Text is blurry on Dell U2415 when I connect it to my mid-2015 rMBP

[hsujiaying]

Hello,

My text is blurry on the Dell U2415 external monitor when I connect it to my 13 inch mid-2015 rMBP. I am running on macOS Sierra. Is this expected or can I change some settings so that the text appears as crystal clear as the retina display? The resolution is set at default 1920 x 1200.

I've tried:
Connecting it through HDMI
I assume the Dell U2415 is being recognized as a display (and not a TV) since it appears when I click on System Preferences > Displays
System Preferences > Displays > Dell U2415 > Color > Display Profile > Apple RGB
System Preferences > General > "Use LCD font smoothing when available" is checked off

I appreciate any suggestions!

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"I assume the Dell U2415 is being recognized as a display (and not a TV) since it appears when I click on System Preferences > Displays"

No, this is not correct.

Go to the displays pref pane again.

Where it says "resolution", click the radio button for "scaled".

Are you seeing numbers like, "1080p"?
Or, are you seeing something else?
What are you seeing?

If you see "1080p", etc., the Mac "thinks" it's connected to a TV, not to a computer monitor.

Do you see anything that mentions "underscan"?

 

[hsujiaying]

This is what I see, and the screenshot is taken from the Dell U2415 monitor:

OP wrote:
"I assume the Dell U2415 is being recognized as a display (and not a TV) since it appears when I click on System Preferences > Displays"

No, this is not correct.

Go to the displays pref pane again.

Where it says "resolution", click the radio button for "scaled".

Are you seeing numbers like, "1080p"?
Or, are you seeing something else?
What are you seeing?

If you see "1080p", etc., the Mac "thinks" it's connected to a TV, not to a computer monitor.

Do you see anything that mentions "underscan"?

 

[chrfr]

Hello,

My text is blurry on the Dell U2415 external monitor when I connect it to my 13 inch mid-2015 rMBP. I am running on macOS Sierra. Is this expected or can I change some settings so that the text appears as crystal clear as the retina display? The resolution is set at default 1920 x 1200.

Your settings are correct. There's nothing you can do with that display to make it as sharp as a retina screen. If you want that sort of sharpness, you need something like the Dell P2415Q which is a 4k display and works like a retina screen on your Mac.

 

[Fishrrman]

OK, the Mac -is- seeing the display (as a computer monitor, not as a tv).

Something to keep in mind:
Some "viewing displeasure" (for lack of a better term) may become evident because you are comparing the retina display on your MacBook Pro vis-a-vis a non-retina display on the Dell monitor.
Text isn't going to appear as razor-sharp as it does on the MacBook, because the Macbook has 4 pixels for every 1 that the Dell has.

This issue can be more evident if you're a younger person with excellent vision.

I'm older and my vision isn't as good as when I was younger.
For me, the difference between a retina display and a non-retina display is less objectionable.

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

...I appreciate any suggestions!

This worked for me (Dell U2415 / Mac mini 2012 / OS X 10.11.6):
http://www.mathewinkson.com/2013/03/force-rgb-mode-in-mac-os-x-to-fix-the-picture-quality-of-an-external-monitor