Second monitor showing everything slightly bigger

[jamie_1988]

I have a iMac 21.5 inch (1920 x 1080) and a second monitor connected 23 inch (1920 x 1080) but on the second monitor everything seems to be slightly bigger.
I tried using underscan but it loses the sharpness/crispiness on the monitor.

Is there a way to make everything show the same size on both monitors without losing quality?

 

[Cory Cooper]

Hello and welcome,

-Which exact model Mac?
-Which brand/model external monitor?
-How is the external monitor connected?
-Which version of OS X?

We'll start there...

C

 

[jamie_1988]

Hi,
-iMac 21.5inch late 2013 (iMac14,3)
-AOC i2369vm 23 inch
-HDMI to mini display port
-OS X El Capitan 10.11.6

J

 

[Cory Cooper]

OK, thanks.

Do you mean physically bigger when both the iMac and the AOC are set to 1920x1080? If so, that is because the pixels are actually smaller on the iMac's screen, which is 21.5" vs the 23" size of the AOC. If you are running them both at their optimal 1920x1080 settings, then there isn't any way to make them exactly the same size.

C

 

[jamie_1988]

H thanks for the reply.
Yes so for e.g if i have word open on the imac with a few words at font size 12, and then drag the whole window onto the AOC 23inch everything is bigger/zoomed in.
So is the only option for them to both display the same size in that scenario, is to either get a higher res 23 inch or get a 21.5 inch 1920x1080?

J

 

[Cory Cooper]

I would guess that a 1920x1080 21.5" display would be a closer match than a higher resolution 23". In the end, it still may not be exactly the same, but close, since the actual pixel size may be slightly off.

Is there a particular reason you need it to be exactly the same size on both displays?

C

 

[jamie_1988]

OK thanks for the help.
Just found it a tiny bit annoying when say reading on the 21.5 then dragging another article onto the 23inch and the text being slightly bigger to my eyes.