iOS engineer loves his triple-5K display, except when he doesn't [Setups]

iOS software engineer Christian Roman has a “love-hate relationship” with his impressive triple 5K display setup.

“It’s fantastic when it works,” he told Cult of Mac. “It’s a nightmare when macOS suddenly decides to stop working with triple screens.”

Roman, who lives in Mexico City and has worked from home for a variety of U.S. clients for almost a decade, said his setup has gone through “many, many iterations” during that time. Like so many people on a quest for the perfect setup, he encountered some road bumps as he pulled together his eye-popping (and ear-pleasing) workstation.

Aside from the occasional screen wonkiness, Roman said he overcame a couple of key challenges. First, he wanted his triple-monitor setup, powered by a 27-inch iMac Pro, to maintain a good layout for his “beloved” KEF LS50W speakers. Second, he wanted an all-space-gray setup.

Judging by the photos, mission accomplished.

For professional-level video calls, Roman uses a Logitech Brio HD webcam with an Elgato Wave:3 USB Condenser Microphone. Standing key lights help him look his best during important virtual meetings.

You know it's a cool setup when a speaker looks like it takes its design straight from Star Wars. — You know it’s a cool setup when a speaker looks like it takes its design straight from *Star Wars.*
Photo: Christian Roman

Likes and dislikes and challenges

Finding the proper monitors to fulfill his triple-screen dreams wasn’t that easy.

“There are almost no 5K monitors in the market,” Roman said. “I still cannot believe there are no proper 5K monitors in 2021.”

But Roman said the real challenge was getting the triple 5K setup to work well.

“I’ve used external Dell 5K monitors, which use dual DisplayPort inputs,” he said. “I had to figure out a way to convert USB-C/Thunderbolt to output 5K signal to dual DisplayPorts. Thankfully, StarTech has an adapter [that] does a good job.”

Special touches

Roman said he recently added a UPS battery backup, calling it a game-changer. With two to three power outages a month where he lives, he said, he needed special gear to protect his development environments, which require 24-7 reliability.

UPS stands for “uninterruptible power supply,” after all. When an outside power supply is cut or fluctuates in level, a UPS automatically provides backup battery power in addition to surge protection.

Roman’s CyberPower CP1500AVRLCD UPS System does the trick.

‘One more thing’ … at some point

Roman said his setup is “quite done” for now — “until M1 proper desktop computers arrive.”

Sounds like the setup is in for a fun upgrade when Roman sees the Apple Silicon-powered rig he likes.

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If you would like to see your setup featured on Cult of Mac, send some high-res pictures to info+setups@cultofmac.com. Please provide a detailed list of your equipment. Tell us what you like or dislike about your setup, and fill us in on any special touches or challenges.