Display scaling

[hidepp]

Hi,

I'm running Big Sur 11.4 on a Macbook Air M1.

I use an external monitor (Dell P2418D) whose native resolution is 2560x1440. I can use the monitor properly on any computer and any OS, but can't make it work as it should on this Macbook, as the display scaling options aren't appearing.

When I plug in the monitor, it detects and System Preferences show its native resolution just fine. But the scaling options appear only for the internal display, not the external one. So everything is too small small, as this display was meant to be used in a 1.25x scaling at least.

So I can only use a lower resolution, which makes everything blurry, or keep the native resolution where everything is too small. How can I force the display scaling option?

Already tried SwitchResX, RDM and the plist file with the EDIDs, but looks like none of these settings work on M1.

 

[Roykatz]

I Have the (almost)same issue but mine is a Dell P2719HC and the Scaling, for me, ruins the whole experience.. everything is way way too big and you can't do nothing from the displays menu.. I'm really thinking about returning the monitor and take a different one..

Hi,

I'm running Big Sur 11.4 on a Macbook Air M1.

I use an external monitor (Dell P2418D) whose native resolution is 2560x1440. I can use the monitor properly on any computer and any OS, but can't make it work as it should on this Macbook, as the display scaling options aren't appearing.

When I plug in the monitor, it detects and System Preferences show its native resolution just fine. But the scaling options appear only for the internal display, not the external one. So everything is too small small, as this display was meant to be used in a 1.25x scaling at least.

So I can only use a lower resolution, which makes everything blurry, or keep the native resolution where everything is too small. How can I force the display scaling option?

Already tried SwitchResX, RDM and the plist file with the EDIDs, but looks like none of these settings work on M1.

 

[gilby101]

I use an external monitor (Dell P2418D) whose native resolution is 2560x1440.

I Have the (almost)same issue but mine is a Dell P2719HC

Both those low resolution monitors will have problems as a Mac screen. Scaling is painful (unacceptable) for "non-retina" screens so that they have to be used at their native resolution and that is the wrong size for text with macOS. You need a screen with about 110 pixels per inch (about 0.23 mm pixel pitch) for text to look right. The Dell P2719HC has a pixel pitch of 0.33 mm so everything looks way too big.

For a low resolution monitor you need something like a 27" 1440 lines or 21" 1080 lines.

At higher resolution (e.g. 4K monitor) non-integer scaling is acceptable for many purposes. But will look best and text be the right size with about 220 pixels per inch (about 0.114 mm pixel pitch) and a scaling factor of exactly 2. It is not a surprise that 27" iMacs have 5K screens and the new 24" have 4.5K - both are close to 220 ppi.

If possible return the monitors as not having the right pixel size for macOS.

 

[Roykatz]

Both those low resolution monitors will have problems as a Mac screen. Scaling is painful (unacceptable) for "non-retina" screens so that they have to be used at their native resolution and that is the wrong size for text with macOS. You need a screen with about 110 pixels per inch (about 0.23 mm pixel pitch) for text to look right. The Dell P2719HC has a pixel pitch of 0.33 mm so everything looks way too big.

For a low resolution monitor you need something like a 27" 1440 lines or 21" 1080 lines.

At higher resolution (e.g. 4K monitor) non-integer scaling is acceptable for many purposes. But will look best and text be the right size with about 220 pixels per inch (about 0.114 mm pixel pitch) and a scaling factor of exactly 2. It is not a surprise that 27" iMacs have 5K screens and the new 24" have 4.5K - both are close to 220 ppi.

If possible return the monitors as not having the right pixel size for macOS.

First of all - thank you for your reply!
Second, let me see if I got you right;
If I get another monitor 24’ or 27’ that has a 123 DPI / 0.205 mm pixel pitch - I should be good with the scaling. Is that right?

 

[Amethyst1]

If I get another monitor 24’ or 27’ that has a 123 DPI / 0.205 mm pixel pitch

2560×1440 on 27" is about 109 ppi which is decent.

2560×1440 on 24" is 123 ppi which might be too small for you.

(And you won't get any scaling options - you need a 4K or higher-resolution monitor for these. )

 

[gilby101]

If I get another monitor 24’ or 27’ that has a 123 DPI / 0.205 mm pixel pitch - I should be good with the scaling. Is that right?

Scaling is not a good option for low resolution monitors - too blurry. With 123 ppi and no scaling, text will be a little small, but may be acceptable. It will be better close to 110 ppi. So:

27" 2560x1440 (like old 27" iMacs).
24" As far as I am aware 24" monitors do not have ~110 ppi and so are not ideal for text size on a Mac.

 

[Roykatz]

Scaling is not a good option for low resolution monitors - too blurry. With 123 ppi and no scaling, text will be a little small, but may be acceptable. It will be better close to 110 ppi. So:

27" 2560x1440 (like old 27" iMacs).
24" As far as I am aware 24" monitors do not have ~110 ppi and so are not ideal for text size on a Mac.

will this monitor be a good pick?

LG 27UL550-W 27" 16:9 4K HDR FreeSync IPS Gaming Monitor

Buy LG 27UL550-W 27" 16:9 4K HDR FreeSync IPS Gaming Monitor featuring In-Plane Switching (IPS) Panel, HDMI | DisplayPort Inputs, 3840 x 2160 4K UHD Resolution, 1000:1 Static Contrast Ratio, 300 cd/m² Brightness, 178°/178° Viewing Angles, 5 ms Response Time (GtG), 60 Hz Refresh Rate, 1.07...

www.bhphotovideo.com

 

[gilby101]

will this monitor be a good pick?

LG 27UL550-W 27" 16:9 4K HDR FreeSync IPS Gaming Monitor

Buy LG 27UL550-W 27" 16:9 4K HDR FreeSync IPS Gaming Monitor featuring In-Plane Switching (IPS) Panel, HDMI | DisplayPort Inputs, 3840 x 2160 4K UHD Resolution, 1000:1 Static Contrast Ratio, 300 cd/m² Brightness, 178°/178° Viewing Angles, 5 ms Response Time (GtG), 60 Hz Refresh Rate, 1.07...

www.bhphotovideo.com

Any 4K monitor will be capable of non-integer scaling though 163 ppi is not ideal - sitting right in the middle of 110 or 220 ppi. I don't know how good that will look with a Mac and text the 'right' size. And what is good is very subjective with 4K and Macs.

I hope someone else may comment.

You will always do better with a 5K 27", but the cost is nasty.

 

[Amethyst1]

Or a ~24" 4K scaled to 2304×1296 which "simulates" around 111 ppi. One of my monitors is set up like that and I love it. Problem is: all ~24" 4K monitors/panels have been discontinued - all but one apparently.

A 4K 24 inch matte "Retina" Display does exist, and I just bought one! [Review]

I have been on the hunt for a 4K 24 inch monitor, and finally I found one! The Electriq Eiq-244kMHDR. It has a light matte AG coating, 10 bit IPS panel, 300 nits, and costs £140 ($190). Text looks ultra-smooth like a printed page on this screen! It works perfectly with my Mac and is detected...

forums.macrumors.com

Disclaimer: I've no personal experience with this monitor.

 

[Roykatz]

Okay I got a quick question and I would love your opinion:
Tomorrow morning I need to get a new monitor. I’m planning on buying a 24’ with 2560x1440 . If I end up picking a 27’ display and not 24’, what would be the right resolution in order to get the same scaling as a 24’ 2560x1440?

 

[Amethyst1]

If I end up picking a 27’ display and not 24’, what would be the right resolution in order to get the same scaling as a 24’ 2560x1440?

27" 3840×2160 scaled to 3008×1692 is 128 ppi. Close (enough?) to the 123 of the 24" 2560×1440. There's nothing in between at 27": it's either 2560×1440 or 3840×2160.

 

[gilby101]

I’m planning on buying a 24’ with 2560x1440

That is an unusual resolution for a Mac. Text will look a bit small. But if that is fine with with you, go for it.

With low resolution monitor (not 4K or similar) and to get standard sized text you need a monitor with about 110 pixels per inch. So it would be more usual to get a 27" 2560x1440. There isn't a 24" monitor with 110 ppi.

 

[Amethyst1]

There isn't a 24" monitor with 110 ppi.

A 24" 2304×1440 monitor would be great. 113 ppi and, more importantly, 16:10.

 

[fluxtransistor]

Saying that this resolution "doesn't work with a Mac" is just wrong, the Mac just uses 1x scaling as it does not recognize the screen as Retina.

In order to activate "retina mode" on an external screen, and have 2x scaling at 2K or 4K resolutions, download the free utility called RDM.

 

[fluxtransistor]

Even the built-in display of an MBP/MBA has a resolution of 2560x1600, leading to a very large pixel density. What the "scaling options" do is that they render the UI at the same dots per inch as a lower resolution like 1280x800, but four times the pixels.