Big Sur 11.1 External Display Issues!

I've got a MacBook Pro 16" (2019) and am holding back with the Big Sur update because of these issues (I have a Benq PD2700U monitor).

Just wondering - has anyone tried SwitchResX to get their displays working?

I use it all the time for Teamviewer sessions where my normal resolution is hard for customers/colleagues to view on smaller screens so thought that may be a way to 'force' Big Sur to play nice.

My preferred resolution is 3008 x 1692 @ 60hz which is nice and smooth - I changed it to 30hz and the cursor was jittery - I couldn't work with that.

Can anyone confirm if SwitchResX solves their issues?

I am using that monitor with with the following

Mini M1. usb-c to mini DP connect to BenQ

Nvidia Shield TV hdmi to hdmi to BenQ

and

MBP 2015 mini DP (TB2 port combo) to full size DisplayPort on BenQ

OS on both Macs - Big Sur 11.2.3

If the Mini M1 can use a USB-C to mini DP cable to connect I would hope your system would work too.

All are running at 4k@60 with my only complaint being is that with all three connections, I have to manually do the monitor KVM for video and then for audio. It may be that I am not setting it up correctly.

I use a MBP 16" (2019, AMD Radeon Pro 5500M, Bug Sur 11.2.3 (20D91)) too with an USB-C connected LG32UD99-w (max resolution 3840x2160, refresh rate 60Hz).

With SwitchResX you can set the resolution to eg 2800 x 1800, or higher, BUT the refresh rate is in my case always at 26.00Hz :-(

--

AMD Radeon Pro 5500M:

  Chipsatz-Modell: AMD Radeon Pro 5500M ...

Displays:

Farb-LCD:

  Displaytyp: Integriertes Retina-LCD-Display

Auflösung: 3072 x 1920 Retina ...

LG HDR 4K:

  Auflösung: 2880 x 1800

  UI sieht aus wie: 2880 x 1800 @ 26.00Hz

  Framepuffertiefe: 30-Bit Farbe (ARGB2101010)

Still no fix from apple, but I guess they really do want us all to go buy new displays. My 20" Cinema displays still flash on and off like a demented disco light if my MacBook Pro 13" 2007 goes to sleep.

BUT

After installing SwitchresX, I now have full control over my resolutions back and I can actually safely and successfully drive the 20" cinema at 4K resolution!

I've posted about this previously (since mid-December).

I have two 23" Cinema Displays with DVI connectors. Adapted to USB-C, they worked fine. Until Big Sur's first update.

After many tech calls and data report uploads I was asked to try an Apple USB, USB-C, and HDMI to USB-C adapter, connecetd to my monitor with a DVI to HDMI adapter.I got some signal, but only thin vertical color bars. If I turned the monitors off, then on, the colors changed.

Made an appointment via Apple with my local Genius Bar, with the idea I'd take in my MBP 16" (late 2019), adapters, and a monitor to see if the monitor "worked" with a different MBP. I got a call the day before the appointment from the Apple Store, and this got shot down. All I'd be able to do would be check my MBP in at a desk outside the store. I didn't see any point to this.

A friend loaned me an Acer monitor with HDMI inputs. Connected to my MBP with Apple's adapter - voila!

I bought a new LG 27" monitor (1980x1020, 75Hz max refresh rate 1ms motion blur reduction) as a test. It works.

For my needs, these specs are fine.

Now how do I get Apple to reimburse me for two monitors?

For me, SwitchResX only allowed down-spec of what Big Sur 11.2.2 believed was the maximum resolution of the generic monitor it wrongly believed was attached. There was no way to up-spec to the actual resolution of my real monitor.

Just upgraded from mid-2015 MBP to MBP M1 with Big Sur. The old machine runs the 30-inch Cinema HD just fine at full 2560x1600 resolution. Using a Thunderbolt 3 dock for an easy connection. However, Big Sur doesn't seem to have the display's native 2560x1600 built in. It originally launched at 1/2 that resolution. I was able to coerce it to normal by clicking Alt- Display Settings in Display Preferences. But, oddly, when I go back to Display Settings, the 2560x1600 resolution does not show as an option - even though the display is working at that resolution.

Hoping Apple fixes this and adds the correct resolution options for this completely functional, incredible monitor! We should be able to simply plug and play.

In the meantime, I saw mention of DisableMonitor as a way to add resolution options. Anyone with experience using it?

That sounds interesting. I know the Benq 2700u can switch between display port 1.1 and 1.4, so question to Benq folks - does changing between 1.1 and 1.4 make any difference?

This is covered on page 51 (system menu from the monitors onscreen display) of the user manual:

https://benqesupport.blob.core.windows.net/esupport/LCD%20MONITOR/UserManual/PD2700U/PD2700U_UM_EN_210223112939.pdf

Also, does using the hdmi port instead make any difference?

Thanks for the pointers, @ijscom.

With a MacBook Pro 16" (2019), my BenQ PD2700U on DP 1.1 works at 3840x2160 60p via Hyperdrive hub > HDMI > HDMI, but not USB-C > DisplayPort.

USB-C > DisplayPort gives me full resolution but not full framerate on DP 1.1, and low resolution and low framerate on DP 1.4. HDMI also gives me low resolution and low framerate on DP 1.4.

Hi

I have a BenQ PD2720U hooked to a MacMini M1.

Via USB-C/TB3 it still won't work at full 4K@60Hz (only 30Hz), regardless the monitor DP version setting (1.2 or 1.4).

Via HDMI (native on Mac mini) it works well at any resolution.

[Edited by Moderator]

The option+click on the 'scaled' trick worked for me.

I have a 4k 70" TV and it would only connect at resolutions higher than 1920x1080 low resolution (whatever that means) at 30hz. The mouse lag drove me crazy. At 1920x1080 I was manually able to select 60hz, and the mouse lag is gone.

Hopefully this bug gets fixed, it's a shame to waste all that nice resolution on the big screen!

I may have to really give a second look at transitioning all my development to Windows 10. It isn’t too bad now with WSL and VScode integration 🤔. I also wouldn’t have to worry about previously working critical hardware like a monitor not working after an update for 4 months. I guess I’d have to keep the Mac for the occasional Xcode session 😢.

To each their own. I unfortunately use my MacBook docked to my monitor via usbc 95% of the time. This is convenient as all I need is to switch a single cable to have all my accessories transfer over between main rig and MacBook and work at the desk with the 32”. I absolutely hate using laptops on the go for anything not basic lol.

Thanks for the heads up about WSL!

I have the LG HDR 4K monitor and after upgrading to 11.2.3 I lost the hires settings.

I fixed it with insight from one of the replies that said to drop from DisplayPort 11.4 to 11.2.

In my monitors settings, I disabled DisplayPort 11.2. There were no other versions listed. I am connected via USB-C.

Disabling the DisplayPort fixed the issue and all resolutions are available in System Preferences.

Found this in here https://displaysolutions.samsung.com/pdf/manual/3777/c49rg90_user_manual_eng.pdf

Not sure if this will help your case.

DisplayPort Ver.

Select your DisplayPort version.

― Incorrect settings may cause the screen to go blank. If this occurs, check the device specifications.

― If the monitor (when set to HDMI, DisplayPort1 or DisplayPort2) is in power saving mode or is displaying the

message Check the cable connection and the settings of the source device. or power saving mode activates,

press the JOG button to display the function-button screen and then select the button to display the On

Screen Display (OSD). You can select 1.1, 1.2 or 1.4.

― If setting the DisplayPort Ver. to 1.1, for the bandwidth limitation of the DisplayPort 1.1 protocol, the actual

maximum output refreshing rate of the display cards cannot achieve the level of 120 Hz.

― If you select 1.4, the monitor can support up to 5120 x 1440 @ 120 Hz.

― If you use 5120 x 1440 in DisplayPort source, you can't select 1.2.

HDMI Mode

Select the HDMI mode to use.

― The supportable device and resolution may differ depending on its version.

― When the version is changed, the screen may blink.

― Some high resolutions may not be supported due to the bandwidth limit in HDMI 1.4 protocol while HDMI

Mode is set to 1.4 or 2.0.

― When the setting is not appropriate, a blank screen may appear. In this case, check the specifications of the

device.

― Set HDMI Mode to 1.4 or 2.0 if sound from the connected DVD player is missing.

― This menu is not available when PBP is enabled