ChellyUK
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: HiDPI and 4K video scaling?

I am just getting to grips with Mac and 4K, my question is this. If i run my disemploy scaled using HiDPI mode to look like 2560x1440 and i play a video from youtube am i seeing all of the pixels as if i were running at a native resolution? I know HiDPI mode does some fancy image processing and I'm just wondering if anything is being lost during this process?

Mac Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10)

Posted on Nov 14, 2014 7:51 PM

by John Lockwood,Apple recommended
John Lockwood John Lockwood
Level 6 (9,349 points)
Servers Enterprise
A:

As your aware this 'just works' if you have a Mac with a built-in Retina display i.e. a MacBook or iMac. However if you have a Mac Pro or Mac mini with a third-party monitor you probably need to enable 'HiDPI' mode via the command line.

 

See http://www.fitzweekly.com/2016/03/enable-hidpi-resolutions-in-el-capitan.html

Posted on May 10, 2016 1:54 AM

Close
ChellyUK

Q: HiDPI and 4K video scaling?

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Adam F,

    Adam F Adam F May 9, 2016 4:20 PM in response to ChellyUK
    Level 2 (426 points)
    May 9, 2016 4:20 PM in response to ChellyUK

    Well, I'll bring this question back from 2014. If I'm in 1080p HiDPI on a 4K monitor and open a 4K video in QT, QT shows that the video is running at 1080p, but it sounds like the HiDPI mode may actually be playing it in full 4K since pixel density is supposedly doubled.

    Can someone clarify?

    My issue is that this super-nice and inexpensive AOC 28" 4K monitor doesn't get the text scaling option that retina displays have in system preferences. 1080p menus are too big and obviously 4K menus are too tiny.

  • by John Lockwood,Apple recommended

    John Lockwood John Lockwood May 10, 2016 1:54 AM in response to Adam F
    Level 6 (9,349 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    May 10, 2016 1:54 AM in response to Adam F

    As your aware this 'just works' if you have a Mac with a built-in Retina display i.e. a MacBook or iMac. However if you have a Mac Pro or Mac mini with a third-party monitor you probably need to enable 'HiDPI' mode via the command line.

     

    See http://www.fitzweekly.com/2016/03/enable-hidpi-resolutions-in-el-capitan.html

  • by Adam F,Apple recommended

    Adam F Adam F May 20, 2016 9:40 AM in response to John Lockwood
    Level 2 (426 points)
    May 20, 2016 9:40 AM in response to John Lockwood

    Thank you, John. For some reason, I didn't get a notification of the reply.

     

    I just wanted to note here for anyone else that lands here and needs some help with the resolution when using a 3rd party 4K screen.

     

    Purchasing a cable that converts thunderbolt to HDMi enabled 60hz and MANY more resolutions. Going from your MacBookPro HDMI port to some (I'm guessing most or all) 4K monitors will not allow you to reach past 30hz and will not give you little icons in Display Preferences (see pic) to switch between different resolutions. If you use a different app to reach these other resolutions without being in 60hz, they will be almost certainly be blurry.

     

    Hope this helps!

    displayprefs.png