DisplaysShouldNotBeTVs have you found an external monitor that feels as good as your AUO?
screen-Induced Brain Fog & Eyestrain – CCFL + Blue Light Glasses Seem to Help
- Edited
reaganry Nope. The 2015 version of AUO303E is still working great though. One of the best screens I've ever used, I knew there was something "different" about it the first time it powered on.
And it got even better than it already was, after disabling Intel drivers, using ditherig.exe, setting it to 100% backlight and 40hz mode (important!), and using NegativeScreen to fix the "TN white color" issue as I mentioned earlier. Set the backlight and framerate by toggling drivers on, making the changes, then toggling back off.
And, unexpectedly, even better yet again when dual booting into 2015 LTSB to avoid the "composition layers" issues that started with 1607 (I use 2015 LTSB as a "thin client" OS basically since I only have NoMachine and RealVNC installed on it).
There was a very subtle "mesh pattern" I noticed on the screen while running newer versions even with Basic Display, especially on solid color backgrounds, that vanished on 2015 LTSB. It was something caused by Windows, different from dithering (since it's not visible on 2015 LTSB even when dithering is set to Spatial).
I reboot back into the newer Windows when I'm outdoors and want to use it as a standalone laptop.
Note that even on my initial setup (newer Windows version, Intel drivers disabled) it's still leagues ahead of other screens and is still "as good as when I started", but since I'm committed to "achieving the most comfortable laptop screen possible", I took it even further and it was able to get even better than that! I already knew it was great when I first got it though.
(However, avoid native Linux, I have NO idea how it does it, but it somehow makes this otherwise fine screen cause strain. There is some weird "contrast enhancement"-like effect that I can notice. The workaround is running a Linux VM within Windows, which works great.)
I kind of use it as "a monitor" since I'm using NoMachine on the T480 to remotely use/view a macOS machine without any strain.
But no, I haven't found any dedicated external monitors that are as good as this (including the 4 old CCFL TNs I own! even the oldest external monitor I have, from 2005, although "kinda" better than a typical modern screen, still causes some strain for me even if connected to "safe hardware")
Note that the "manufactured 2018" variant of AUO303E causes issues even when running with all of these tweaks AKA it has some sort of panel-level issue. Returned that one
It's specifically the "manufactured 2015" AUO303E that's this good
DisplaysShouldNotBeTVs maybe you could build a couple more of your rigs and sell them to us
- Edited
Just one update: even though all my positives about the AUO303E panel still hold true, I actually ended up swapping it for the earlier AUO 1366x768 panel I also discussed: B140XTN02.D (also manufactured 2015)
Initially, I thought the 900p one was better, bu the 768p is actually even more comfortable to me!
The pixel inversion is far less noticeable, and since it's glossy it doesn't have the rainbow/graininess issue that the 900p did (which had a pretty subpar matte coating). Black text contrast is better (in a good way — not too intense)
(It it a little bit worse "color accuracy wise" but that doesn't matter to me)
Also discovered that for both panels, running at 40fps feels even more comfy compared to 60fps
So now I'd say the AUO B140XTN02.D is my top recommendation
I have a colleague who started wearing blue light glasses (the really conspicuous ones with visible rose tinting) over the last month and it's apparently been a game-changer for her.
Again I have no association with them, but I too have serious eye problems when I use modern LCD displays. So I can use CRT displays !
What about these glasses from ZEPTER distributor, and test a pair of
Fullerene C60 doped glasses lenses. Make sure to choose indoor lighter color version.
https://shop.zepter.com/Medical/smart-glasses/HYPERLIGHT-OPTICS-SET,-INDOOR-LENSES
I wonder if they remove the flicker? The price is 180Eur if you manage to get good discount. But only if it works as claimed. Perhaps these could remove the dithering too.
I came accross this dude on the youtubes, he suggests some of the interesting supplements for the eyes,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6m4HzHiFak
These are the supplements:
Lutein
Zeaxanthin
Astaxanthin
smilem link doesn't work
- Edited
one bad news! All of a sudden my good setup (M1 Macbook + CCFL Dell U2410 + Blue light blocking Amber glass) is giving me neck pain and eye strains. I was using this for last 12 months without any issues.
What changed?
My work laptop Macbook Pro M1 recently updated to 15.2 (Sequoia). Ever since this update, I am facing this issue.
Previously it was macOS Sonoma. It was good and no issues with the setup - Dell u2410 + Amber glasses.
What's next?
Play with different settings and find optimum one.
Update -> My issue got fixed now. It was due to 5Ghz new wifi connection. Moved back to 2.4Ghz wifi connection. My issues got resolved.
karthi3219 Interesting, so I guess it got even worse, because for me on Ventura 13.6.6 even with known-good monitors, if I connect my M1 Air to them (instead of e.g. an intel graphics Windows PC which is totally fine) they suddenly start causing strain.
I even notice weird artifacts + ghosting-like image persistence when a Mac is connected, most visible on older LCD monitors that have slow response times which makes this obvious (horizontal lines that appear while scrolling and slowly fade out) that isn't present with an Intel Windows PC connected. This remains even after activating Stillcolor.
Since I already know that M1 Mac display output has been messed up since at least Ventura, probably earlier, I wonder what they changed in Sequoia that managed to make it even worse?
- Edited
For me, most blue light glasses don't work at all (for screens). However, there's one that actually works for me — these specific ones that are "pure red" and essentially function as "monochrome mode for the real world".
Ignore their marketing, I swear the page changes title every few months lol — the first time I personally learned about these was during a vision appointment where they happened to have a pair. I'm recommending this purely based on their functional properties and my experience using them for 2 years. Haven't found another brand that makes this specific shade of deep red, most lean more towards orange or "purplish" red in my testing.
While wearing them, almost everything becomes red or orange (except a few shades of teal).
Some screens that are otherwise unusable become much more tolerable for me with these (but as always, keep in mind that this is not a "fix"). Usually blue light glasses don't change screens at all for me so this is really unique. I use them all the time whenever I need to use devices I have issues with. They also seem to reduce my flicker sensitivity.
Still works just as well as when I got them 2 years ago.
I also use them with my good devices too, at night, instead of using a software filter. Even if the screen is already good I find that it creates a relaxing effect, due to how it makes everything "physically" monochrome.
Specifically the pure red one in the link has this effect. I also tried some of the other colors offered (like orange) but they didn't do anything for me. So there's probably something about this pure red that filters out something in the screen's light output?
@DisplaysShouldNotBeTVs Hey update! It was not recent MacOS update that was unexpectedly given me eye strain. It was my new 5G wi-fi router connection. I have moved back to previous 2.4Ghz Wifi connection and all my symtoms disappeared. I am continue to use my existing setup. M1 Macbook + Dell U2410 CCFL monitor + Blue light blocking AMBER glasses.
I shared this in a new thread - https://ledstrain.org/d/3146-another-parameter-to-headaches-eye-strain-5g-networks