How do I force a resolution on a second monitor

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How do I force a resolution on a second monitor

I've connected a Samsung Syncmaster TV to my MacBook Pro through the miini display port via an HDMI adapter. The issue is that it can support up to 1920x1080 (this can easily be forced on a windows 7 laptop when connected the same way) but the option is not present on the options menu.

com.Apple.boot.plist does have the ability to force resolutions but I can't find a resource that explains how to specify which display it applies to.

How would I go about forcing the resolution on the TV through the above or otherwise. (SwitchResX has already been tried with no effect).

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Jan 5, 2012 7:46 PM

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Answer 1

Shootist007

Level 6

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Jan 5, 2012 7:54 PM in response to Stroame

Go into the Displays properties window and Detect Displays. you should then get 2 display windows, one for the internal display and one for the external. Set it up as Mirrored. Then on the external set the resolution.

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Answer 2

Stroame Author

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Jan 5, 2012 8:32 PM in response to Shootist007

It doesn't appear as an option, that's what the problem is.

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Answer 3

Shootist007

Level 6

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Jan 5, 2012 8:38 PM in response to Stroame

Did you click the Detect Displays?

Try it a few times.

Restart the computer with the TV attached and turned on then do detect displays.

And they say Mac's are easy to use.

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Answer 4

eww

Level 9

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Jan 5, 2012 9:14 PM in response to Shootist007

When Mirrored mode is selected, the external display always operates at the same resolution setting as the built-in screen. If the external display's native resolution is higher than the built-in screen's, it will nevertheless be limited to the built-in screen's maximum setting, and it will be blurry, as any LCD display is when used below its native resolution. This makes using a high-res external monitor or HDTV in Mirrored mode with a 15" or especially a 13" MBP a really bad idea.

When Extended Desktop mode is selected, each display can be set independently to its native resolution, giving superior image quality and more screen real estate. ED mode is usually vastly preferable to Mirrored mode when screens with different native resolutions are used together.

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Answer 5

Shootist007

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Jan 5, 2012 9:21 PM in response to eww

Not when you are using clamshell mode

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Answer 6

Stroame Author

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Jan 5, 2012 9:22 PM in response to Shootist007

Displays are detected, the issue is that the tv is telling the computer it's highest resolution is 1600x900. This problem is identical with Windows and Linux distros, but with them I know how to correct the resoultion. On OS X I do not.

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Answer 7

Stroame Author

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Jan 5, 2012 9:23 PM in response to eww

The displays are extended.

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Answer 8

eww

Level 9

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Jan 6, 2012 6:40 AM in response to Shootist007

In clamshell mode you're only using one screen. Nothing that I wrote above applies.

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Answer 9

eww

Level 9

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Jan 6, 2012 6:47 AM in response to Stroame

In ED mode, when you open Displays Preferences and click Detect Displays, you should see a prefs window on each screen, and you should be able to select any resolution up to the screen's native resolution on each of them. Do you have a prefs window on each screen? If so, what is the highest resolution available for each one? And just to confirm: click the Arrangement tab and make sure "Mirror displays" is NOT checked.

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Answer 10

Stroame Author

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Jan 6, 2012 5:57 PM in response to eww

As i said:

Stroame wrote:

The displays are extended.

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Answer 11

Csound1

Level 9

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Jan 6, 2012 6:04 PM in response to Stroame

Stroame wrote:

It doesn't appear as an option, that's what the problem is.

Do not set it up as mirrored, that is incorrect, set it as extended and the full resolution will be available.

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Answer 12

Csound1

Level 9

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Jan 6, 2012 6:06 PM in response to Stroame

Stroame wrote:

As i said:

Stroame wrote:

The displays are extended.

Do you see 480, 720 and 1080 (i or p) only?

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Answer 13

eww

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Jan 6, 2012 6:07 PM in response to Stroame

Yes, I can read. How about the questions I asked after reading that the first time?

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Answer 14

Stroame Author

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Jan 6, 2012 6:21 PM in response to eww

It isn't mirrored, it is extended.

Yes, there is a window in both screens - one that has the MacBook's built in and another on the TV which has "1600x900" as its maximum. It also has the option for 1080i.

After clicking 'Detect Displays' multiple times it has brought no new resolution settings.

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Answer 15

eww

Level 9

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Jan 6, 2012 6:36 PM in response to Stroame

What do you get if you select 1080i?

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