Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

RobLauer

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 13, 2021
12
4
Just got my M1 MacBook Pro and have been loving it...until I connected it to my Dell U3415W 1440p display. Text looks just awful (and yeah I've tried the anti-aliasing fixes to no avail).

I should've known 1440p would look like crap, but in any case I'll probably be upgrading to a 5K2K 34" ultrawide display. BUT I've been reading about the copious concerns you've all had with UW displays as well. So let me flip this on its head a bit...is there a 5K2K UW display that you like for the M1? I'm actively looking at the MSI PS341WU or LG 34WK95U but nobody seems truly happy.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ascender

Espresso89

macrumors newbie
Feb 13, 2021
1
0
I've given up on my hopes of finding a ultrawide monitor for my M1 mini.
really dissapointed with Apple and the lack of offerings / compatibility... you are right... 2k is not good enough for OSX

decided to return the bugger and just get a 5k Intel imac... there is no value proposition you can make with a mini/external monitor that matches the 5k imac at that price point

Registered for an account just to voice my frustration. can't wait for the imac to come in!
 

Fomalhaut

macrumors 68000
Oct 6, 2020
1,993
1,724
Just got my M1 MacBook Pro and have been loving it...until I connected it to my Dell U3415W 1440p display. Text looks just awful (and yeah I've tried the anti-aliasing fixes to no avail).

I should've known 1440p would look like crap, but in any case I'll probably be upgrading to a 5K2K 34" ultrawide display. BUT I've been reading about the copious concerns you've all had with UW displays as well. So let me flip this on its head a bit...is there a 5K2K UW display that you like for the M1? I'm actively looking at the MSI PS341WU or LG 34WK95U but nobody seems truly happy.
What is the feedback on the LG 34WK95U, which I have considered?
 

joevt

macrumors 604
Jun 21, 2012
6,966
4,259
The max HiDPI resolution you can use on a 5120x2160 display connected to an M1 Mac is 3008x1269. If you want more space than that, then you have to use a non-HiDPI mode.
 

RobLauer

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 13, 2021
12
4
I just got my MSI PS341WU. 5121x2160 is comically small, yes, but 3008x1269 actually looks quite good (if maybe a bit small). It's good enough for me, for now, on my M1. Here's hoping the real fix comes soon. ?
 

ascender

macrumors 603
Dec 8, 2005
5,021
2,897
Just got my M1 MacBook Pro and have been loving it...until I connected it to my Dell U3415W 1440p display. Text looks just awful (and yeah I've tried the anti-aliasing fixes to no avail).

I should've known 1440p would look like crap, but in any case I'll probably be upgrading to a 5K2K 34" ultrawide display. BUT I've been reading about the copious concerns you've all had with UW displays as well. So let me flip this on its head a bit...is there a 5K2K UW display that you like for the M1? I'm actively looking at the MSI PS341WU or LG 34WK95U but nobody seems truly happy.
I've been using an LG 49" Ultrawide for the last few weeks and while I absolutely love the idea, I don't think the resolution is doing my eyes any good. No matter what distance I sit from the screen, 5120 x 1440 isn't great for me. I'm a bit gutted, but I am thinking of returning it and just going back to two 4/5K 27" screens.

Will be interested to see the replies to this topic as I'm in the same situation as you.
 
  • Sad
Reactions: theSeb

theSeb

macrumors 604
Aug 10, 2010
7,466
1,893
none
I've been using an LG 49" Ultrawide for the last few weeks and while I absolutely love the idea, I don't think the resolution is doing my eyes any good. No matter what distance I sit from the screen, 5120 x 1440 isn't great for me. I'm a bit gutted, but I am thinking of returning it and just going back to two 4/5K 27" screens.

Will be interested to see the replies to this topic as I'm in the same situation as you.
Thanks for this. I have been considering one of the ultra wides, but I had fears about exactly what you are experiencing.
 

ascender

macrumors 603
Dec 8, 2005
5,021
2,897
Thanks for this. I have been considering one of the ultra wides, but I had fears about exactly what you are experiencing.
I've got a retina iMac here now so am going to switch back for a couple of days and see what happens. The different in text really is striking though - I think I've been spoiled by all these retina screens on devices. Will post an update next week.
 
  • Love
Reactions: theSeb

citivolus

macrumors 65816
Sep 19, 2008
1,218
269
Sorry can you clarify exactly what issues you’re having? Too blurry, too much real estate causing you to turn your head back-and-forth,…?
I've got a retina iMac here now so am going to switch back for a couple of days and see what happens. The different in text really is striking though - I think I've been spoiled by all these retina screens on devices. Will post an update next week.
 

ascender

macrumors 603
Dec 8, 2005
5,021
2,897
Sorry can you clarify exactly what issues you’re having? Too blurry, too much real estate causing you to turn your head back-and-forth,…?

The text is just very poor quality - I think blurry is a bit harsh - presumably because of the lower resolution on the very large screen.

The width of the screen isn’t much of an issue - I’ve got apps at either end which I don’t need to reference all the time, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t wish it had more of a curve in it.
 

RobLauer

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 13, 2021
12
4
@spaceballl the picture is great (even though I'm running it at 3008x1269). However even on macOS 12.3 I'm still having to turn off the monitor before the MacBook goes to sleep, otherwise it won't turn back on without literally unplugging the monitor and plugging it back in. It's bizarre but I guess I've gotten used to it.
 

hardwickj

macrumors 6502
Sep 5, 2009
273
487
These problems aren't specific to UW/5k2k monitors, their occurring with many monitors that approach the upper bandwidth limits of Thunderbolt/USB - specifically on MacOS. That includes ultra high res (e.g. 8k) or high refresh (4k120).

From what I've gathered so far, Apple reworked the display subsystem in macOS starting with Big Sur. Since then it feels like every major release of macOS has created some new problem.
 

hardwickj

macrumors 6502
Sep 5, 2009
273
487
It's depressing that Windows has had a working 8k60 option for 4(!) years now. You can run Dell's UP3218K on an Intel-based MacBook Pro running Bootcamp. But you can't run it on MacOS (beyond 30hz) because...well...Apple.
 

appleArticulate

Suspended
Jan 6, 2022
174
199
Just got my M1 MacBook Pro and have been loving it...until I connected it to my Dell U3415W 1440p display. Text looks just awful (and yeah I've tried the anti-aliasing fixes to no avail).

I should've known 1440p would look like crap, but in any case I'll probably be upgrading to a 5K2K 34" ultrawide display. BUT I've been reading about the copious concerns you've all had with UW displays as well. So let me flip this on its head a bit...is there a 5K2K UW display that you like for the M1? I'm actively looking at the MSI PS341WU or LG 34WK95U but nobody seems truly happy.
I mean...you'll find lots of people who pretend to be fine with the way crappy low pixel density looks. That doesn't mean it objectively looks good. It does not. There is no 5K2K display that looks good on a Mac, and there won't ever be, because it's too low.

There are no realistic ultra wide options for a Mac user with quality standards.
 

Boomhowler

macrumors 6502
Feb 23, 2008
324
19
I mean...you'll find lots of people who pretend to be fine with the way crappy low pixel density looks. That doesn't mean it objectively looks good. It does not. There is no 5K2K display that looks good on a Mac, and there won't ever be, because it's too low.

There are no realistic ultra wide options for a Mac user with quality standards.
A 5k2k that would have the same height as a 16/9 24" monitor would be great. But that does not exist at the moment.

There are however many people using 27" UHD displays with Macs, and while that is not as nice as using a 5k iMac, it is "decent". Content and video/images can still be rendered pixel perfect and text can easily be scaled. It's only the interface panels that look weirdly large. And only if you compare it to an iMac. If you have never used a 27" 5K, you will probably be pretty happy with a 27" uhd. And these often have the same pixel density as the smaller 5k2k, IIRC.
 

vigilant

macrumors 6502a
Aug 7, 2007
715
288
Nashville, TN
Just got my M1 MacBook Pro and have been loving it...until I connected it to my Dell U3415W 1440p display. Text looks just awful (and yeah I've tried the anti-aliasing fixes to no avail).

I should've known 1440p would look like crap, but in any case I'll probably be upgrading to a 5K2K 34" ultrawide display. BUT I've been reading about the copious concerns you've all had with UW displays as well. So let me flip this on its head a bit...is there a 5K2K UW display that you like for the M1? I'm actively looking at the MSI PS341WU or LG 34WK95U but nobody seems truly happy.
My question for you, is define "like". I have 2 LG 4k monitors that I got refurbished and have been rocking them for 3 years.

Personally, color calibration is so incredibly important, and any time I look at my wife's 27 inch HP whatevers it's just jarring. It's like I went from a beautiful display, to looking at something that a child put together.

You can call me snobby or whatever, but I spend probably 12 hours a day in front of computers. Details matter, and I can't force the HP and the Dells of the world to match what I expect.
 

appleArticulate

Suspended
Jan 6, 2022
174
199
A 5k2k that would have the same height as a 16/9 24" monitor would be great. But that does not exist at the moment.

There are however many people using 27" UHD displays with Macs, and while that is not as nice as using a 5k iMac, it is "decent". Content and video/images can still be rendered pixel perfect and text can easily be scaled. It's only the interface panels that look weirdly large. And only if you compare it to an iMac. If you have never used a 27" 5K, you will probably be pretty happy with a 27" uhd. And these often have the same pixel density as the smaller 5k2k, IIRC.
I'm using 24" LG UltraFine displays, but with a scaled resolution that "looks like" 2304 x 1296. This is one scaled step away from "Retina" or pixel doubled (default). The default is far too little screen space on a 24" display, and the assets are way too big. Using this scale makes things the same physical size as what you would see on a 27" 5K iMac. And visually you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference from this resolution on a 4K display and native on a 5K display.

I use multiples of this display because it is the best option out there. There is no single monitor that can replace this.
 

Boomhowler

macrumors 6502
Feb 23, 2008
324
19
I'm using 24" LG UltraFine displays, but with a scaled resolution that "looks like" 2304 x 1296. This is one scaled step away from "Retina" or pixel doubled (default). The default is far too little screen space on a 24" display, and the assets are way too big. Using this scale makes things the same physical size as what you would see on a 27" 5K iMac. And visually you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference from this resolution on a 4K display and native on a 5K display.

I use multiples of this display because it is the best option out there. There is no single monitor that can replace this.
no, true, not exactly. That's why the iMac is 4480x2520 (on 23.5"). Personally, I think the 4k 24" is "good enough", but it's the lowest ppi I enjoy using.
 

ascender

macrumors 603
Dec 8, 2005
5,021
2,897
I ditched the 49" Ultrawide and now have the 5K LG one which is expensive but is much better quality and is "retina-like" for want of a better description.
 
  • Like
Reactions: satcomer

MrGunnyPT

macrumors 65816
Mar 23, 2017
1,313
804
No, I got a 3440x1440 gaming one but have it in my gaming room..

Currently on my work office I have Dual Huawei Mateview 3:2 Displays
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.