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Imac Pro resolution problem!

Hello, after the last update /14.6.1 (23G93)/, I have the following problem with the resolution. Please help!

I am attaching a photo. Thanks to those who responded.

iMac Pro

Posted on Sep 14, 2024 7:32 AM

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11 replies

Sep 15, 2024 8:43 AM in response to den.thed

As for the Retina "2880x1620" and "3200x1800" choices, those let you crowd a little more text and objects onto the screen, at the expense of text and object sizes.


Like the Retina "2560x1440" choice, these two choices take advantage of the full 5K resolution of the LCD panel. But the scaling is not exact. E.g., if you select "2880x1620", I believe the Mac would

  • Use 2880x1620 for sizing
  • Draw on a 5760x3240 canvas
  • Downscale the contents of the 5760x3240 canvas to fit on the 5120x2880 pixel LCD panel

Sep 15, 2024 10:20 AM in response to Nikolai_Simeonov

Your System Information display does not have a "UI Looks like" line. I'm guessing that this is a Sonoma change (I'm still on Ventura). Sonoma is apparently being a little less transparent …


The "Resolution" line suggests that your Mac is drawing on a "Retina 5K (5120x2880)" canvas.


If you

  • Go into System Settings > Displays
  • Select "2560x1440 (low resolution)" (from the All Resolutions list)
  • Go into System Information
  • Do a File > Refresh Information

you'll probably see the System Information "Resolution" change to "2560 x 1440 (QHD/WQHD - Wide Quad High Definition)", or some variant thereof.


Another thing you can play with (if interested):


If you look at text on the screen while going back and and forth between the "2560 x 1440" and "2560 x 1440 (low resolution)" settings, you will probably see text getting fuzzy when you switch to the (low resolution)" one, and getting sharper when you switch to the regular (Retina) one.

Sep 15, 2024 8:59 AM in response to Nikolai_Simeonov

If you run System Information ( > System Information… ), things may become a little clearer.



I'm running a 4K monitor in Retina "UI looks like 2560x1440" mode. In Settings > Displays, this mode shows up as "2560x1440" (no "(low resolution)" qualifier) or the icon one notch down from "Larger Text".


The monitor reports that it receives a 4K signal from the computer.

Sep 15, 2024 9:30 AM in response to Servant of Cats

Thank you very much for your reply.


I think I understand your logic. It's just that the highest resolution has always been marked until now. That's why I thought there was a problem. I'm not competent, that's why I'm looking for advice and opinion.


It's different for me, I guess because of the old machine.


I am also attaching a screenshot.


Sep 15, 2024 8:37 AM in response to Nikolai_Simeonov

If a 27" iMac Pro is running in Retina "UI looks like 2560x1440" mode, that is not a problem.


That would be the normal mode for that machine. The 2560x1440 is for sizing. Retina-aware applications would draw on an internal canvas with twice the number of pixels in each direction (i.e., a 5120x2880 canvas). The Mac would display the contents of the 5120x2880 pixel canvas on the 5120x2880 LCD pixel LCD panel.


If everything gets really small when one selects 5120x2880, that also would be to expected. In that mode you are displaying the equivalent of a 2x2 stack of 27" 2560x1440 screens in the amount of physical area that a single 27" 2560x1440 screen normally takes. You get 4x as much workspace, but everything takes up 1/4th of the area. This is why Apple came out with Retina modes in the first place. Once PPI gets high enough, it does not make sense to put all pixels towards more workspace, any more than it makes sense to print books in 2- and 3-point fonts.


You would want to avoid "2560x1440 (low-res)" mode, where the machine draws on a 2560x1440 canvas and then does an ugly digital zoom to paint the 5120x2880 screen. I suspect that you have to "Show all resolutions" to even see the "(low-res)" modes as choices.

Imac Pro resolution problem!

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