Optimal Usage/Configurations for Intel Mac (MBP 16" 2019) w/ a 1440p External Monitor?

[jurildd]

Just found out about this app through Reddit and I'd like to try using it, but I'm not entirely sure if I set it up right.

First: My Macbook Pro in clamshell mode is set as my Dummy 16:9 with the same resolution as my external monitor: 2560x1440. Is this the right thing to do?

Second: My external monitor is set to Mirror for Dummy 16:9, also using the default resolution for the monitor, 2560x1440.

I'm pretty sure I did something wrong somewhere around here since it didn't change anything visually, as far as I can observe. Can you point me to the right direction? Thanks!

[arooni]

If I can piggyback on this question I have a M1 MBP 16" hooked up to a LG curved 35 inch 3440x1440 display.

I setup things similar to the OP and also could not detect any perceived difference.

Is the benefit of this mostly using alternate resolutions other than the default that the monitor provides (3440x1440 in my case), or is there some benefit to running it via the default monitor resolution that I'm unaware of?

[waydabber]

Hi Guys,

well, if you run the dummy only to reproduce the same resolution as without it, it won't help things much. The benefit would come if you used a different scaled resolution. Some minor improvements might be still visible (because the image will be supersampled) and things like screenshots or accessibility zoom will be high res. But nothing major.

Hope this clarifies things!

[jurildd]

The benefit would come if you used a different scaled resolution

Should this be set on the Dummy display resolution, or on the external display resolution? And if possible, can you provide an example resolution config for both the Dummy and external? That would be really helpful!

[waydabber]

You should set the dummy resolution if you are mirroring the dummy to the external screen. The external screen will always be at the so called "base resolution" in macOS which should be the native resolution of the display.

[arooni]

Thanks for such a fast answer!

Generally I would benefit only with putting a smaller resolution than the monitor came with by default? I'd assume putting a higher resolution would make it harder to read text etc.

Other people have complained about the fuzziness of text with this monitor and M1 mac's and it's nothing terrible but I can see why