Goqbert

Q: Secondary monitor blurry only when primary scaled

I've scoured the forums looking for a solution to this but have had no luck.

 

My 2015 Macbook Pro (ATI R9 model)  is hooked up to an external 1080P monitor via hdmi.  The retina is my primary display, with the external monitor as an extended desktop.

 

I've been trying to get the display settings adjusted to a workable level under Windows 10 bootcamp, to no avail.  What Ive observed:

  • With my primary monitor (retina) scaled at 200% (via display settings), my extended monitor (scaled at 100%) is blurry. It is subtle, but there, and causes eye-strain especially with text,
  • With my retina display scaled at 100%, the external monitor is sharp.  Fonts on the retina are of course too small at this scale to be useable.

Note that in both cases, the  scale on the external monitor is not changing - always 100%.  I'm only adjusting the scale on the primary monitor.

 

I've tried every setting I can think of but I always get the same result.  For example, just running firefox on the external monitor, the "search or enter address" text is slightly blurry in the 1st case, but noticeably sharper in the 2nd.  It seems like a bug: scaling the main display should not affect the secondary one but it does.

 

Has anyone come across this?  Is there some kind of fix or workaround, or am I just doing something wrong?  I've ruled out the monitor as a problem given the tests above.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, Windows 10

Posted on Dec 17, 2015 2:42 PM

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Q: Secondary monitor blurry only when primary scaled

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  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Dec 17, 2015 3:01 PM in response to Goqbert
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    Dec 17, 2015 3:01 PM in response to Goqbert

    Is the behavior the same when booted in OS X?

  • by Goqbert,

    Goqbert Goqbert Dec 17, 2015 6:49 PM in response to Loner T
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    Dec 17, 2015 6:49 PM in response to Loner T

    Seems to be just on the Windows side.

     

    The key thing I've noticed is that the sharpness changes on the secondary monitor when I change Display Scale on the primary monitor, which shouldn't be the case.  Very noticeable on any of the control panel screens with small text.  This is what makes me think it is a bug in the drivers.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Dec 17, 2015 7:06 PM in response to Goqbert
    Level 7 (23,828 points)
    Safari
    Dec 17, 2015 7:06 PM in response to Goqbert

    1. What is the brand/model of the 1080p monitor?

    2. The OSX side has over/under scan settings for HDMI output.

    3. Does the monitor have TB/DP/DVI port that you can test alternate connection with?

  • by Goqbert,

    Goqbert Goqbert Dec 21, 2015 1:29 PM in response to Loner T
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    Dec 21, 2015 1:29 PM in response to Loner T

    Sorry for the late reply.  I've finally had a chance to play around a bit more.

     

    1. The monitor is a Philips 244E 1080P

    2. The OSX side seems fine as far as I can tell

    3. I have tried a different monitors via the display port/DVI and seen the same effect

     

    I am now beginning to suspect this is an issue related to having the main monitor scaled.  What looks to be happening is that when the retina is scale to 200%, the secondary screen is also scale, then down-scaled back to 100%, resulting in some blurriness, or something like this. 

     

    This is the effect I'm seeing (this is someone else's post, but I'm reading similar issues from people hooking up a Surface 3 to an external monitor):

    http://i.imgur.com/Hd66fD5.png

     

    I am not noticing the same when both the retina and external screens are both 100%, though obviously I can't possibly read text at that rez.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Dec 21, 2015 1:42 PM in response to Goqbert
    Level 7 (23,828 points)
    Safari
    Dec 21, 2015 1:42 PM in response to Goqbert

    As a test, connect the external monitor, scale it to an appropriate setting such that the text is as clear as you can make it. Now close the lid of the Mac. Does it change scaling? Do the documents look better or worse?

  • by Goqbert,

    Goqbert Goqbert Dec 23, 2015 3:25 PM in response to Loner T
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    Dec 23, 2015 3:25 PM in response to Loner T

    Same result.  When I close the lid both monitors go black. When I reopen and sign back in, the display looks the same.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Dec 23, 2015 5:33 PM in response to Goqbert
    Level 7 (23,828 points)
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    Dec 23, 2015 5:33 PM in response to Goqbert

    If both monitors and have a display and you close the lid of the Mac,

     

    1. The external monitor should still stay up.

    2. If you move your mouse (and or touch a key on an external keyboard), the Mac should wake up and display only on the external monitor.

     

    We want to check both states.

     

    Please see How to use your Mac notebook computer in closed-clamshell (display closed) mode with an external display - Apple Suppor…  for reference.

  • by Goqbert,

    Goqbert Goqbert Dec 27, 2015 6:36 AM in response to Loner T
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    Dec 27, 2015 6:36 AM in response to Loner T

    Did the test in OSX:

     

    With display set to mirror:

    With the display preferences set to "Optimized for Retina" the external monitor has black bars on left and right, then rescales when I come the lid.  Display seems pretty sharp throughout, sharper when the lid is closed.

     

    With preferences set to optimize for the external monitor, the retina is a bit smaller (still sharp), and the external matches what it looks like with lid closed above

     

    With mirroring turned off:

    Display is sharp throughout

     

    In Windows (where I'm seeing more of an issue):

    The external display is simply not sharp at any scale, as far as I can tell.  At least I am unable to find the magic settings to make it so.

    Adjusted the power settings so I could close the lid and keep the computer on - nothing changed.

     

    The Windows settings are more of an issue, since that is where I need to spend at least half of my time.

  • by Goqbert,

    Goqbert Goqbert Dec 27, 2015 6:36 AM in response to Loner T
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    Dec 27, 2015 6:36 AM in response to Loner T

    (duplicate of above - how to delete it?)

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Dec 27, 2015 7:39 AM in response to Goqbert
    Level 7 (23,828 points)
    Safari
    Dec 27, 2015 7:39 AM in response to Goqbert

    Using a TV for a monitor brings out many more issues in display drivers than using standard monitors. If you have an Apple Store close by, take your Mac to the Apple Store, find a TB monitor and connect your Mac running Windows and test with and without clamshell mode. You can also try various color profiles.

  • by Goqbert,

    Goqbert Goqbert Dec 27, 2015 1:02 PM in response to Loner T
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    Dec 27, 2015 1:02 PM in response to Loner T

    Thanks.

     

    It isn't hooked up to a TV, but a monitor via HDMI.  The more I am looking at this, the more I am thinking it is a Windows specific thing, as in either a driver issues (bootcamp) or just the way it is with Windows.  The Mac side is at least useable.  

     

    I didn't think of taking it to an Apple Store.  Will attempt that and see what they say.  Will post a follow-up (if there is one).

     

    Thanks.