lake version of the NUC Extreme as this might also include DisplayPort 2.0 support and maybe even DisplayPort inputs to route discrete graphics through the Thunderbolt port. Thanks for your help though.

Feel free to close this.

BR,

Mark

[DeividA_Intel]

Hello MMUK, 

Thanks for your response. I will proceed to close this thread as you mentioned, however, you can open a new one in case you encounter any issue with our products or if you have any questions.

Regards,  

Deivid A.  

Intel Customer Support Technician