BenQ PD3226G - refresh rate and HDR questions

[imacken]

So, I am using the new BenQ PD3226G 4K 144Hz on my M4 Max Mac Studio.
I have 2 questions:
1) the monitor is 144Hz, so why can I only set it to 100Hz in Settings>Display?
2) HDR is not available unless I lower the frequency from 100Hz to 60Hz. Is this correct?

 

[imacken]

So, looking into this a bit more, it's even more confusing. The options available are dependent on the resolution.

1920x1080 - 144Hz and HDR

2560x1440 - 144Hz and HDR

3008x1692 - 120Hz and no HDR

3360x1890 - 100Hz and no HDR

3560x2160 - 144Hz and HDR.

When I wrote the first post, I was running at 3360x1890. For me, the weird thing is why are all options available at the highest resolution.

Can anyone explain this?

 

[FatLouie]

Did you find out anything? Are you looking at the OSD for the monitor or the Mac? If PIP/PBP is enabled then there are some timing differences, of course driven by the connector type as well. I will guess this has to do with the monitor more so than the Studio. Am curious as I intend to buy this monitor.

 

[buggz]

Have you tried BetterDisplay app?

 

[AlaskaMoose]

Did you find out anything? Are you looking at the OSD for the monitor or the Mac? If PIP/PBP is enabled then there are some timing differences, of course driven by the connector type as well. I will guess this has to do with the monitor more so than the Studio. Am curious as I intend to buy this monitor.

I too am interested on the same monitor for photo editing. I haven't bought it because I want to know more about how it works with the Studio Max M4.

By the way, there is a 27" 5k BenQ monitor that costs slightly more than the 32" 4K. While the brightness of this BenQ 5K screen is not as high as the Apple 5K screen, it has other features that makes it more convenient for me. For example, the included sort of satin or not light reflective screen, the series of powered TB and other ports, the stand, etc.

 

[imacken]

I too am interested on the same monitor for photo editing. I haven't bought it because I want to know more about how it works with the Studio Max M4.

By the way, there is a 27" 5k BenQ monitor that costs slightly more than the 32" 4K. While the brightness of this BenQ 5K screen is not as high as the Apple 5K screen, it has other features that makes it more convenient for me. For example, the included sort of satin or not light reflective screen, the series of powered TB and other ports, the stand, etc.

Yep, I looked at that. The issue for me is that there is not enough screen real estate on the 27". The PD3226G also has the matte screen, powered TB ports and the stand complements the Mac Studio and peripherals - black trackpad, keyboard, etc. - very well.

 

[imacken]

Did you find out anything? Are you looking at the OSD for the monitor or the Mac? If PIP/PBP is enabled then there are some timing differences, of course driven by the connector type as well. I will guess this has to do with the monitor more so than the Studio. Am curious as I intend to buy this monitor.

Best thing is to look at the other thread I have going on this on Apple forums here

Mac Studio M4 Max and BenQ PD3226G Displa… - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

There is a lot of confusion with the first guy not seeing my point, but the last post from 'Servant of Cats' on page 2 probably explains things well. Very similar to what BenQ support told me.
For me, it makes no difference that 144Hx isn't available at all resolutions - usually 120Hz or 100Hz - as I use the native res of 2160p which has 144Hx and HDR available.
It really is a great monitor for the Mac Studio.

 

[AlaskaMoose]

Best thing is to look at the other thread I have going on this on Apple forums here

Mac Studio M4 Max and BenQ PD3226G Displa… - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

There is a lot of confusion with the first guy not seeing my point, but the last post from 'Servant of Cats' on page 2 probably explains things well. Very similar to what BenQ support told me.
For me, it makes no difference that 144Hx isn't available at all resolutions - usually 120Hz or 100Hz - as I use the native res of 2160p which has 144Hx and HDR available.
It really is a great monitor for the Mac Studio.

Thank you for posting the link to the discussion about the BenQ screen. It is very useful!

Also, my most sincere apology to imacken for responding to your post. After all, he's the OP of this thread 😊

 

[imacken]

Thank you for posting the link to the discussion about the BenQ screen. It is very useful!

Also, my most sincere apology to imacken for responding to your post. After all, he's the OP of this thread 😊

Sorry, I’m confused. I am imacken, the OP of both threads!

 

[AlaskaMoose]

Sorry, I’m confused. I am imacken, the OP of both threads!

🤣 I am the one who was confused!!!

Thanks!

 

[FatLouie]

Best thing is to look at the other thread I have going on this on Apple forums here

Mac Studio M4 Max and BenQ PD3226G Displa… - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

There is a lot of confusion with the first guy not seeing my point, but the last post from 'Servant of Cats' on page 2 probably explains things well. Very similar to what BenQ support told me.
For me, it makes no difference that 144Hx isn't available at all resolutions - usually 120Hz or 100Hz - as I use the native res of 2160p which has 144Hx and HDR available.
It really is a great monitor for the Mac Studio.

Thanks for the link, your struggles and your suffering.

Reading all of that several times, (now have a boggled mind) I almost come to the conclusion the monitor is made more for Windows than Mac. Almost. I think that perhaps BENQ did not take into consideration the internal math the GPU does and also perhaps did not note the HDR limitations in their marketing. I expect the BENQ support people probably did not realise the same Retina internal math that was going on when they worked with you.

Like you, I will use the monitor at 2160p/144Hz so I am good to go with that. But, I am a little miffed that HDR is restricted, not a game changer for me, just one of those..."hmmmm, that is odd" type of being miffed.

 

[imacken]

Tbh, no HDR at certain resolutions is no big deal as on the Mac, displays look much better without it imo.
Don’t think iMacs or Apple Display have the HDR option any way.

 

[imacken]

You guys might also be interested in the latest response from BenQ support:

‘Regarding why 1920 x1080 at 144Hz shows up while the monitor only supports up to 120Hz at this resolution, we have confirmed that this is a MacOS issue. When set to 1920 x 1080, the signal out put from Mac is still at 3840 x 2160, and the refresh rate is supported up to 144Hz at that resolution. In other words, due to the way MacOS works, the monitor is still detecting 3840 x 2160 from the source computer.

This is the same behavior on Mac's native screen if you change resolution settings, if you set at 3840x2160, everything on the screen looks smaller, but if set to a lower resolution, everything is then scaled up, but the actual resolution is still at the panel's native resolution.

And we have also observed that when selected the resolution from 2304x1296 to 3360x1890, the Mac's image is double pixel, so HDR cannot be selected, as there is not enough bandwidth left in this situation.

At the moment, as the issue is mainly caused by how Mac devices work with resolution, there is nothing we can do to improve the behavior. But you can rest assured that our team has requested Apple for some more information to follow up with the issue. We would encourage you to also contact Apple directly for further assistance on the issue.’

 

[AlaskaMoose]

You guys might also be interested in the latest response from BenQ support:

‘Regarding why 1920 x1080 at 144Hz shows up while the monitor only supports up to 120Hz at this resolution, we have confirmed that this is a MacOS issue. When set to 1920 x 1080, the signal out put from Mac is still at 3840 x 2160, and the refresh rate is supported up to 144Hz at that resolution. In other words, due to the way MacOS works, the monitor is still detecting 3840 x 2160 from the source computer.

This is the same behavior on Mac's native screen if you change resolution settings, if you set at 3840x2160, everything on the screen looks smaller, but if set to a lower resolution, everything is then scaled up, but the actual resolution is still at the panel's native resolution.

And we have also observed that when selected the resolution from 2304x1296 to 3360x1890, the Mac's image is double pixel, so HDR cannot be selected, as there is not enough bandwidth left in this situation.

At the moment, as the issue is mainly caused by how Mac devices work with resolution, there is nothing we can do to improve the behavior. But you can rest assured that our team has requested Apple for some more information to follow up with the issue. We would encourage you to also contact Apple directly for further assistance on the issue.’

That's very interesting!

 

[FatLouie]

You guys might also be interested in the latest response from BenQ support:

‘Regarding why 1920 x1080 at 144Hz shows up while the monitor only supports up to 120Hz at this resolution, we have confirmed that this is a MacOS issue. When set to 1920 x 1080, the signal out put from Mac is still at 3840 x 2160, and the refresh rate is supported up to 144Hz at that resolution. In other words, due to the way MacOS works, the monitor is still detecting 3840 x 2160 from the source computer.

This is the same behavior on Mac's native screen if you change resolution settings, if you set at 3840x2160, everything on the screen looks smaller, but if set to a lower resolution, everything is then scaled up, but the actual resolution is still at the panel's native resolution.

And we have also observed that when selected the resolution from 2304x1296 to 3360x1890, the Mac's image is double pixel, so HDR cannot be selected, as there is not enough bandwidth left in this situation.

At the moment, as the issue is mainly caused by how Mac devices work with resolution, there is nothing we can do to improve the behavior. But you can rest assured that our team has requested Apple for some more information to follow up with the issue. We would encourage you to also contact Apple directly for further assistance on the issue.’

Hmmm...perhaps in a few months we will see a BenQ Firmware release to improve the MAC 'adaptability' of the monitor. I will still purchase the PD3226G, no doubt about that. I am thoroughly impressed with how well their Tech Support worked with you on this matter. Very impressive.

 

[imacken]

Yep, the techs at BenQ have been amazing. Detailed responses to all queries within a day usually.

 

[AlaskaMoose]

Hmmm...perhaps in a few months we will see a BenQ Firmware release to improve the MAC 'adaptability' of the monitor. I will still purchase the PD3226G, no doubt about that. I am thoroughly impressed with how well their Tech Support worked with you on this matter. Very impressive.

I will have to decide which screen size to buy. Either the 27" 5k, or the 32" 4k. 4k or 5k makes no difference to me. Although I may have to move the larger monitor to the rear of the desk, away from my face. Anyway my mind is set on either of the two BenQ monitors.

 

[FatLouie]

I will have to decide which screen size to buy. Either the 27" 5k, or the 32" 4k. 4k or 5k makes no difference to me. Although I may have to move the larger monitor to the rear of the desk, away from my face. Anyway my mind is set on either of the two BenQ monitors.

Either monitor would be an excellent choice. Other than the differences between 4K and 5K resolutions, and size, the specs are nearly identical. I have toyed with getting the 5K, but I want the faster response time and refresh rate of the 32" PD3226G. But, honestly, I would be happy with either one, however, at some point I have to stop 'spec shopping' and choose.

 

[AlaskaMoose]

Either monitor would be an excellent choice. Other than the differences between 4K and 5K resolutions, and size, the specs are nearly identical. I have toyed with getting the 5K, but I want the faster response time and refresh rate of the 32" PD3226G. But, honestly, I would be happy with either one, however, at some point I have to stop 'spec shopping' and choose.

Yes, I have to do the same, although I am not in a rush to buy a Mac M4 tudio and the BenQ monitor. Other than a Mac Studio Max with at least 64-96 RAM, 2TB SSD, and the BenQ monitor, I still have to spend some time deciding about accessories such as a keyboard, cables and things like that. External HDD's and SSD's aren't a problem for me since I have a few of these near my 2019 iMac, some which I still haven't formatted. I do prefer a keyboard that has a fingerprint ID, but...