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Scale 1680x1050 on rMB without an app
- Thread starter thadoggfather
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I finally got this working. Even though there was nothing extra installed on my Macbook apart from Office, I erased my drive, then did an install via Internet Recovery.
I edited the display file, adding the code for 1536x960 first, then rebooted. After installing the RDM, the resolution showed up in the RDM, so proceeded to edit the display file again and added the code for 1680x1050.
So all is working now via the RDM.
I prefer the 1680x1050 resolution (especially when reading medical journal articles), but I think it makes my eyes tired after long periods of time and the text is definitely 'softer' (with or without font smoothing).
I edited the display file, adding the code for 1536x960 first, then rebooted. After installing the RDM, the resolution showed up in the RDM, so proceeded to edit the display file again and added the code for 1680x1050.
So all is working now via the RDM.
I prefer the 1680x1050 resolution (especially when reading medical journal articles), but I think it makes my eyes tired after long periods of time and the text is definitely 'softer' (with or without font smoothing).
Any chance of getting one of you guys to give me the code for a non-hiDPI 1600x900 resolution for my 2011 11" MBA? I've already identified the correct file to edit, just need the code to enter the resolution. Couldn't figure out the hex calculator, the numbers aren't in this format
Appreciate all the help!
I'm currently using QuickRes to test out 1440x900 on this machine but of course it is not the same aspect ratio - but I am dying for more than 768 vertical pixels! rMB is in my future but not for several months
As said IsaacKa in the post you quoted, open the file in Property List Editor.app to get datas presented as hexadecimal numbers.
That said, on a non-retina Mac, I'm not certain I'd want to use a larger resolution than the screen: you're not gonna gain any space, you'll likely get a very ugly blur, 135 ppi is too low; that's the value of HiDPI 2x mode on a screen with double the pixel density. You want to try here to emulate a screen with nearly 40% more pixels, that's not gonna look good, pixels are too large.
Try this but I'm not sure it's the right mode: <data>AAAGQAAAA4QAAAAB</data>
That said, on a non-retina Mac, I'm not certain I'd want to use a larger resolution than the screen: you're not gonna gain any space, you'll likely get a very ugly blur, 135 ppi is too low; that's the value of HiDPI 2x mode on a screen with double the pixel density. You want to try here to emulate a screen with nearly 40% more pixels, that's not gonna look good, pixels are too large.
Try this but I'm not sure it's the right mode: <data>AAAGQAAAA4QAAAAB</data>
Thanks for this. I understand what I am getting into - like I said I have been test running "looks like" non-HiDPI 1440x900 on this screen already - 1600x900 gets rid of the black bars on each side.
You do gain space, but of course lose fidelity - I am fully aware.
My eyes are still young, just had them tested again, 20/15 woohoo! I will try this out - I misunderstood IsaacKa's post, didn't realise that Property List Editor was an app!
Thanks again, will report back with results (or lack thereof!).
Update: Worked like a charm - thank you very much! That said, this is absolutely the max usable on this 11" MBA screen, definitely!
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Thanks a million for posting this. I'm surprised by how good and usable 1680x1050 looks, it's excellent
In case anyone else is a little unsure about what exactly enabling this involves like I was, you don't have to install any third party apps. Just add the extra line to the preference file as described in the first post and skip the bit about RDM.
Once you've restarted the mac system preferences will update to show the new higher resolution:
![6rYNsuf.gif]()
In case anyone else is a little unsure about what exactly enabling this involves like I was, you don't have to install any third party apps. Just add the extra line to the preference file as described in the first post and skip the bit about RDM.
Once you've restarted the mac system preferences will update to show the new higher resolution:
Thanks a million for posting this. I'm surprised by how good and usable 1680x1050 looks, it's excellent
In case anyone else is a little unsure about what exactly enabling this involves like I was, you don't have to install any third party apps. Just add the extra line to the preference file as described in the first post and skip the bit about RDM.
Once you've restarted the mac system preferences will update to show the new higher resolution:
Image
I am actually shocked how well it looks. It runs very smooth. Really surprised apple would not just make this an option from the get go. It is just as easy to read as on the 13" retina pro.
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Anyone notice any issues with video playback at full screen? YouTube videos in particular black out -- audio fine, but the video itself goes out. Dropped to 1536x960 and everything is working fine again. Go back to 1680x1050 on full screen video and eventually will get a blackout again.
really glad most people like this solution
i certainly don't *always* use the 1680x1050 setting especially with tired eyes at night but boy is it good to have in my pocket like right now
you do have to re-apply this after every os x update, but it takes like all of 30 seconds once you do it once or twice.
on 10.10.4 public beta
i certainly don't *always* use the 1680x1050 setting especially with tired eyes at night but boy is it good to have in my pocket like right now
you do have to re-apply this after every os x update, but it takes like all of 30 seconds once you do it once or twice.
on 10.10.4 public beta
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Does running at a higher resolution use up more processing power and slow down your computer or would it be the same as using the default resolution?
Just to confirm so I have my terminology straight, the default retina resolutions are HiDPi, correct? HiDPi just means retina?
Yes. It is just short for "High Dots Per Inch", so exactly what it means it really up to you, but it is equivalent of what Apple would determine as Retina resolution.
Awesome, thanks OP. Worked perfectly for me. I don't notice any blurriness. I work with some terrible scientific software that's at fixed pixel size and it's nice to be able to zoom the resolution out so I can run more of the processes side-by-side.
Interesting that Windows 8.1 supports all resolutions out of the box (though it recommends the 'default' 2500x1800 or whatever resolution, making everything miniscule) but that there's no way to do this in OSX without tinkering in the system folder or installing an app. Normally I'd expect to get all of the extra display features by holding option in the Display prefs, like how Apple hides all the other "power" user features.
Interesting that Windows 8.1 supports all resolutions out of the box (though it recommends the 'default' 2500x1800 or whatever resolution, making everything miniscule) but that there's no way to do this in OSX without tinkering in the system folder or installing an app. Normally I'd expect to get all of the extra display features by holding option in the Display prefs, like how Apple hides all the other "power" user features.
This is truly awesome! I was able to easily change my resolution to 1680 x 1050, but the only gripe I have is that after a reboot, the login screen is very low res, so everything looks bigger. Any idea on how to make the login screen maintain the same resolution?
Mine does this too; but it's only the very first login screen. After that - if you don't reboot your Mac - it should show the login screen (when you wake) in the correct res?
you are amazing!
Thank you very much!
the community is one of the reasons why i love macs so much!
Thank you very much!
the community is one of the reasons why i love macs so much!
I agree too. Apparently the login screen's resolution doesn't change (regardless of what you have selected with or without this mod).... so don't think there's going to be a way around this.
I do agree though. Going from 2012 to 2015 by logging in, LOL
I finally got my new rMB set up and I set up for the higher resolution. It's great... but I wonder if I'll get to thinking it looks too small.
Does anybody still use it as their main setting for everything?
(It seems like we are defeating the point of the retina display almost)
Does anybody still use it as their main setting for everything?
(It seems like we are defeating the point of the retina display almost)
And you never use anything else? Does it ever bother you?
I'm just starting out with it. So far I really like it.
I tried it for about a day and gave up. The letters were just slightly too small.
1440x900 sounded like a good compromise between the two for me, but I couldn't get it to work, at least without an app.