What's the maximum monitor resolution that still avoids Windows "Retina" mode?

[DMZ]

I'm sure it's not called Retina mode, but this is just one of those things like Hover and Sellotape that's gonna stick.

I know that Windows PCs can struggle with Retina-type monitors. Program UIs can become tiny, or big, or tiny with big menus, and all kinds of nonsense. Blurry text is another one with that strange 125% thing.

I'm mainly just curious about how Windows chooses when to use "Retina" mode vs "legacy" mode. I'm sure DPI comes into it.

 

[james.miller]

There's no retina mode. Display scaling i believe is chosen based on these DPI values (windows 10, not sure about earlier OSs) :

scaling level : DPI

Smaller 100% (default) : 96
Medium 125% : 120
Larger 150% : 144
Extra Large 200% : 192

so if you want to keep the scaling at 100%, aim for < 120dpi. for 4k, that means 40" and 37" should work as well. Of course you can still use the default scaling on smaller screen, but everything will be smaller as a result.