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I have a Mid 2015 Macbook pro.

It is currently connected to two 1080p external monitors (I don't use the built in display).

I am thinking of upgrading to two 4k external monitors - I use my macbook pro as a big Terminal server for development - all the processing is done externally on the cloud or on a virtualization box I have sitting next to my macbook pro.

Question: Can my macbook pro handle the 4k displays

I have noted a significant degradation in performance of late with all the Zoom and similar apps I have to use in this new world of virtual teams.

Detailes Specs

  1. MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)
  2. 2.8GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 (Turbo Boost up to 4.0GHz) with 6MB shared L3 cache.
  3. 2.5GHz - 512GB Intel Iris Pro Graphics
  4. AMD Radeon R9 M370X with 2GB of GDDR5 memory and automatic graphics switching
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  • 1
    Is it a 15" or 13" MBP, what are the exact specs?
    – X_841
    May 19, 2021 at 6:19
  • Hi, thanks,MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) 2.8GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 (Turbo Boost up to 4.0GHz) with 6MB shared L3 cache. 2.5GHz - 512GB Intel Iris Pro Graphics AMD Radeon R9 M370X with 2GB of GDDR5 memory and automatic graphics switching May 19, 2021 at 8:23

1 Answer 1

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EveryMac.com reports that:

This model can support a single external display up to 5120x2160 at 60 Hz via Thunderbolt 2. Via HDMI video output, it can support 1080p up to 60 Hz, 3840x2160 at 30 Hz, and 4096x2160 at 24 Hz.

So you could have one 4K via Thunderbolt and one 4K via HDMI.

Two 4K displays are at least within spec, but whether it can 'handle' them, in terms of heat generation/dissipation and performance load, while performing other tasks, remains to be seen. (Discrete GPUs on MacBook Pros have a chequered history in terms of reliability.)

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  • I wonder if I should upgrade to a 2018 model? May 19, 2021 at 12:49
  • @user1172468 As Apple continues its roll-out of its own ARM models, old Intel models are certainly going to become cheaper, though whether they represent a good investment is debatable.
    – benwiggy
    May 19, 2021 at 14:14
  • I just plunked 2k on a 2028 model 32GB with Apple Care+ a i9 -- I think inflation is pushing up prices in COVID -- and there was 1 machine that had those specs on eBay in that price range (with a buy it now) -- sometimes I just don't get this apple cult - I was hoping to switch to something else but giving up religions is hard May 20, 2021 at 6:03

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