Q: Poor resolution when plugged into 1080p 32" TV

This might sound ridiculous but it worked for me on my Samsung tv. When I connected my MacBook via HDMI port 2 on my tv the picture was blurry etc. When I switched to HDMI port 1 it fixed the problem.

Im happy for any advice, thank you! But I have tried all my three hdmi inputs on my Samsung tv. Only difference is that I can choose different options in the menu, depending on which hdmi port Im using. But still not a solution. I have tried it all, it displays the same issues on the monitor and tv. For example the half-sized "l" in Sleep, in the osx menu that I posted a picture of.

I have also tried, on the Samsung tv, to rename the inputs to "PC" and "DVI PC" all of them. Nothing changes.

I have also tried my new analog solution, display port-vga adapter, but it shows the same error on both the monitor and tv. I tried messing with "course" and "fine" on the SA350 monitor, and was able to make the "l" in Sleep, twice as big (as I guess its supposed to be) but that approach is not correct and it doesnt put each pixel where they should be. I also noticed that other areas in the screen that went blurry instead.

I have the same picture quality issues with a new Samsung and Macmini (Late 2012) which is why I'm reading this thread.  However, you can pass sound through via the HDMI cable.  Got to System Preferences>Sound and change the output.

Same issue here. Bought today a 2012 mac mini to replace a late 2007 mac mini. I had the 2007 mac mini connected with a DVI-HDMI adapter like this http://www.cablewholesale.com/specs/hdmi-to-dvi-adaptor/30hd-00200.htm, and the image was sharp. Connected the new mac mini to hdmi port and same issue with blurry/shadowed text.

Same issue with me. I have a late 2012 mac mini and a 24 inch HDTV(brand skyworth). After I look through this thread, I brought a DVI-HDMI cable and a Thunderbolt-HDMI cable, but the problem is still on, pretty sad. I also order a  Thunderbolt/MiniDP-VGA, hope it can fix the problem.

I have the same issue with Late Mac Mini 2012, , using Thunderbolt - Samsung HDMI, and HDMI-HDMI, Hope an update fix this, I don't know what is it, maybe a problem with Intel HD4000

finally, the Thunderbolt/MiniDP-VGA works, but it's not HD quality vision， just for you guys to reference. And I'm also waiting for Apple's fix for HDMI connection problem.

Update: I solved my issue with a MDP-DVI adapter, and a DVI-HDMI cable. My monitor only has VGA and HDMI inputs. Ordered a couple of MDP adapters online, and the MDP-DVI adapter solved the issue; and the image is same or better as before with my 2007 Core 2 duo mini. Need to point out that I also ordered a MDP-HDMI adapter, and it did not work, same issues as the HDMI out. For some reason the HDMI-HDMI connection has issues. Now will wait to see if Apple fixes the issue.

Also: With the MDP-DVI adapter, I don't have to underscan. I use the 1920x1080 resolution with no underscan; with the HDMI-HDMI connection I have to underscan, which is part of the problem because creates blurry text.

I have tried MDP-DVI,then DVI-HDMI, but it's the same vision as HDMI-HDMI. Have no idea now.

Hello,

I confirm the same issue. An HDMI to HDMI connection, and also HDMI to DVI to DVI to HDMI connection, between a Mac Mini 2012 and a Samsung Monitor (SyncMaster SA550) looks terrible, far below usable.

I ordered a MDP to VGA cable as a working around. I hope it works.

It is a shame Apple releases a product with such widespread deffect. What happened? Do they only have cinema or thunderbolt displays in their labs? A Mac Mini was supposed to work with ANY keyboard, mouse or monitor ... so the false propaganda says.

Yep, the same worked for me on a Samsung 32". HDMI port 4 was showing horrible text, while moving to HDMI/DVI port 1 and bringing down sharpness to 0 resolved it.

update:

MDP VGA cable did not work. the quality improved a bit but overall the problem persisted.

In my case neither the HDMI port nor the MDP VGA cable reproduced light grays:

http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/white.php

Anything above 200 showed as white. Since the text antialiasing needs these light grays to somooth fonts, the quality of the text was simply terrible.

The situation of the HDMI port was so bad that did not recognized my monitor properly. The resolution was 1080p and not showed as 1900x1080. The OS did not offer a custom color profile for the monitor either.

Returned mine. Another Mac only when they get rid of this Intel rubbish in their entry line. Going back to windows for a while.

I had a similar experience, when I first switched from using DVI to HDMI on my HP 2311x display. Everything went from being sharp using DVI, to fuzzy and jagged using HDMI. I read this thread and followed several suggestions.

Here's what worked for me:

MacBook Air (mid-2012, OS 10.8.2, Intel HD Graphics 4000, 512 MB) using a Newer Technology Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter to connect to an HP 2311x LED 23-inch monitor.

1. Using the On-Screen Display of the HP 2311x, I changed these two default values:

     a. Main Menu --> Image Control --> Custom Scaling --> Overscan --> Off

     b. Main Menu --> Image Control --> Dynamic Contrast Ratio --> Off

2. Then I used OS X's System Preferences --> Displays to make two more adjustments:

     a. Underscan slider: leave it Off

     b. Color tab: chose the HP 2311 Profile and chose "Calibrate…"

After calibrating the profile to my liking and saving it, I'm very pleased now with the HDMI output. I think that other posts have forgotten to mention this extra step of calibrating the display's profile to your liking.

Thanks for the help. The reduction of "sharpness" to zero helped and the "calibrate" routine polished it off nicely. I am using a Samsung 2333HD with HDMI to HDMI.