HiDPI Scaling with Mac mini 2018

[cloudnoize]

I'm running a Mac mini i7 2018 6 Core and my brother is running an iMac Pro 10 Core, both on 10.14.4 Mojave. Our monitors is the Sony 49" 4k x720e, plugged into the TB3 port. Other than the Mac itself, we have identical cabling, adaptors. He's able to get HiDPI 3840 x 2160 resolution but I'm not able to get more than 3360 x 1890 (HiDPI). Is this due to the graphics card, mine being a UHD 630 and his is a Vega 56? Even with SwitchResX, I'm not able to get past 3360 x 1890 (HiDPI). I've tried this method https://comsysto.github.io/Display-...or-with-HiDPI-Support-For-Scaled-Resolutions/ using Display Product/Vendor ID but still a no go for me.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[macdragonfl]

delete

 

[canopic]

I've never got that "scaled" "more space" stuff to work on an external display, only "internal" screens on a laptop or iMac.

Each time I try, I read hundreds of articles and forum posts about it, install various apps and res switchers, and give up, it never works.

And yeah, it's really annoying, I returned a 4k 27" monitor partly because of that MacOS limitation.

 

[cloudnoize]

I

It's funny how your message doesn't show in this thread bit I did receive an email notification.

I'm not referring to the default setting 3840 x 2160. This shows up quite clear. I just wanted to use HiDPI so the text would be crispier, as well as images. 3360 x 1890 HiDPI is quite nice but also wanted more real-estate. Thx.

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I've never got that "scaled" "more space" stuff to work on an external display, only "internal" screens on a laptop or iMac.

Each time I try, I read hundreds of articles and forum posts about it, install various apps and res switchers, and give up, it never works.

And yeah, it's really annoying, I returned a 4k 27" monitor partly because of that MacOS limitation.

I'm actually surprised you're not able to get "scaled" to work. There are limitations but you should at least be seeing a couple different resolutions, even when using an external 4k. Thx.

 

[IngerMan]

If your monitor does not have the pixel density how can you expect it to produce 5k quality. You can pick all the res choices that are not highlighted you want, but does not mean your monitor can display it.

 

[canopic]

It's funny how your message doesn't show in this thread bit I did receive an email notification.

I'm not referring to the default setting 3840 x 2160. This shows up quite clear. I just wanted to use HiDPI so the text would be crispier, as well as images. 3360 x 1890 HiDPI is quite nice but also wanted more real-estate. Thx.

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I'm actually surprised you're not able to get "scaled" to work. There are limitations but you should at least be seeing a couple different resolutions, even when using an external 4k. Thx.

Let’s say I’m on a 4K iMac, looks like hidpi 1080p by default, but if I pick “more space”, now it looks like it would if the display was 5k, but obviously it’s still downscaled to 4K. You lose some sharpness, but gain more real estate.

Now, a really common monitor these days is 4K 27inch. It displays hidpi 1080p by default. Looks far too big for the screen size. Try to get “more space” on this external display, so it “looks like 5k” and it just doesn’t work. It’s never worked, and I’ve tried it on several setups.

You might be able to run at lesser weird resolutions, but you can’t go “beyond” 4K and then scale back down to the actual resolution, like you can on all retina MacBooks and iMacs with “more space” option.

 

[cloudnoize]

If your monitor does not have the pixel density how can you expect it to produce 5k quality. You can pick all the res choices that are not highlighted you want, but does not mean your monitor can display it.

I understand your point and it's quite valid but using a 4k monitor, shouldn't I be able to scale 7680 x 4320 (3840 x 2160 HiDPI)? For example, when using SwitchResX and I try Scaled resolution using 7680 x 4320, it tells me it's invalid. My brother is able to get this with both his iMac Pro and 2013 Mac Pro, using the same external monitor and it looks pretty good so I figure it's a Mac mini graphics card limitation. 3360 x 1890 HiDPI looks really nice on my end. I just wanted to see if I could get a little more.

 

[IngerMan]

It’s the placebos effect. Your brother can output that res because of his graphics card. But the 4K monitor is not displaying it. It can’t display it if it does not have the pixel density.

Your monitor ppi is 90. Not 180......

This is what your tv is capable of displaying, nothing more.

• 1080p (60 Hz), 1080i (60 Hz), 720p (60 Hz), 480p, 480i
• 4096 x 2160p (24, 60 Hz), 3840 x 2160p (24, 30, 60 Hz), 1080p (30, 60 Hz), 1080/24p, 1080i (60 Hz), 720p (30, 60 Hz), 720/24p, 480p, 480i

 

[cloudnoize]

It’s the placebos effect. Your brother can output that res because of his graphics card. But the 4K monitor is not displaying it. It can’t display it if it does not have the pixel density.

Your monitor ppi is 90. Not 180......

This is what your tv is capable of displaying, nothing more.

• 1080p (60 Hz), 1080i (60 Hz), 720p (60 Hz), 480p, 480i
• 4096 x 2160p (24, 60 Hz), 3840 x 2160p (24, 30, 60 Hz), 1080p (30, 60 Hz), 1080/24p, 1080i (60 Hz), 720p (30, 60 Hz), 720/24p, 480p, 480i

Ah, got it! Even though I may not have higher pixel density, I'm still pretty satisfied with the end result, being a 4k TV and not a computer monitor

Thank you all for your help!