MBP Retina: Poor image quality from hdmi output

We pay a premium to own machines that are user firendly and don't require scripts or hacks to make a common plug and play port work with other devices. The Mac OS needs to figure out "when this monitor is connected, output this color space". Nobody I know writes scripts at the command line to make a USB port work... why should we for a HDMI port? Workarounds are BS. Apple just needs to fix the problem.

Couldn't agree more, comrade. However, I didn't want to wait - it was less troublesome for me to do this than it would have been to to return my macbook and get a zenbook. Because there was no way I was going to keep the product otherwise.

Thanks, worked for me!!!

Worked like a charm. Thanks for that. I'm a designer and this was a real problem for me. Shame on you, Apple. This could have been fixed ages ago! Not engendering any customer loyalty over here.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Worked like a charm on my rMBP.

So just downloaded 10.8.3 and still no dice on HDMI putting out at 1080p. Works fine on Bootcamp, just not Mac side. Ditched preferences, reset PRAM, tried various combos of turning off display, MBPr, connecting, etc. HDMI still doewn't work on the Mac side. Anyhow else still having issue?

I've justy deleted the EDID overide posted above which has been working fine and my monitor seems to be working OK now. I deleted the folder created by the script and disconnect the monitor. Then I rebooted twice (just ot make sure) and now I've just connected it back up again. I'm not longer seening (EDID Overide) at the top of the display window but instead just seeing the model number of my monitor (Dell S2409W). Looking at this page now is as clear as it was before so 10.8.3 appears to have fixed it.

I agree with all of you that HDMI should just work. I am also disappointed. I found out that it works with an HDMI-DVI adapter like this one:

http://www.amazon.com/HDMI-Adapter-Plated-Connector-Female/dp/B000FUVNX8

I discovered by accident. I did not have an HDMI cable at first, and then I used my old DVI cable with the adapter. Then I bought an HDMI Cable to make room to use the other USB port on the Retina Display Mac Book Pro, and I found the same problem that the secondary monitor does not work.

Hopefully that gets fixed on future updates.

Thanks for starting this discussion.

For me it was fixed in 10.8.3 to. Tested with a clean install on 3 different monitors.

I'm still having a similar issue. Brand new Retina MacBook Pro 15 (OS X 10.8.3) and HP ZR2440w monitor. Tried with HDMI cable directly and with Apple Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter and DVI cable.

After reading through this forum thinking I was getting no where, I read Imperyal's post and the solution worked!

I'm hooking my 13" MBP Retina up to a Samsung T22B503 and the HDMI source on the TV was called "Game", I have been using it with a PS3. As soon as I renamed the source to "PC" success! All is fine! A much better quality than before!

So there you have it, does that mean that there's a problem with the settings on the displays? Are they not picking up the necessary settings from the MBP's? I haven't a clue, but that's what it seems like to me!

Jimaslade,

Thanks so much for sharing this info. I too have a Samsung that is an HD monitor and a TV (model P2270HD). At first I thought you were off base in changing the settings in the TV menu, but I went through it, and it worked! To be specific for those that might also have Samsung units, here is my experience:

1. I have a 15" MBPr bought in late January 2013. Initial connection to my Samsung monitor with an HDMI cable looked horrible: very pixelated and not usable. I had been using it with my 2008 MacBook through a DVI cable to edit photos with Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop and it was 100% fine and sharp. But when connected to my new MBPr with an HDMI cable, it was just unusable.

2. The OSX 10.8.3 update made things a little better, but still not good as using the good as the 2007 MacBook with the DVI cable.

3. After reading Jimaslade's post, I went into my Samsung's menu and changed the HDMI description to "PC" as he described, and it made the display darn near as sharp and clear as a Thunderbolt display. But going through this process it isn't really obvious and easy to find in the Samsung menu, so again (for the benefit of other Samsung owners) here is what to do: Press the "Menu" button on your remote. Navigate to the "Source List" and enter it. Navigate to "HDMI" and press the "Tools" button on your remote. Navigate to "Edit Name" and enter that. Here you can select what type of input is coming through the HDMI cable. Choose "PC" and you will be amazed at the instant improvement!!!!

Thanks again Jimaslade!!!!! I was about to buy an HDMI to DVI adapter, or even (horror) drop the $1000 for a Thunderbolt or Cinema display. You saved the day and made my MBPr work with my 27" Samsung!!!!

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm glad it worked in your case. I'm still stuck with 2 HP monitors that are unusable as external displays. Neither Thunderbolt nor HDMI can produce an acceptable resolution. The workspace remains oversized and blurry with poor colors. I'm still waiting for Apple to issue the correct driver/profile configuation files for these displays. Still waiting.

I had the similar issue with HP Pavilion 22xi connected to HDMI output of my MBP 13 Retina.

I've resolved the issue doing the following:

1) Download patch-edid.rb from http://embdev.net/attachment/168316/patch-edid.rb

2) Execute in Terminal:

cd Downloads

ruby patch-edid.rb

3) Go to Downloads in Finder and copy produced folder (in my case DisplayVendorID-22f0)

4) Cmd+C on Folder

5) Go to /System/Library/Displays/Overrides in Finder

6) Cmd+V (Authorize if needed, if the Folder exists, backup it before)

7) Reconnect the Display

8) Enjoy

Jimaslade: I send you a big hug from Argentina. You solved my problem!😁