jaybob3
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Any monitors work well with Mac Mini?

I purchased a Samsung 27" 1080p (1920 x 1080) thinking it would work well, but it looks so awful it makes the computer hard to use.  Pixelated to say the least. I'm going to be taking it back, but also don't want to spend 400-600 on a monitor (would rather just trade in the Mini for high end IMac).

 

Anyone know what monitors actually work with Mini's?

Mac mini, OS X El Capitan (10.11.1)

Posted on Feb 4, 2016 6:02 PM

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jaybob3

Q: Any monitors work well with Mac Mini?

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  • by den.thed,

    den.thed den.thed Feb 4, 2016 9:11 PM in response to jaybob3
    Level 7 (27,639 points)
    Feb 4, 2016 9:11 PM in response to jaybob3

    What model Samsung and/or what input connections does it have..?

     

    If you are using HDMI try updating the Mac Mini to 10.11.3.


    If that does not help, try a Mini DisplayPort adapter from the Thunderbolt output. Problem is, we can't suggest the correct adapter without knowing exactly what other input the Samsung supports.

  • by jaybob3,

    jaybob3 jaybob3 Feb 4, 2016 9:18 PM in response to den.thed
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 4, 2016 9:18 PM in response to den.thed

    Thanks for the reply.

     

    It's a S27D360

     

    And I got the adapter for the thunderbolt and it's no different than the HDMI I was using prior to that.  They both look like crap! I have not tried to update the Mini as yet, however --

  • by den.thed,

    den.thed den.thed Feb 4, 2016 10:01 PM in response to jaybob3
    Level 7 (27,639 points)
    Feb 4, 2016 10:01 PM in response to jaybob3

    jaybob3 wrote:

     

    Thanks for the reply.

     

    It's a S27D360

    You are welcome.

     

    So only HDMI and VGA.

     

    And I got the adapter for the thunderbolt and it's no different than the HDMI I was using prior to that.

     

    You've got a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter or Mini DisplayPort to VGA adapter...?

     

    They both look like crap!

     

    In what way...? Perhaps we can help with some resolution settings or something if we knew exactly what the problem was.

     

    I have not tried to update the Mini as yet, however --

     

    I believe that there was an HDMI fix in 10.11.2 and another in 10.11.3 that may help your case...

    From 10.11.1 you could go straight to 10.11.3 using the > Download OS X El Capitan 10.11.3 Combo Update

  • by Rudegar,

    Rudegar Rudegar Feb 5, 2016 8:24 AM in response to jaybob3
    Level 7 (28,719 points)
    Apple TV
    Feb 5, 2016 8:24 AM in response to jaybob3

    if you connect it by hdmi and go into system preferences->display and set it to Default for display does it look bad ?

    if so then if you choose scaled and pick 1920_1080 does it still look bad ?

  • by jaybob3,

    jaybob3 jaybob3 Feb 5, 2016 9:05 AM in response to Rudegar
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 5, 2016 9:05 AM in response to Rudegar

    Yes, tried that in the beginning -- still looks bad. Started with HDMI connection thinking it would be best and didn't look good.  Then went to Thunderbolt adapter for VGA and looks exactly the same.  Tried all the setting options under Display and nothing made it improve. 

  • by jaybob3,

    jaybob3 jaybob3 Feb 5, 2016 9:07 AM in response to den.thed
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 5, 2016 9:07 AM in response to den.thed

    See my reply to Rudegar regarding your adapter question.

     

    I haven't updated the system as yet. That's my next attempt.  If that doesn't work -- I think I'm taking everything back! Shouldn't be this much work!!!

  • by jaybob3,

    jaybob3 jaybob3 Feb 5, 2016 10:14 AM in response to den.thed
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 5, 2016 10:14 AM in response to den.thed

    Thanks for the help, but nothing works. Did the update to 10.11.3 and didn't change a thing.

     

    The screen basically looks like the images are being made too large and thus creates a pixelated image.  Like old video games. As I type here on my 7-year old IMac, everything looks great.  I'm just baffled as to how a brand new, 1920 x 1080 Samsung screen can look so dramatically inferior to my ancient IMac -- especially when I hook it up to my Direct TV and it looks fantastic.  It's somehow a compatibility issue.

     

    My wife and my mother think I'm nuts and can't see the difference -- but then they both still watch standard def TV and are just fine with it.  I guess having 20/20 vision can have its curses.

     

    If anyone thinks of something brilliant, I'm all ears. If anyone has a monitor to recommend with the latest Mini's, I'm also all ears. However, again, I don't see the point in spending 4/5 hundred on a monitor when I can just go back and buy a new 27" Imac with better guts than the Mini.

     

    Thanks again, all!

  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass Feb 5, 2016 10:25 AM in response to jaybob3
    Level 10 (189,395 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 5, 2016 10:25 AM in response to jaybob3

    Have you tried another monitor?

    Tried the 27' on another computer?

    When you selected Scaled what resolutions are available?

  • by jaybob3,

    jaybob3 jaybob3 Feb 5, 2016 10:50 AM in response to lllaass
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 5, 2016 10:50 AM in response to lllaass

    Tried the monitor on my regular Direct TV, yes. Works great.

     

    Have not tried another monitor using the Mini, no. I don't have another. I guess I could try to hook it up to my old IMac, but my old IMac does not have HDMI or VGA so that was a non-starter.

     

    In the Display preferences it offers "Optimize for:" then two options, "Best for S27D360" and "Scaled".  In "Scaled" the other two options are lower resolution which obviously does not help.  Those are the only options afforded.

  • by steve359,

    steve359 steve359 Feb 5, 2016 11:16 AM in response to jaybob3
    Level 6 (14,032 points)
    Feb 5, 2016 11:16 AM in response to jaybob3

    If you want onsite-assistance and testing with monitors that *should* work ... maybe take the macmini to an Apple Store.  They are unlikely to suspect you of wrong-doing, and the Genius Bar can check your macmini if even Apple-produced displays have issues.

  • by den.thed,

    den.thed den.thed Feb 5, 2016 4:22 PM in response to jaybob3
    Level 7 (27,639 points)
    Feb 5, 2016 4:22 PM in response to jaybob3

    1920x1080 is pretty low resolution for a 27" monitor, so I'm thinking that it is the monitor that you are not liking.

     

    FWIW I run dual older 21.5" Samsung 1920x1080 monitors on my Mac Mini and they are as clear as the sky during a cold north wind.


    Screen Shot 2016-02-05 at 4.12.41 PM.jpg





  • by Lanny,

    Lanny Lanny Feb 5, 2016 7:37 PM in response to jaybob3
    Level 5 (7,972 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 5, 2016 7:37 PM in response to jaybob3

    It would help if you supplied the model of your MacMini.

  • by woodmeister50,

    woodmeister50 woodmeister50 Feb 6, 2016 4:30 AM in response to jaybob3
    Level 5 (5,584 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 6, 2016 4:30 AM in response to jaybob3

    den.ted has a point.  As a desktop monitor, a 1920x1080 27" display will

    have some pretty large pixels if sitting in front of it at a normal desktop

    distance.

     

    For that kind of use, you may need to play with the monitor display settings

    to try and get something reasonable at that viewing distance.  Especially, turn

    of any of the "auto" features that it has.  For instance, I know all Samsung

    displays/TVs have a thing called "Dynamic Contrast" which I had to disable

    on my 42" LED TV to get a decent image from my Mini I use as an entertainment

    center.

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