blog Posted March 28, 2007 Share Posted March 28, 2007 Have a fully working Hackintosh with an Nvidia 7800GT fully recognized but my display is not even half as clear as WinXP. The 7800GT was recognized and fully supported upon install using Jas 10.4.8..... . In xBench I get a Quartz graphic test score of: 151.28 and OpenGL: 169.84 fps so the card is working as it should be but the text is just so fuzzy. I have tried to adjust Font smoothing in Appearence but this does nothing. Haven't yet done the color calibration in OS X yet as I have read that this also doesn't help. Will try though. I have done a search on the forum here for approx an hour and have come across a few others who have the same prob but still find no direct solution. Anyone have any info on this? Any ideas? BTW I am viewing on a Gateway FPD2185W 21" LCD @ native rez of 1680*1050*32 60hz. Thanx Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/46692-nvidia-7800gt-fully-working-but-cannot-get-clear-text/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostar Posted April 1, 2007 Share Posted April 1, 2007 The same problem... I'm also using GeForce7800GT. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/46692-nvidia-7800gt-fully-working-but-cannot-get-clear-text/#findComment-337766 Share on other sites More sharing options...
macbrush Posted April 1, 2007 Share Posted April 1, 2007 I have a similar problem with my 7600GT, I couldn't get the DVI port working, so I had to use the converter to convert the DVI into VGA. I am on a dual display setup, the CRT is set to 1280:960 with crispy image, but when I set the flat panel to 1680:1050, the flat panel won't recognize the signal as 1680:1050, but instead sees it as 1400:1050, and so the auto image adjustment fails, hence small text isn't clear at all. I have been fiddling around with the manual adjustment for days, still can't get to an optimal setting for 1680:1050. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/46692-nvidia-7800gt-fully-working-but-cannot-get-clear-text/#findComment-337806 Share on other sites More sharing options...
blog Posted April 1, 2007 Author Share Posted April 1, 2007 I have a similar problem with my 7600GT, I couldn't get the DVI port working, so I had to use the converter to convert the DVI into VGA. I am on a dual display setup, the CRT is set to 1280:960 with crispy image, but when I set the flat panel to 1680:1050, the flat panel won't recognize the signal as 1680:1050, but instead sees it as 1400:1050, and so the auto image adjustment fails, hence small text isn't clear at all. I have been fiddling around with the manual adjustment for days, still can't get to an optimal setting for 1680:1050. I too am presently using a DVI --> VGA converter. I was thinking this may be my problem but my setup is the same with WinXP which displays crystal clear text. I haven't yet had a need to go with an actual DVI-D cable but I my just try this out to see if: 1) my DVI ports work, 2) this solves my unclear text problem. My Gateway correctly shows my rez @ 1680*1050 and my auto adjustment works ok. Well for now I guess we can be happy that Nvidia cards at least work. The fuzzy text is the only thing keeping me from moving over from WinXP. Everything else on my computer works great. Blog Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/46692-nvidia-7800gt-fully-working-but-cannot-get-clear-text/#findComment-337822 Share on other sites More sharing options...
consolation Posted April 1, 2007 Share Posted April 1, 2007 can you do a full size screen shot of the fuzzy text? Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/46692-nvidia-7800gt-fully-working-but-cannot-get-clear-text/#findComment-337954 Share on other sites More sharing options...
blog Posted April 2, 2007 Author Share Posted April 2, 2007 I have figured out what is causing the fuzzyness. It is font smoothing. I just started a new thread in "Hardware" asking if anyone knows how to turn off font smoothing completely. I have tried the settings in "Appearance" and have gotten all fonts under size 12 to be razor sharp but anything over 12 is fuzzy. I also set font smoothing style to "light". This is a partial fix for the fuzziness. Any ideas? Blog Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/46692-nvidia-7800gt-fully-working-but-cannot-get-clear-text/#findComment-338171 Share on other sites More sharing options...
consolation Posted April 2, 2007 Share Posted April 2, 2007 I have figured out what is causing the fuzzyness. It is font smoothing. I just started a new thread in "Hardware" asking if anyone knows how to turn off font smoothing completely. I have tried the settings in "Appearance" and have gotten all fonts under size 12 to be razor sharp but anything over 12 is fuzzy. I also set font smoothing style to "light". This is a partial fix for the fuzziness. Any ideas? Blog I think what you call fuzzy others call anti-aliased, it's meant to look like that, rather than the pixely windows look. Should look smooth if you are running at your LCD's native res. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/46692-nvidia-7800gt-fully-working-but-cannot-get-clear-text/#findComment-338177 Share on other sites More sharing options...
blog Posted April 2, 2007 Author Share Posted April 2, 2007 If you read my first post in this thread you would have seen that I am running in native rez. Whether it's called anti-aliasing or fuzzy it is still hard on the eyes. Blog Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/46692-nvidia-7800gt-fully-working-but-cannot-get-clear-text/#findComment-338182 Share on other sites More sharing options...
consolation Posted April 2, 2007 Share Posted April 2, 2007 If you read my first post in this thread you would have seen that I am running in native rez. Whether it's called anti-aliasing or fuzzy it is still hard on the eyes. Blog You should post a screenshot so we can see if you have a problem or if it's normal. Try increasing font size in your apps/finder. At your native the default size is pretty small. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/46692-nvidia-7800gt-fully-working-but-cannot-get-clear-text/#findComment-338186 Share on other sites More sharing options...
blog Posted April 2, 2007 Author Share Posted April 2, 2007 Fill me in on how to take a screenshot and I will post a few. One as it is now with present settings. One with original settings. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/46692-nvidia-7800gt-fully-working-but-cannot-get-clear-text/#findComment-338188 Share on other sites More sharing options...
consolation Posted April 2, 2007 Share Posted April 2, 2007 use grab /Applications/Utilities/Grab Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/46692-nvidia-7800gt-fully-working-but-cannot-get-clear-text/#findComment-338238 Share on other sites More sharing options...
blog Posted April 2, 2007 Author Share Posted April 2, 2007 Thanks, will post soon. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/46692-nvidia-7800gt-fully-working-but-cannot-get-clear-text/#findComment-338696 Share on other sites More sharing options...
blog Posted April 3, 2007 Author Share Posted April 3, 2007 Here are some screen shots of what I am seeing. Without font smooth below Font size of 12 looks fine. With font smooth auto and font size 8 is very hard on the eyes. Blog With_Font_smooth_auto_and_8.tiff Without_font_smooth_below_12.tiff Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/46692-nvidia-7800gt-fully-working-but-cannot-get-clear-text/#findComment-338778 Share on other sites More sharing options...
cat_7 Posted April 3, 2007 Share Posted April 3, 2007 Hi, My experience is that OS X just doesn't render to screen as crisp as Windows does. Not on an LCD or CRT. I guess, it's just something to live with, and hope it will get better. (in Leopard?) Cat_7 Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/46692-nvidia-7800gt-fully-working-but-cannot-get-clear-text/#findComment-338904 Share on other sites More sharing options...
consolation Posted April 3, 2007 Share Posted April 3, 2007 Here are some screen shots of what I am seeing. Without font smooth below Font size of 12 looks fine. With font smooth auto and font size 8 is very hard on the eyes. Blog I think it's a matter of taste, I find it annoying to read without font smoothing (see how "o" looks like a circle with smoothing and like it's made up of 4 straight lines without; or capital "O" without it's an octagon instead of an oval, lol.). OsX displays the text the way the font is supposed to look, Windows just makes it look as good as the pixel density of your LCD allows it to - for me the windows version is harder to read and looks very 1980s. I guess it depends on what you are used to, neither should be hard to your eyes if you have a decent monitor - perhaps a visit to an optometrist is a bit overdue Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/46692-nvidia-7800gt-fully-working-but-cannot-get-clear-text/#findComment-339090 Share on other sites More sharing options...
microphone Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/46692-nvidia-7800gt-fully-working-but-cannot-get-clear-text/#findComment-344624 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spatulator Posted May 7, 2007 Share Posted May 7, 2007 Windows and OSX have font smoothing. It looks great in windows but fuzzy on my hackintosh. Its not a problem with the screen because when I turn smoothing off for fonts 12 and under, text is perfectly clear. I suspect the problem is with the hacked video driver. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/46692-nvidia-7800gt-fully-working-but-cannot-get-clear-text/#findComment-361209 Share on other sites More sharing options...
blog Posted May 9, 2007 Author Share Posted May 9, 2007 Thank you Spatulator for agreeing. At least I'm not the only one who feels this is a problem. I know that the problem is not with my $800 LCD (last year) that has very good review ratings. I am near sighted (which means I can see things near) so it is not mine eyes either . I know we all hate Windows but sometimes it is a necessity Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/46692-nvidia-7800gt-fully-working-but-cannot-get-clear-text/#findComment-362446 Share on other sites More sharing options...
consolation Posted May 10, 2007 Share Posted May 10, 2007 Windows and OSX have font smoothing. It looks great in windows but fuzzy on my hackintosh. Its not a problem with the screen because when I turn smoothing off for fonts 12 and under, text is perfectly clear. I suspect the problem is with the hacked video driver. There's no hacked video driver as such.... Unless you are using Callisto et al. Windows font smoothing is quite different from the mac version afaik. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/46692-nvidia-7800gt-fully-working-but-cannot-get-clear-text/#findComment-362471 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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