dell u3415w not using whole screen (black borders)

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Level 1

8 points

dell u3415w not using whole screen (black borders)

(I accidenttaly posted this to Mac Pro instead of Macbook Pro, but I do not have permissions to move it, so I will repost with apologies)

I have the DELL ultra-wide U3415W and when connected to my Macbook Pro 13, the size of the desktop is smaller than the actual screen area; I'm loosing about 2" horizontally and 1" vertically about.

I have connected via thunderbolt, mini-DP and DP-to-HDMI but can't get it to use the entire screen. It also remains true when I switch to a lower resolution. There is no underscan slider available in the settings. Is there a way to force underscan to appear? Are there better settings for the GFX card I can hack in?

The funny thing is, when I use the same cable/method to connect to my older Macbook Air (2013, Intel HD Graphics 5000) it fills the entire screen just fine. This leads me to believe it is a gfx card setting issue.

Laptop:

macOS Sierra Version 10.12.3

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015)

Processor 3.1 GHz Intel Core i7

Memory 16GB 1867 MHz DDR3

Graphics Intel Iris Graphics 6100 1536 MB

MacBook Pro, macOS Sierra (10.12.3), null

Posted on Feb 21, 2017 2:05 PM

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Answer 1

Jan 9, 2018 2:07 PM in response to aschulerSF

Having the exact same issue here. 2016 MacBook Pro 13" (non touch bar) with 1440p display with USB-c to Displayport cable. All resolutions are good but the mac does not scale to the edges of the display. Works 100% fine in windows 10. This has got to be software problem.

This happens regardless of clamshell mode or not.

High Sierra 10.13.2

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Answer 2

Feb 22, 2017 7:11 AM in response to mikshir

that dell has this native resolution:

QHD 3440 x 1440 at 60 Hz

Input Connectors

1 DP 1.2 (HDCP 1.4)

1 mDP 1.2 (HDCP 1.4)

1 DP 1.2 (out) with MST (HDCP 1.4)

1 HDMI 1.4 (MHL 2.0)

1 HDMI 2.0 (HDCP 1.4)

4 USB 3.0 downstream ports with 1 x BC1.2 charging capability at 2A (max) / 2 USB 3.0 upstream ports

that MacBook can do this resolution:

2nd Display Support:

Dual/Mirroring*

2nd Max. Resolution:

3840x2160 (x2*)

Details:

*This model supports a simultaneous maximum resolution up to 3840x2160 on two external displays via Thunderbolt 2. Alternately, it can support a single display up to 3840x2160 via Thunderbolt 2 and a single 1080p display at up to 60 Hz, 3840x2160 at 30 Hz, or 4096x2160 at 24 Hz via HDMI.

You MUST use DisplayPort or Mini DisplayPort to get top resolutions from that MacBook Pro. Converting to HDMI is a losing proposition. (you either lose resolution, or refresh rate, or both).

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Answer 3

mikshir Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 1, 2017 10:40 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Yes, you are correct. When I connect via HDMI I loose refresh rate (goes from 60hz to 30Hz). I have it connected via DP port at the moment and it shows full resolution and refresh. But still is not taking up the full screen and I have thick black borders. This is for my macbook pro 13, my older macbook air 11 uses most of the screen.

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Answer 4

Mar 3, 2017 7:35 AM in response to mikshir

If it is showing the full resolution, but not spreading the picture across the entire screen, I would be suspicious that there is a wonky setting in the display itself.

Use the display's on-screen settings feature to review its settings to be sure it is not set for the wrong aspect ratio 5:4 vs 19:9 or whatever or is using some TV feature intended to get standard broadcast onto a super wide screen without distortion.

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Answer 5

mikshir Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 3, 2017 1:52 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Right, I made sure of that and also toyed with different aspect ratios but they all don't fill the screen when using this particular Mac. I have it set back to 21:9 aspect ratio. Again, when I plug in my older Macbook Air with the same port/cable/settings, I don't have this issue which is why I think it's the graphics card config. I think being able to force under/overscan will do the trick but that option was taken away long ago except for detected TVs and monitors.

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Answer 6

Mar 3, 2017 2:51 PM in response to mikshir

You could try holding the Option ket while clicking on the resolution to see if there may be additional hidden resolutions.

Otherwise, I expect this is a shortcoming of Integrated (Intel Iris) graphics in this MacBook.

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Answer 7

Apr 5, 2017 9:17 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Hmmm, no dice with SwitchResX yet... not sure what the appropriate setting to change is. Like OP said, the resolutions listed in both the mac's display menu and the display's menu are correct (3440x1400), but there are still 1-2 inch black bars on all sides of the display.

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Answer 8

mikshir Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 7, 2017 10:47 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thanks. I also did that. And I've come to the same conclusion that it's the graphics card. I'm hoping there's some hack to let me alter the settings or force under/overscan.

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Answer 9

Apr 4, 2017 11:07 AM in response to mikshir

I have this exact issue (same macbook pro and monitor)- any luck in finding a hack?

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Answer 10

Apr 5, 2017 7:29 AM in response to mikshir

The first stop for those hacks is SwitchResX.

There are 14 others available on the Mac App Store. Display Menus has been mentioned here before as a helpful Utility for these purposes..

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Answer 11

Apr 5, 2017 9:21 AM in response to aschulerSF

And even if I change it to lower resolution, the bars persist.

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