M1 Mac External Display - Fuzzy Fonts & Colors - YPBPR vs RGB

[AlphaCentauri]

For M1, 5K2K is not a good option due to its 3008 (6016) horizontal resolution limitation, which will make font size too big on those ultrawide screen.

It depends. I’m sitting about 3 feet from screen and using it in “looks like” 2560x1080 mode. From that distance, it is perfect for me. But that’s of course subjective, some will find fonts and user interface too big in this particular HiDPI mode, same with 3008 pixels horizontally.

 

[Rozovici]

ok guys, im back with updates. i'm on my new 4k 32UN650 at the moment and i scalled to 2560x1440 like resolution directly from displays settings. is there a better way to do it? It looks a lot better then my older 2K curved dell. its a bit odd for me that is not curved anymore but i will get used to it. Please let me know of any settings i can change or if there is a better way to scale. I have to say that at its native resolution with no scale applied it still has that blurr that i had on the 2K. im very confused

 

[AlphaCentauri]

ok guys, im back with updates. i'm on my new 4k 32UN650 at the moment and i scalled to 2560x1440 like resolution directly from displays settings. is there a better way to do it? It looks a lot better then my older 2K curved dell. its a bit odd for me that is not curved anymore but i will get used to it. Please let me know of any settings i can change or if there is a better way to scale. I have to say that at its native resolution with no scale applied it still has that blurr that i had on the 2K. im very confused

Native resolution will have the same problem as your previous monitor. That's why I wrote "use any HiDPI mode" - not native res. Your scaled 2560x1440 is one of HiDPI modes, that's why it looks better.

Go to System Preferences, Displays. Hold ALT/OPTION keyboard button and click on "scaled", it should show you bigger selection of HiDPI modes to choose from.

 

[Rozovici]

If i hold Option key it doesnt show me any resolution settings on the Scaled option. I just have 5 options for scalling. but the middle one (1440p that im using atm) looks great. I there any other way to acces other scalling options, other resolutions?

 

[Rozovici]

It looks likethis in thesystem information

 

[Rozovici]

im using only the external monitor. that was my whole purpose

 

[AlphaCentauri]

A screenshot would help.

Mine (Intel Mac mini 2018) and LG 34WK-95U shows:

Besides first option (native 5120x2160), all other resolutions are HiDPI to choose from. What's on your list?

 

[Rozovici]

A screenshot would help.

Mine (Intel Mac mini 2018) and LG 34WK-95U shows:

 

[AlphaCentauri]

It looks likethis in thesystem information
View attachment 1773342

Ok, so that's one of HiDPI modes, so far so good

 

[AlphaCentauri]

View attachment 1773347

While on this screen, hold "OPTION" key on keyboard and while holding it, left click on the word "scaled" - anything?
This should show you more available HiDPI modes to choose from.

 

[Rozovici]

While on this screen, hold "OPTION" key on keyboard and while holding it, left click on the word "scaled" - anything?

Gorgeous. It works. I see all the resolution options, now, yes!! Thank yoy very much. i fin 1440p very pleasing and everything looks sharp. game changer! the only think i will miss is the 144hz but hopefull in the next 2 years more 4k 144 monitors will come to the market and ill afford one. I was a pleasure getting support from you man. really helpfull. thank you again! if you have any other display related advices for me i will defenetly take them in cosideration. i am looking now for some settings advices on how to better calibrate my new monitor.

 

[AlphaCentauri]

Gorgeous. It works. I see all the resolution options, now, yes!! Thank yoy very much. i fin 1440p very pleasing and everything looks sharp. game changer! the only think i will miss is the 144hz but hopefull in the next 2 years more 4k 144 monitors will come to the market and ill afford one. I was a pleasure getting support from you man. really helpfull. thank you again! if you have any other display related advices for me i will defenetly take them in cosideration. i am looking now for some settings advices on how to better calibrate my new monitor.

My pleasure. you can do basic colour calibration in DISPLAYS/COLOUR/CALIBRATE. Then save as your own profile. For better one you would need proper hardware calibrator (colorimeter). Any questions, feel free to ask

 

[Rozovici]

for some odd reason i cant control the volume settings from the monitor. it has speakers and they are at max volume

 

[thecooler40]

I just bought a 2k Acer monitor and the fonts look horrible with my M1 Mac, Question, will this problem go away if I buy an intel Mac mini?

 

[AlphaCentauri]

I just bought a 2k Acer monitor and the fonts look horrible with my M1 Mac, Question, will this problem go away if I buy an intel Mac mini?

No, it will go away once you buy at least 4K monitor and use any HiDPI mode.

 

[0906742]

I just bought a 2k Acer monitor and the fonts look horrible with my M1 Mac, Question, will this problem go away if I buy an intel Mac mini?

Fonts are rather bad with 2k or any non HiDPI monitor but you can improve them a bit in 2K monitor with tweaks.

Here are some tweaks that helps IMHO but be careful and use only at your own risk and make sure you have backup of your system before trying them.
I ran this command in Terminal:

defaults -currentHost write -g AppleFontSmoothing -int 0

I believe defaults is

defaults -currentHost write -g AppleFontSmoothing -int 2

Then I also add custom style sheet (CSS) to Safari to turn off Font smoothing there using this command in file I created (just use TextEdit and copy paste command below and then save the file under what ever name you want with .CSS extension instead of TXT. Then in safari select this file as your style sheet.

* {
    -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased !important;
}

 

[xraydoc]

TinkerTook is a good app that gives you a GUI to adjust the system font smoothing as well as reset back to defaults. Make sure to log out then back in to see the effect of any changes.

 

[Rozovici]

I have another issue, now. I can see a differance in colors when i have my external display in extended more (so with my main macbook lid open) vs when i only have the external display (when the lid is closed) . in the first scenario the white is a bit yellowish. any ideea why?

 

[0906742]

I have another issue, now. I can see a differance in colors when i have my external display in extended more (so with my main macbook lid open) vs when i only have the external display (when the lid is closed) . in the first scenario the white is a bit yellowish. any ideea why?

Sounds like True Tone doing its job.

 

[86Dylan86]

Just picked up an old 4k dell 28" monitor (P2815Q) via display port to usb c seems to stay in RGB unless I connect a second display. No issues so far.

 

[BATman.Berlin]

reading through this long thread I tried to use one of my older USB-C to HDMI hubs instead of my M1 mini internal HDMI. I am running a 32" Dell curved gaming monitor and no RGB mode to be seen. I am now using the USB-C to HDMI and the Mac switched to RGB. Picture is much better and less strain on the eyes. The 120Hz and 144Hz options are gone though, but I didn't do any gaming on this machine anyway. So, my solution: my old HDMI hub

 

[AppleNooble]

I'm using a Dell U2713H. My PBrPb mode is grainy, so text is disappointing.

However the colors are at least more or less correct. However in RGB mode, I see this:

In RGB mode, all text is crisp, but obviously the colors are all wrong.

I saw similar issues with people running older Macs and the issue seemed to have been solvable via the Ruby script EDID hack, but looks like M1 is a different beast. Hope someone figures this out.

Some people suggested various HDMI to DP connector converters, I tried a HDMI to mini DP-I and still no luck.

 

[GJtn7]

EDIT: Removed comment regarding EDID process as it’s most likely incorrect.

Ideally macOS needs control over RGB/YUV colour format output and dynamic range output. It’s important that the dynamic range set in the OS and monitor matches to avoid display issues.

Using DVI will provide a RGB format signal and that may be the best option for older monitors.

 

[0906742]

In RGB mode, all text is crisp, but obviously the colors are all wrong.

That is because you cannot change between YPbPr and RGB from the monitor, you need your Mac to see it in RGB and output as RGB. Colors are wrong because your Mac is still sending YPbPr but monitor is in RGB mode.

My Dell U2518D works randomly in RGB and YPbPr mode. Sometimes I need to restart or power on/off several times to get RGB mode. Mostly it goes RGB mode right away, but like yesterday I had to try different ways like 10 times until I got RGB. Very frustrating.

Anyway, with my U2518 there is no difference in text crispiness between RGB and YPbPr, because it is the issue with MacOS and 2K monitor, you really need HiDPI monitor to get decent looking fonts.
Paradoxically, I just yesterday installed Microsoft Remote Desktop to my Mini to use my Windows PCs from it and the FONTS ARE GREAT in there, even with 2560x1440 resolution, which is another proof that the issue is just the way how fonts are in MacOS.

 

[AppleNooble]

Very informative thanks guys!