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Any free OSX display resolution utilities?

S

sjwaste

Diamond Member
I just got the Monoprice Mini-DP to HDMI adapter, and thought I'd give it a go connecting my MB to my Panasonic Plasma (720p, 1024x768 res).

It works very well, except that the output from the MB in 720p is a little bit too long on the top and bottom of the screen. It's probably a matter of having to pull the resolution back about 40px to have it fit perfectly.

With my Windows HTPC, the Nvidia drivers let me do this manually in the NV control panel, using custom overscan. Is there anything I can do to create custom resolutions in OSX without having to pay for it? I've fooled with DisplayResX and a couple others, but both cost money, and I really don't need this for anything but novelty purposes and the occasional Plex output.

I mean, I'll edit config files manually if there's a way to do it. But if a free util is available, I'd rather give that a try first 🙂
 
SwitchResX is really the de-facto display resolution utility from what I've seen.
 
true, but it is way easier to futz with custom resolutions in windows because of the much more robust driver interfaces, and 3rd party tools. believe me I have played with an iMac with an x1600 trying to fill a 46" lcd tv using SwitchResX, and cannot do it (despite much effort). using catalyst control on xp in bootcamp, it took about 30 seconds to solve the problem.
 
Originally posted by: Plester
true, but it is way easier to futz with custom resolutions in windows because of the much more robust driver interfaces, and 3rd party tools. believe me I have played with an iMac with an x1600 trying to fill a 46" lcd tv using SwitchResX, and cannot do it (despite much effort). using catalyst control on xp in bootcamp, it took about 30 seconds to solve the problem.
Click to expand...

One of the few times that it was easier to connect an external screen in Windows.
 
Don't get me wrong, I love OSX, there just happen to be a few areas where windows and all the enthusiast development that has gone with it (in areas like this) just flat out provide much more flexibility.
 
Originally posted by: Plester
Don't get me wrong, I love OSX, there just happen to be a few areas where windows and all the enthusiast development that has gone with it (in areas like this) just flat out provide much more flexibility.
Click to expand...

I am not taking your statements as bashing or anything like that, you seem to be right in this regard, and there are a couple of other areas where Windows does something better, I can't think of any right now, but I am sure they exist.
 
Originally posted by: VinylxScratches
Originally posted by: Plester
osx sucks compared to windows on this front.
Click to expand...

Too bad Windows sucks with external monitors and laptops.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't say that at all. I've been running a Windows HTPC for a long time, and never had any issue with external monitors. I've mostly used ATI video cards, but my main PC with an Nvidia 7900GT was easy to set up to output to the same plasma TV that my Macbook requires a paid utility to configure properly.

Of course, you're probably going to blame the TV now?
 
Originally posted by: sjwaste
Originally posted by: VinylxScratches
Originally posted by: Plester
osx sucks compared to windows on this front.
Click to expand...

Too bad Windows sucks with external monitors and laptops.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't say that at all. I've been running a Windows HTPC for a long time, and never had any issue with external monitors. I've mostly used ATI video cards, but my main PC with an Nvidia 7900GT was easy to set up to output to the same plasma TV that my Macbook requires a paid utility to configure properly.

Of course, you're probably going to blame the TV now?
Click to expand...

No, he was talking about external screens when using laptops. Hooking up to an external with my macbook requires the adapter and the monitor. I plug it in and I am done. The resolution is configured at max native 99% of the time, spanning (not mirroring) is on by default, and I don't have to mess with anything.

On every Windows laptop that I have used, I hook up, I have to hit the appropriate fn+key to get the laptop to say 'hey look, something is plugged into me', and then I will get mirrored, and usually some sort of crummy resolution (99% of the time, not the native res). This was on Vista pre SP1 and everything before it. So if it has changed for the better, good on ya Redmond, keep doing little things like that (no really, I am serious, it is the little changes in 7 that I like)
 
Originally posted by: TheStu
Originally posted by: sjwaste
Originally posted by: VinylxScratches
Originally posted by: Plester
osx sucks compared to windows on this front.
Click to expand...

Too bad Windows sucks with external monitors and laptops.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't say that at all. I've been running a Windows HTPC for a long time, and never had any issue with external monitors. I've mostly used ATI video cards, but my main PC with an Nvidia 7900GT was easy to set up to output to the same plasma TV that my Macbook requires a paid utility to configure properly.

Of course, you're probably going to blame the TV now?
Click to expand...

No, he was talking about external screens when using laptops. Hooking up to an external with my macbook requires the adapter and the monitor. I plug it in and I am done. The resolution is configured at max native 99% of the time, spanning (not mirroring) is on by default, and I don't have to mess with anything.

On every Windows laptop that I have used, I hook up, I have to hit the appropriate fn+key to get the laptop to say 'hey look, something is plugged into me', and then I will get mirrored, and usually some sort of crummy resolution (99% of the time, not the native res). This was on Vista pre SP1 and everything before it. So if it has changed for the better, good on ya Redmond, keep doing little things like that (no really, I am serious, it is the little changes in 7 that I like)
Click to expand...

Don't forget when your laptop goes into sleep mode with monitors, you pretty much have to re-register the external monitor.
 
Originally posted by: sjwaste
Originally posted by: VinylxScratches
Originally posted by: Plester
osx sucks compared to windows on this front.
Click to expand...

Too bad Windows sucks with external monitors and laptops.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't say that at all. I've been running a Windows HTPC for a long time, and never had any issue with external monitors. I've mostly used ATI video cards, but my main PC with an Nvidia 7900GT was easy to set up to output to the same plasma TV that my Macbook requires a paid utility to configure properly.

Of course, you're probably going to blame the TV now?
Click to expand...

You didn't read what I said......
 
Originally posted by: VinylxScratches
Originally posted by: sjwaste
Originally posted by: VinylxScratches
Originally posted by: Plester
osx sucks compared to windows on this front.
Click to expand...

Too bad Windows sucks with external monitors and laptops.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't say that at all. I've been running a Windows HTPC for a long time, and never had any issue with external monitors. I've mostly used ATI video cards, but my main PC with an Nvidia 7900GT was easy to set up to output to the same plasma TV that my Macbook requires a paid utility to configure properly.

Of course, you're probably going to blame the TV now?
Click to expand...

You didn't read what I said......
Click to expand...

You said that windows sucked with external monitors and laptops. Someone else explained what you attempted to say, but your sentence wasn't written in such a way that would evoke that message in anyone who didn't already know what you meant.

Saying that windows sucks with laptops paired with an external monitor would've gotten your message across more clearly.

I understand where you were going with that now, though, and I do agree that windows sucks with a laptop attached to an external display. Have had many conference room nightmares with a laptop and a projector.

I simply thought you'd meant windows sucked with laptops and sucked with external monitors and disagreed with the latter 🙂
 
Speaking of OS X resolutions..

I've got a 1050 x 1680 Dell LCD (it's rotated vertically) attached to my 13" uMBP. Because the notebook is 1280px wide, when I drag windows over they don't fit properly and I always need to use a few extra clicks & drags to narrow it down to 1050px. Are there any tricks to get the windows to auto-resize?
 
Originally posted by: Kai920
Speaking of OS X resolutions..

I've got a 1050 x 1680 Dell LCD (it's rotated vertically) attached to my 13" uMBP. Because the notebook is 1280px wide, when I drag windows over they don't fit properly and I always need to use a few extra clicks & drags to narrow it down to 1050px. Are there any tricks to get the windows to auto-resize?
Click to expand...

Use the green window button to maximize optimally for that monitor.
 
Originally posted by: AsianriceX
Use the green window button to maximize optimally for that monitor.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I realize I can do this, but I don't really want it maximized... which means green button, resize from bottom-right, and dragging the window down vertically. Just call me lazy I guess 🙂

Kmax: nice links, I'll check them out.
 
Originally posted by: sjwaste
It works very well, except that the output from the MB in 720p is a little bit too long on the top and bottom of the screen. It's probably a matter of having to pull the resolution back about 40px to have it fit perfectly.
Click to expand...
This is a very common overscan issue.

Try opening the system prefs/display and see if you have an options tab. (If the TV is detected as such). If so, under options try unchecking 'overscan'.

 
Originally posted by: Zaap
Originally posted by: sjwaste
It works very well, except that the output from the MB in 720p is a little bit too long on the top and bottom of the screen. It's probably a matter of having to pull the resolution back about 40px to have it fit perfectly.
Click to expand...
This is a very common overscan issue.

Try opening the system prefs/display and see if you have an options tab. (If the TV is detected as such). If so, under options try unchecking 'overscan'.
Click to expand...

I did, but then I have the opposite problem 🙂
 
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