HELP - MacBook Air M2 and Huawei Mateview 28.2

[garykaifong]

Just got myself a MacBook Air M2 and Huawei Mateview 28.2. May I ask some silly questions:

- The Mateview is supposed to be a 3840x2560 panel. However, when I set it to Default, it displays only 1920x1280. Does it I am not getting the full resolution of the Mateview for photos/videos/games? However, if I set it to More Space (3840x2560), everything on screen looks super small that I can barely read. How can I get the full resolution of 3840x2560, while things are properly sized?

- From what I read online, the Mateview can only do 3840x2560 @60Hz with 8-bit color depth. In order to get 10-bit color, one can scale it down to 3600x2400 @60Hz. Now my question is how do I know it is running 8-bit or 10-bit color? Where can I check out such info? Or I need to use 3rd-party app to show it?

- When I first set it up, I tried to connect the Mateview to my MBA vis USBC. However, the Mateview does not show up on my MBA. Then I connect it via miniDP instead, which works. I read somewhere online saying the USBC cable supplied by Huawei is a poor quality one. I have ordered a new 3rd-party USBC cable. I am just wondering if this is really the case with the cable or is it the port's problem?

Appreciate if anyone can help.

Thanks and regards
Gary

 

[jdb8167]

The Mateview is supposed to be a 3840x2560 panel. However, when I set it to Default, it displays only 1920x1280. Does it I am not getting the full resolution of the Mateview for photos/videos/games? However, if I set it to More Space (3840x2560), everything on screen looks super small that I can barely read. How can I get the full resolution of 3840x2560, while things are properly sized?

That’s how MacOS scales content so you get full resolution. It scales the content at 2x but uses the full 3840x2560 resolution for the pixels. Apple calls this Retina because at normal viewing distance you can’t see individual pixels.

Of course Apple actually wouldn’t call the MateView Retina because it is displaying about 164 PPI and Apple wants its high resolution displays at about 210 to 220 PPI. But at normal viewing distance, it should be fine.

You can verify the resolution by going to the Apple menu and option click to open System Information. In the side panel choose Graphics/Displays. You should see a description that says something like UI Looks Like.

Sorry I can’t help on the other questions.

 

[Amethyst1]

- The Mateview is supposed to be a 3840x2560 panel. However, when I set it to Default, it displays only 1920x1280. Does it I am not getting the full resolution of the Mateview for photos/videos/games? However, if I set it to More Space (3840x2560), everything on screen looks super small that I can barely read. How can I get the full resolution of 3840x2560, while things are properly sized?

The MateView is always run at its full resolution, no matter what you select in System Preferences > Displays. The way scaling works in macOS is there's only two sizes of assets, 100% ("normal") and 200% ("HiDPI"). When you use a high-res display, the 200% ("HiDPI") assets are always used - unless you select "More Space (3840×2560)" in the case of the MateView. If you select a resolution that is not 1920×1280 or 3840×2560, macOS creates a framebuffer four times the size of the specified resolution, displays the 200% assets and scales the framebuffer before it's output to the display. All that changes when you go through these options is the size of the framebuffer.

- From what I read online, the Mateview can only do 3840x2560 @60Hz with 8-bit color depth. In order to get 10-bit color, one can scale it down to 3600x2400 @60Hz. Now my question is how do I know it is running 8-bit or 10-bit color? Where can I check out such info? Or I need to use 3rd-party app to show it?

I think you need AllRez to show that info. But macOS always defaults to running the monitor at the highest resolution, i.e. 3840×2560 at 8 bpc in this case. If you want 10 bpc, you need to use SwitchResX to set the scaled resolution base to 3600×2400, which should™ cause macOS to run the monitor at 3600×2400 10 bpc.

You can verify the resolution by going to the Apple menu and option click to open System Information. In the side panel choose Graphics/Displays. You should see a description that says something like UI Looks Like.

That is not the actual resolution the monitor is running at, but the HiDPI mode selected in System Preferences > Displays. The only way to check what resolution the monitor is actually running at is by using AllRez or SwitchResX.

 

[garykaifong]

I think you need AllRez to show that info. But macOS always defaults to running the monitor at the highest resolution, i.e. 3840×2560 at 8 bpc in this case. If you want 10 bpc, you need to use SwitchResX to set the scaled resolution base to 3600×2400, which should™ cause macOS to run the monitor at 3600×2400 10 bpc.

Amethyst1, thanks for your clarification, which certainly helps. I have played around with SwitchResX a bit, but don't quite know what to do with it. Could you be kind enough to show me the steps which I can set the Mateview to 3600x2400 so that I can "activate" the 10-bit color? As for AllRez, the link you provided seems too technical for me unfortunately.

 

[Amethyst1]

I have played around with SwitchResX a bit, but don't quite know what to do with it. Could you be kind enough to show me the steps which I can set the Mateview to 3600x2400 so that I can "activate" the 10-bit color?

Sure. Launch SwitchResX and click on the MateView in the left part of its main window. The main window should then look like this:

Click the checkbox next to "Scaled resolutions base" (white rectangle) so that the setting is unlocked and change it to 3600×2400. Click File > Save. Then, disconnect and reconnect the MateView or reboot to apply the setting.

To verify if the change has been applied, launch SwitchResX again, click on the MateView, change to the "Current Resolutions" tab and scroll until you find the currently used HiDPI mode, which has a checked radio button next to it. Double-click on the mode, which causes a window to open:

Check if the "Active" line (white rectangle) now reads 3600 pixels by 2400 lines. This means the monitor is being driven at 3600×2400 and (hopefully) 10 bpc. My screenshot shows the default, i.e. 3840×2560 and thus 8 bpc.

As for AllRez, the link you provided seems too technical for me unfortunately.

I've done some research and AFAICS AllRez doesn't output colour information on Apple Silicon Macs, only on Intel ones. So it won't help in your case.

 

[garykaifong]

Check if the "Active" line (white rectangle) now reads 3600 pixels by 2400 lines. This means the monitor is being driven at 3600×2400 and (hopefully) 10 bpc. My screenshot shows the default, i.e. 3840×2560 and thus 8 bpc.

Amethyst1, thanks a lot for the detailed instruction. Yes, I am getting the expected result and able to configure it to 3600x2400. Now the remaining question is how I could know it is running at 10-bit colour. I have googled a bit, and there seems no quick & dirty way of getting the info.

 

[garykaifong]

Check if the "Active" line (white rectangle) now reads 3600 pixels by 2400 lines. This means the monitor is being driven at 3600×2400 and (hopefully) 10 bpc. My screenshot shows the default, i.e. 3840×2560 and thus 8 bpc.

Another silly question. I have not yet registered SwitchResX. I am wondering what will happen after the 10-day free trial period. Will it go back to 3840x2560, or remain 3600x2400?

 

[Amethyst1]

Now the remaining question is how I could know it is running at 10-bit colour. I have googled a bit, and there seems no quick & dirty way of getting the info.

Maybe @joevt (the developer of AllRez) knows a way to check this on Apple Silicon.

Another silly question. I have not yet registered SwitchResX. I am wondering what will happen after the 10-day free trial period. Will it go back to 3840x2560, or remain 3600x2400?

It won't revert, but you won't be able to make additional changes in SwitchResX. Uninstalling SwitchResX causes all changes to revert.

 

[garykaifong]

Maybe @joevt (the developer of AllRez) knows a way to check this on Apple Silicon.

Sure will check with @joevt.

It won't revert, but you won't be able to make additional changes in SwitchResX. Uninstalling SwitchResX causes all changes to revert.

Understand. Thanks.

 

[garykaifong]

@joevt, may I ask if there is a way to check whether an external display is running at 8-bit or 10-bit colour, using MacBook Air M2? Thanks.

 

[joevt]

@joevt, may I ask if there is a way to check whether an external display is running at 8-bit or 10-bit colour, using MacBook Air M2? Thanks.

I don't think I've found a method to discover this information. I don't have an Apple Silicon Mac to research with. My AllRez tool can get some info from Apple Silicon Macs but I don't think it does enough yet to get color depth. It gets some info from ioreg. The ioreg lists display modes and what color modes can be used with each display mode but I don't think ioreg includes info about what color mode is being used. There may be useful info in the preferences files but I haven't checked https://gist.github.com/GetVladimir/c89a26df1806001543bef4c8d90cc2f8

 

[garykaifong]

I don't think I've found a method to discover this information. I don't have an Apple Silicon Mac to research with. My AllRez tool can get some info from Apple Silicon Macs but I don't think it does enough yet to get color depth. It gets some info from ioreg. The ioreg lists display modes and what color modes can be used with each display mode but I don't think ioreg includes info about what color mode is being used. There may be useful info in the preferences files but I haven't checked https://gist.github.com/GetVladimir/c89a26df1806001543bef4c8d90cc2f8

Thanks joevt. I see. The link is too technical for me ... Lol

 

[garykaifong]

Sure. Launch SwitchResX and click on the MateView in the left part of its main window. The main window should then look like this:

View attachment 2132655

Click the checkbox next to "Scaled resolutions base" (white rectangle) so that the setting is unlocked and change it to 3600×2400. Click File > Save. Then, disconnect and reconnect the MateView or reboot to apply the setting.

To verify if the change has been applied, launch SwitchResX again, click on the MateView, change to the "Current Resolutions" tab and scroll until you find the currently used HiDPI mode, which has a checked radio button next to it. Double-click on the mode, which causes a window to open:

View attachment 2132656

Check if the "Active" line (white rectangle) now reads 3600 pixels by 2400 lines. This means the monitor is being driven at 3600×2400 and (hopefully) 10 bpc. My screenshot shows the default, i.e. 3840×2560 and thus 8 bpc.


I've done some research and AFAICS AllRez doesn't output colour information on Apple Silicon Macs, only on Intel ones. So it won't help in your case.

Sure. Launch SwitchResX and click on the MateView in the left part of its main window. The main window should then look like this:

View attachment 2132655

Click the checkbox next to "Scaled resolutions base" (white rectangle) so that the setting is unlocked and change it to 3600×2400. Click File > Save. Then, disconnect and reconnect the MateView or reboot to apply the setting.

To verify if the change has been applied, launch SwitchResX again, click on the MateView, change to the "Current Resolutions" tab and scroll until you find the currently used HiDPI mode, which has a checked radio button next to it. Double-click on the mode, which causes a window to open:

View attachment 2132656

Check if the "Active" line (white rectangle) now reads 3600 pixels by 2400 lines. This means the monitor is being driven at 3600×2400 and (hopefully) 10 bpc. My screenshot shows the default, i.e. 3840×2560 and thus 8 bpc.


I've done some research and AFAICS AllRez doesn't output colour information on Apple Silicon Macs, only on Intel ones. So it won't help in your case.

Amethyst1

After the above change, SwitchResX still says "millions of colors", instead of "billions of colors", all the time, except for 1 occasion. Last night when I unplugged and re-plugged the cables of my thunderbolt hub and the Mateview, at one point, "billions of colors" suddenly showed up, which was then changed back to "millions of colors" after a few hours. This makes me start thinking maybe 3600x2400 is kind of reaching the threshold limit of DP1.2, and maybe I could get a stable 10-bit signal if I lower the ACTIVE resolution further to allow for more headroom. Therefore, apart from 3600x2400, do you know where/how I can check what other NATIVE resolutions are supported by Mateview, so that I can adjust the ACTIVE resolution accordingly? Thanks.

Update: I tried to change the Scaled Resolution Base to 3000x2000 last night, but SwitchResX does not allow me to save. No idea why!? Not sure if it is because 3000x2000 is not a native resolution supported by Mateview!?

By the way, I don't think it's the cables, as I am using DP2.0 and TB4 cables.

One more thing, after the change, when I play 4KHDR videos on YouTube, and the stats for nerds shows "bt709" if I have HDR off, and "smpte2084 (pq) / bt2020" if I have HDR on. Does it mean I am on 10-bit already? Or it is totally unrelated? Thanks.

 

[Amethyst1]

After the above change, SwitchResX still says "millions of colors", instead of "billions of colors", all the time, except for 1 occasion. Last night when I unplugged and re-plugged the cables of my thunderbolt hub and the Mateview, at one point, "billions of colors" suddenly showed up, which was then changed back to "millions of colors" after a few hours.

SwitchResX says "billions of colours" for me even though I know my MateViews run at 8 bpc.

This makes me start thinking maybe 3600x2400 is kind of reaching the threshold limit of DP1.2, and maybe I could get a stable 10-bit signal if I lower the ACTIVE resolution further to allow for more headroom. Therefore, apart from 3600x2400, do you know where/how I can check what other NATIVE resolutions are supported by Mateview, so that I can adjust the ACTIVE resolution accordingly? Thanks.

3600×2400 at 10 bpc is very close to the threshold of DisplayPort 1.2, but being close still means it has to work. As for what resolutions are supported, you can export its EDID in SwitchResX. 3000×2000 is listed in the MateView's EDID, as is 2160×1440, 2560×1440 and 3600×2400.

Update: I tried to change the Scaled Resolution Base to 3000x2000 last night, but SwitchResX does not allow me to save. No idea why!? Not sure if it is because 3000x2000 is not a native resolution supported by Mateview!?

If your trial has expired, SwitchResX won't save any changes.

 

[garykaifong]

SwitchResX says "billions of colours" for me even though I know my MateViews run at 8 bpc.


3600×2400 at 10 bpc is very close to the threshold of DisplayPort 1.2, but being close still means it has to work. As for what resolutions are supported, you can export its EDID in SwitchResX. 3000×2000 is listed in the MateView's EDID, as is 2160×1440, 2560×1440 and 3600×2400.


If your trial has expired, SwitchResX won't save any changes.

Are you using M1/2 Mac? Can show me how you "know" your MateView runs at 8bpc?

 

[Amethyst1]

Can show me how you "know" your MateView runs at 8bpc?

I run them at 3840×2560 which forces 8bpc. I'm on an Intel Mac so I can use the AGDCDiagnose command built into macOS to confirm they're run at 8bpc. Using AGDCDiagnose, I can also confirm they're run at 10bpc if I drop the resolution to 3600×2400.

 

[nexx27]

Wow, I was ready to pull the trigger on the MateView, but after that resolution / color issue I'm really disappointed....

What's the point in having a 10bpc capable panel and not be able to run at native resolution... Also, why there's such limitation. Is it a DP1.2 bandwidth issue?

Also, does the volume and brightness buttons on the mac keyboard works on MateView? I suppose it doesn't, because it is not running through a thunderbolt connection (display+data) like the Apple Studio Display runs...

Thanks

 

[Amethyst1]

What's the point in having a 10bpc capable panel and not be able to run at native resolution... Also, why there's such limitation. Is it a DP1.2 bandwidth issue?

The native 3840×2560@60Hz CVT-RB mode requires a 631.75 MHz pixel clock. DisplayPort 1.2's limit for 10bpc is 576 MHz.

Also, does the volume and brightness buttons on the mac keyboard works on MateView?

Not out of the box, but MonitorControl enables both brightness and volume adjustment via the keyboard.

 

[joevt]

I run them at 3840×2560 which forces 8bpc. I'm on an Intel Mac so I can use the AGDCDiagnose command built into macOS to confirm they're run at 8bpc. Using AGDCDiagnose, I can also confirm they're run at 10bpc if I drop the resolution to 3600×2400.

Can you drop the frame rate to get max resolution at 10bpc?

 

[Amethyst1]

Can you drop the frame rate to get max resolution at 10bpc?

Yup. Using CVT-RB:

3660×2440 59.9Hz 575.06MHz: 10bpc
3840×2560 54.7Hz 574.81MHz: 10bpc
3840×2560 54.8Hz 575.81MHz: 8bpc

Update: Using CVT-RBv2, I can have 3696×2464 59.9Hz or 3840×2560 55.8Hz at 10bpc. I also get the HDR option in System Preferences > Displays.