Macbook retina with a Samsung Display

[thirdeyeblind82]

Hello guys,
I just bought a Samsung 27'' Display as an external screen to connect my macbook retina 15''.
The display has a resolution of 2560 x 1440 Pixel (the same of Thunderbolt display) so I thought it was a good idea to get this.
Unfortunately when I connected it by HDMI to my macbook, I realized that the screen image is really pixelate.
How is this possible? Should it be normal cause of the comparison with the Macbook clearness? And the same problem is on Thunderbolt displays?

Thanks a lot!

 

[chscag]

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "pixelate"? If you're saying that the Samsung 27" display is not as clear as your 15" retina MacBook Pro display, that's a given. Keep in mind that you're comparing a retina display to an ordinary display. If you're unhappy with the Samsung display, return it. Perhaps later on, Apple will update the Thunderbolt display to 5K like the new iMac retina screen.

 

[thirdeyeblind82]

Yes, I'm aware that the resolution is not the one of the retina display, but in this case the image is really pixelate.
So I went into the setting of the display and I discover that its resolution is 1920x1080 instead of 2560 x 1440 (the natural resolution for the screen).
I think it's because of the HDMI port (it can't go upper than value).
What can you suggest me? What adaptor should I use?

 

[chscag]

That's strange because I would have thought that HDMI would provide the higher resolution. Which HDMI adapter are you using? Check out the adapters Apple sells in their on line store: LINK

 

[bobtomay]

Have you opened up System Preferences - Displays and tried changing the resolution of the monitor there?

Where'd you get the HDMI cable and how old is it?

Sort of doubtit, but wouldn't put it past Samsung to go cheapo on the HDMI port and have it max out at 1080p. You should be able to find the max resolution of each port on the monitor by opening the owner's manual.

 

[thirdeyeblind82]

Looks like I can't change the resolution either from the monitor or the mac settings. The maximun I can get is 1920x1080.
I'm using an HDMI cable I had at home, but the display provides an HDMI cable with a bigger plug that I can't use with my macbook.

I took a look on the web and it looks like I'd need something like this Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter - Apple Store (U.S.)

What do you think?

 

[bobtomay]

No one can legitimately respond to that question without knowing what video ports are on your monitor.
Which means you need to tell us that or tell us what model the monitor is so we can look it up.

You also need to tell us which MacBook you have as there have been several different video output ports on them over the years.

Did you check the owners manual to see if it will go higher than 1080p via it's HDMI port?

 

[thirdeyeblind82]

The monitor is this one Samsung WQHD 32 and the macbook retina I have is late 2013, with a mini HDMI port and of course Thunderbolt ports.

I tried my mini HDMI cable, but the maximun resolution of the screen is 1920x1080. I tried an adapter from HDMI to DVI but it's the same.
I want to try this MINI DP to DVI... Hope it's gonna work...

 

[bobtomay]

Have you been into the PC/AV mode settings on the monitor and changed the HDMI mode to DVI PC ?
If the default is AV, your monitor setting is the issue here and not the cable nor the Mac.

You really need to either open the owner's manual or download it from your link and spend 15 minutes reading through it. Found that item in about 2 minutes.

Have you tried holding down the option key while selecting Scaled in the Display preferences?

I would recommend a mini-DP to DP rather than DVI.

 

[thirdeyeblind82]

I found this reading the manual:

The optimal resolution may not be available when using a non-high speed HDMI or
HDMI-DVI cable.
To ensure the screen displays properly, a standard DP or HDMI cable is recommended. The DP
and HDMI cables must support a resolution of 2560 x 1440 at 60 Hz.

Maybe I really have to try a DP cable...

 

[thirdeyeblind82]

Anyway it's really strange cause the HDMI cable is the one I got with the display is 1.4 so it should support 2560x1440...

Wandering on the web, I found this cable and the first comment below talks about my same problem.
Amazon.com: Monoprice 6ft 32AWG Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort Cable - White: Electronics
Maybe getting it is the solution...

 

[techiesteve]

I'll relay a similar experience from a few weeks ago.

At work we had supplied quite a few Viewsonic 27" VP2772-LED 2560 x 1440 IPS panel displays to customers using older Mac Pro's. These connected via DVI and displayed 2560 x 1440 no problem. We then supplied two for use with MacBook Pro's, connecting via a mini display port to DVI adaptor, these would only display 1920x1080. The fix was to buy in a couple of mini displayport to displayport cables to gain the full resolution. So the suggestion in the last post should work, as long as the display has a displayport port.

 

[thirdeyeblind82]

I hope so! I ordered a mini displayport to displayport cable and I hope is gonna fix the problem.
I've read online that 4K displays are supported only by Late 2013 Macbook. My Macbook is Early 2013 so I hope it's not a problem...

Anyway 2560 x 1440 is not 4K right?

 

[chas_m]

No, 4K is defined as either 3840 x 2160 (for 16:9 ratio; generally found on consumer 4K TVs) or 4096x2160 (sometimes referred to as "true" 4K, used for cinema digital projection with a 19:10 aspect ratio).

 

[thirdeyeblind82]

Ok, so maybe I'm safe!

I just don't get why the HDMI cable gives me a 1920x1080 resolution. It's a high speed one so it should work properly...

 

[thirdeyeblind82]

Solved with the Mini DisplayPort to Display Port cable!!
Don't know why, but it's the only way on macbook to have a higher resolution than 1920x1080!

 

[chscag]

Looks like our "bobtomay" was correct when he pointed you to that in post #9. ;D

 

[islndguy]

I couldn't use HDMI either when hooking up big monitor. Had to use Thunderbolt to DVI.