• OS

  • Disable dithering on M1/M2 devices

DHSF You need to check that dummy display is a main display (not mirror). Sometimes it happens that the monitors change their mode.

Also you need to disable True Tone and Night shift.

    I also did the same for the external monitor (which has 8 + 2 bit FRC). There is no strain after that.

    7 days later

    Guys, by the way I found weird thing.

    Is it only me getting eye strain and dizziness when I connect my mouse to my Macbook M1 and activate "Disable cursor acceleration" in LinearMouse app? Or it's just a faulty mouse (I have wired Steelseries Prime)? Have you noticed something like that?

    14 days later

    JesHD

    By the way, do you use BetterDisplay and SwitchResX at same time? Or just BetterDisplay?

        ryans for me it’s the only way to use MBP 14. Now I try to figure out, is it only betterdisplay that helps, or it’s combination of betterdisplay and switchresx. I also noticed that disabling mouse acceleration while using mouse also cause eyestrain and dizziness for me.

          Sentiny ryans Yes, I still use BetterDisplay for dummy mirroring, and SwitchResX just for checking (because SwitchResX on M1/M2 devices can not switch bit depth, only on Intel-macs)

                13 days later

                Sentiny

                I'm unable to set a dummy display as my main display without using an external monitor, would you mind sharing how you were able to set a dummy display as main while on the MacBook display itself?

                    bkdo I have macbook pro 14.

                    1. Just connect 16:10 Dummy display.

                    2. Then open your macbook lcd display settings and set it as a mirror for dummy display.

                    3. Set optimization for dummy display.

                    4. Change resolution in Betterdisplay, I use default scale 1512x945.

                      In better display menu set option to "reconnect dummy after wake".

                      I use 1.3.8 version cause I felt that in 1.3.9 they changed smth and it feels worse for my eyes.

                    • bkdo replied to this.

                        Sentiny

                        Thank you very much, that worked. Not sure if it's helping so far, but I'll give it a shot. You also mentioned that you use SwitchResX as well, do you mind sharing which settings do you use for that?

                            Hey! Could you please tell me which display resolution have you set?

                              akuts404 For macbook pro 14, I use 1512x945.

                              For external 27' 2k display I use native 2560x1440 or 2048x1152

                                I have followed the instructions from @NewDwarf on how to disable dithering on my M1 mac. I didn't see much of an alleviation of symptoms. I have also reduced my resolution to 1600x900 using BetterDisplay, again with not much of an effect on my symptoms.

                                Specs:

                                Interestingly, on my other Mac, I don't use BetterDisplay, but did follow @NewDwarf instructions to disable dithering, which helped me greatly. I can use this Mac, with pretty much no symptoms.

                                Specs:

                                Just a note that on both Macs, I am using external LCD TFT backlit monitors.

                                I wonder if it is because the usable on is running Big Sur. And the unusable one is running Monterey?

                                  Zazu I don't think @NewDwarf technique works on M1/M2 Macs, only Intel ones. Glad your Intel one is usable now 🙂

                                  Sounds like that supports your findings?

                                  • Zazu replied to this.

                                      Zazu I wonder if it is because the usable on is running Big Sur. And the unusable one is running Monterey?

                                      I think there is a high possibility that upgrading to Monterey, even the mac with intel will start giving you problems.

                                      You should make a disk image and try it, but I wouldn't do that if I were you 🙂

                                      • Zazu replied to this.

                                          ryans Yeah, New dwarf had 2 seperate solutions for intel and M1 macs. I tried both and it seems the intel solution worked but the M1 had ambiguous results. I have now brute forced working on my M1 and today seems better. Reminder that on my M1 I have also reduced my resolution using betterdisplay, and did what Newdwarf recommended to disable dithering.

                                            dev