External Display Resolution

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Level 1

8 points

External Display Resolution

I am using a ViewSonic VG-2448 monitor as an external display with my 2020 MacBook Air. The monitor is connected via HDMI to HDMI port on a multi-port hub connected to the MacBook's Thunderbolt 3 port. The color match between the external display and MacBook is good, but the text on the external display is very blurry. I have tried the following to resolve:

Reading all the external monitor/MacBook articles in this support forum;
Adjusting the resolution in System Preferences>Displays;
Using "Extended Desktop" and "Mirror" and all the scale options provided for each setting; and
Adjusting the sharpness and color values on the monitor itself

Other articles I have found indicate that "OS X thinks the monitor is a TV, and is using the YCbCr color space rather than RGB." They recommend overriding the EDID setting to force the RGB color space. My monitor shows the input as "RGB."

Can you please confirm whether overriding the default EDID setting is valid step to make the text sharper on my external monitor? If not, are there any other solutions that might help? Thanks in advance!

MacBook

Posted on Aug 6, 2020 6:07 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

VikingOSX

Level 10

124,136 points

Aug 6, 2020 6:22 PM in response to brandella11

ViewSonic shows a maximum of 1920x1080 display resolution for this monitor. The fact that you are putting a dock between your monitor and your MacBook Air, may not be the best thing for screen resolution. This monitor supports HDMI 1.4, but on offers a DisplayPort to DisplayPort cable in the box. Perhaps ViewSonic is sending a message with that cable choice.

One suggestion is to purchase a USB-C to DisplayPort cable from Apple or other vendors and directly connect the MacBook Air to the ViewSonic with that cable. See if that improves your display's text quality.

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Answer 2

Aug 6, 2020 6:15 PM in response to brandella11

When you mirror the display you also mirror the resolution. Use extended desktop mode and set the external display resolution to the displays native resolution.

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Answer 3

brandella11 Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 6, 2020 10:42 PM in response to VikingOSX

Thank you. I wondered if going direct with the Display port to adapter to USB-C on the MBA would help. But, I was hoping it would not come to that since I bought a the new MacBook (was using a 2015 MacBook) just to connect to the current docking stations with USB-C ports. I then purchased the docking station and today the HDMI cable. Darn - thinking I should have just bought a display port adapter for the 2015 MacBook. Ah, hindsight.

Before I make anymore purchases, however, I am curious why the resolution options I'm seeing in System Preferences>Display>VG2448 are: 1600x900, 1080p, 10801i, and 720p. My monitor has flashed a pop-up saying "recommended resolution is 1920x1080." I'm hoping to learn how to get that option in the Mac display preferences.

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Answer 4

brandella11 Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 6, 2020 10:49 PM in response to BobTheFisherman

Thank you. Yes, this is a key. Unfortunately, the text is still blurry even with extended desktop and separate settings for the MacBook and external display. From what I'm reading in other forums I am wondering if the Mac is seeing the external display as a TV and not a monitor -- the options I get on the Mac for the VG2448 resolution in system preferences are: 1600 x 900, 1080p, 1080i, or 720p. I'd like to be able to set it to 1920x1080 -- but it's not an option.

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Answer 5

Aug 7, 2020 7:31 AM in response to brandella11

1080p is 1920x1080.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1080p

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Answer 6

brandella11 Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 7, 2020 9:46 AM in response to BobTheFisherman

Thank you, BobTheFisherman, I have learned a lot through this process. I appreciate your time and answers!

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External Display Resolution

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