Comments on: 4 Ways to Run a Retina MacBook Pro at 2880×1800 Native Resolution http://osxdaily.com/2012/06/18/3-ways-to-run-a-retina-macbook-pro-at-2880x1800-native-resolution/ News, tips, software, reviews, and more for Mac OS X, iPhone, iPad Fri, 17 May 2013 19:40:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Justin http://osxdaily.com/2012/06/18/3-ways-to-run-a-retina-macbook-pro-at-2880x1800-native-resolution/#comment-552771 Justin Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:47:43 +0000 http://osxdaily.com/?p=31137#comment-552771 Well, for what it's worth, the resolution limit isn't the issue. When you run 1920x1200 mode, what's actually happening is that the GPU is pushing out 3840x2400 and then scaling it en masse to the 2880x1800 display. Applications act like they're rendering to the 3840x2400 canvas at HiDPI. The result is what looks like a 1920x1200 size but with much higher detail. So if Apple has no qualms rendering to a larger backing and then scaling, why would they worry about rendering to a native 2880x1800 backing? It would actually improve, not decrease performance. Apple simply disabled the option because it's small and hard to see. Is it the right choice? Maybe not, having the option wouldn't hurt. But that's their decision. In my experience, the biggest benefit would be more graphics memory. The GT 650M is a nice chip (heck, it runs Skyrim at almost max settings) but 1GB of memory is a bit tight. Comparing to the Razer Blade (arguably the closest competitor in the current market) the rMBP smokes it in every spec except for GPU (the Blade has a GTX 660M with 2GB of memory). The extra power consumption might be a factor, but 2GB of memory would have been nice. Still... Well, for what it’s worth, the resolution limit isn’t the issue. When you run 1920×1200 mode, what’s actually happening is that the GPU is pushing out 3840×2400 and then scaling it en masse to the 2880×1800 display. Applications act like they’re rendering to the 3840×2400 canvas at HiDPI. The result is what looks like a 1920×1200 size but with much higher detail.

So if Apple has no qualms rendering to a larger backing and then scaling, why would they worry about rendering to a native 2880×1800 backing? It would actually improve, not decrease performance. Apple simply disabled the option because it’s small and hard to see. Is it the right choice? Maybe not, having the option wouldn’t hurt. But that’s their decision.

In my experience, the biggest benefit would be more graphics memory. The GT 650M is a nice chip (heck, it runs Skyrim at almost max settings) but 1GB of memory is a bit tight. Comparing to the Razer Blade (arguably the closest competitor in the current market) the rMBP smokes it in every spec except for GPU (the Blade has a GTX 660M with 2GB of memory). The extra power consumption might be a factor, but 2GB of memory would have been nice. Still…

]]> By: Jeff Martin http://osxdaily.com/2012/06/18/3-ways-to-run-a-retina-macbook-pro-at-2880x1800-native-resolution/#comment-490622 Jeff Martin Thu, 07 Feb 2013 16:03:05 +0000 http://osxdaily.com/?p=31137#comment-490622 To see additional resolutions in the Display preferences, hold the Option key and click the "Scaled" radio button. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5369?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US To see additional resolutions in the Display preferences, hold the Option key and click the “Scaled” radio button.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5369?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

]]> By: cam http://osxdaily.com/2012/06/18/3-ways-to-run-a-retina-macbook-pro-at-2880x1800-native-resolution/#comment-470467 cam Sat, 29 Dec 2012 16:32:07 +0000 http://osxdaily.com/?p=31137#comment-470467 no, its not a mac no, its not a mac

]]> By: Alex http://osxdaily.com/2012/06/18/3-ways-to-run-a-retina-macbook-pro-at-2880x1800-native-resolution/#comment-462758 Alex Mon, 10 Dec 2012 21:51:47 +0000 http://osxdaily.com/?p=31137#comment-462758 Will any of this work for Ipad retina? Will any of this work for Ipad retina?

]]> By: MM http://osxdaily.com/2012/06/18/3-ways-to-run-a-retina-macbook-pro-at-2880x1800-native-resolution/#comment-450756 MM Fri, 16 Nov 2012 17:09:41 +0000 http://osxdaily.com/?p=31137#comment-450756 Well, it probably has something to do with the fact that they stepped down from the mid-grade GTX 560M Nvidia chip to the top end entry-level GTX 650M in the latest refresh (which benches show performs about as well as the 560), but they didn't want to overtax the GPU pushing full resolution out of a lower end chip. Users would have probably been better served with a 1920X1080 display, having the price difference of the display applied to a 660M or even a 670M instead. Well, it probably has something to do with the fact that they stepped down from the mid-grade GTX 560M Nvidia chip to the top end entry-level GTX 650M in the latest refresh (which benches show performs about as well as the 560), but they didn’t want to overtax the GPU pushing full resolution out of a lower end chip. Users would have probably been better served with a 1920X1080 display, having the price difference of the display applied to a 660M or even a 670M instead.

]]> By: Steff http://osxdaily.com/2012/06/18/3-ways-to-run-a-retina-macbook-pro-at-2880x1800-native-resolution/#comment-446366 Steff Sun, 04 Nov 2012 13:45:20 +0000 http://osxdaily.com/?p=31137#comment-446366 The command in the terminal works with 13 inch Retina also. You only need other numbers. ;) The command in the terminal works with 13 inch Retina also. You only need other numbers. ;)

]]> By: johnnie22 http://osxdaily.com/2012/06/18/3-ways-to-run-a-retina-macbook-pro-at-2880x1800-native-resolution/#comment-440466 johnnie22 Mon, 22 Oct 2012 22:10:31 +0000 http://osxdaily.com/?p=31137#comment-440466 QuickRes does so much more now, it can enable HiDPI for non-Retina Displays, it can disable and change keyboard shortcuts, it can go up to 3840x2400. It's the best once again, they fixed every problem. They should be included in the article, not these other apps that cost more and do less... It's free. www.quickresapp.com QuickRes does so much more now, it can enable HiDPI for non-Retina Displays, it can disable and change keyboard shortcuts, it can go up to 3840×2400. It’s the best once again, they fixed every problem. They should be included in the article, not these other apps that cost more and do less…

It’s free.

http://www.quickresapp.com

]]> By: JeroenB http://osxdaily.com/2012/06/18/3-ways-to-run-a-retina-macbook-pro-at-2880x1800-native-resolution/#comment-435000 JeroenB Sun, 07 Oct 2012 16:52:54 +0000 http://osxdaily.com/?p=31137#comment-435000 For a retina-display Macbook Pro, SetResX does not revert to 'best-for-retina'. Text and images look fuzzy. Not recommended. QuickRes works fine, but has some nasty keyboard-shortcuts that conflict with my workflow (Capture One). SwitchResX is great and definitely worth the €14,- after the full trial period of 10 days. I love it when I start up Capture One or Photoshop and the screen resolution automatically changes to 2880x1800. Quit the program and the screen goes back to 'best-for-retina'. For a retina-display Macbook Pro, SetResX does not revert to ‘best-for-retina’. Text and images look fuzzy. Not recommended.

QuickRes works fine, but has some nasty keyboard-shortcuts that conflict with my workflow (Capture One).

SwitchResX is great and definitely worth the €14,- after the full trial period of 10 days. I love it when I start up Capture One or Photoshop and the screen resolution automatically changes to 2880×1800. Quit the program and the screen goes back to ‘best-for-retina’.

]]> By: johnnie22 http://osxdaily.com/2012/06/18/3-ways-to-run-a-retina-macbook-pro-at-2880x1800-native-resolution/#comment-426853 johnnie22 Sun, 16 Sep 2012 00:14:25 +0000 http://osxdaily.com/?p=31137#comment-426853 QuickRes was updated to support OSX Lion QuickRes was updated to support OSX Lion

]]> By: G http://osxdaily.com/2012/06/18/3-ways-to-run-a-retina-macbook-pro-at-2880x1800-native-resolution/#comment-426401 G Fri, 14 Sep 2012 15:46:49 +0000 http://osxdaily.com/?p=31137#comment-426401 I spy a Dr. Octagon album in that screenshot. F yeah! I spy a Dr. Octagon album in that screenshot. F yeah!

]]> By: Stu http://osxdaily.com/2012/06/18/3-ways-to-run-a-retina-macbook-pro-at-2880x1800-native-resolution/#comment-424563 Stu Sat, 08 Sep 2012 11:07:37 +0000 http://osxdaily.com/?p=31137#comment-424563 scrutil almost works for me, but if I'm in 1680x1050 and want to get back to 'best' either scrutil s 1440 900 32 does it momentarily then switches back or scrutil t 1440 900 32 does it but doesn't look right, kind a like 1440 on a non retina macbook. quickres looks good but it doesn't work with Lion! scrutil almost works for me, but if I’m in 1680×1050 and want to get back to ‘best’ either

scrutil s 1440 900 32
does it momentarily then switches back or
scrutil t 1440 900 32
does it but doesn’t look right, kind a like 1440 on a non retina macbook.

quickres looks good but it doesn’t work with Lion!

]]> By: Pat http://osxdaily.com/2012/06/18/3-ways-to-run-a-retina-macbook-pro-at-2880x1800-native-resolution/#comment-423656 Pat Wed, 05 Sep 2012 07:23:10 +0000 http://osxdaily.com/?p=31137#comment-423656 It actually is ok for 12pt text for me right now, but ill get back to you in 3 eyes when my eyes don't work any more. It actually is ok for 12pt text for me right now, but ill get back to you in 3 eyes when my eyes don’t work any more.

]]> By: Pat http://osxdaily.com/2012/06/18/3-ways-to-run-a-retina-macbook-pro-at-2880x1800-native-resolution/#comment-423655 Pat Wed, 05 Sep 2012 07:22:14 +0000 http://osxdaily.com/?p=31137#comment-423655 I guess it was in an attempt to try to force people to develop for hidpi. The more users, the more demand on apps. Personally, having my screen at 2880 means i can sell my monitor and just do all my work on my laptop, and i don't have to wait for photoshop and aftereffects to update to 'retina', so on the other hand i can defiantly see why people are angry about the restriction. I guess it was in an attempt to try to force people to develop for hidpi. The more users, the more demand on apps. Personally, having my screen at 2880 means i can sell my monitor and just do all my work on my laptop, and i don’t have to wait for photoshop and aftereffects to update to ‘retina’, so on the other hand i can defiantly see why people are angry about the restriction.

]]> By: Jon http://osxdaily.com/2012/06/18/3-ways-to-run-a-retina-macbook-pro-at-2880x1800-native-resolution/#comment-420444 Jon Fri, 24 Aug 2012 17:26:31 +0000 http://osxdaily.com/?p=31137#comment-420444 There is also a new app named ResolutionTab http://resolutiontab.com, it changes display mode in one click. There is also a new app named ResolutionTab http://resolutiontab.com, it changes display mode in one click.

]]> By: johnnie22 http://osxdaily.com/2012/06/18/3-ways-to-run-a-retina-macbook-pro-at-2880x1800-native-resolution/#comment-419662 johnnie22 Wed, 22 Aug 2012 18:32:13 +0000 http://osxdaily.com/?p=31137#comment-419662 Andrew is right. The best app is still QuickRes. They added support for keyboard shortcuts, notifications and still are the quickest way to switch between resolutions. Andrew's link is outdated though check them out here: www.quickresapp.com Andrew is right.

The best app is still QuickRes.
They added support for keyboard shortcuts, notifications and still are the quickest way to switch between resolutions.

Andrew’s link is outdated though check them out here: http://www.quickresapp.com

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