Help needed: Productivity vs. Gaming Setup (90/10) with Desk Space & Mac Scaling Constraints. 57" G9 vs. 40" 5K2K?

[Mufimufin]

Hi everyone,

I need advice on choosing a monitor setup primarily for work (office) but also for a mix of work and gaming at home. My usage ratio is about 90% Productivity / 10% Gaming.

I apologize for the longer post, but the situation is complicated by specific constraints (desk size, Mac scaling) which I’ve tried to detail below.

My Current Hardware:

• Office (Work): MacBook Pro 14" M3 Max (forced to use macOS primarily for battery life).
• Home (Work + Gaming): i7-13700K, 64GB RAM, RTX 5070 Ti 16GB.
• Current Monitors: Dell U3415W + Dell U3417W (Both 3440 x 1440). Currently stacked vertically.
• Current Mount: Ergotron LX Dual Stacking Arm (45-509).

The Main Requirement: I need to have at least 4 document windows open side-by-side (I work with a lot of text). My current setup (2x 34" stacked) handles this well. I got used to the vertical stack quickly, and the curve was only an issue at first. It saves incredible amounts of time for multitasking and comparing documents without Alt-Tabing.

The Constraints & Problems:

1. Mac Scaling (HiDPI): This is the biggest bottleneck and frustration for me. I can objectively confirm that my current 34" 1440p monitors look bad/blurry with macOS because they lack HiDPI support. Even with BetterDisplay, the text clarity isn't there. I need crisp text for reading all day. I guess that I need to prioritize some high PPI monitor (closer to 251 PPI that Macbook Pro M3 Max has) that can run HiDPI out of the box but I am unable to find any.
2. Home Desk Space: My home desk is only 120 cm wide (and 80 cm deep). There is a walkway right next to it, so the monitor cannot overhang the desk (max width 120 cm), otherwise, I will bump into it.
   • implication: This rules out anything wider than approx 49-50" for home use and of course 57" unless its curved
   • Note: My external office has plenty of space, so no size limits there.
3. Burn-in Anxiety: Since 90% of my time is static text/UI, I am worried about OLED burn-in (I’ve seen it on my older LG OLED TV). This leans me towards IPS or Mini-LED.

The Dilemma: I was planning to buy a massive monitor for home, but given the desk size and Mac scaling issues, I am now considering keeping the 2x 34" stacked setup at home and buying a high-end productivity beast for the Office instead, but that is where I run into the HiDPI problem.

The Candidates I'm considering:

• Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 57" (Dual UHD):
  • reported HiDPI issues, huge space.
  • Too big for home. Would have to go to the Office.
• Samsung Odyssey G9 49":
  • Fits the home desk (barely).
  • Low PPI (1440p vertical) = bad text on Mac (no HiDPI). Seems like a downgrade for productivity compared to stacked 34s.
• Dell U5226KW (52"):
  • Confirmed scaling issues with macOS (HiDPI).
• Dell U4025QW (40" 5K2K):
  • Probably the only screen without HiDPI issues that also fits at home?
  • Is it big enough? It feels like a compromise compared to the sheer real estate of 2x 34".

My Questions:

1. Validation: Does the plan to keep the old 34s at home and get some 57" for the office (where I have space + M3 Max) make the most sense?
2. GPU: Can the RTX 5070 Ti handle the 57" (7680x2160) for casual gaming if I ever bring the PC to the office?
3. Mounting: I assume my Ergotron LX won't hold the 57" G9. Is the Ergotron HX with HD Pivot mandatory, or can it stand on a desk comfortably without eating all the depth?
4. Connectivity: Any major issues connecting the 57" to M3 Max via Dock vs. direct cable? (I know MagSafe charges faster, so dock power limits aren't a huge deal).

References/Threads I’ve checked:

• Reddit: G9 49 Neo or 57 Productivity and Gaming(User has a similar problem, but uses extra screens below).
• Reddit: G9 49 OLED or 57 for mix
• Reddit: Samsung 57 useless for productivity?(Some negation, but mostly praise for sharing windows).
• Reddit: Dell U5226KW with macOS(Scaling issues discussed).

Videos I watched:

• Samsung 57 Productivity
• New Dell 5K2K

What would you recommend I buy? I’m in no rush, so I can wait if something better is on the horizon. Thanks!

 

[Pezimak]

I would say the Dell U4025QW, apparently it has very good text clarity, or the LG 40U990A-W, think it has teh same screen as the DELL but not sure? http://www.lg.com/uk/monitors/uhd-4...sFf5K_5QN3SkwGBu5-PEKKyogeND60LY0Rx78AJFpQMvi

Or what about the up coming LG 5K 2K OLED 39” widescreen? It is a tandem WOLED so should have good text clarity and they say tandem OLED won’t burn in as much. But I am yet to see that actually proven.

The LG 39GX950B is the World First 39" 5K2K OLED Monitor to be Announced - TFTCentral

Share this contentAhead of CES in a couple of week’s time, LG Electronics have unveiled their line-up of new monitors that will be on show at the event. They also....[click link for more]

tftcentral.co.uk

 

[Mufimufin]

Thank you. It seems that there is no ideal option, and each of them has some drawbacks.

Just to compare the pixel density:

• Dell U4025QW – 140 PPI - quite old, no fan
• LG 40U990A-W – 139 PPI - new model, fan noise issues, dull colors, lower ratings
• LG 39GX950B (new WOLED) – 142 PPI - unable to buy, because its new
• Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 57" - 140 PPI (confirmed scaling and other issues)

So in terms of pixel density, they’re all pretty much on the same level.

Do any of you have hands-on experience with any of these on a MacBook Pro (M3 Max or similar)?

I’m trying to avoid issues with blurry text or scaling problems on macOS. The problem is that macOS still only supports a handful of actual scaling presets cleanly. Outside of those, you get non-native scaled modes that rely on interpolation (blurry text, weird UI elements and some apps seems to ignore scaling entirely).

 

[kasakka]

I use the Samsung G95NC 57" with a Macbook Pro M2 Max. It's best used with the Picture by Picture mode to get adequate scaling. I run it off the HDMI port + USB-C -> Displayport split into 21:9 + 11:9 portions.

The max scaling is 3840x1620 HiDPI on the 21:9 side, same as on the 5120x2160 ultrawides.

You simply can't avoid the hard limit of 7680x4320 framebuffer limit that MacOS imposes on all Macs.
3840x1620 HiDPI = 7680x3240 render resolution, therefore hitting that 8K horizontal res wall.

Until Apple removes that limit, there's just not much you can do. You can use BetterDisplay to get around this by streaming virtual displays without these limitations, but it's a hacky solution.

I've been using the PbP approach where two lower res displays via PbP allow for adequate scaling over one very high res one.

Non-integer scaled HiDPI resolutions are IMO not a real issue when talking about 4K+ res displays. Your 1440p ultrawides just have too low resolution for effective HiDPI scaling.

 

[Dark-Signature]

Thank you. It seems that there is no ideal option, and each of them has some drawbacks.

Just to compare the pixel density:

• Dell U4025QW – 140 PPI - quite old, no fan
• LG 40U990A-W – 139 PPI - new model, fan noise issues, dull colors, lower ratings
• LG 39GX950B (new WOLED) – 142 PPI - unable to buy, because its new
• Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 57" - 140 PPI (confirmed scaling and other issues)

So in terms of pixel density, they’re all pretty much on the same level.

Do any of you have hands-on experience with any of these on a MacBook Pro (M3 Max or similar)?

I’m trying to avoid issues with blurry text or scaling problems on macOS. The problem is that macOS still only supports a handful of actual scaling presets cleanly. Outside of those, you get non-native scaled modes that rely on interpolation (blurry text, weird UI elements and some apps seems to ignore scaling entirely).

If you want to experience the best screen quality, then you (like the rest of us) need to buy a monitor with ~220 PPI. Anything else is, in my humble opinion, inferior quality, so you might as well stick with your old monitor.

 

[Pezimak]

Thank you. It seems that there is no ideal option, and each of them has some drawbacks.

Just to compare the pixel density:

• Dell U4025QW – 140 PPI - quite old, no fan
• LG 40U990A-W – 139 PPI - new model, fan noise issues, dull colors, lower ratings
• LG 39GX950B (new WOLED) – 142 PPI - unable to buy, because its new
• Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 57" - 140 PPI (confirmed scaling and other issues)

So in terms of pixel density, they’re all pretty much on the same level.

Do any of you have hands-on experience with any of these on a MacBook Pro (M3 Max or similar)?

I’m trying to avoid issues with blurry text or scaling problems on macOS. The problem is that macOS still only supports a handful of actual scaling presets cleanly. Outside of those, you get non-native scaled modes that rely on interpolation (blurry text, weird UI elements and some apps seems to ignore scaling entirely).

Sadly I have not had any hands on time with these monitors. Out of that list then the best option is the Dell. It may well be worth you waiting though as their is a 'chance' we may see 5K 2K 34" monitors this year, and that will give a higher PPI.

 

[Mufimufin]

Thank you all for the recommendations and insights, I really appreciate it.

Regarding the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 57":While the specs are impressive, I’ve read several reviews mentioning issues with color consistency when using multiple inputs simultaneously (PBP mode) – specifically that the color temperature or calibration looks different on each half of the screen. Have you noticed anything like that?Also, I’ve seen reports about a "clicking" or "popping" noise coming from the left side of the monitor due to thermal expansion/contraction. Is your unit silent?If you have a moment, would you mind sharing a close-up photo or screenshot of how text renders on it via macOS? That would help a lot.

Regarding the 220 PPI suggestion:I understand that ~220 PPI is the best you can get for macOS retina clarity. However, chasing that density inevitably leads me back to 27" panels (like the Studio Display). That would completely kill the productivity workflow I described in my original post. I need a large continuous canvas to compare 4 documents side-by-side, and multiple small 27" monitors just don't offer that seamless experience (plus the cost is prohibitive for the screen real estate you get).

Current thoughts:To be honest, I was at a stage where I seriously considered buying a second Windows desktop for the office instead of using my MacBook Pro, just to solve these macOS scaling headaches once and for all. Windows handles these resolutions much better.

For now, the Dell U4025QW (40" 5K2K) seems like the most balanced choice to keep my sanity. Does anyone here actually own the Dell U4025QW?I would love to hear some real-world feedback on the text sharpness with an M3 Mac and ideally see a screenshot/photo of the text rendering.

Thanks again!

 

[chars1ub0w]

I have the 57" Samsung. I am worried that it's not popular enough to survive, and be updated. Thinking of buying a 2nd one as a spare if it goes on closeout. I use it in PIP mode half-half since I am driving it using a M1 Max. The screen real estate is such a game-changer for work. Shown here with a monitor arm and a miniature railway.

 

[Pezimak]

I have the 57" Samsung. I am worried that it's not popular enough to survive, and be updated. Thinking of buying a 2nd one as a spare if it goes on closeout. I use it in PIP mode half-half since I am driving it using a M1 Max. The screen real estate is such a game-changer for work. Shown here with a monitor arm and a miniature railway.

Oh that's cool. I could never do it though a I would never work lol. I'd watch my trains all day long. Love the fact it's different.

 

[Mufimufin]

@chars1ub0w Can you take a look at my questions about the monitor above? Thanks.

 

[chars1ub0w]

Regarding the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 57":While the specs are impressive, I’ve read several reviews mentioning issues with color consistency when using multiple inputs simultaneously (PBP mode) – specifically that the color temperature or calibration looks different on each half of the screen. Have you noticed anything like that?

No difference in color or calibration for me in PIP mode. One HDMI cable is from the 16" M1 Max MBP directly. The other cable is from my multi-function hub (which is connected to the MBP via two Thunderbolt 4 cables).

Also, I’ve seen reports about a "clicking" or "popping" noise coming from the left side of the monitor due to thermal expansion/contraction. Is your unit silent?

Never noticed a sound from the left.

If you have a moment, would you mind sharing a close-up photo or screenshot of how text renders on it via macOS? That would help a lot.

When I get home I can get a photo.

 

[chars1ub0w]

I took a 33MP RAW photo at each normally available resolution with a tripod-mounted Sony A7C II (full-frame) camera using a 24-80mm f/2.8 Sigma DG DN lens @ f/5.6 and 63.7mm focal length using a remote with a 5 sec delay. Each photo was opened in Adobe Camera RAW with the default lens profile and RAW Details applied only. No corrections were attempted. Saved at maximum JPG detail. Bear in mind the screen is curved and the moiré artifacts (camera sensor pixels vs. monitor pixels) you see are not present with the human eye. This is a much reduced image as there are limits on MacRumors image size. I'll post close-ups next.

Resolutions that show up normally:

My iPhone 14 Pro seems much worse and more interesting with moiré than my Sony A7C II:

 

[ascender]

If you really care about PPI, you will likely have an issue with these screens and the macOS scaling limitations.

I've used the Dell 40" and I think its the best ultrawide I've used in terms of ppi, useable resolution, brightness.

The idea of an ultrawide monitor for me is that I can have a massive workspace to use, but with a Mac, you either end up with using the native resolution of the screen meaning tiny text... or you have to drop to a lower resolution which means less screen space.

You can play about with text size in apps, zooming in on web browsers etc, but I've always found it to be a compromise. I almost always revert to multiple 27/32" screens, 5K or 6K.

 

[chars1ub0w]

OK, macOS Font Book @ 100%. Reference my previous post for the screen resolution settings from 1920 x 1080 to 3840 x 2160.

 

[chars1ub0w]

The background image @ the Panasonic sign.

 

[chars1ub0w]

The background image at the China Life Insurance Company sign. Reference a previous post for the screen resolution settings from 1920 x 1080 to 3840 x 2160, and don't worry about the moiré. You can see how macOS handles the scaling of the image (shown in a later post) with screen resolution.

 

[chars1ub0w]

This is the background image I use on the monitor. 13016 x 3666, my photo. This is what you see. And the Panasonic sign is to the left. Above the green and white ferry, maybe 30º to the right. And the China Life sign is a bit further up. Both signs can be clearly read at normal viewing distance. (There are smaller signs in the image that my eyes can't read.)

 

[Mufimufin]

Thank you!

My biggest fear stems from my experience with my current 34" monitors. It felt like a constant compromise—I was forced to either zoom in within individual apps and/or lower the resolution to make text legible. Both solutions led to a significant reduction in actual workspace, which is exactly what I want to avoid this time around.

As a lawyer, I work heavily with text documents all day. If I run into similar scaling headaches or loss of screen real estate with a new monitor, I am increasingly inclined to just buy a dedicated Windows PC for the office and relegate the MacBook Pro to travel duties only. Perhaps I can try it (Dell vs Samsung) first and buy PC later.

It would be a shame to sideline the M3 Max, but productivity and eye comfort have to come first.

 

[chars1ub0w]

As a lawyer, I work heavily with text documents all day. If I run into similar scaling headaches or loss of screen real estate with a new monitor, I am increasingly inclined to just buy a dedicated Windows PC for the office and relegate the MacBook Pro to travel duties only. Perhaps I can try it (Dell vs Samsung) first and buy PC later.

It would be a shame to sideline the M3 Max, but productivity and eye comfort have to come first

Buy first and figure how you want to run it later. It's fine for text use. I don't regret buying the 57" Samsung for screen real estate. The 40" 5K2K monitors I was comparing at the time were like a narrow slit compared to this one. It has enough height and for text documents, you also need height.

I think two 32" OLED panels side-by-side would offer better colors, but nobody's going to do what Samsung did with gluing two panels together side-by-side. I think two 32" 6K monitors would have more resolution and be more cool, but it would be irritating to have that dividing bezel in the middle.

 

[EmotionalSnow]

I have the U4021QW and text is nice and clear (at 3360x1418); but the problem you will run into with any of these monitors is simply that you will have to live with bigger UI scaling, i.e. everything takes up more space and is bigger than it would be on an Apple Display.

This has been bothering me, so I’ve now finally been thinking about replacing that display. I initially worried about losing UI real estate by going with a non-ultrawide (16:9) 6K 32” display instead.

But the reality, as I realized later, is that due to the scaling problems, which won’t exist on a 6K 32” display, one only loses barely any screen real estate by switching to one of those from a 5K2K ultrawide.

The ultrawide may be physically bigger but it can barely display more UI than the 16:9 32” display since everything is bigger.

So for a 40” 21:9 display with the highest non-native-resolution setting one would only lose ~350pt (-11%) in width, but on the other hand gain 274pt (+16%) in height; which comes out to a total area increase of 6%. i.e. due to scaling the 16:9 32” has more real estate for apps/documents/etc, a little bit of width is sacrificed but a noticeable amount of height is gained.

And that’s when I realized that I would be replacing my ultrawide with one of these displays. Even higher fidelity, more comfortable scaling, takes up less space and therefore is more suitable to have another display on the side, and all that with only a marginal difference in width and instead a positive change in height.

The math applies nearly equally to your displays too since their native resolution is very close to the best HiDPI logical resolution for the 40” DELL ultrawides; so for your displays that would be -430pt (-14%) width and +250pt (+15%) height, amounting to +3% total area.

And therefore two 32” 6K displays also suffice to replace two ultrawides; as long as one is okay with losing a small amount of width and gaining some height. It really should be possible to have four documents open side by side with two of those.

The downside of course is that they are not ultrawides, so if 21:9 is important for you to have for gaming then you either need a separate setup for that or just outright switch to Windows.

(Only my two cents on the monitor side of the discussion since I’ve been thinking about these things recently aswell.)

 

[Mufimufin]

Thank you. This keeps reinforcing my feeling that I’ll keep the MacBook just for traveling and simply switch to Windows. There are just too many problems in life as it is. We’ll see what I end up ordering and how it behaves. For now, I still have some time, but I don’t expect the situation to change within weeks.