MacBook Pro M4 with thunderbolt 5 and portable monitor

AndrewBergman wrote:

The particular external display I've been testing with has 2 USB-C ports - I've tried with and without separate power and signal - with the same results. I've been using an Anker 4-port 100W GaN adapter to be able to power multiple devices simultaneously.

Does this monitor have any video input ports other than USB-C ports? I'm wondering if a possible workaround might be to use a HDMI-to-HDMI cable, or a USB-C to (whatever) adapter cable.

This is bad on Apples part to introduce such a bug. This one works well https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/OEM-ODM-16-Inch-Portable-Stackable_1601143930193.html?spm=a2756.order-detail-ta-ta-b.0.0.298cf19cQLxrVK

Are you experiencing any issues when your MacBook goes to sleep mode? Every time my MacBook goes to sleep mode I need to unplug and plug again the USB HUB otherwise the monitors doesn't have signal

Outside of this specific scenario the HUB fixed the issue, good workaround. Thank you

"Are you experiencing any issues when your MacBook goes to sleep mode? Every time my MacBook goes to sleep mode I need to unplug and plug again the USB HUB otherwise the monitors doesn't have signal

Outside of this specific scenario the HUB fixed the issue, good workaround. Thank you."

In reply to GuilhermeSa

Good point. USB and Energy Saver have been at odds since USB was first invented. Energy Saver/Power/Sleep system settings have "put hard drive to sleep" option which can sometimes make the compatibility issues worse. Some hubs docking stations have their own manufacturer firmware update to keep up with USB standards. Ones that are powered by the computer typically are more sensitive than ones with their own AC/DC power adapter. This includes monitors and other devices powered by the computer.

Closing the laptop screen putting it in "Clamshell" mode automatically triggers sleep power levels on the USB of the computer. If people are having issues, look into your devices firmware, and see if you can get a comparable device with its own AC/DC power adapter to avoid issues. Power issues will persist once they begin, until the computer is restart.

I am a day trader. Upon one of my biggest trading days with the 13” M1 MacBook Pro. I decided to go to Best Buy and make an investment I bought a 14” M4Pro MacBook Pro (14 core CPU, 20 core GPU, 24GB RAM & 1TB SSD ) for my desktop since it has a fan I can do more one connected to the portable monitor in my room and I also got a 13” M3 MacBook Air ( 8 core CPU, 10 core GPU, 16GB RAM & 512GB SSD ) as my travel computer since normally when I travel I only use one 2 two websites some times that and 1 app. Tell my why my MacBook Pro just won’t power the monitor it registers for a little second then it disconnects after 9 seconds having the monitor plugged in through the type-c connector. More crazy after spending $2500 on a laptop my $1111 MacBook Air powers it just fine the only problem is that it thermal throttles and it starts to get really hot with the things I do in my office that why I thought the MacBook Pro would be a good fit in my office since I have a black theme going on in my office. But yeah brother I hear you I am really disappointed with the new MacBook Pro

<<. Tell my why my MacBook Pro just won’t power the monitor. It registers for a little second then it disconnects after 9 seconds having the monitor plugged in through the type-c connector. >>

Most users with this issue are using cables that are too long, or are not hi-spec (not necessarily hi-priced) cables.

USB-Cables for this use should have the USB SuperSpeed PLUS logo or the 10 G Bits/sec or 20 G bits/sec logon (or higher) on each end. Ordinary charging-only cables are not good enough.

In addition, the data rates are approaching the limits of switching times for this family of digital logic, and cables over ONE METER experience signal degradation, and the display kicks out.

The Inateck HB2030 hub arrived today, and I tested it by connecting it's USB-C lead to one of the Thunderbolt 5 ports on the back of the M4 Pro Mac Mini, and from the DP USB-C port on the hub to the Arzopa 2.5k 16" portable monitor, using the USB-C cable that was supplied by Arzopa. Sadly, the work around did not work as hoped! Power was delivered to the screen, but not simultaneously with video signal. Curiously, if I then connected the HDMI cable from the HDMI port on the hub to the mini-HDMI input on the portable monitor, then it did work. So the video signal and power coming from the TB5 port did managed to power and supply video, but only when the video was coming through the HDMI port on the hub!!

Your post mentioned the 10Gbps or greater USB-C video/data cable - I am not sure what the cable that was supplied from Arzopa is, but I imagine if it works with a TB3/4 port it should work with this hub also.

Hmm.

Hmm. Well since you mentioned you connected the portable display using the a video/data USB-C cable on the dock's labeled USB-C DP alt port, did you use the built-in USB-C cable on the dock has to go to your Mini?

Maybe try another cable if possible? The dock has DP Alt so that should work without fail I feel like so long it's connected properly.

If this doesn't work, sorry it didn't. I've tried other portable monitors and cables, and it's worked every time. At least Amazon has a generous return policy!

Out of curiously and to test my theory, have you upgraded to 15.0?

I posted a comment just now, but don't know how to link it as I just signed up to post on here the first time because this is frustrating me so much. The gist of it was "I got the m4 Pro upgraded to Sequoia, monitor wouldn't work. After a few days decided to got back to my M1 for the time being, had to update as my last Time Machine was on Sequoia and now even it won't detect the monitor when it was perfect right before hand"

BigSnuffy wrote:

Sorry for the confusion Grant, I seemed to have hijacked dragos's original post with my own different one.

I was just wondering why my M4 Pro Mac mini can't do what my M2 Pro Mac mini does, i.e. power the same 15 inch portable monitor on its own without requiring external power, I'm using the same cable on both. Could it be something to do with the Thunderbolt 5 port.

Here's my understanding of the specifications. I could be wrong.

USB 2.0 – A host port should provide up to 2.5W of 5V power (500mA @ 5V).

USB 3.0 – A host port should provide up to 4.5W of 5V power (900mA @ 5V).

USB-C – Cables should be capable of carrying 15W of power (3A @ 5V), however this requirement in and of itself does not obligate a USB-C host port to provide 15W of power. (If I look at the fine print on the bottom of my 29W Apple USB-C power brick, it says "Output: 14.5V == 2.0A (USB PD) or 5.2V == 2.4A" – that is to say it offers only 12.48W of non-negotiated 5V power, which would be within a generic USB-C cable's safety margin.). If you were to plug a USB accessory that only speaks USB 3.* (not Power Delivery) into a USB-C port, that accessory should not expect to be able to draw more than 4.5W from that port.

USB-C – Power Delivery allows provision of up to 240W of power (5A @ 48V) in either direction – if both devices agree, and the cable has embedded chips to indicate that it is safe to use it for USB-C Power Delivery. (The first version of Power Delivery only supported delivery of up to 100W (5A @ 20V), which is why the 16" M1 {Pro / Max} MBPs can fast-charge over MagSafe 3 but not over USB-C.)

NOTE: If you connect two devices that support USB-C Power Delivery with a USB-C cable that does not, the negotiation of high levels of power delivery should, and likely will, fail. This is a safety precaution to keep you from, say, running 100W of charging power into a laptop over a cable that can only safely handle 15W.

Thunderbolt – On devices that support Thunderbolt 3 and USB4, one Thunderbolt port should provide a minimum of 15W (3A @ 5V) of power; others can provide as little as 7.5W (1.5A @ 5V) of power. I believe that Thunderbolt 4 (and 5) may raise that minimum requirement to 15W (3A @ 5V) on all Thunderbolt ports. A host with Thunderbolt ports may offer more power / higher voltages to accessories (via PD negotiation), but is not required to do so.

I'm not sure if the 15W or 7.5W minimum applies if a port is operating in a NON-Thunderbolt mode, such as USB 3.* mode or DisplayPort Alt Mode.

<<. So I think we all should make some noise so Apple resolves this problem asap. >>

Apple expends engineering money to fix well documented issues that come to it in a complete package through the formal Bug Report process. There should be enough information included in a formal Bug Report package that Apple can replicate the same issue in their laboratories.

Gratuitous 'noise making' in simply not productive. When you make noise HERE, all it does is disturb other Users like you. Apple does not read these forums searching for inspiration -- they are too busy researching formal Bug Reports.

yskandar thaddé wrote:

Because I recently bought my display (one with old firmware) they send me a replacement one which was flashed for the new Mac USB c ports( took a coole of weeks to arrive) And the new display works fine now. This shows that the problem is a software one. That a company as espresso display managed to solve the problem in a couple of weeks after the new MacBook pro’s came on the market and with the right firmware it works perfectly. I think that Apple should react as quick and decisive to solve this problem for their users.

If it took a software update to the external monitor to change the behavior – wouldn't that suggest an issue with the code in the external monitor?

If the other monitors likewise are in need of software fixes, wouldn't that be their manufacturers' responsibility?

If ports are suppose to be reversed compatible and the implementation of it on a MacBook is not why is it anther manufacturers problem to solve it ? Why is not apples responsibility with all there huge team of tech guys and spending a lot of money to solve issues and up till now they only came up with it is “ your problem not mine go buy a new monitor “ At least the vendor (espresso display) try to solve a

pronlem that they did not create as we see in this posts a lot of other vendors tell their customers good luck same as Apple

Fine but the original q was if others are having the same problem and is Is it display , Mac, hardware or sf issue. To quote you new ports should be reversed compatible. A small vendor managed to solve the problem because one user of there display contacted them they identified the problem and solved it wit a firmware update on their side. As you suggest Apple spends huge amounts of money and a big big engendering team to solve problems. Why is it still not solved as many of you guys have contacted Apple support a lot of times ? Apple changed something new port as it took a simple firmware update to make the portable display to work again why can’t apple update their port firmware so their users can go back to their work without having to use a lot of work arounds.

maybe with your knowledge and time spent here can formulate a nice bug report to help your engendering friends who are to busy reading bug reports. And don’t agree with you that Apple does not read or scan these forums. I think they do. Maybe as a representative or as a user community member.

Same experience with the UPERFECT 4K, it’s a good work around and also shows that the Mac is supplying the power the monitor is requesting through the Thunderbolt port. Blows me away that my m3 MacBook Air can provide power and signal over one cable with no issue but my “Pro” grade M4 $3500 juggernaut cannot.