How to change aspect ratio? Pro 14

[SneakyElephant]

Hi,

Is there any way to change the aspect ratio on this macbook pro 14? Please don't give me that generic System Preferences > Display answer because that doesn't actually help with anything. Any games I try to run here, I only get that single 1512x982 resolution option so bits of both lateral sides are shown cut off. It seems insane to me that I'd have to pay extra dollars again for a software that would do just that after spending some for USB adaptors that weren't included with the laptop.

 

[joevt]

Can you add scaled modes using SwitchResX that have the aspect ratio that you want?

 

[SneakyElephant]

Can you add scaled modes using SwitchResX that have the aspect ratio that you want?

Sorry, kinda new to the whole mac thing. Where can I find SwitchResX?

 

[joevt]

Sorry, kinda new to the whole mac thing. Where can I find SwitchResX?

Type SwitchResX into a Safari window (the Address and Search text field). Press return. It does a google search. The top item is where to go. Click Download. Or go here: https://www.madrau.com/srx_download/download.html
Click the green arrow in the picture. It downloads and decompresses automatically, producing an app named "SwitchResX Installer.app". Open that to install. It installs a preferences pane in System Preferences.app. Clicking the preference pane launches the SwitchResX.app. It has a User Manual in the Help menu.

 

[SneakyElephant]

Type SwitchResX into a Safari window (the Address and Search text field). Press return. It does a google search. The top item is where to go. Click Download. Or go here: https://www.madrau.com/srx_download/download.html
Click the green arrow in the picture. It downloads and decompresses automatically, producing an app named "SwitchResX Installer.app". Open that to install. It installs a preferences pane in System Preferences.app. Clicking the preference pane launches the SwitchResX.app. It has a User Manual in the Help menu.

I get nothing but 16:10 aspect ratios from there...

 

[DeltaMac]

You are connecting to an external monitor?
If you have mirroring turned on, you are restricted to the settings on the internal screen. Change the settings on one screen, and both are affected. If the aspect ration is different, you will get black bars on one screen.
You need to turn mirroring off - then you can set the external display for your preference.

 

[SneakyElephant]

You are connecting to an external monitor?
If you have mirroring turned on, you are restricted to the settings on the internal screen. Change the settings on one screen, and both are affected. If the aspect ration is different, you will get black bars on one screen.
You need to turn mirroring off - then you can set the external display for your preference.

No external monitors, I'm trying to switch aspect ratio for this plain new laptop, that's it.

 

[joevt]

I get nothing but 16:10 aspect ratios from there...

Did you create the scaled resolution? What dimensions did you choose? Show a screenshot or something.

 

[SneakyElephant]

Did you create the scaled resolution? What dimensions did you choose? Show a screenshot or something.

Where do I customize one, under SwitchResX Preferences > Color LCD > Scaled Resolution Base? How do I apply that setting once I put in 1980x1080? I don't have any import option.

 

[SneakyElephant]

Maybe not 1920x1080 but any other reso with a 16:9 ratio that is closer to this one.

Edit: resol. number correction

 

[joevt]

Where do I customize one, under SwitchResX Preferences > Color LCD > Scaled Resolution Base? How do I apply that setting once I put in 1980x1080? I don't have any import option.

Read the User Guide from the Help menu.
Click "Custom Resolutions". Click [+]. Select "Scaled Resolution". Enter the horizontal and vertical values. Click Ok. Press Command-S to Save. Click "Activate Immediately".

 

[SneakyElephant]

Read the User Guide from the Help menu.
Click "Custom Resolutions". Click [+]. Select "Scaled Resolution". Enter the horizontal and vertical values. Click Ok. Press Command-S to Save. Click "Activate Immediately".

Well thanks, finally got the 16:9 thing going!

 

[joevt]

Well thanks, finally got the 16:9 thing going!

What scaled resolution did you choose?

 

[SneakyElephant]

What scaled resolution did you choose?

1920x1080 is what I went with.

 

[joevt]

1920x1080 is what I went with.

That's a low res mode. I suppose for gaming it would give higher frame rates.
You could add a 3840x2160 scaled mode to enable a HiDPI 1920x1080 mode. For games it would behave as 3840x2160.
Other options:
2560x1440
3008x1692
etc.

Actually, you have a MacBook Pro 14". It has a 3024x1964 display. So the best 16:9 ratio would be 3024x1701. It would give a HiDPI mode of 1512x850 (but HiDPI modes don't matter for gaming).

 

[SneakyElephant]

That's a low res mode. I suppose for gaming it would give higher frame rates.
You could add a 3840x2160 scaled mode to enable a HiDPI 1920x1080 mode. For games it would behave as 3840x2160.
Other options:
2560x1440
3008x1692
etc.

Actually, you have a MacBook Pro 14". It has a 3024x1964 display. So the best 16:9 ratio would be 3024x1701. It would give a HiDPI mode of 1512x850 (but HiDPI modes don't matter for gaming).

Actually 3024x1701 shows as "Not active... - invalid?" after reboot.

 

[joevt]

Actually 3024x1701 shows as "Not active... - invalid?" after reboot.

Maybe it needs to be even? 3024x1702?

 

[SneakyElephant]

Maybe it needs to be even? 3024x1702?

That one does show as active but doesn't appear in the current resolutions list though. Not sure why.

 

[joevt]

That one does show as active but doesn't appear in the current resolutions list though. Not sure why.

There should be two modes for each scaled resolution. For 3024x1702, there's a 3024x1702 low resolution mode and a 1512x851 HiDPI mode.
Show us a list of modes using this:
https://gist.github.com/joevt/e862b0088ef58b9144877d01401bcee8
Or this:
#177

 

[SneakyElephant]

There should be two modes for each scaled resolution. For 3024x1702, there's a 3024x1702 low resolution mode and a 1512x851 HiDPI mode.
Show us a list of modes using this:
https://gist.github.com/joevt/e862b0088ef58b9144877d01401bcee8
Or this:
#177

I do have 1512x851 HiDPI though but why would I trade 1080p for it if everything just looks bigger?

 

[joevt]

I do have 1512x851 HiDPI though but why would I trade 1080p for it if everything just looks bigger?

You created the 3024x1702 for gaming purposes. A side effect is that you also get a 1512x851 HiDPI mode. We're just checking if the mode was properly created. I gave you two methods that will capture the list of modes so you can post the results here.

Do the games now have a 3024x1702 or 1512x851 HiDPI mode? Either one should give you what you want.

 

[SneakyElephant]

You created the 3024x1702 for gaming purposes. A side effect is that you also get a 1512x851 HiDPI mode. We're just checking if the mode was properly created. I gave you two methods that will capture the list of modes so you can post the results here.

Do the games now have a 3024x1702 or 1512x851 HiDPI mode? Either one should give you what you want.

They do and definitely look slightly better. Too bad I can't keep 1080p running in the background at the same time though nor does it come with HiDPI.

 

[joevt]

Too bad I can't keep 1080p running in the background at the same time though nor does it come with HiDPI.

A display can only do one mode at a time. I suppose it's up to the game to decide how it should put itself into the background - it can choose to restore the desktop to the resolution that was set before the game started, or it can ignore that. Some games have a fullscreen windowed mode to avoid resolution switching.

1080p HiDPI requires a 3840x2160 scaled mode.

 

[sundevil671]

I'm having sort of a similar issue. I've downloaded SwitchResX, but can't seem to create a custom resolution for my 16:9 secondary monitor. Long story short, my new Macbook Pro has only 2 USB-C ports, and I can no longer connect the secondary display directly to the computer using a DVI to USB-C adapter. My docking station will not allow both monitors at the same time. As a short-term fix, I connected the secondary monitor to my Apple TV, thinking I could extend my desktop using AirPlay. It works, but I can't get the resolution right, or even close to usable. All I need to be able to do is create a custom resolution, but these are the only options I'm given (attached). Any advice appreciated!