HP 27ES secondary monitor with 2017 iMac 5K

[b.dhami88]

Hey guys,

I'm new to this forum and finally got around to setting up my 2017 iMac with Retina 5K. I purchased an HP 27ES as my secondary monitor just because it had a similar look to the iMac.

So I assumed the display on the LCD monitor would be pretty good...obviously not as high res as the 5K iMac but still pretty decent. I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong, but the highest res I can get on my HP 27ES is 1920 x 1080. Is this the highest res it will go? The secondary monitor res seems pretty lame. I hate the fact that window sizes automatically increase in size and decrease in resolution significantly when I drag windows over. Is there any workaround or should I get a new monitor? If so, any suggestions?

Thanks guys!

From my Mac system report:
HP 27es:

Resolution: 1920 x 1080 @ 60 Hz

Framebuffer Depth: 30-Bit Color (ARGB2101010)

Display Serial Number: 3CM7190WMY

Mirror: Off

Online: Yes

Rotation: Supported

Adapter Type: Apple USB Type-C Digital AV Adapter

Automatically Adjust Brightness: No

Adapter Firmware Version: 2.35
[doublepost=1511220006][/doublepost]Oh btw, I'm using a USB-C digital AV multiport adapter for connecting the HP 27ES...

 

[CWallace]

I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong, but the highest res I can get on my HP 27ES is 1920 x 1080. Is this the highest res it will go?

That is correct.

I have something similar (an HP 27" 1920x1080) that I use for Discord so I actually wanted the lower resolution as it makes the text larger and easier to read. But if I move a window from my 5K display to it, the window does re-size.

If you want your windows to not re-size when being moved, you need a monitor with 2560x1440 resolution (the 5K display in Retina mode is effectively the same in terms of window dimensions).

 

[b.dhami88]

Hmm ok thanks. That makes sense. It's weird though because when I run parallels and windows 10, my secondary monitor resolution shows 3840x2160 in display settings on Windows. The resolution looks quite well too...

 

[jerwin]

best buy says that it sports "Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution". Check the documentation that came with the monitor.

I don't know why Windows 10 would see it as something different. Does it look like a 4K display, or does it have visible pixels?

 

[Samuelsan2001]

Hmm ok thanks. That makes sense. It's weird though because when I run parallels and windows 10, my secondary monitor resolution shows 3840x2160 in display settings on Windows. The resolution looks quite well too...

Well that monitor is only 1080p resolution so windows is having some issues there it seems. If you bought it as a 4K then you were sold something different. I would return it and get either a 1440p or 4K monitor myself.

 

[b.dhami88]

best buy says that it sports "Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution". Check the documentation that came with the monitor.

I don't know why Windows 10 would see it as something different. Does it look like a 4K display, or does it have visible pixels?

It doesn't look quite as clear as 4K so I'm not sure what's going on there. Yes, it looks like my monitor is indeed just 1080p. I should've opted for a higher resolution.
[doublepost=1511285105][/doublepost]

Well that monitor is only 1080p resolution so windows is having some issues there it seems. If you bought it as a 4K then you were sold something different. I would return it and get either a 1440p or 4K monitor myself.

Yes, seems like it. I think I might just have to upgrade. Unfortunately, my return period for the HP 27ES is over.

 

[curmudgeonette]

It's weird though because when I run parallels and windows 10, my secondary monitor resolution shows 3840x2160 in display settings on Windows.

Maybe Windows can't handle one pixel doubled display and one not doubled? In other words, if an application is drawing at 200% on the main screen, perhaps it will also only draw at 200% on other screens. Therefore, the OS (or Parallels) creates a fake 4K frame buffer and downsamples to 1080p.

 

[jerwin]

i run windows 10 (bootcamp) with a 5k display and a smaller 1080p display.

windows handles it more or less correctly.

 

[Fishrrman]

If the display has a native resolution of 1080p, you just ain't gettin' any more out of it.

that is all...