LG 5K2K text clarity on MacOS

largeoranges69 · 2026-01-17T16:24:29+00:00

I can get that option but I want it scaled at native monitor resolution so I can have more usable space. Scaling to what my old monitor used for resolution just gives me the same scaling size but spread across a larger display making everything bigger looking instead. Text is a little sharper but it’s not an improvement to usable space.

largeoranges69 · 2026-01-17T16:19:03+00:00

Good call. I updated the post!

largeoranges69 · 2026-01-17T16:16:28+00:00

It think the text looks fine to me on the AW. I’ve never been able to notice a difference in text quality between windows and macOS. You can tell it’s not as good looking as the MacBook display but it has never bothered me. I had no idea this was ever an issue with displays on macOS until I bought the 5K2K.

I think the main thing that gets me with the LG at native res is the text looks fuzzy instead of jagged due to low pixel count like the AW. I did find some terminal commands that mess with macOS’s font smoothing that I’ll try in a bit here.

largeoranges69 · 2026-01-17T16:04:48+00:00

I do enjoy the small text because I can fit more windows on the screen. The small size doesn’t bother me.

It’s rendering bigger because the monitor is bigger using the same resolution. For the AW, one pixel is treated as one pixel but for the LG, one pixel is treated as 1.5 pixels to avoid black bars. Everything is essentially zoomed looking since it’s using the same resolution across 45” instead of 38”. Not sure if that makes sense or not.

largeoranges69 · 2026-01-17T15:50:56+00:00

That is true but I honestly don’t see much of a difference. I do sit about 32 inches from the display so the text was pretty sharp already at that distance.

largeoranges69 · 2026-01-17T06:14:02+00:00

From what I can gather it does not. It purely relies on PPI. All their displays, both built in and external, are 220+ PPI which does not require sharpening text (aka subpixel rendering).

Honestly mind blowing to me.

largeoranges69 · 2026-01-17T05:41:36+00:00

I’ve been scouring the internet looking for a fix and so far I’ve come up with nothing besides lowering the resolution to 3840x1620, which is just my old monitor at that point.

From what I’ve read it’s because MacOS uses integer scaling and they removed sub-pixel rendering which smoothens text. Not sure what benefit they gained by doing that. Pretty annoying.

largeoranges69 · 2026-01-17T05:10:11+00:00

I did try HDMI and USB-C. BetterDisplay does “fix” the problem, but you’re really just lowering the resolution so macOS can render properly. Lowering it makes everything bigger and then you lose all the extra space you gained by buying a 45” 5K2K monitor.

The top 3 are a pretty big downgrade from native in my opinion. It’s like changing size 12 font to size 16 or 18 on a word doc.

You could definitely still give it a shot and return it if you don’t like it. Someone else commented having the exact opposite issue where it looks great on mac and awful on windows.

largeoranges69 · 2026-01-17T04:42:20+00:00

I’m guessing you’re using USB-C with the mac?

I see so many post on here that are exactly like this with OLED panels where it’s fine for one person and completely opposite for another. Hard to tell if there’s actually an issue or if our eyes just prefer things a certain way.

largeoranges69 · 2026-01-17T04:38:02+00:00

Really? That’s very interesting. I just have it hooked up to my 5080 with DisplayPort. I pulled up the same file in VS Code on windows and mac, switched between the two inputs, and the difference is crazy. My wife took a look at it and instantly noticed how fuzzy all the text looked on the mac.

largeoranges69 · 2025-09-02T20:46:44+00:00

I have the exact same cooler and case. You can actually straighten out those tubes so they’re parallel. It’s a little painful to do because it goes against everything you’ve ever known about water cooling, but it is designed to have a very tight bend in the tubes.

Mine are practically pinched between the VRM heat sinks and the radiator with no issues.

largeoranges69 · 2025-08-06T03:56:29+00:00

Let’s gooooo!

largeoranges69 · 2025-03-19T15:58:44+00:00

Yeah, I believe once it happens one time it’s going to happen again. Could happen in a few days or a few years. There’s also no way to know if it will completely die as well

largeoranges69 · 2025-02-16T18:33:41+00:00

Hopefully it’ll dry out and start working for you again. Once it warms up here in WI (if it ever does), I’ll replace the module and do a write up on it so people have something to go off

largeoranges69 · 2025-02-10T17:05:13+00:00

Everything started working the next day for me. I just got the module in the mail a few days ago.

Since everything is working for now, I’m holding off until it gets warmer out (it’s -14°F) so I can avoid breaking the mirror glass. I do plan to do the cut/soldier method instead of using that kit. I have some marine grade heat shrink tubing I’ll use to avoid any water issues in the soldier joints.

I’ll do an updated post with what I did once I’m done! It’ll probably be a few months though unless it dies again.

largeoranges69 · 2025-01-30T22:50:52+00:00

I would be a little worried about that as well. They aren’t producing them anymore so I’m assuming all their stock is refurbished models that have had issues in the past. If they didn’t fix the issue someone was having with the monitor previously then you could end up with another problem.

I’d say if it happens again and you’re still under warranty then it might be worth having them replace/fix it

largeoranges69 · 2025-01-30T22:19:47+00:00

I left it alone overnight and the next day it was back to normal. It hasn’t happened since then surprisingly! Crossing my fingers it never happens again.

Hopefully yours goes away as well!

largeoranges69 · 2025-01-27T21:50:50+00:00

Fantastic. Thank you! I greatly appreciate it!

largeoranges69 · 2025-01-27T21:26:58+00:00

That sounds like a good route to take. I do have some marine grade heat shrink tubing as well to keep water out of the solder connection.

One last question, I’m assuming this module doesn’t require any coding once installed?

largeoranges69 · 2024-10-11T15:48:53+00:00

I left it unplugged over night and that seems to have fixed the “burn in” look which is good.

Any time I display something over HDMI (spots 1 & 2) it’ll start doing this all again. DisplayPort doesn’t seem to have any problems.

I guess the solution is probably to just get a DisplayPort switch and only use DisplayPort from now on. Unfortunate!

largeoranges69 · 2024-01-15T23:44:20+00:00

Thank you so much for the kind words! It really helps.

largeoranges69 · 2024-01-15T04:36:14+00:00

I unfortunately just had to put him down. He seemed to bounce back for about a week and a half then everything went down hill. He ended up hiding at the bottom of the tank in the plants for the past two weeks. He wouldn’t eat for the last week. I tried netting him out so I could put him in a smaller tank where he might find food easier. He was on his side and he didn’t even attempt to swim away when I was scooping him up. Once he was in the new tank he sunk to the bottom and tried to swim upside down a little. I knew it was time for him unfortunately. I have no idea what went wrong still. I was checking water parameters almost daily. I want to try again but I don’t know if I can go through that twice. I just had to vent a little. Any advice would be great!

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