Blurry fonts on external display – Samsung CF791

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Level 1

21 points

Blurry fonts on external display – Samsung CF791

I've just bought a 34 inch Samsung monitor (CF791, also known as LC34F791WQUXEN) for my MBP retina 15" mid-2015. It looks a beauty :-)

Things started easily enough. HDMI to HDMI, and the Macbook adopted the monitor's full resolution, 3440 x 1440, as I was led to believe by Apple's documentation. Apparently, according to the greyed out detail in the Refresh Rate field, it's operating at 50 Hertz.

But all fonts in all applications are blurry, slightly pixellated.

It seems from various fora that this is a notorious problem. Macs have had this trouble with external displays for years without any response, that I can find at least, from Apple. Following most threads, the final option appears to be "forcing RGB mode" per these instructions.

I've done this, but to no avail as you can see from this screenshot.

What choices do I have? Must I return the Samsung monitor? In which case, any and all guidance in knowing how to select an alternative welcome. Thank you.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, macOS Sierra (10.12.3)

Posted on Feb 28, 2017 7:57 AM

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Answer 1

psheldrake Author

Level 1

21 points

Mar 4, 2017 6:35 AM in response to psheldrake

Well here's a turn up for the books! I think I've sorted it. Running through the manual one last time before putting the screen back in its box to return it, I searched for references to "blurry" and found it in instructions for adjusting sharpness. Well, I've increased sharpness before, I said to myself, but what the **** I'll give it another go. Set at 60. Going to 70, 80, 90 and no improvement, just as before! Back to 60.

And then I thought, well what if I reduce sharpness, as odd as that sounds for sorting blurry fonts. And blow me down, it worked! Sharpness at 28 - 32 works a treat. So simple. So unobvious.

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Answer 2

psheldrake Author

Level 1

21 points

Mar 2, 2017 3:54 AM in response to psheldrake

I'm finding it impossible to find anything from Apple on the problem of blurry fonts on external monitors. Fortunately, while the initial telephone support from Samsung was not great (remove and reinsert the HDMI cable?!), the @SamsungUK Twitter team responded to a tweet I cc'd them on, and have arranged for one of their "IT experts" to call me.

No call yesterday. Perhaps today. I'll post back here afterwards ... one would hope Samsung knows something about connecting its computer monitors to Apple machinery. Fingers crossed ... but if anyone here has any ideas in the meantime ... :-)

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Answer 3

psheldrake Author

Level 1

21 points

Mar 4, 2017 4:01 AM in response to psheldrake

Still no call from Samsung. Such a shame as this is a good looking monitor that meets all my needs in every other respect. But rendering fonts nicely is obviously a must-have.

I have 14 days to return it for a no quibbles refund, so I might be on the market for a new model in a few days if anyone has any recommendations. The LG 34UC98? http://www.lg.com/uk/business/monitor/monitor-products/lg-34UC98

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