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4K monitor at 1440p scaling performance
- Thread starter schmorf
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This thread came up in a search for me.
I’m trying to decide what‘s the best to get here as well...
Would a 4K scaled to say 1440p be better on a 27” or 32” in terms of crisp text, and system performance impact?
Be interested to hear what the OP went with, and how it’s been playing out.
I’m trying to decide what‘s the best to get here as well...
Would a 4K scaled to say 1440p be better on a 27” or 32” in terms of crisp text, and system performance impact?
Be interested to hear what the OP went with, and how it’s been playing out.
I would think if both 4K monitors / same number of pixels, and both run at 1440p, system performance would be the same. So it's really about how it looks, and I personally think 1440p at 27" is the perfect size in terms of text, icons, etc. The fact that the iMac 27" (and the LG 27" 5K Ultrafine) shows an effective 1440p resolution supports that.
I would think "looking like 1440p" on a 32", text ad icons might look a touch too big.
What do you mean by "better"? I personally think it looks better, because macOS pixel doubles the "looks like" resolution (2560x1440 -> 5K 5120x2880), and then scales that down to fit the 4K 3840x2160 monitor screen. Which looks better than just a 1440p resolution on a native 1440p monitor.
But from a performance standpoint, it takes a hit, as the GPU has to do a bunch of non-integer scaling. So it sort of depends on what you'll use the monitor for on whether the "looks better" is worth the "performs a bit worse".
Personally I've loved using "looks like 1440p" on my 27" LG 4K monitor for almost 4 years now (and been using it a LOT more the last 12 months during work-from-home pandemic times), running off my integrated graphics on my 2016 13" MBP, and haven't experienced any noticeable performance issues for my use case.
I used have a LG Ultrafine 5k, now using a U2720Q, I also use a U2717D at work. All of these runs at 1440p
5K is definitely the best, and you can see the difference in terms of pixels, U2720Q come section, although it's not 4:1 pixel HiDPI scale like the 5K display, it's still HiDPI, and the quality is pretty good, U2717D, I can definitely see pixels on screen.
Update: I am not sure what you mean by Mac OS scaling doesn't work efficiently? I think MacBook Pro 15 inch default resolution hasn't been 1:2 retina since 2016, and it look pretty nice IMO
5K is definitely the best, and you can see the difference in terms of pixels, U2720Q come section, although it's not 4:1 pixel HiDPI scale like the 5K display, it's still HiDPI, and the quality is pretty good, U2717D, I can definitely see pixels on screen.
Update: I am not sure what you mean by Mac OS scaling doesn't work efficiently? I think MacBook Pro 15 inch default resolution hasn't been 1:2 retina since 2016, and it look pretty nice IMO
Monitors perform best at their native resolutions.
No. If that were the case, no manufacturer would sell 1440p monitors. They'd just make everything 4K and scale down.
As a productivity monitor, the LG 27UL850-W (27" 4K UHD, 60 Hz) is a fine choice. For gaming, the Dell S3320DGF (32" 1440p QHD, 165 Hz) is also a fine performer.
Both monitors have been heavily reviewed by the regular PC sites.
Right now, the LG 4K monitor is being used by my Mac mini 2018 as well as my "daily driver" custom Windows PC. Both systems have the UI displayed at 1920x1080p which works fine for my tired old eyes.
The Dell QHD gaming monitor is paired with a Windows gaming PC.
If you want "looks better" I'd go with the LG 27UL850-W. They have other less expensive models at this size so you really need to decide whether or not other features like USB-C power delivery are important to you or not.
Both monitors have been heavily reviewed by the regular PC sites.
Right now, the LG 4K monitor is being used by my Mac mini 2018 as well as my "daily driver" custom Windows PC. Both systems have the UI displayed at 1920x1080p which works fine for my tired old eyes.
The Dell QHD gaming monitor is paired with a Windows gaming PC.
If you want "looks better" I'd go with the LG 27UL850-W. They have other less expensive models at this size so you really need to decide whether or not other features like USB-C power delivery are important to you or not.
They dont in Mac OS with scaled resolutions though. A 4K monitor using scaled 1440p will look better than a native 1440p resolution monitor.
Yes, agree with @theSeb. Also would say to your second point, cost would be a factor too of course, to do native 1440p vs a 4k panel. There would always be a market for cheaper monitors without the extra pixels. Also, lot of ppl without macs where this doesn’t hold true - I think for PC’s, a 1440p at 1440p res looks better than a 4k monitor run at 1440p right?
As someone who was just issued a 16" MacBook Pro for work, I can tell you when I have it hooked up to my 1440p ultra-wide it looks terrible compared to my Windows 10 PC. MacOS is designed to be used with scaling just like the built-in retina displays in their laptops and iMacs. Fonts look blurry and everything just has a soft feeling. I have it hooked up via a Thunderbolt hub using DisplayPort so I know it's rendering the best it can (75Hz option is even available) but it just looks terrible compared to the built-in display of the laptop. I would strongly suggest against going with anything less than 4K if you plan to hook up a Mac to the display. For Windows, 1440p looks great.
I'm guessing you didn't adjust/disable the font smoothing settings?
I regularly use a 1440p 27" with my Macbook Pro and it's great. I did have to tweak the font smoothing at first. Easier on pre-BigSur but still possible.
How to Adjust or Disable Font Smoothing in macOS Big Sur - MacRumors
Unfortunately, this is a bit of a separate problem, re: macOS and Ultra-wide monitors / resolutions. There's a few threads here that talk about how terrible Ultra-wides look on macs, worse than they do in Windows (as you're pointing out).
Hi there everyone, I just bought a 4k LG 27UL500 for a M1 Macbook Air. I love the 1440p scaling option, but my issue now is that the refresh rate is stuck at 30hz. With the help from EasyRes or SwitchResX I can get it to 1440p 60hz but it losses the crisp font looking (I think its HiDPI) so I was wondering if the guys here that have an LG monitor with the sacaled resolution are at 30hz or 60hz?
Don't know how to look or where to or how to figure out if it is a cable (using the HDMI cable that came with the monitor) problem, adapter problem ? ...
Also using testufo for refresh rate reference.
Thanks
Don't know how to look or where to or how to figure out if it is a cable (using the HDMI cable that came with the monitor) problem, adapter problem ? ...
Also using testufo for refresh rate reference.
Thanks
The adapter is the problem.
Is 4K 60 pictures/s possible via HDMI ?
A. The max output from the HDMI port is 4K @ 30Hz.
support.satechi.com
The adapter is the problem.
Is 4K 60 pictures/s possible via HDMI ?
A. The max output from the HDMI port is 4K @ 30Hz.
Damn, that was fast, thank you very much. Ok, so I'll look for another one that supports 4k@60hz. Thanks again
Damn, that was fast, thank you very much. Ok, so I'll look for another one that supports 4k@60hz. Thanks again
Your monitor also has DisplayPort, so I'd look for a USB-C to DisplayPort adapter or dock that is wired to do 4K at 60 Hz (not all of them are). I use this one and it works great:
USB-C Multiport Adapter with 8K DisplayPort, 2x USB 2.0, Fast Ethernet, and Power Delivery
Cable Matters USB-C to DisplayPort Multiport Adapter with Power Delivery provides all the necessary ports to connect a thin laptop with a USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 port.
Your monitor also has DisplayPort, so I'd look for a USB-C to DisplayPort adapter or dock that is wired to do 4K at 60 Hz (not all of them are). I use this one and it works great:
USB-C Multiport Adapter with 8K DisplayPort, 2x USB 2.0, Fast Ethernet, and Power Delivery
Cable Matters USB-C to DisplayPort Multiport Adapter with Power Delivery provides all the necessary ports to connect a thin laptop with a USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 port.www.cablematters.com
Awesome, thanks, I'll see If I can get my hands on one of those.
The thing you need to look out for is USB 2.0 ports. USB-C docks that have these can do 4K at 60 Hz. Docks that have USB 3.0 ports (like the Satechi) can only do 4K at 30 Hz because USB-C doesn't have enough bandwidth for 4K at 60 Hz and USB 3.0.
@Amethyst1 Hi there, just to let you know I bought a USB-C to DisplayPort cable and damn, this thing looks very very nice at a scaled resolution (1440p) much better than a Monitor with a native 1440p resolution. The M1 doesn't seem to be getting any performance issues. Thanks again for all the help.
The cable » https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B088GB848W/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
The cable » https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B088GB848W/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1