Example: 1920 x 1080, 144 Hz, 8-bit, RGB | Setting | What it controls | |---------|------------------| | Desktop resolution | What Windows renders (icons, windows, mouse pointer) | | Active signal mode | What the GPU physically outputs over HDMI/DP/USB-C |
It sounds like you're asking about in Windows 11 — specifically what it means, how to check it, and why it might differ from your "desktop resolution." active signal mode windows 11
If you meant something else by "active signal mode" (like a Windows feature or accessibility mode), clarify and I'll dive deeper. Example: 1920 x 1080, 144 Hz, 8-bit, RGB
Get-CimInstance -Namespace root/WMI -ClassName WmiMonitorBasicDisplayParams (Returns timing info, but not as clean as UI — use Get-WmiObject or external tools like DisplayInfo for full details.) | Your goal | Desired active signal mode | |-----------|----------------------------| | Gaming (fast, sharp) | Same as desktop, max refresh, RGB | | HDR video/movies | 10-bit, YCbCr 4:2:2 or 4:4:4 | | Text / productivity | RGB, 8-bit (or 10-bit if monitor native) | | Legacy GPU scaling | Higher than desktop (e.g., 4K active / 1080p desktop) | Example: 1920 x 1080