Enabling 5K resolution for NVIDIA GTX900/1000/Quadro M/P series graphics cards under Windows

If you try to connect 5K display e.g. Apple Studio Display 27" to NVIDIA Maxwell/Pascal based graphics cards series under Windows, it won't run at first, because these models cannot display 5K resolution in Full RGB mode. As a result the display would turn on and off repeatedly. You need to switch the default Full RGB mode to Limited RGB mode to make it working again.

You need two displays, one 4K or lower resolution display and a 5K display. Connect both displays. Please use DisplayPort for 5K display. You can use any other port for the other lower resolution display.

If your main display gets automatically switched to 5K display and you cannot see anything on screen, simply press Windows key (Option key) and P a few times until you see desktop icons on lower resolution screen.

Step 1 Right click on your desktop and choose NVIDIA Control Panel from context menu. If you don't have this option make sure NVIDIA driver is installed. Follow this guide: Installing NVIDIA drivers under Windows.

Step 2 Click Change resolution from side menu.

Step 3 Here you can change settings for your main display (marked with green text). Now click your second display icon.

Step 4 Change the resolution to 3840 x 2160 pixels, then click Use NVIDIA color settings radio button and finally click Apply button.

Step 5 Click Yes button to confirm. Your 5K display will now turn on with full 4K@60Hz resolution and 10-bit color.

Step 6 If you really need 5K resolution, then you need to select 5120 x 2880 pixels from the list and change Output dynamic range from Full to Limited. Again click Apply button, then Yes button to confirm. This will enable 5K@60Hz with 6-bit color. More colors are not possible due to hardware limits.