MacBook Air M2 hooked to a Dell Ultrasharp 2327QE: eyeball misery

ouchmyretinas

Try downloading the app Betterdisplay and play around with the settings. Create a virtual display and mirror it to the Dell - This will disable dithering.

Thanks so much for this thought—I will give it a shot.

Ruoma

The developer of the iris tech app says he gets rid of dithering, by forcing an 8 bit colour profile.

ouchmyretinas

Ruoma

Trying it! Is there any special setting, or just installing it automatically removes dithering?

ryans

Ruoma Just wondering if there's a reference for this? I'd like to read more into it. Iris disabled dithering?

Ruoma

Ruoma I think just installing it. Though not sure if the claim actually works.

ouchmyretinas

jrajpaul

Okay, I created a "dummy" of my own monitor, and am now "mirroring" it to my own monitor…and that disables dithering?

I can't tell because I just did it, maybe does seem easier to see and focus.

coffee

I have the exact same problems with an M1 air attached to a Dell U3219. Get nausea and headaches immediately, and my eyes feel dry and trouble focusing, yet it's fine with various Windows laptops connected to my monitor. Tried various brightness/contrast settings as well.

Gonna give the mirror thing a shot too (although I can't understand the technical reason of 8 bit colour/ 10 bit colour). Is this the correct way to do it? Do I have to associate the dummy to the monitor in the submenu?

coffee

Just want to report I've been doing the mirroring thing with Betterdisplay and set font smoothing to 1, and I've been having no problems using macos on an external monitor for the past week and a bit. Just to make sure it wasn't placebo, I turned the mirror off on Feb 11th and could literally feel nausea and strain within 2 minutes. Then I turned mirroring back on and rested my eyes for about 2 hours to allow nausea to pass, and have been using my computer as normal for the past 2 days and don't feel any strain. Thanks all for the suggestions 🙂

Ruoma

ryans the developer said about 8 bit profile : they are always forced if Iris is running. we also fix subpixel flicker

https://iristech.co/subpixel-flicker-test/

https://iristech.co/pwm-flicker-test/

Donux

Its funny, I have been trying again and again and again to work with my macbook air m1 and it all eventually culminates in insomnia. But one thing that really worked for me - logging in to my macbook air m1 from VNC using different laptop (hp elitebook). Its probably stupid advice, but VNC remote logic does not carry strain, so definitely this is not UI issue at least.

As for external screen, I have a feeling that VA panels are better for eyes as oppose to IPS. Plus its an older time tested technology.

ouchmyretinas

jrajpaul

Okay…I think the mirroring to a dummy thing might actually be working!?

In unrelated news, I'm realizing this monitor has some pretty atrocious glare.

Sentiny

coffee Glad one more positive case here. By the way, what version of the BetterDisplay do you use?

coffee

Sentiny Version 1.4.2

karthi3219

@"coffee"#p26902

Just want to report I've been doing the mirroring thing with Betterdisplay and set font smoothing to 1, and I've been having no problems using macos on an external monitor for the past week and a bit.

What steps you have followed to set font smoothing to 1? Are you using HiDPI in the dummy or unchecked that option? I feel HiDPI causing some headaches.

Better display app with 4k LG monitor (8bit +FRC ) connected with Mac M1 is mostly usable for me and lot better than direct usage. But still experiencing some uneasiness every now and then.

jordan

ouchmyretinas what you described symptom wise is exactly what happens with me too. What does your working setup look like today?

Jm31828

Sorry to revive an old thread- but to clarify, are you having the same problems when using the display on the MacBook itself- or is this problem really just when using the external monitor?