I'd rather go with an implementation similar to this over on LAVA. It is called a Virtual MCLB. It basically just loads the data that is being shown into the table, and nothing else. This allows for doing things like setting cell color and font without having to do it for the whole table all at once.
https://lavag.org/topic/15289-virtual-multicolumn-listbox/
There is room for improvements of course, but this could be turned into a QControl pretty easily so that it is easier to use.
It looks like the Virtual MCLB is a viable option for the OP. Attached is a modified version of the LAVA code.
The 2D array was changed to strings and the updates are done in a consumer loop.
A data simulator feature was added to test the operation at speed.
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Founding (and only) member of AUITA - the Anti UI Thread Association.
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