[varenc]

displayplacer can definitely do this! Just running `displayplacer` should output helpful information but I can give more detail.

Let’s say you have a 1440p monitor running at native resolution without HiDPI enable.

Run this to see the (huge) list of available modes:

   displayplacer list

Then from the list find the mode number for the resolution you already have that lists “scaling:on”. Also copy your monitor’s ID

Now run this with those values copied from above to change to the HiDPI mode:

   displayplacer "id:<id> mode:<mode number>"

[jscheel]

Odd, displayplacer doesn't list any options for 2560x1440 with scaling on for me. Am I understanding you incorrectly?

[singhrac]

Just for posterity, I ran into the same problem as joshgel. My 1440p's highest "scaling:on" mode is "res:1920:1200 hz:60 color_depth:8 scaling:on". I tried that, but iStats Menu still reports the discrete graphics card using 19W, which is as high as before.

Given that the linked script just seems to create some sort of XML file in the right directory, maybe this is doable directly? I made an issue in the displayplacer Github to this effect: https://github.com/jakehilborn/displayplacer/issues/69

[singhrac]

For those who come across this thread later, I found a reasonable solution that involves fewer hacks (at least to me). It still doesn't lower power usage below 18W with both displays open, but it's a cleaner version of the above solution. Here: https://github.com/jakehilborn/displayplacer/issues/69#issue...

[joshgel]

what if `displayplacer list` doesn't show an option for my current resolution with "scaling:on"? does that mean my 16" MBP w 5500M doesn't support this resolution?