Question 1

is this Apple compatible or not!?

Accepted Answer

This monitor has a multitude of inputs including displayport. Most recent Mac computers utilize thunderbolt, the thunderbolt and mini displayport connectors are one in the same. If you hook a mini display port to full size display port cable up to the monitor and your Mac using the thunderbolt port this will work fine. Part of what thunderbolt is carrying is the displayport signal.

Question 2

One of your older models had a calibration unit built in. Does this one?

Accepted Answer

Mine came with a calibration unit - not built in but supplied. But note, USA LG will/can not provide any support: 1) they didn't know the unit was included when I ask before purchase, 2) before purchase they swore I could not buy one in the US, 3) after purchase LG tech support passed a question I asked to LG business equipment who passed it to business marketing who passed it to Korea techs who more or less were too busy to be bothered. It's a good monitor if you are doing PhotoShop sorts of things; it's mediocre if you want to game. It's not great, as delivered, for web surfing, etc. The sRGB mode makes darks way too dark - right for photos but not for everyday use. You will need to make your own "everyday" profile. The monitor modes other than sRGB are not for everyday use either.

Question 3

What is the refresh rate?

Accepted Answer

5ms is fast enough for 120hz but not quite 240hz

From 120hz dot net forum:

60hz is 16.67ms/frame
120hz is 8.33ms/frame

That 8.33/16.67 is the total time it takes for the screen to refresh.

The pixel response time is the amount of time it takes (on average) for the pixels to change color state.

If the pixel response time is slower than the screen refresh time (I.e., higher than 8.33/16.67ms) then you're in trouble because a new frame is starting to refresh before the pixel transitions of the last frame had time to finish.

Even if your pixel response time is faster (I.e., less than) 8.33ms/16.67) you can still have pixel persistence (motion blur). As I understand from Mark of BlurBusters, you ideally want a pixel response time that is faster than HALF the time it takes for the screen to refresh. I.e., on a 120hz monitor, half of 8.33ms or ideally even less. This halfway point is apparently the point at which visible motion blur from pixel persistence is no longer significant, especially to other sources of motion blur like the human eye's interaction with sample and hold monitors.

Which is why, I suppose, native 120hz TN displays tend to always be rated as having 1-4ms response time. The higher the refresh rate, the faster your response time needs to be in order to stave off motion blur from pixel persistence.

Given that the snappiesy IPS/PLS panels still have clearly more than 4ms response time, they do have more noticeable motion blur at 120hz than native 120 TN panel with 1-4ms response time has.

Question 4

Does connecting the Thunderbolt port connect the Mac/Macbook to the USB 3.0 Ports?

Accepted Answer

Not on this model.   This model has a USB 3.0 A/B cable and dock that you can plug in to use the 3 USB 3.0 ports.   The more expensive model will work as a thunderbolt dock; however for the price and utility, I opted for an external thunderbolt dock (OWC Thunderbolt Dock comes with ethernet and dedicated high amp ports for charging).

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