I am using Dell P2715Q display (4K) with MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015). It is by default scaled to 1920 x 1080 @ 60 Hz (copied from System Report). But the display shows "Resolution: 3840×2160, 60Hz" (at the bottom of the Menu). It bothers me cause I have some performance issues working with this display. I also have Dell U2715H display (2K) at home which doesn't show any performance problem at all. I assume the problem is in Mac OS scaling but don't see a way do diagnose or fix it.
Mac OS Sierra Version: 10.12.6 (16G1212)
Best Answer
What you're describing is macOS' "Retina" HiDPI scaling feature. The actual resolution that the GPU renders, the display sees and what is communicated over the display-cable is 3840x2160.
In simple terms, the resolution reported to applications is instead 1920x1080. This means that the actual usable resolution you'll find as a user is 1920x1080, but for example text is rendered "crisper" by macOS taking advantage of the underlying full resolution. Similarly images and video material can be shown in the underlying full resolution.
If you open System Preferences and select Display, then you see the scaling option you have chosen for your monitor. You can hold down the option/alt key while pressing the "Scaled" radio button to reveal a longer list of possible screen resolutions. You want to select one marked "low resolution" (i.e. not a HiDPI one).
You can also use third party utilities such as SwitchResX to get even more options for screen resolutions.
You can also disable HiDPI scaling completely from Terminal.app by running the following command:
You'll need to reboot afterwards.
To reverse and enable HiDPI again, change "NO" to "YES".