dual mode monitors - what's the point

[Manimal 5000]

Monitors have always accepted multiple resolutions from the GPU, so I miss the point of "dual mode" monitors. The pitch is they are supposed to have two native resolutions but that's not even true. They scale the picture just like a GPU would...and apparently not well,
https://tanalin.com/en/articles/integer ... -dual-mode

A GPU can use integer mapping for artifact-free scaling. Would this be better or same as using a "dual mode" monitor?


scaling from Nvidia control panel

I can see how having the monitor doing the scaling can reduce load on the GPU and can also scale independant from any render source. And there's a nifty button now to change modes (where the application used to do it automatically!?). Besides that, all monitors are "dual mode" when scaling from the GPU are they not.

[kyube]

A GPU can use integer mapping for artifact-free scaling. Would this be better or same as using a "dual mode" monitor?


scaling from Nvidia control panel

Any type of scaling (between frame/image res & display res) introduces either software algorithms which degrade total image quality on the spatial axis (bilinear/bicubic/nearest neighbour) or the temporal axis (TAA solutions)
The best solution is... using no scaling between the two resolutions at all. This preserves the pixel density (display resolution) and doesn't have any side effects.

The NvCPL "Integer Scaling" setting does not work on every monitor on the market, especially not while the dual mode functionality is enabled.
I know for certain that LG models are usually on the worse end in that regard.
I also know that ASUS 32" 4K 240Hz OLED models can do 16" FHD 480Hz with no sweat, but you need to use the internal "Pixel by Pixel mode".
I also know that the HD@720 Hz OLED cannot run 13.5"@HD either... only works in the 540 Hz mode
It seems that the NVCPL settings don't affect these set of models, though I cannot confirm for certain.

I can see how having the monitor doing the scaling can reduce load on the GPU and can also scale independant from any render source. And there's a nifty button now to change modes (where the application used to do it automatically!?). Besides that, all monitors are "dual mode" when scaling from the GPU are they not.

The appeal of the dual mode models is the increased refresh rate.
Ideally, we'd have the ability to choose between no scaling (between display res & frame/image res), nearest neighbour with a integer factor (called "integer scaling") & other software algorithms... but manifacturers skip out on this portion.

[Manimal 5000]

Yes Nvidia control panel as well as AMD have limitations, so I see where these monitors can legit fill in some gaps. Could also become a bad precedant for charging more for less - shrinkflation sort of. Next could be "new" triple mode monitors with legacy 480p. I digress,

The appeal of the dual mode models is the increased refresh rate

Unless i misunderstand something, this is what standard VESA timings do already.

[RealNC]

The appeal of the dual mode models is the increased refresh rate

Unless i misunderstand something, this is what standard VESA timings do already.

How would they do that? These dual mode monitors support like 540Hz at native mode. You cant' go above that unless you switch them to their lower mode which goes up to something like 720Hz.

It seems to me this refresh rate jump is the only purpose for having dual mode.

[Manimal 5000]

These dual mode monitors support like 540Hz at native mode. You cant' go above that unless you switch them to their lower mode which goes up to something like 720Hz.

I wonder why this couldn't be set by the GPU like always, but ok.

[Joe0121]

I think the biggest advantage is that the monitor exposes a separate high-refresh operating mode instead of just relying on GPU scaling. GPU scaling can match the resolution, but it usually can't unlock refresh rates the panel doesn't advertise in its normal mode. So to me, the extra refresh rate is really the main selling point, not the scaling itself.