Monitor only works smoothly at highest resolution

[j_darling]

Hi,

I have a Dell P2715Q, and I'm having trouble getting it to work smoothly on any other resolution than its highest - 3840x2160. It's currently connected to my Mac mini 2018 with a DisplayPort to USB-C cord. I've tried to use another DisplayPort to USB-C cord, and an multiple HDMI cords, but I think I can rule out a connection issue. For the record, using an HDMI connection has resulted in curser delay.

From the preferences pane, I've tried other resolutions (default for display, and scaled), but 3840x2160 seems to be the only resolution that works well. I work primarily in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, and in any lesser resolutions there is a delay when using a tool ie brush, wand, pen, etc, but there's no delay with curser movement. I also work in Adobe Premiere at times, and experience a delay in video playback within the app, and out of the app, at any resolution other than 3840x2160 (60 Hz).

I've also tried using SwitchResX, and have gotten it down to lesser resolutions at the "best resolutions" recommended within app, and everything works smoothly but everything is... blurry.

So at 3840x2160 60 Hz, everything is smooth but tiny; at other smaller recommended resolutions via SwitchResX, everything is smooth but blurry; at any other resolution via preferences, everything is clear but functions mentioned above are laggy.

I'm just really puzzled as to why it works best at its highest resolution. My preferred working resolution is 2560x1440.

Is it my monitor? Or maybe compatibility issues? If so, is there anything specific to look for in a replacement if I'd like to work on a 27" monitor at 2560x1440 resolution for graphic design and video editing? I'd hate to end up with another 4k monitor only to run into the same strange issues. 😅

Thanks for your time!

 

[Fishrrman]

Important question:
How much RAM do you have installed?

 

[j_darling]

Important question:
How much RAM do you have installed?

I have 32 GB 2667 MHz DDR4

 

[casperes1996]

When you say it's only smooth at 3840x2160; Is that *only* 3840x2160, and/or 1920x1080@2x?

 

[j_darling]

When you say it's only smooth at 3840x2160; Is that *only* 3840x2160, and/or 1920x1080@2x?

I didn't quite test those resolutions prior, but now that you've mentioned it, it's smooth at 3840x2160 60 Hz and 1920x1080 60 Hz.

I've attached a screenshot of the recommended resolutions available in SwitchResX. I have only tried the resolutions 1024x768 and greater, and will add the following experiences:

All resolutions with HiDPI are clear and smooth, with the exception of 3840x2160 which doesn't specify HiDPI but works very well.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Could this be related to the inherent resolution of the monitor? I have founnd that if the settings are at that resolution, or an even multiple of it, everything seems 'smoother'. If things are off, then things start pixelating, and video suffers. It gets worse the farther away from that sweet spot resolution. Just an idea...

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

The specs show two response times. Are they adjustable in the setting for that monitor? I wonder if the monitor is having problems processing the signals. I don't know why it would be happening like that. Weird for sure...

 

[pldelisle]

It's smooth at 4K and 1080p because there is no hard work to do for the GPU at those resolutions. At 4K, there's no scaling at all. At 1080p, it's exactly 4K÷2, so doing x2 on every thing isn't hard for the GPU either. With anything in-between these resolutions, harder scaling occurs, which requires more computation from either CPU and GPU. And the Mac mini 2018 Intel GPU is simply horrendous. Many 4K users with Intel CPUs report scaling issues and slower response when using different scaling than x1 and x2. This is "normal" considering poor GPU and unwillingness of Apple to optimize Metal for Intel GPU. The MacBook Pro uses Iris Pro GPU, which has more horsepower than the Intel chips in Mini. The old MacBook Air was using Iris Plus, which is also better. So the Mini is just doomed with 4K. The M1 has incredible more power and can power two 4K displays with scaling very well, resulting of it's 6x-or-whatever faster GPU than Intel.

 

[j_darling]

Hmm, I just came to realize another thing. The size of my app windows would change every time I changed resolution, ultimately getting smaller as I increase resolution, and vice versa. I'm using 2560x1440px when I make my app windows smaller, it performs better. This must be pertaining to scaling issues.

It's smooth at 4K and 1080p because there is no hard work to do for the GPU at those resolutions. At 4K, there's no scaling at all. At 1080p, it's exactly 4K÷2, so doing x2 on every thing isn't hard for the GPU either. With anything in-between these resolutions, harder scaling occurs, which requires more computation from either CPU and GPU. And the Mac mini 2018 Intel GPU is simply horrendous. Many 4K users with Intel CPUs report scaling issues and slower response when using different scaling than x1 and x2. This is "normal" considering poor GPU and unwillingness of Apple to optimize Metal for Intel GPU. The MacBook Pro uses Iris Pro GPU, which has more horsepower than the Intel chips in Mini. The old MacBook Air was using Iris Plus, which is also better. So the Mini is just doomed with 4K. The M1 has incredible more power and can power two 4K displays with scaling very well, resulting of it's 6x-or-whatever faster GPU than Intel.

This makes sense, and I'm just going to be doomed with 4k for the time being. But it's good to have confirmation that it's my mini and not my monitor, so thank you for that!

And thank you for everyone for your input + help.

 

[Erehy Dobon]

I'm just really puzzled as to why it works best at its highest resolution. My preferred working resolution is 2560x1440.

Is it my monitor? Or maybe compatibility issues? If so, is there anything specific to look for in a replacement if I'd like to work on a 27" monitor at 2560x1440 resolution for graphic design and video editing? I'd hate to end up with another 4k monitor only to run into the same strange issues. 😅

All monitors run best when they receive a graphics signal that is the same size as the native resolution of the display panel.

Since you want to work in 2560x1440 you should have purchased a monitor whose native resolution is 2560x1440. You chose poorly.

Don't buy another 27" 4K monitor, you'll end up with the same problems. Buy a 1440p monitor in the screen size of your preference.

I have 27" UHD (4K) monitor that I replaced with a 32" QHD (1440p) monitor. My eyes are old and tired so I'm fine with size of this. I kept the 4K monitor as a backup and moved it to another room in the house.

 

[pldelisle]

Since you want to work in 2560x1440 you should have purchased a monitor whose native resolution is 2560x1440. You chose poorly.

False. It’s a lot better to have a 4K monitor with scaled resolution. You benefit from having both higher definition, higher DPI while having sharper text.

The problem is the Mac Mini anemic GPU. Not his monitor choice.

 

[dogslobber]

Hi,

I have a Dell P2715Q, and I'm having trouble getting it to work smoothly on any other resolution than its highest - 3840x2160. It's currently connected to my Mac mini 2018 with a DisplayPort to USB-C cord. I've tried to use another DisplayPort to USB-C cord, and an multiple HDMI cords, but I think I can rule out a connection issue. For the record, using an HDMI connection has resulted in curser delay.

I got this exact monitor and can do 2560x1440 smoothly. Go to Display prefs pane and option click Scaled. Then click "Show Low Resolution Modes" and click low res 2560x1440. Then select a refresh rate of 60hz to get silky smooth movement.

 

[pldelisle]

I got this exact monitor and can do 2560x1440 smoothly. Go to Display prefs pane and option click Scaled. Then click "Show Low Resolution Modes" and click low res 2560x1440. Then select a refresh rate of 60hz to get silky smooth movement.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but if you do this, you do not end up with HiDPI. You run the monitor with non-native resolution. No?

 

[dogslobber]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but if you do this, you do not end up with HiDPI. You run the monitor with non-native resolution. No?

2560x1440@60hz which consumes the full height and width of the monitor is what I get. I don't know what HiDPI is meant to be.

 

[j_darling]

All monitors run best when they receive a graphics signal that is the same size as the native resolution of the display panel.

Since you want to work in 2560x1440 you should have purchased a monitor whose native resolution is 2560x1440. You chose poorly.

Don't buy another 27" 4K monitor, you'll end up with the same problems. Buy a 1440p monitor in the screen size of your preference.

I have 27" UHD (4K) monitor that I replaced with a 32" QHD (1440p) monitor. My eyes are old and tired so I'm fine with size of this. I kept the 4K monitor as a backup and moved it to another room in the house.

Thanks for your recommendation! I’m definitely learning about monitors. I actually run a dual monitor set up with a 27" monitor with 2560x1440 native resolution. No problem on it, except it lacks crispiness, for lack of a better word. With graphic design/vector work that I do, it's too pixelated for my preference.

I got this exact monitor and can do 2560x1440 smoothly. Go to Display prefs pane and option click Scaled. Then click "Show Low Resolution Modes" and click low res 2560x1440. Then select a refresh rate of 60hz to get silky smooth movement.

I have just tried to do this, and while it is smooth, it becomes blurry. I think with my current situation with my mini 2018, I just have to sacrifice one thing for another. I can't work with it... but thank you!

Correct me if I’m wrong, but if you do this, you do not end up with HiDPI. You run the monitor with non-native resolution. No?

You do not end up with HiDPI.

 

[casperes1996]

2560x1440@60hz which consumes the full height and width of the monitor is what I get. I don't know what HiDPI is meant to be.

HiDPI would be if instead of sending a 2560x1440 signal to a 4K panel, the GPU in the mini rendered a 5K image internally down scaled it to 4K and sent that to the monitor as 2560x1440@2x; Much better image quality

 

[dogslobber]

I have just tried to do this, and while it is smooth, it becomes blurry. I think with my current situation with my mini 2018, I just have to sacrifice one thing for another. I can't work with it... but thank you!

I played about with this a little. If you do all the steps but click on 2560x1440 last then it sets the display to 60hz and is super sharp. I'm thinking this is what you really want as I see blurriness for 2560x1440 low res V 2560x1440 but both are 60hz.