MacBook looks awful on external monitor

[usagora]

At work, I now use a 2-way HDMI switcher to connect both our Windows 10 PC and my MacBook Air to one 32" 1080p display and I switch between them using the button the switcher. For some reason, my Windows 10 PC looks nice and crisp on the display, but the MacBook's output looks awful in comparison. Both computers are set to output the max resolution of the display (1920x1080), so how is this possible? They are both connected using the exact same brand of HDMI cable and I even tried two different HDMI to USB-C adapters (the Apple multi-port adapter and an Anker single-port adapter) with the MacBook (Windows tower has HDMI port). I mean, just look at the difference in the following two screenshots:

Windows 10.......................................MacBook Air

Also, I tried connecting the MacBook directly to the display, but the quality is the same (poor).

Display:
Dell D Series LED-Lit Monitor 31.5" White D3218HN, FHD 1920x1080, 16:9, IPS LED Back-lit, HDMI, VGA, VESA

Cables:
Amazon Basics High-Speed HDMI Cable (18Gbps, 4K/60Hz)

Switcher:
HDMI Switch, BENFEI 4K HDMI Switcher 2 Input 1 Output, 1 Input 2 Output, Supports 4K 3D HD 1080P

 

[wilberforce]

take a look here:

M1 Mac External Display - Fuzzy Fonts & Colors - YPBPR vs RGB

Hi All! Long time windows users transitioning to Mac. Old setup was a Dell Latitude hooked up to a Dell Ultrasharp U2415, one at home, and the other at work (laptop carried to and fro). Bought a M1 Macbook Air, and am absolutely thrilled with the performance, and with the fluidity of the...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[jabbr]

32” 1080p sounds awful regardless of the OS. That said, it will be even worse on MacOS because there is no sub pixel aliasing anymore.

 

[usagora]

take a look here:

M1 Mac External Display - Fuzzy Fonts & Colors - YPBPR vs RGB

Hi All! Long time windows users transitioning to Mac. Old setup was a Dell Latitude hooked up to a Dell Ultrasharp U2415, one at home, and the other at work (laptop carried to and fro). Bought a M1 Macbook Air, and am absolutely thrilled with the performance, and with the fluidity of the...

forums.macrumors.com

That's a lot of pages! But it seems it may be an issue with Dell monitors from what I read on the first couple pages. I just ordered this LG 4k monitor and hope this will solve the issue.

 

[usagora]

32” 1080p sounds awful regardless of the OS. That said, it will be even worse on MacOS because there is no sub pixel aliasing anymore.

As you can see from my screenshots, the Windows computer looks nice and sharp on the display. The Mac looks like someone knocked the focus ring of a projector off a bit.

Anyway, I just ordered an LG 4K display from Amazon (see previous post) and am hoping this will resolve the issue. I'll report back (should arrive Wednesday).

 

[usagora]

Just an update: the LG 4k monitor I ordered arrived today, and the MBA looks fantastic on it, so I guess I just need to leave 1080p in the past from now on, lol!

 

[BrianBaughn]

That's good to hear and useful info for others looking to do the same thing.

 

[usagora]

Oh boy, now I have a new problem. Now that I have the new 4k display at work and hooked to our Windows tower (Inspiron 3880) as well, I discovered that the graphics on that computer (Intel UHD Graphics 630) are unable to support 4k (3840x2160) @ 60Hz, and the lag at 30Hz (the max supported refresh rate at 4k resolution) was so awful as to be unusable imo. I have to reduce the resolution to 2560x1440 to be able to run at 60Hz. And yes, I installed the drivers for the LG monitor from LG's website, so that confirms it must be the Intel Graphics that's the weak link. 2560x1440 would be acceptable, except for an additional problem - we have a 1080p touch display for customers that needs to be mirrored so I can see what they see. However, apparently mirroring a display means not only the image, but also the resolution. Since the touch display is 1080p, that means that if the touch display is connected to the Windows tower in mirror mode, the LG monitor gets reduced to 1080p @ 30Hz (no idea why I could run the old Dell monitor at 1080p 60Hz, but the LG can only run at 30Hz in 1080p, but the text is so fuzzy at 1080p on the 4k display anyway, that it wouldn't even matter).

So since I'm not willing to shell out more $$$ for a 4k touch display at the moment, I've decided I'm just going to use both monitors - the 4k for the MBA and the 1080p for the Windows tower.

What a frustrating experience!

 

[jdb8167]

Just an update: the LG 4k monitor I ordered arrived today, and the MBA looks fantastic on it, so I guess I just need to leave 1080p in the past from now on, lol!

I’ve run my 24” LG 4K at 2560x1440 and it still looks pretty good. There is another hidden resolution that is a step below 2560x1440 when using Display Port that also works well.

Edit: I think the resolution is 2304x1296.

 

[usagora]

I’ve run my 24” LG 4K at 2560x1440 and it still looks pretty good. There is another hidden resolution that is a step below 2560x1440 when using Display Port that also works well.

See my post above. The issue is we have a 1080p touch screen monitor for customers that needs to mirror my display, and unfortunately you can't mirror at a different resolution for each display, so that caps my 4k display at 1080p which looks terrible (fuzzy/pixelated text and also can't go above 30Hz, so tons of cursor and window lag). I'm not going to keep plugging and unplugging the touch screen monitor throughout the day - too much hassle, and of course my 4k display will still look horrible when the 1080p one is plugged in).

I've got both displays set up now to use separately (4k with my MBA and the old Dell 1080p + touch screen to use with the Windows 10 machine).

 

[jdb8167]

See my post above. The issue is we have a 1080p touch screen monitor for customers that needs to mirror my display, and unfortunately you can't mirror at a different resolution for each display, so that caps my 4k display at 1080p which looks terrible (fuzzy/pixelated text and also can't go above 30Hz, so tons of cursor and window lag). I'm not going to keep plugging and unplugging the touch screen monitor throughout the day - too much hassle, and of course my 4k display will still look horrible when the 1080p one is plugged in).

I've got both displays set up now to use separately (4k with my MBA and the old Dell 1080p + touch screen to use with the Windows 10 machine).

I’m not sure I understand. Are you saying different inputs can’t use different resolutions? That’s odd. I have no problem having a different resolution on the DP input vs an HDMI.

Edit: Never mind. Rereading your first post you have an odd custom setup. Sorry. I have no idea how to help with that.

 

[usagora]

I’m not sure I understand. Are you saying different inputs can’t use different resolutions? That’s odd. I have no problem having a different resolution on the DP input vs an HDMI.

Edit: Never mind. Rereading your first post you have an odd custom setup. Sorry. I have no idea how to help with that.

I see your edit, but let me just be sure I'm clear for you and anyone else reading this. This is the setup I wanted:

And the issue is if that 1080 touch display is connected to the Dell in mirrored mode (which I need it to be), then that automatically reduces the LG 4K to 1080p as well (with no option for higher resolutions) - and for some reason 1080p looks atrocious on the LG and is locked to 30Hz, even though it looks great on the Dell 1080p display and the Dell display supports 60Hz @ 1080p. So I've replaced the LG 4k back with the Dell 1080p and am using the LG 4k exclusively with the MacBook now. I didn't want to have two displays cluttering up the desk, but that's my only option at this point unless I shell out more money for a 4k touch display.

 

[Amethyst1]

Now that I have the new 4k display at work and hooked to our Windows tower (Inspiron 3880) as well, I discovered that the graphics on that computer (Intel UHD Graphics 630) are unable to support 4k (3840x2160) @ 60Hz,

UHD 630 can do "4K" at 60 Hz just fine - but only via DisplayPort, not via HDMI.

 

[usagora]

UHD 630 can do "4K" at 60 Hz just fine - but only via DisplayPort, not via HDMI.

Your link is to a page on an i7 processor. In any case:

1. I don't get that limitation.

2. The Inspiron 3880 doesn't have DisplayPort.

So basically, Dell designed a computer that's pretty much useless with 4k displays at their max resolution (unless someone wants to get dizzy watching stuttering lag all day @ 30Hz).

 

[Amethyst1]

Your link is to a page on an i7 processor.

...which has UHD 630. The page also lists the maximum resolutions attainable via DisplayPort and HDMI. These apply to all processors with UHD 630.

(I accidentally linked to an i7 that has the older HD 630 - sorry! -, but UHD 630 is still subject to the same limitation.)

1. I don't get that limitation.

It's because of HDMI 1.4. HDMI 2.0 is necessary for "4K" at 60 Hz via HDMI.

2. The Inspiron 3880 doesn't have DisplayPort.

Indeed, and the manual confirms it only has HDMI 1.4. Big screwup by Dell there.

 

[arkieboy72472]

Once you switch a certain setting, the MacBook Air M1 looks great on a 2010 Cinema Display in clamshell mode. I recommend it if you can get one for cheap.